“Lucas.” Her voice was flat, emotionless but there was a tinge of sadness in her eyes “Is he dead?”
“Not yet.”
I heard her swallow hard. “Are you going to kill him?” There was no judgement in her voice.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly.
Was I going to kill my brother? There was no doubt that he deserved to die. He had tried to sell the woman only weeks ago he had been wanting to marry into sexual slavery. He didn’t care about her or anyone else.
I knew the Savage Sons wouldn’t let him live but could I really pull the trigger on my own flesh and blood, even if I hated him with every fibre of my being?
“I don’t know,” I repeated again.
“Oh Havoc.” her arms went around my neck, pulling my head down to her breast. She held me like that for several long minutes as I tried to steady my own breathing. It was like she knew how torn up inside I was about it all.
I had killed men before, but taking someone’s life always left a mark. I didn’t want to start my life with her with that black mark against us. Because Darcie made me want to be a better man.
“I shouldn’t even be talking to you about this Darcie, go back to sleep.”
“I know there are some things that you can’t tell me, I get that but I want you to know that whatever you decide I will support you. I’ll be there for you.” She fell silent, her eyes closed.
“Would you kill him?”I don’t know what made me ask the question but her eyes flew open.
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. “I would kill him. When I was taken, when that disgusting man touched me I told myself that if I got out of it I would kill him. I owe Lucas nothing. And the world would be a better place without him.” she sighed. “But he isn’t my brother.”
The hand I had been trailing up and down her back froze. “Why didn’t you tell me, Jesus.” I let my hand fall. “He touched you and here I am pawing at you….”
Her eyes flashed. “If you don’t put your hands back on my body Havoc, me and you are going to have a problem.”
Slowly I slid one over her hip. “Is that better, I just don’t want to push things if you aren’t ready.”
“He didn’t touch me touch me, he didn’t get a chance. So please.” There was a note of begging in her voice. “Please don’t stop touching me. I need you.”
“I need you as well Darcie, I can’t imagine my life without you.” Honesty was the best policy, right?
Her arms tightened, her body curved into mine. Soft and welcoming “You don’t have to.”
The breath caught in my throat. “You mean…?”
“If you want me to stay then I will. I mean there may be some immigration problems but I will stay as long as you need me to.”
They were the words I had been longing to hear. My heart swelled in my chest. The woman I loved was going to stay. We were going to be together. Build a future together. There was nothing stopping us from being happy now but….
My elation disappeared. “I need to go back to the clubhouse.” My voice was deadpan. There was one thing standing in the way of our happiness. “Are you ok to stay here with Maggie, she will need you.”
A heartbeat passed before she nodded. “I can stay with Maggie, there’s so much to do to get these women home but please don’t be away for long. I feel safer with you here.”
Her lips were unbelievably soft under mine as I kissed her. “I won’t be long Darcie. I’ll be back before tonight and then we can get to planning our future together.”
***
There was no point putting it off any longer. I had been sat outside Maggie’s house for an hour. The sun had long since dipped below the tree line and I had promised Darcie that I would be back before it was dark.
But I couldn’t take those final few steps into the house.
Not after what I had just done.
It wasn’t even that I was feeling guilty about it. One look at his smug face and any guilt I had felt had vanished. The world was a better place without my little brother. A safer place.
