I try to swallow my hurt, but it rises anyway, hot and sharp. “Is this all I am to you? Sex…a piece of ass at your disposal when you decide to roll into town.”
I can see my words make him flinch, but he doesn’t turn around. “It’s safer for you this way.”
My anger is boiling now. “You know what’s not safe, Dean? Loving someone who treats you like you’re disposable.”
He spins on me, eyes dark. “You’re not disposable to me. That’s the problem.”
“Than fucking act like it!”
He grabs his shirt, pulling it on. “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.”
I shake my head, tears stinging. “I want all of you, Dean. Even the ugly parts. Even the shit that scares you.” He won’t even look at me as he starts tugging on his pants. “But if you keep shutting me out, you’re going to lose me.”
Then, all of a sudden. “Damnit, Aubrey!” he yells, his voice rough and angry. “You want real? Fine. Here’s real. I’ve done shit I’m not proud of. I’ve hurt people. There are men in Crystal Falls right now who want to kill me, who would hurt you, just to see me bleed. You think you want inside my head, but you don’t. It’s fucking ugly in here.”
“Dean, I’m not scared of you.”
He laughs, and it sounds bitter and broken. “Maybe you should be. Maybe you should run as far and as fucking fast as you can.”
I reach for him, but he jerks away. “You want to know about my past so bad? I was part of something bad, Aubrey. A club…brotherhood, is what they called it. But all it really was, was a pack of wolves tearing each other to pieces for the scraps. I left. And they didn’t like it. Now they’re here, sniffing around, reminding me I don’t get to have my own life anymore. Not with you. Not with anyone.”
Everything inside me goes cold, but I refuse to let him see me scared. “Are you in danger?”
He looks at me, his eyes wild and glassy. “Always. And now you are too, because I’m too fucking selfish to stay away from you.”
For a second, the world narrows to just us…two broken people, wanting something neither of us knows how to take and hold on to.
“Dean,” I whisper. “Let me help. Whatever this is, we can?—”
“You can’t fix this, Aubrey! No one can!” he yells, cutting me off.
I scramble from the bed, grabbing his arm. “Don’t do this, Dean. Don’t shut me out.”
He rips his arm free, looking back at me, his face full of pain. “You want more truth? Well, here it is. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything before in my life. But wanting you is going to get you hurt, or worse. I can’t…I fucking can’t let that happen, Aubrey.”
Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away. “Don’t I get to decide if I want to take that risk or not?”
He shakes his head. “Not with men like them. Not when there’s blood on the line.”
He grabs his boots, wallet, and heads to the door. “I’m sorry, Aubrey. I should’ve never come back here. I should’ve never touched you. I’ll see you around,” he mutters.
The door slams, and it sounds final. I collapse on the bed and start sobbing, my heart shattered into a million pieces. I’d let myself fall for him. I’d given him everything. All he gave me was a glimpse into the truth under the scars, but it wasn’t enough to hold onto. I want him, all of him, but it might be too late. That man is gone, lost to his demons.
I lie there for I don’t know how long. Crying for him…for me…for something that could’ve been beautiful if only he’d let me in and let it live.
I know one thing. I can’t let go. I’m not done fighting for Dean Michaels.
Not even close.
Chapter 8
Dean
They’re closing in.Over the past few days, I’ve noticed a few new faces have made their way into town. All leather, ink, and attitude. I know it’s them. I know their colors; I know their style of rides. More importantly, I see the way they watch me when they think I’m not paying attention. The Rising Tension Motocycle Club has got their claws in Crystal Falls, and I have a feeling it’s about to get ugly.
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I stare at my own reflection in the full-length mirror across the room, taking in the person looking back at me. Scarred knuckles, busted jaw, my body a roadmap of every bad decision I’ve ever made. I tell myself to keep cool, don’t react. But it’s all white noise in my head, a warning I can’t ignore. They’re not here for some cozy little getaway. They are coming for me.
And if they figure out Aubrey’s associated with me in any way, she will be their next target. Which is why hauling ass out of here in the middle of the night isn’t an option anymore. I have to protect her.
