"Mason." He uses my real name, and that's how I know this is serious. "I'm not questioning your loyalty to the club. But I am questioning whether you can stay objective when it comes to her. Because if the choice comes down to protecting her or protecting the club, I need to know which way you'll fall."
It's a fair question. One I've been asking myself since the moment I pulled her onto that bike three days ago.
"I'll protect both," I say finally. "That's the only answer I've got."
"That might not be possible."
"Then I'll make it possible." I meet his eyes. "She matters, Vulture. Not just because of the investigation or the evidence. She matters to me, and I'm not going to apologize for that."
He's quiet for a long moment, studying me like he's trying to see past the walls I keep up. Then he nods. "Alright. Just remember that when shit goes sideways, and it will go sideways, you might have to make choices you don't want to make."
"I know."
"Good. Now go brief her on what's happening. And Ice Pick? Keep her close tonight. If the Reapers know we're planning something, they might make a move on her to distract us."
I head upstairs, my mind already running through contingencies and backup plans. The hallway's quiet, most of the brothers either in their rooms or downstairs preparing for tonight. I knock on Ava's door, three sharp raps that she'll recognize as mine.
She opens it immediately, dressed in jeans and one of my t-shirts that she must've grabbed from my room. It's too big on her, hanging off one shoulder, and the sight of her wearing my clothes does something primal to my brain.
"Well?" she asks, pulling me inside and closing the door. "What happened in church?"
I tell her everything. The intercepted communications, the shipment, the plan to coordinate with the FBI. She listens intently, asking questions when something doesn't make sense, and I'm struck again by how sharp she is. Nothing gets past her.
"I want to be there," she says when I'm finished. "At the warehouse. I need to see this through."
"No."
"Mason, this is my story. I've been working this investigation for months, risking my life to expose these people. I deserve to be there when they go down."
"You deserve to stay alive." I step closer, framing her face with my hands. "If something happens to you, if you get hurt or taken, everything you've worked for means nothing. Your evidence, your testimony, that's what's going to put these people away. Not you getting yourself killed trying to play hero."
"I'm not trying to play hero. I'm trying to finish what I started."
"And you will. From here. Safe." I kiss her forehead, feeling her frustration in the tension of her body. "I need to know you're safe, Ava. I can't do what needs to be done tonight if I'm worried about you."
She pulls back, eyes searching mine. "This isn't just about the investigation anymore, is it?"
"No."
"What is it about then?"
I should lie. Should keep things professional, maintain distance. But I'm tired of pretending, tired of fighting what I feel every time I look at her.
"It's about the fact that I can't stop thinking about you. About keeping you safe, keeping you close, making sure nothing ever hurts you again." The words come out rough, and honest. "It's about the fact that somewhere between pulling you out of thatReapers' warehouse and watching you stand up to everyone in this compound, I started falling for you."
Her breath catches. "Mason."
"I know it's fast. I know it's reckless. But I don't care." I pull her against me, needing to feel her solid and real in my arms. "So yeah, you're staying here tonight. Because I can't lose you. Won't lose you."
She's quiet for a long moment, her face pressed against my chest. Then she looks up at me, and there's something fierce in her eyes.
"You're not going to lose me. But you're also not going to shut me out." Her hands fist in my shirt. "I'll stay here tonight because you asked me to. But when this is over, when the Reapers are down and the traffickers are exposed, we're having a conversation about what this is between us."
"What do you want it to be?"
"I don't know yet, but I know I want it." She rises on her toes, kissing me with a desperation that matches my own. "Don't get yourself killed tonight. I've got plans for you."
"That a promise?"
