Hart of Darkness

by S. B. Alexander

  My tears were ready to spill. He’d found his sister after four years. Not only that, she was putting her life in jeopardy for me—a woman she didn’t even know.

  Miguel dug his dirty nails into my arm as he sandwiched me in between him and Cory. “Any funny stuff, and your boyfriend dies right before your eyes.”

  I was grateful that I was even looking at Dillon. I’d passed out cold in Misty’s lap in that cage. Then Cory had shot me up with a high dose of epinephrine before he’d thrown me in the Jeep. The effects were wearing off, though.

  If I had the energy to run, I would. But losing a ton of blood then finding out Rick was a traitor had every hair on my body at attention. I wondered if Ted knew. Nah, he couldn’t know. If he did, I would know. I couldn’t say I saw that one coming because I would’ve never bet my life that Rick was working for Miguel. Rick had always been kind to me and had always given me information to use for stories until Ted had cut him off.

  I tried to laugh, but it hurt. “Like I can run, asshole.”

  I was lucky I was alive. If the bullet had severed the artery to my heart, then I would be dead, although maybe the higher powers that be had a better plan for me.

  I bit my lip as I fixated on Dillon as if he was the drug I needed to take away the unbearable pain in my leg.

  His scowl was rather scary. I wanted to yell at him for standing out in the open with Grace at his side and a gun pointed at his head, albeit both were semi-protected behind two steel drums.

  Miguel had two gunmen in the building across the street behind us with orders to fire when Rick raised his hand. I’d overheard a ton when I’d been bound and gagged in the back seat. The plan was to kill Dillon and me then snag Grace. In their minds, it was a simple and easy plan, at least according to Rick. He’d bragged about how Dillon had followed Miguel’s orders not to contact Ted. Apparently, Rick had gotten a voicemail from Ted detailing a lead on another case that the gang unit had been working on, which had nothing to do with the Black Knights.

  Miguel let go of me. “Hold her up.” He pushed me into Cory, who inflicted more pain in a bruising grip.

  Rick swiveled his head with mechanical precision as he inched closer to the paint factory. “Something’s not right.”

  The bad part of coming to a fight with a cop was his gut telling him that it was too quiet.

  Miguel opened his arms. “Grace, it’s time to come home.” His tone was sickly sweet.

  Dillon jutted out his chin as a morning breeze whisked through his hair, which I noticed was tied back in a ponytail. “Nice to see that I was right about you, Rick.”

  Rick was about to open the door to the building when Dillon asked, “What made you become a traitor, Rick?” Dillon sounded as if he were the cop and not Rick.

  Rick spun on his heel. “None of your fucking business.”

  “Money.” My voice was barely audible. I was guessing that was the reason since Rick had refused to talk to me.

  Cory whipped out his gun faster than I could blink then pressed the barrel into the cheek he’d scored with his knife in our tussle. “Talk again, and I’ll shoot you.” His lisp was worse now than when I’d first chomped on his tongue.

  Dillon held steady, even though rage was pouring off him.

  I didn’t move. I was reserving my energy to run if I had to.

  “Easy,” Miguel said. He was as calm as the water in the distance. “I need Grace.”

  “Fuck you,” Grace said in a tone that was reserved for scum.

  Miguel made a growling noise. “Querida, that’s no way to talk to the man who supported you and gave you nice things.”

  Grace narrowed her eyes. “I’m not your sweetheart.”

  As the sharpness of the pain lessened a tiny bit, I straightened a little.

  I liked her spunk, and it seemed as though we had something in common. We both hated to be called sweetheart.

  Grace moved around the drums and began heading toward us. “Let my brother and his girl go.”

  “Don’t, Grace.” I couldn’t live with myself if she traded her life for mine.

  Before I knew what was happening, Miguel pushed his fingers into my leg wound.

  I opened my mouth as I bent over, but nothing came out.

  “Stand up, bitch,” Cory ordered as he jammed the gun into my neck.

  Dillon threw himself in front of his sister. “Our deal is off.” He sounded as sure as I’d been shot.

  Rick drew his gun on Dillon and Grace. “What are you both up to?”

  Dillon lifted his hands. “Miguel, the new deal goes like this. Take me in exchange for Grace. That family she was sold to can have my head.” He wouldn’t look at me.

  My breathing was labored, and I was a second from passing out. “Are you mad?”

  Rick laughed.

  “Shut up,” I tried to scream at him, but I failed, sounding like a hurt animal. “Ted is so going to make sure you rot in prison.”

  Rick took one step, his gun not wavering from Dillon. “Ted is an idiot. He’ll never figure out I’ve been working with the Black Knights.”

  Dillon grinned. It was one of those grins that said, “joke’s on you.”

  The door to the building creaked open, sounding like something out of a horror movie.

  Rick whipped around with his gun ready to fire. Instead, he faltered.

  I would have shouted for joy if it weren’t for my lack of energy or the hot tears pouring out.

  Ted had his gun pointed at Rick. “You’re the idiot.”

  “I knew the cops had to be here,” Rick said, not backing down. “I could almost feel you. So I’m not the idiot. I drew you out, didn’t I?” He tipped his head at Dillon. “I know a stall tactic, and he was stalling. Where’s the team?”

  Dillon was shielding Grace.

  Miguel pulled out a gun and aimed it at Dillon. “I suggest you move because I’m not leaving here without Grace.”

  I could act as a bowling pin, but I could only knock one of my captors off-kilter. With a gun aimed at Dillon, my decision was easy. The only problem with my plan was the two men Miguel had in the building across the street.

  “If you’re going to shoot me,” Ted said to Rick, “then you better do it now.”

  Cory jammed the gun farther into me. “Move, and you’re dead.”

  “Rick, give the fucking order now,” Miguel said.

  I didn’t have time to think, only react. I pushed into Miguel then threw myself toward Dillon, or I tried to. I stumbled, the pavement rising up fast, when a gunshot rang out in the morning air. Suddenly, a stinging and stabbing pain erupted in me once again. Only this time, it was in my chest. The sky began to darken. I hated the dark more than anything.

  I tried to scramble to my feet, when Dillon said, “Don’t, Grace.”

  Grunts and groans ensued from others around me.

  Cars screeched to a halt somewhere close.

  I managed to get up on my knees before Dillon’s hands were on my arms. He guided me to the drums then lowered me to a sitting position.

  He smelled like heaven and freedom and life.

  “You’re not dying today.” The huskiness in his tone warmed every part of me. Or maybe the warmth was a sign of death. I discarded that last thought. Death was shivers and coldness like I’d experienced in the cage. “I’ll be right back.”

  He rushed to Grace and cupped her shaking arm. “Grace, put the gun down.”

  She had the weapon aimed at Miguel, as did several men on Ted’s team, which had surrounded the area. Rick was in handcuffs, hanging his head.

  Ted smiled at me with relief evident in his eyes.

  “Miguel has to die,” Grace cried.

  There was so much pain in her voice, and it splintered me in two. Still, I wanted to ask her if she could shoot Cory too. That cocksure grin he’d worn was gone as a cop handcuffed him. In its place was defeat. His rich daddy wasn’t going to get him out of this one.

  Dillon’s fingers went around Grace’s
wrist. “He’ll get what’s coming to him in prison.”

  If I was reading in between lines, then he meant Denim would make sure of it.

  Dom eased out of the building. “Grace, please don’t do this.”

  As though she’d needed to hear his voice, she collapsed in Dillon’s arms. Dillon grabbed the gun and handed it to Ted, who was close by, as were others from the gang unit, waiting to arrest Miguel.

  I swayed, ready to puke as I pressed my hand to my shoulder to stop the blood from leaking out.

  Dom wrapped Grace in his arms.

  Then Dillon dropped to his knees at my side. He ripped off his shirt and covered my shoulder wound with it. “Hold this to the wound. The ambulance is almost here.”

  A siren blared, getting louder by the second.

  Ted rushed over to me, his hand smoothing over my head. “I’ve been so worried about you.”

  My eyes drooped, and the feeling that I was about to pass out was strong. “Miguel has girls locked in cages in a warehouse.” My entire left side burned. “Not sure where. They had me blindfolded until we got here.” Miguel had taken off my blindfold before he’d gotten out of the Jeep. “There’s also two gunmen in that building across the street.”

  “We know,” Ted said. “I got men over there now. I’ll get the location out of one of these assholes about the girls. Dillon, can you go with her to the hospital? I need to clean up things here.”

  The ambulance pulled up.

  Dillon furrowed his brow at Ted. “I’m not leaving her side.”

  After I was laid out on a stretcher in the back of the ambulance with Dillon on one side of me and the medic on the other, Dillon said, “I was so fucking worried. I couldn’t go through losing someone again, especially you, Maggie.”

  The medic, who looked to be in his thirties, kept checking my vital signs. “Her pulse is dropping.”

  “ETA is two minutes,” the driver said.

  My eyelids were extremely heavy. “I’m sorry about our date.”

  Dillon opened his mouth, but I heard nothing as I passed out.

  35

  Dillon

  I sat in a chair next to Maggie’s hospital bed. She was bandaged from head to toe. Her face was cut due to Cory. She’d been shot by Miguel, the fucker. And she’d taken a bullet to save my life. My heart was bursting with so many emotions, including a tinge of anger for putting herself in the line of fire.

  The worse part of Maggie’s injuries was the bullet in her leg. We’d learned from Misty that Miguel had shot Maggie. The doctor who operated on her had said she was lucky to be alive. The bullet missed her artery by a fraction. Not to mention, she’d lost a lot of blood. Thank God for blood banks because she’d had to have a transfusion.

  I adjusted my position in my seat. My ass was becoming numb. Maggie had been out for five days, and during that time, I’d been in hell. I hadn’t slept. I’d only showered once, and that was a rush job so I could get back to her. I wanted to be there when she woke up. I’d hardly eaten. Hughes had been in and out with food for me and to check on Maggie.

  He’d been as much of a basket case as I was. But he couldn’t hang around since he had work to do, like making sure Miguel, Cory, and his man, Rick, didn’t make bail.

  Ted strutted in, looking as deathly as I probably did. “Damn. She’s not awake yet.”

  The fact that her heart was beating was the only thing keeping me from losing my shit.

  Ted settled on the other side of Maggie’s bed. “You should go home and get some sleep. I’ll take this watch.”

  I shook my head. “Not happening.”

  He chuckled. “I take back what I said about you. You’re not bad, Hart.”

  I didn’t need his approval when it came to Maggie, but it sure helped, considering Ted and Maggie were close. “I never thanked you for giving Maggie that lead on the tattoo shop. If it weren’t for that, I’m not sure I would’ve uncovered all that I did on Grace or that I would have found her.” And I wouldn’t have been able to force Duke’s hand.

  Duke and I had parted ways with a hug and handshake. He was dealing with something heavy, but I knew not to pry. Duke was the type to process information in his own way, and if he needed to talk, then he would. For now, I was happy he and I weren’t at each other’s throat, and I was thankful and grateful he had helped me out with finding Maggie. It had been the first time since our gang days that I’d spent any time with my brother.

  “I was surprised the lead amounted to anything. How’s Grace, by the way?”

  “She’s got a lot to deal with considering the four years of torture she went through. But she’s okay. She’s staying at the shelter with the girls you rescued from Miguel and the other guests I have.”

  Considering the family who wanted her returned to them for killing their son was still a threat, I was surprised Grace didn’t want to go into hiding. She’d said that she couldn’t keep running, and she had Dom, my brother Duke, and me to protect her. As far as the man she’d killed, she hadn’t said a word about him to Ted. She might when she was ready.

  Maggie stirred. Her eyes flickered open, and she blinked. Then her eyes closed again.

  I jumped up from the chair.

  Hughes leaned over her bed and grabbed her hand. “Mags?”

  She licked her lips then winced.

  I commandeered her other hand. “Hey, beautiful.”

  Her eyes flickered around, landing on Hughes then me. When she smiled, my heart soared high up into the sky.

  Then she turned to Hughes. “Did you get the girls?”

  “Shh,” Hughes said. “All taken care of.”

  As if the heavens opened up, tears filled her stunning green eyes that were so darn mesmerizing.

  Ted’s phone rang. He plucked it from his belt and answered. After a pause, he said, “I’ll be right there.” He lowered the phone. “Good to see that you’re back with us. I have to go, but I’ll come see you later.” He kissed her on the forehead, then his long legs carried him out of the room.

  Maggie rubbed her chapped lips together.

  I grabbed the cup of water I’d been drinking and brought it up to her mouth. She sipped a little, then a little more until the water was gone.

  As I deposited the cup on the bedside table, she said, “Grace. Is she okay?”

  I sat on the edge of the bed. “She’s fine. She’s at the shelter. You scared me. What were you thinking, taking a bullet for me?”

  She batted her eyelashes, and a tear fell. “I had to. I couldn’t lose you.”

  “You weren’t going to lose me, baby doll. Ted, Hunt, Dom, Duke, Grace, and I had everything under control. Well, Ted’s men were too late in getting to Miguel’s men before one of them fired his gun.”

  “How long have I been in here?” she asked.

  “Five days.”

  She frowned. “Where are Misty and the girls?”

  “They’re at the shelter, and Miguel and company are in a jail cell, even Rick. He was the one to give Ted the location of the girls and everything about Miguel’s organization in exchange for a reduced sentence.”

  Color started to return to her cheeks as she lowered her gaze to her lap.

  I leaned in to do something I’d been dying to do.

  When my lips were a millimeter away from hers, she planted a hand on my face. “My breath stinks.”

  I wasn’t going to lie. She was in dire need of a toothbrush and toothpaste, but I didn’t care. “They say when you love someone, nothing matters or gets in the way, even bad breath.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You love me?”

  I’d had five days of nothing but my own thoughts. I had watched her sleep. I had listened to the medical machine beep every now and then. I’d rubbed her arms, her hands, and even sat on the bed and rested my head on her stomach. Kelton had said to give in to the feeling. Because love was one hell of a ride, and one I didn’t want to miss. I was on the ride of a lifetime. No woman had affected my heart, head, and stomach
like Maggie did.

  “You came out of nowhere, Maggie, and when you did, you scared the hell out of me. And I’m not only talking about when you were kidnapped or shot. When you showed up at the shelter that night with Nadine, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I did have a thing for you as a teenager.” I took a breath.

  She sniffled. “No one in my life has ever told me they loved me. No one.”

  I kissed the back of her hand. “I’ve always been afraid any girl I got serious with would walk out on me like my mom did with my old man. I put my life on hold to find Grace, and it wasn’t until you told me to cherish what I have that I woke up. I knew in that elevator that you were the one I wanted to cherish. You are the girl I want to be with. So if you call love”—I twirled a finger around my stomach—“this tightening feeling, and how I think about you constantly, and how I want to kiss you until someone calls the paramedics to give us oxygen, then yes, I love you.”

  She giggled and sniffled. “Why didn’t you kiss me when we had sex?”

  “Because I knew one taste of your mouth, and I would’ve professed my undying love for you. I wasn’t sure I was ready to do that. Plus you were all about putting up a barrier between us.”

  “Well, I don’t want to anymore,” she said. “I always thought love was overrated, and honestly, I’ve never felt so connected to another man like I am with you. I want us, Dillon Hart. I want you.”

  I kissed her before she could object about her bad breath. When our tongues collided, she moaned. The kiss was wet, sloppy, and all over the place. She held my head in her hands, and I kissed her with everything I had. She spewed little noises every time I nibbled on her tongue and her lips, making my dick grow hard.

  She slowed the kiss. “I don’t want you to use a ping-pong paddle on me. I don’t want rough sex. I want slow and sensual. I want you to be gentle. I want you to kiss me nonstop. I love you, Dillon Hart. I would take a bullet for you anytime.”