Road to Desire (15 page)

B
OOKER LOCKED THE
door behind him and nodded to one of his youngest recruits, Train, who was on Danielle watch. Train was nineteen, six-foot-five, and quite possibly the size of a small house. Hence his name. If he hit you, it would be akin to being hit by a freight train. Booker trusted him with Danielle because Train wouldn’t let anyone past him, and he was wholly loyal to Booker.

Booker headed back downstairs and Johnny met him at the door to the basement. Johnny was Blush muscle, but he had no ties to the Dogs, which meant he only knew what Booker wanted him to know, and it was all under the guise of Blush business.

“Everything okay, boss?” Johnny asked.

Booker nodded. “You find him?”

“Yeah. He’s in the galley.”

Booker headed to the last room on the left, stepping inside the long narrow space, and closing the door behind him. Steven Mills. The man who ruined Dani’s life was duck-taped to a chair in the middle of the room, his laptop open on the table beside him, and one of the Dogs’ soldiers, Grizz, keeping guard.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting,” Booker said, and yanked the tape from his mouth.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Steven demanded.

He didn’t seem afraid which interested Booker. Booker smiled slowly and leaned against the table. “I want to know where the money is.”

“And what money would that be?”

Booker chuckled. “The money you’ve been stealing from unsuspecting women for the last twelve years.”

Steven grinned. “There’s only been one.”

“No,” Booker corrected. “There’s only been one where you’ve been caught. I have uncovered eight others.”

“How the hell did you do that?” Steven snapped.

“That’s not really important.” Booker reached back and grabbed a stack of paper. “But I think the D.A. would be interested in learning about them, wouldn’t they?”

“Fuck you.”

“Sorry, wrong team,” Booker retorted as he thumbed through his research. “You’ve managed to hide four-point-seven million dollars and I’d like to know where it is.”

“Since I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, I can’t help you.”

“I will find the money, Mr. Mills. You can count on it. What you can also count on is that this will go easier for you if you just tell me where it is.”

Steven shook his head. “What if I could give you something more valuable?”

“Like?”

“Like a notorious motorcycle club daughter or perhaps a certain chief of police’s daughter, among others?”

Booker forced himself not to react. Blush couldn’t be traced back to the Dogs, he’d made sure of it, but it was still owned by a shell company that owned other business in the area. Different than Big Ernie’s which
could
be traced back to the Dogs. “Motorcycle club?”

Steven smiled smugly. “Yeah. Some guy with a bird’s name… Crow, I think. I’d need to check my records.”

Booker studied the file in front of him to keep himself from beating the shit out of Steven. “And why would this be important to me?”

“I get the impression you want money. I can give it to you.”

“And the cop’s daughter?”

Steven chuckled. “She’s this little uptight bitch whose great-grandfather practically built Vancouver and they’re loaded.”

Booker took a deep breath. “I’m still not seeing how these women are more valuable than four-point-seven million.”

“They have K&R insurance on their kids. The bird guy’s kid’s worth four mil, but the chief of police has three kids and each are over ten mil each. You won’t get close to two of them, but Dani’s lives alone and doesn’t own a gun. She’s a lousy lay, but shit, she’s gullible as hell.”

Booker fisted his hand at his side. “And how do you know this?”

“I found it while borrowing Danielle’s information. I don’t even think she knows about it, but I found it, so you can bet someone else will be able to as well. Find some asshole to snatch these people, keep them somewhere isolated and collect the money. Easy.”

Booker studied him. He’d done a thorough vet of Steven Mills. He’d even found the money he’d stolen, although, it was going to take more to get access to it if Steven didn’t offer up the codes. But Booker wasn’t finished with Danielle’s background check…he always did checks on the women he slept with…or planned to sleep with…so the kidnap and ransom insurance hadn’t pinged yet. Steven was right. If an asshole like him could find this information out, someone else could as well.

This put Dani in an even more vulnerable position than Booker had originally thought. Shit. He was going to have to get the brother involved.

“Grizz, take care of Mr. Mills for me.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Steven bellowed.

Booker headed back toward the door, but glanced back. “Don’t kill him, Grizz. Got me?”

“Yeah. I got you. Fuckin’ pissed about it though.”

Booker chuckled. “Maybe next time.”

He walked out of the room to the sound of Steven’s squeals of fear. Booker knew Grizz would rough him up enough to scare him, but not go much further than that. He pulled out his phone out of his pocket and dialed Mack.

“Yo.”

“Can you talk?” Booker asked.

“Yeah, give me a sec.”

Booker heard a female voice in the background and he figured Dani knew her friend well.

“I’m good,” Mack said.

“Need you to find out if Kim has a key to Dani’s place and then get over there and pack her a bag. Enough for a couple of weeks. Bring it to the club. If not, I’ll have Train meet you at her place with a key.”

“No problem. It’s bad?”

“Worse than I thought. Fuckin’ parents have K&R insurance on their kids. Ten mil each.”

“Fuck me, seriously?” Mack said.

“Seriously.” Booker rubbed his forehead. “What I need to find out is if anyone else knows that. Keep an eye on the sister, yeah? Her name’s Emily. The brother can take care of himself.”

“I’ll take care of things on my end and text you.”

“Thanks, brother.”

“’Bye.”

Booker hung up. He was missing something. He just wasn’t sure what. His entire plan to get Dani’s money and reputation back had taken him down a rabbit hole that was leading him to a place he wasn’t prepared to go. A place that could collide with club business.

I
VAGUELY REMEMBER
being lifted and carried, the familiar smell of Austin filling my senses as I buried my face in his neck, but then I woke up in a strange bed and had no idea how I’d gotten there.

The light from the moon shone through the window and it gave me enough of a visual to see that there was bottled water on the nightstand, which I opened and drank greedily. My head was pounding, but not quite as badly as I probably deserved. The small blessings of very expensive tequila.

I threw the covers off and realized I was virtually naked. I had on a T-shirt unfamiliar to me, but it smelled like Austin, so I deduced it was his. My panties were in place, but nothing else.

“Babe,” Austin grumbled.

I started a little and looked behind me. I hadn’t even noticed him in bed beside me.

“Bathroom,” I whispered.

He pointed to the door to the right of the bed.

I headed to the bathroom and flipped on the light. Talk about a room you’d never have to leave. A large tile shower big enough for forty-two thousand people (really… not kidding) had six (counted ’em… six) shower heads. Two sinks were nestled in a long vanity with gorgeous cherry wood cabinetry. The heated tile floor felt amazing under my feet and I passed a huge soaking tub on my way to the little room that housed the toilet. After doing my business I took a minute to study my reflection. God, I looked awful.

“Dani?” Austin called. I was grateful he didn’t come in.

“Just a minute.”

“You okay?”

“Other than looking like a zombie, I’m great.”

He chuckled. “I doubt it’s all that bad.”

“I wish I had my makeup remover.”

“Check the medicine cabinet, babe.”

I pulled it open and found all of my favorite face creams, toners, cotton rounds, and toothbrush and toothpaste.

“Towels under the sink,” Austin said.

“Thanks.”

I took a few minutes to freshen up and then padded back into the bedroom. I was alone, so I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my waist, and went looking for him. I found him in the kitchen, a bottle of ibuprofen in his hand. “How do you feel?” he asked, all sexy like wearing only a pair of cotton pajama bottoms.

“Hung over,” I said. “What time is it?”

“Four.”

“In the
morning
?”

“Yeah, babe.”

“I never wake up this early,” I complained.

“Probably the alcohol.” He chuckled. “Like your outfit.”

“I seem to be missing my clothes.” I glanced down my body. “I’m assuming I can thank you for that.”

“You were pretty wasted… figured you’d be more comfortable that way.”

I frowned. “Are we going to talk about last night?”

“If you need to.”

“Um, yeah, I need to, Austin. You held me against my will and left me to get drunk in a dark, isolated office.”

“I did.”

“You’re not even going to deny it?” I don’t know why I was surprised, but I was.

“Nope,” he said, and opened the bottle of pain relief.

“I hate you so much right now.” I stomped my foot and turned on my heel. “I’m leaving.”

I stormed back the way I came, let myself into the bedroom, and made a valiant effort to find my clothes.

“They’re not in here, babe.”

I turned and scowled at Austin leaning against the doorjamb. “Where are they?”

“Laundry.” He pushed away from the door and smiled. “Take these.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What’s your game, mister?”

“No game, baby. Just some ibuprofen for your head.”

“No, not
that
,” I said, taking the pills from him and swallowing them without water. Gross. “Why are my clothes in the laundry? I’m going to have to wear them home, right?”

He shook his head and opened his walk-in closet.

I noticed my suitcase leaning up against the inside wall and made my way to it. “Why is this here?”

“You’re staying with me for a few days.”

“What? Why?”

Austin sat on the edge of the mattress. “There’s been a development that I’m uncomfortable with, and since I know you’ll be safe here, you’re here.”

“What kind of development?” I faced him again. “And if you say ‘club business,’ Austin, I swear to God, I will kill you.”

He gave me a slight smile. “I found Steven.”

“I’m sorry?”

“And your money.”

“What?” I squeaked.

“I also discovered there’s a ten million dollar kidnap and ransom insurance policy on you.”

“
What
?”

“Steven offered you up as an alternative to returning the money he stole from you.”

“What?” I said again, only this time it was barely a whisper.

“Come here, baby.”

I went to him immediately.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me between his legs. “I need to talk to your father and brother. I have no idea if there even is a threat yet, but I’m not happy that Steven knew about the insurance and offered it up to me at all, let alone so quickly. For the time being, I want you here where I can protect you.”

“Steven was at the club?”

Austin nodded.

I looped my arms around his neck. “That’s why you locked me up.”

“Partly,” he said. “There are other things going on that I can’t tell you about, but if it involves you, baby, I won’t keep that from you. I was being pulled in a few different directions last night and I knew if you were in my office, you were safe.”

“Austin.” I sighed and dropped my forehead to his. “I can’t say I liked the way you did it, but I will give you a little grace since you were trying to protect me.” He smiled, and I shook my head. “
But
… and this is a big but, so hear me here, honey. If you ever do anything like that again without talking to me first, I will cut you.”

He chuckled. “I hear you, baby.”

“Come to dinner tomorrow… ah, tonight. You can talk to my brother and dad then.”

“They won’t mind?”

I shook my head. “I’ll call my mom and let her know, but no, they won’t mind.”

“Gotta meet with Crow tomorrow, but it shouldn’t conflict.”

I nodded and smiled.

He slid his hands under my T-shirt and up my back, kissing my collarbone. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”

 “Not nearly as gorgeous as you,” I said, my fingers finding their way into his hair.

He tugged my shirt off and pulled me close again, drawing a nipple into his mouth. I dropped my head back, the feeling heady as he bit down gently. He slid my panties down my hips and I stepped out of them, feeling my way as my nipple was still in his mouth.

His finger slid through the wetness between my legs and then slipped inside of me. I gasped and my hips bucked as he slid another inside me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me onto the bed, his fingers still doing unbelievably incredible things to my body.

“You on the pill?”

I shook my head, gasping as his thumb found my clit. I could feel my orgasm building, but before it washed over me, he removed his hand.

“Austin,” I hissed.

He chuckled and I heard a little whoosh of something being torn. “Condom, baby.”

He rose up above me, settling his hips between mine and guiding himself inside of me. I wrapped my legs around him and arched up.

“You’re tight, baby. Am I hurting you?”

“God, no,” I breathed. “More.”

He grinned, covering my mouth with his and thrusting deep inside of me.

“Yes,” I whispered. “More, honey.”

He drew my nipple back into this mouth again as he surged deeper and deeper, faster and faster. I had no warning of my climax as the orgasm washed over me and I cried out his name. Never in my life had I come so fast, so hard, and I gripped his biceps as I caught my breath.

Austin let out a grunt and I felt his cock pulsate inside of me before he rolled us onto our sides, staying connected to me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “Fuck me,” he whispered, and kissed me deeply.

“I think you just did.” I grinned and stroked his cheek. “Amazing.”

He chuckled. “You have very low expectations, then, baby. This is nothing.”

“That was my very first orgasm,” I whispered.

“What?” He frowned. “Ever?”

I nodded. “I had no idea sex would feel like this. I mean, I did because my sister gave me a broad stroke idea of what good sex should be, but I’ve never personally experienced it.”

“Babe,” he said, and smiled. “That’s a fuckin’ crime. You’re beautiful all the time, but when you come, God, it’s incredible.”

I bit my lip. “Can we do it again?”

Austin laughed. “Hell, yeah, we can do it again. I’ll take care of the condom. Don’t move.”

I grimaced when he slid out of me and headed to the bathroom. My body was wired, ready for him to do whatever he wanted to me. So much for my plan to make him wait a while. But ten days was a while, right?

The dip of the bed pulled me from my thoughts and I smiled up at the man who’d totally ruined me for anyone else.

“I can hear you thinking,” he said.

“Just thinking how you’ve totally ruined me for any other man.”

He leaned down and kissed me gently. “There’ll never be any other man.”

“You’re so sure, huh?”

Austin nodded. “I love you, Dani.”

I gasped and sat up, my forehead almost colliding with his. “What?”

He grinned. “You heard me.”