by Jenika Snow
“Daniella, you don’t understand; you don’t get how this works.”
“No, I get it just fine. You want to have total control over everything in your life, me included.” She wrenched her arm out of his grasp. “But I won’t let you do this. I love Shakes.”
“Daniella,” Zeke growled out.
“No, you don’t get to decide this. I wouldn’t have left with him if he didn’t mean everything to me. You weren’t in my life for years, had my mother killed, and have ruined my life.”
Zeke clenched his jaw tightly. “She deserved it. She was a horrible bitch, Daniella.”
“There isn’t any love lost on not having a real mother in my life, but you missed the point when you went ahead and killed her, didn’t tell me, and thought that even if she was a monster, I’d be okay with that.” Daniella wiped away her tears again. “If you do this, ruin what I have with Shakes, you’ll lose me forever, Zeke.”
The silence stretched out between them, and when Shakes saw the determination on Zeke’s face, realized he was never going to let go of his daughter, Shakes knew he had to put a stop to this now if he ever had a chance with Daniella. They couldn’t move forward with Zeke on their tails, following them, hunting them like he had any right to fucking tell her how to live her life. Shakes would rather die in a bloody fight than let Daniella go willingly. No, he’d never do that.
“I won’t let you take her away from me, not without a fight,” Shakes said to Zeke. The other man grinned, the smile sadistic.
“I hoped you wouldn’t.”
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, as he took in the amount of people around. Shakes could see three men that Zeke had brought with him. Demon, Joker, and Steel were on the porch, but Shakes was going after Zeke’s men first. He lifted his gun, aimed at the man closest to him, and shot him in the chest. Then all hell broke loose.
Daniella screamed out when the gunshot rang out. Zeke pushed her out of the way, and she slammed into the side of the house. Pain radiated up her arm, but she knew he had pushed her out of the line of fire. She watched in horror as Shakes started shooting Zeke’s men. He took down two within seconds. The MC members were getting their guns, but everything was moving so slowly. Adrenaline rushed through her, but she saw everything as if it had been slowed. Zeke reached behind his back, pulled out a deadly, huge looking gun, and aimed it at Shakes. She couldn’t let this happen, couldn’t let her father kill the man she loved.
Daniella moved forward, grabbed Zeke’s arm, but just then a shot rang out so close to her, she felt her ears rang. But it was the searing heat and pain that encompassed her arm, spread throughout her whole body, that had her looking down. She let go of Zeke, stared at the blood starting to form on her shirtsleeve, and felt the world tilt. The pain was like nothing she’d ever felt. It was intense, and the sight of the blood continuing to grow over her shirt, slide down her arm, and drip to the floor had her eyes rolling back in her head and the ground rushing up to meet her.
But before she hit the ground, she heard her father shout out something foul, and heard Shakes roar. The sound of guns going off was the last thing she heard before the darkness took her away.
Chapter 16
Hearing Daniella’s scream, Shakes turned around, and froze. Blood bloomed on the arm of her shirt, and without considering his own safety, he dropped his gun, and rushed to her. Before she hit the floor, Shakes caught her, pulling her into his arms.
“Dani, baby, please,” he said.
He pressed his fingers to her neck, realized she was still alive, and her pulse was strong. She’d simply passed out from the pain of the bullet wound. Daniella was fine; she was healthy.
“What the fuck did you do?” Zeke roared out.
Looking up, Shakes watched as Zeke raised his gun, pointing it at one of his men.
“She tried to stop you, boss. I’ve been ordered to protect you.”
“That girl is my fucking daughter, you stupid bastard.” Zeke fired a bullet, and it hit the man in the jugular. Zeke didn’t stop there. He kept firing his gun until there was a mess where there was once a man.
Shakes was thankful. If he’d gotten his hands on the man, he’d have annihilated the bastard.
Kissing Daniella’s head, he kept calling her name, waiting for her to answer him.
Zeke moved closer and Daniella groaned, slowly opening her eyes.
“Ouch, my arm” she said, wincing.
Shakes laughed, and she turned to smile at him. “Hey, baby,” he said.
“Am I in heaven?” she asked, teasing. At least she was here with him, able to joke, even if now wasn’t the time for it.
He snorted, and Zeke cleared his throat.
All the happiness in Daniella’s face shut down. She looked so sad; it angered Shakes. She deserved happiness, not these emotions that she was clearly feeling.
“Obviously not in heaven,” she said.
“Let her go,” Zeke said, snapping the words at him. Shakes held her a little tighter, not wanting to let her go.
Daniella used her good arm and touched his face. “I don’t want you to let me go.”
“This was going to happen sooner or later.” He pressed a kiss to her head.
“I was hoping for us to have a little longer together,” Daniella said.
“I think it’s just a flesh wound, baby. But I want to get you checked out to make sure.”
She glanced down at her arm and winced once again, the pain clear on her face. “Being shot is not fun.”
“He won’t harm you again,” Zeke said, sounding angry. Shakes didn’t blame him, he was pissed she’d been hurt.
Shakes listened as Daniella sighed. She stared into his eyes as if she was begging him to make them leave.
“You should have run like I said,” she said.
“Do you really think I would leave you behind? I love you, baby. I couldn’t leave you.” He looked up and stared at Demon and the other men in his club. They watched them warily, looking between him and Zeke.
“He’d never have hurt me.” Tears leaked out of the corner of her eyes. It broke him apart inside to see her so sad. This was his woman, and she shouldn’t be sad.
“Don’t cry,” he said.
“I can’t help it. I don’t want to lose you.”
Stroking her cheek, Shakes truly felt close to death. Glancing up, he saw Zeke still held his gun by his side. Demon and the rest of his brothers were glaring at him now, ready to pull the trigger. He’d risked this the moment he left with Dani, and he’d accepted that.
“I’ll always be with you.” He smiled down at her, knowing he was going to die here.
He lifted her to her feet, and Daniella wrapped her good arm around him tightly. He held her close, not wanting to let her go. Daniella wouldn’t let him.
“Daniella, let him go,” Zeke said.
“I don’t want to. I don’t want to lose you, Shakes.” Her tears turned into full-blown sobs, tearing him apart to listen.
“Shh, listen to me, Daniella.”
“No, you’re going to give me the good bye speech, and I don’t want to listen to it. I want to be with you, Shakes. I don’t want to leave you, and I don’t want you to leave me.”
Tears finally filled his eyes as her entire body shook. He ran his hands up her back, kissing her neck, and breathing her in.
The club and Zeke fell away as he focused all of his attention on her.
“I love you,” she said.
Pulling away, he cupped her cheek, running his thumb across her bottom lip. “You don’t need to cry anymore. We knew this was going to happen eventually.”
“No.”
“It was only a matter of time. The Soldiers were going to catch up with us, Dani. I was an idiot to think we’d last longer than we did.” He couldn’t resist touching her lips. Pressing a kiss to her mouth, Dani trembled in his arms.
She was so strong, and now she was falling apart at the brink of losing him.
“We’ve
not had enough time.”
“Baby, a lifetime with you wouldn’t be enough. I’ve been blessed to have these few days alone with you. I’m not going to lose that. No one can take that away from me. I love you with my whole heart, every part of my being. I’m happy to have gotten the chance to be with you.”
“Don’t, Shakes,” she said.
“You’ve got to go back, Dani. Your father can offer you far better.” Shakes hated it, but this was going to be far better for her. The last thing Daniella needed was to see him killed. He’d betrayed his club, taken Zeke’s daughter, and put Deanna along with her unborn child in danger. Shakes deserved a bullet, and he expected death. He hated to admit it, but he feared death. And he didn’t want her to witness it.
Before he met Daniella, he lived for death. He hadn’t given a fuck if he lived or died. Now, he cared. Daniella had given him something to live for.
“She doesn’t get to see,” Shakes said, looking straight at Zeke. He didn’t wait for a response and looked toward Demon, and his brothers. They appeared angry yet sympathetic. The men he now faced knew what it was like to be in love, and what it meant to fight for that love. All he’d done was fight for the love he had for Dani, right or wrong; it’s what his brothers would have done.
Either way, he was going to accept whatever punishment he had coming to him.
Zeke held onto Daniella as she sobbed. He’d dropped his gun, and the other three men who had been in the rear of the house were now making their way toward the porch. His men were now pointing their weapons at the Soldiers. Before he’d entered the ranch house, he’d given his men the order to kill all of the men who’d turned up from the MC.
Daniella shook with her sobs, and he was breaking apart. He loved his daughter more than he loved anything in this world. For the past couple of days, no, from the moment she’d left, he’d been dying inside, wanting her back. He had so many enemies and Shakes didn’t have ability to take care of her. Zeke, being who he was, had put a mark on her head. If anyone wanted to get to him, they could easily take Daniella.
She’s in love.
He hadn’t believed Daniella and Shakes were in love, but what he’d just witnessed showed him the truth. His little girl was breaking apart because Shakes was minutes from death. He shouldn’t care if this bastard lived or died, but he did, because keeping him alive meant making his daughter happy.
If he allowed this bastard to die like he wanted, he’d lose Daniella. She’d never talk to him. It wasn’t just that, her reaction right now told him he’d lose her completely. If she lost Shakes, his daughter would die inside, and it would only be a matter of time before he would lose her forever.
What kind of father puts his own happiness before his daughter’s?
Nothing would give him greater satisfaction than watching Shakes bleed out and hurt before he found death. Zeke had planned hour’s worth of torture, involving chains, knives, broken glass, and fire. He was very inventive when given the time.
“Baby, a lifetime with you wouldn’t be enough. I’ve been blessed to have these few days with you….”
Shakes’ words came back to haunt him. He couldn’t do it. There was no way he could allow his daughter to be hurt.
Before he got a chance to say anything, Daniella turned her eyes to him, gripping his arm. Blood spilled out of the gunshot wound she’d gotten.
Your man did that to her, not Shakes.
This was harder for him than he ever realized.
“Please, Dad, I don’t want to lose him. I love him. Please.”
Demon and Shakes were talking. Zeke held his daughter and he had a decision to make, leave the Soldiers to take care of Shakes, or bargain for the bastard’s life.
Do it for Daniella.
Gritting his teeth, he turned to his men who were waiting for the signal to kill.
You want his blood on your hands; kill him, and wipe all threat away from your daughter.
Zeke battled with himself.
“Please, I won’t go. I won’t leave. I’ll try to be the good daughter you want, just don’t let him die. Please, I love him, Dad. I love him more than anything.” She sobbed the words against his chest.
“Fuck,” he said. Wrapping his arms around his daughter, he held her tightly to his chest. “You don’t make it easy being your father. I’ve been worried sick about you.”
“We wouldn’t have left if you’d given him your consent and not threatened him.”
Zeke swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Don’t even think this is going to change how pissed off I am. He’ll jump through my fucking loops until I’m satisfied,” Zeke said.
“We’ll do anything, just let him live, please.”
Nodding, he kissed the top of her head. Only his little girl could make him do what he was about to do.
Putting the safety on his gun, he placed it safely in his holster. This hadn’t gone the way he planned.
“Sir?” one of his men asked.
“Put your weapons down,” Zeke said.
He had to go and bargain for the man’s life he’d been more than willing to end moments ago.
When I get home, I’m going to take a woman, and get the blood I want out of her ass and thighs.
Zeke had just the woman in mind. There was going to be another shipment of females in a couple of weeks, meaning more work, and more auctions. He had a lot of businesses that he hoped Daniella never found out about.
Chapter 17
“I want him to live.”
What in the hell was happening?
Shakes stared at Zeke, replayed what he’d just said in his head, and then looked at Demon. This wasn’t what he’d been expecting, not at all. He’d been prepared to die for the woman he loved, but then Zeke had told Demon he wanted him alive?
“You want him to live?’ Demon asked, clearly as confused as Shakes. Demon looked at Zeke.
Zeke looked at Daniella, emotion crossing his face, then gave a sharp nod. “I don’t want to cause my daughter any more pain.” He looked at Shakes. “And I see how much she loves him, how much he loves her. It’s clear he was willing to die for her, and I have to amend a part of that.” Zeke clenched his jaw. “I’m not saying I won’t keep my eye on Shakes, make sure his ass is in line and treating my little girl right, but I don’t want to cause her pain by taking the bastard’s life.” Zeke looked at Daniella again. “I love you, even if you don’t believe me, or see it. I do, Daniella, with all my heart. You are the one good thing in my life.
The air grew thick, and the silence stretched out.
Zeke looked at Daniella a moment longer, and then turned his attention to Demon. “You spare that piece of shits life and I’ll call off the deal we have. We can stay in touch, if need be, but I won’t use the club to do anymore of my dirty work.”
“Dad?” Daniella said, shock in her voice.
Demon gave a gruff nod. “I can’t guarantee anything, since the club has to vote after his betrayal and lack of concern for my woman and kid.” Demon looked at Shakes then.
“I won’t have my daughter being torn up over this shit. If I had been okay with it, they wouldn’t have run. No death, Demon.” Zeke stared at Demon and the club, and the tenseness increased.
Demon looked at Steel and Joker. They didn’t verbally communicate, but they didn’t need to. Shakes could read them well enough as if they’d shouted their conversation. Demon turned back to face Zeke. “And if we take Shakes’ death off the table, you’ll call this deal between us off?”
Zeke gave a gruff nod.
“Fine, we’ll work something out.”
Shit. What in the fuck was going on here?
Zeke turned and left, but Daniela called out to him and moved forward.
“Dad,” she said softly. “What are you doing? Why are you doing this?” She sounded happy, but wary.
Zeke cupped her cheek and looked down at her. “I just want you happy, no matter what. And if keeping Shakes alive means that, then I’ll back off and
let you live your life.” He smiled softly at her. “I’m a bastard, a vile asshole that makes my living exploiting people, selling shit that is illegal, and making people miserable.” He stroked her cheek, and Shakes couldn’t move as he saw real emotion on Zeke’s face. “I just want you to be happy and not hate me.” Then he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. But don’t let him fuck this up for you, baby girl.” And with that, Zeke turned and walked to his SUV. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “We’ve already called for a clean up on the bodies. I’d suggest you do whatever you need to with him then get the fuck out of here before the police show up.”
They all stood there and watched as Zeke left, the SUVs kicking up dirt in the process. Shakes turned and faced Demon once they were alone again, but when he sensed Dani move closer, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. He held her, just marveling in the fact he was alive and could do it. But what would the club do with him? Death might be off the table, but there was a hell of a lot of worse shit they could do, shit that was torture for betraying the club.
“Seems like you have choice to make, Shakes,” Demon said.
Shakes pulled Dani tighter, closer to his body. “Would you have given me the gun if Zeke hadn’t stopped it?” Shakes asked, referring to being shot and killed.
“What do you think?” Demon asked, his face a hard mask of anger. “You didn’t care that my woman and child were in danger, didn’t care Zeke threatened to kill them if you weren’t found.”
“I love Daniella,” Shakes said just as hard. “If the roles were reversed, you would have only cared about your old lady and no one else. I’m sorry I went against the club, betrayed you all, and betrayed the club. But I had to be with Daniella and make sure she was safe.”