Shit.
I couldn’t catch my breath. My chest tightened, my heart raced, and my palms were sweating.
It took a beat or maybe two before I was able to pull myself together. His eyes looked a bit tired and his hair looked as if he’d run his hands through it a thousand times.
The smile that lit his face, though, was genuine and made my belly flutter.
Dane knelt down beside me, his hand burning hot on my leg. “Are you okay?” he asked, not taking his gaze from me once.
“Yeah. It just went down the wrong pipe is all.” My voice cracked and was raspy, not in the sexy way either. And the fact I hadn’t seen you in two days and you just pop into the same place I’m at took me by surprise. I thought the last part, but didn’t dare say it.
His smile grew. “I was just stopping in to grab a coffee and then was coming to see you.” My breath hitched as he continued. “I was out of town for business and got back early this morning.”
A light dawned on me, and it shone bright. He didn’t blow me off—he had to go out of town for work. “Oh,” was all I could get out of my mouth, and it sounded stupid.
He rose. “Let me grab my cup, and I’ll come sit.”
I should’ve told him no it wasn’t going to happen. Or that I had to leave and get back to work. Or that I was going to get picked up by a Starfighter and flown back to the moon or wherever they go.
Instead, I nodded as he took off.
I was planning my escape just as Dane sat down at the small round table with me and sat his paper cup on it.
“Sorry I had to take off and not tell you where I went.” I found this a bit strange considering the last time I saw him I asked him to leave. No, more like demanded he leave and told him that there would be nothing between us—that I was trouble.
By the looks of him, he was too.
Inside of me was giddy and so damn happy to see him again, and it was at war with my brain trying to stick to my guns about staying away from him. Why did he have to be so damn hot?
“No worries. I don’t have any reason to know.” It sounded like I was being a bitch. Because I was, dammit. How the hell else was I going to push hot as hell Dane out of my world? Even when I wanted him in it so damn badly.
His brow quirked. “I’m not givin’ up on us, Hannah. We’re electric. Whatever trouble you have, I’m there.”
I started to protest, but he reached for my hand and gave it a small squeeze, all the while my world was falling around me. The more words he spoke the harder I found it to hold onto my resolve to keep him away.
“I like you. A lot. I’m your man and at your back.”
My man. What the hell was that about?
“You’re not my man, Dane. Remember, I told you that we were done seeing each other?”
He ignored that and instead said, “I should’ve called you, but somethin’ came up quick.”
My head spun as he flipped the topic. While I was still stuck on the other one, this small bit of information hit me in the gut. “What do you do for a living?”
Without missing a beat, he answered, “Sales, mostly.”
He looked nothing like a salesman that I’d ever seen. He looked more like he could break five salesmen’s necks and not even break a sweat. His large body didn’t bode well for being approachable when trying to sell shit to people.
“What do you sell?”
This made him pause just for a second, but he recovered. “Dreams.” The word didn’t come out with hope. Rather his eyes twitched in discomfort. “I have a partnership with my brothers. We work together to set up lifestyles.” I blinked, not really understanding his vague answer. “Paxton is an accountant. He handles our clients on the financial end. Garrett is an attorney, so he makes sure everything is legally binding.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Well, with an accountant and an attorney they must be doing well, and it was all legal; it had to have been for them to have an attorney involved.
“How does one actually sell a lifestyle?” I asked, not really grasping what he did.
“Dreams. Everyone has them. We streamline our clients’ focus, money, and assets to provide a path for their dreams to become reality.”
“Oh.” I didn’t really know what else to say. I guess for people with money to throw away it was a good business. They would obviously cater to high-end clients. It made sense why he would travel if he was making dreams come true.
What a noble thing, I thought to myself.
“Just got back and wanted to see you. I missed you like crazy.”
My heart did a flutter as I tried to clip the butterfly's wings off. Stupid thing needed to knock that shit off. They were not helping my situation.
“You do remember that I told you we were over—right?” I reminded, hating every single word that came out of my mouth.
He smiled, and this time it reached his eyes. “Want me to kiss you and prove you’re mine?”
“No,” I answered so fast he started chuckling, knowing exactly where my mind was going. Damn him.
“Just roll with it, Hannah. We get to know each other and let the cards lay where they do. Your trouble, whatever it is, I’ll take care of it.”
He had no idea what he was saying about my troubles. If he knew a very not nice man was looking for me to probably kill, he’d run for the hills. Even while that was a good place for him to go, there was no way in hell I was telling him that little bit of information.
“I don’t think…”
“You think too much.”
My eyes narrowed as he continued.
“This is good. Just let it be.”
He leaned over, hooked a hand around my neck, pulled me into him and kissed me. So very hard and so very deliciously.
Here I was in a place trying to hide, and yet I was making a skeptical of myself and getting a lot of attention.
I was powerless when he was in front of me.
With Dane, I was screwed and it never tasted so damn good.
When he pulled away, the fire in his eyes burned bright calling me like a moth to a flame. My body craved him once again. All the while my mind was trying to win a losing battle. It was becoming apparent that anything to do with Dane was a lost cause.
Staying away from him, no. Not being with him, no. It was all coming down, the walls I’d tried hard to stack around me. Shit.
He crashed into my life, and I had a feeling there was no going back. Ever.
16
Dane
My phone rang in my pocket. I ignored the call clicking the button on the side to silence it. By now the people who watched me were figuring out I was making moves, and I needed to put them off. I wasn’t new to this world, this ugly game. Freeman Zook had others on my tail. Especially after he changed the job from a kill to kidnap. Except, he had yet to give me the drop location and time. Instead, I was stuck like a sitting duck waiting for my final instructions.
The problem now—it didn’t matter what the orders were, I wasn’t turning her over.
“I have to get back to work,” she explained. I could see in her eyes she was trying to work through all she thought could happen to me. While I wanted to put her mind at ease when it came to that, it was too early to tell her everything.
“I’ll be there at closing. After work, we’ll go to dinner and talk.”
She paused like she was going to shut me down.
“Don’t think,” I whispered. “Let this go where it will.”
She closed her mouth and gave a small nod.
It wasn’t excitement. There weren’t smiles and elation. But it was something, and I would hold onto that.
I rose from my chair and placed a kiss on her forehead before leaving the café. In my car, I pulled out my phone.
Missed Call: Jolin Zook
I didn’t return it. I turned the device off.
Instead of dealing with the scumbag, I headed out of town to the small lake-front cottage I acquired in a private cash-
only sale in a holding name.
It was a tiny, one-bedroom place with a wrap-around porch. The lake was just out the front with woods surrounding the rest of the house.
In my trunk I had an advanced security system to install in the home and around the property. With five acres I was relatively secluded, but I wasn’t about to take any chances.
While I was away, I met with Freeman Zook. It left me replaying it over and over in my mind trying to make sure I had covered all my bases.
“Dane, it’s good to see you. It’s been some time,” he greeted from his chair behind his desk.
The old silo was still the same, never changing with the times.
With a wave of his hand all of his associates left us alone.
“I take it you’re here for direction on what to do with Aspen Kimmel.”
“You changed the task,” I reminded him. “You said bring her to you without giving me a drop point or time. I’ve been waiting.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure where to place her for her safety until I decide what to do with her.”
The more he spoke the more I didn’t like the way my instincts were screaming to put a bullet in him. That was a retribution I didn’t want to deal with. Freeman’s men would not rest until my ass was in the ground. I wasn’t any good to Aspen dead.
“So you want to know what to do with her so you can move on?”
I shook my head. “I’m here to withdraw from the job.”
He laughed.
I expected it.
“You know well how this works, Dane.”
“I don’t like games, Freeman. The task was a death certificate. You changed the script mid-job. That’s not good in my world. Change in plans leaves me vulnerable. You were the very one who taught me to walk away when what I was being asked change mid-play.”
He leaned back in his chair. Stroking his long beard, he thought. I waited for something, I didn’t know what exactly, but a reaction of some sort. I was prepared to kill them all to walk out of here. Freeman knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t concede.
“Go back, Dane. Back when Amos tormented each of you.”
I shook my head. “I don’t need to go back. I remember it well. I’m not here in disrespect. You have a business to protect as do I. You changed the job.”
“I did.”
“My marker remaining was for one more kill.”
He nodded.
“Is that what you want for Aspen Kimmel?” My gut twisted saying the words, but I wasn’t about to let him see my struggle.
“Is she so easy to remove?” He pondered with serious eyes.
“Yes, actually. She’s too comfortable in her location.”
“What if I agreed to consider your term with me done?”
I studied the man. While inside I could only hope he was serious, I wasn’t about to celebrate.
“What’s the catch?”
“Instead of your skills being used to take her out, I want you to watch her. When the time comes to bring her home, all you have to do is get her to return as if nothing happened.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Dane, be practical. You owe me a marker. I’m not asking for blood. If it’s blood you seek then take out Jolin.”
Now this piqued my interest. “Why would you put a hit on your nephew?”
“I wouldn’t put the call out to anyone but you. It would seem you wish to have blood on your hands. I give you the blood of my nephew to satisfy that need while serving my own purpose in keeping Aspen safe until the time arrives that she can return.”
I didn’t speak.
I glared.
“What makes her life worth more than your own kin?”
This was an unusual play by Freeman. I wasn’t expecting it. For once the man had me off my guard.
“How about this? You go back to her. Watch her until I call for her to be returned. At which point if you wish to take out Jolin, you do so with my blessing. Either way, as long as I call for her and you are able to return her to Pennsylvania safely, your marker and any debts to me are paid in full.”
I didn’t move. I didn’t show an ounce of emotion.
Instead, I took in the offer and every angle in which he could play me.
In the end, I took what he granted me and came back to Colorado to keep an eye on Aspen Kimmel.
Except I had no intention on returning her to him when the time came.
She was mine, and I wasn’t letting her go.
Pulling up to the cabin and getting out of the SUV, the crisp air snapped in my lungs. Peace. That’s exactly what it felt like here. Like no one could touch us. I had to make sure that was a reality.
Going to the trunk, I pulled out the system and took it into the place. It was small, but larger than Aspen’s place now. The kitchen was full size with everything anyone could need. The living room and dining room were connected and everything was open. Off to the side was a large king bed with new everything. It was a stipulation in the contract of sale. It worked for me since I didn’t have to furnish the place and it would all be new.
There was a small bathroom that had a tub as well as a shower. It wasn’t the Ritz, but it was perfect for us. Aspen would love it. And more importantly, she’d be safe away from anyone who could harm her.
That was the ultimate goal. The house was off the grid. We’d use generators and burn wood for heat. It was roughing it a bit, but this place would serve its purpose.
Aspen and I could start a life here without anyone finding us and when the time came to move on, we would. Together.
Life had handed me shit for the first years of my life. Each thing piling up with the other until I got all of us out of that mess. I was ready to be free. I was ready to be happy. I was ready to live something I really hadn’t done, ever. Hell, I didn’t know if I liked fishing, but I was damn well going to try it.
Shooting a gun was easy, but what about a bow? I was sure it couldn’t be that hard to switch.
It was an opening of possibilities, and I was happy to have Aspen at my side moving forward. Even if she didn’t know it yet.
17
Aspen—Hannah
Dane made true to his word coming right as I got off of work and walking me home. When we got there he made no moves on me. While part of me wanted him to, I found it refreshing he didn’t. Instead, he sat and watched television while I showered and got ready.
If I had been any other woman, at any other time in my life, in any other situation, this would be absolutely perfect. Except, I couldn’t tell him my truth, and this could never last.
The thought of losing him made me want to puke. We were too wrapped up in each other, and this was never going to work. It was doomed before it could ever really begin.
Deep inside, I knew better than to let myself get attached. I knew I shouldn’t have given in when he returned. Those two days without him were agony. Now, I wasn’t sure how I would get through his absence. Every moment, I found myself falling harder, faster, and deeper.
And I could never really have this.
Ever.
Having him in my place, lazily relaxing while he waited for me felt nice. It felt better than nice. Not wanting to make him wait too long, I rushed pulling myself together.
That’s what led us to now, sitting in a quiet restaurant right outside of Clearview, Colorado. One I’d never heard of and judging from the prices on the menu, way more upscale than I was accustomed to. Dane didn’t seem like the type for this kind of place, and when I asked him on the ride here, he said, “Need to show you the good life.”
Everything inside me melted, and no more insecurities slipped in. No one ever cared to give me anything good except Gramma and Grampa. How many years had it been now since someone wanted to take care of me, show me something better, give me anything?
Dane held my hand, his thumb drawing lazily and making me feel right at home. Just a simple touch and I was falling, hard. I could close my eyes and imagine him doing this w
hen we’re old and wrinkles covered our skin. I could have this every single day and never let it go.
Except the time would come when I had to. Pushing those thoughts back, I decided to hold onto these precious blips in time and every memory I could make with him.
“You don’t think I have a good life?” I really didn’t want to ask that question even though it tumbled out. On the outside it looked as though I did. Nice place to live. Food in my belly and a kickass job doing something I liked.
On the inside, though, every part of me was twisted and underneath to my soul fear laid there ready to pull me under at any moment.
“You have a great life, Hannah,” he said, pulling me out of my thoughts. My focus coming back to him. “I just want to give you the best that I can.”
“Are you trying to get in my panties?” I joked, watching the smile form on his lips.
“Fuck yeah.”
This made me laugh hard shaking my body, my hand flying up to cover my mouth as others in the restaurant looked over at us. One thing was for sure, the man was funny.
“At least you’re honest,” I murmured, reaching over for my glass of red wine and taking a sip. His body locked for a split second before it released. I craved to know what that small movement meant, but I wouldn’t ask. “You’ve already been there, Dane. No going back now.”
His entire body relaxed as if my words were the starch in his spine, and it slowly seeped away. His grip on my hand tightened and released quickly. “And it was the best I’d ever had in my entire life, Hannah.”
Cue the belly flutters. Yes, I was falling and doing it hard. It was stupid, but I couldn’t stop myself. It was a train wreck waiting to happen, but the collision course wouldn’t let me off the track.
More so, in that moment, I didn’t want off. I wanted to hold on and take anything I could get for as long as I could have it.
If Jolin found me and killed me, at least I’d die knowing that a man really took care of me and treated me like gold. That I was his even for a short time. That would be something that would follow me forever, and I couldn’t help but clasp on to it and refuse to let it go.
PowerLess: Anti-Hero Game: Power Chain Book Three Page 11