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She rolls her eyes and throws her hands up in the air. “Jesus, Sin.” She raises her voice. “You did not take advantage of me.” She starts to pace the floor. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted that? That connection with you? You talk about not going anywhere, about us being what you want but you’ve never been willing to make the final step.”

“I didn’t want you to regret being with me. I don’t want to be another mistake for you. Can’t you see that? Can’t you see where I’m coming from?”

“You see me as such an innocent person. Like this angelic, fragile thing and I’m not. You will never be a mistake and I’m finally doing everything I want. I’m making the decisions that are best for me and my daughter and I feel that the best thing for you to give us is simply you.”

“I don’t ever want to let you down. I don’t ever want to see disgust in your eyes, or regret that you’ve allowed me into your heart or your life. That’s a fear that I can’t seem to shake. One minute I think I’m good then the next; I’m second-guessing how right I am for you. How well we fit together. It’s like I’m constantly fighting with myself and my biggest fear that that you’ll regret giving your heart to me.”

“You can’t let me down, Sin. I know you’ll never do anything to make me think poorly of you. It’s not possible.”

“I killed him.” My admission is like a weight being lifted from me.

“Wh–what?” She stops and looks at me.

“Douglas. I killed him. The whole situation brought back a lot of demons that I’ve never worked through. I’ve always just pushed everything to the back of mind. Until tonight.”

“I was afraid of that. I thought all that violence was going to trigger something.”

“Yeah, well, he got to me. His words, he was taunting me with you. Telling me how it's going to be when Tyson finally got back what his.”

“I’m not his.”

“Well, he says differently.” I rub the back of my neck, pulling at the nape of my hair. “I can’t handle the thought of Tyson getting his hands on you and hurting you.” I meet her stare.

“You can’t kill someone every time someone says something about me that you don’t like!” She looks around when she notices that she raised her voice.

“I know that.” I stand up and move towards her. She doesn’t step back. “I know that, but it happened.” I grab the back of my neck, again. My nostrils flare, I need to calm myself down. I won’t survive if I see repulsion in the blues of her eyes. “He pushed my buttons and he won. He got what he was asking for.”

“You think he wanted you to kill him?”

“No, but I think he wanted me to do something that would get me in trouble, something that would keep me away from you. What he didn’t know is that if it means keeping you safe and her,” I place my hand on the rounding of her stomach, “out of harm’s way I’ll kill anyone I need to in order to make that happen. Anyone.” I bring my hand to the nape of her neck, pulling her to me, resting my forehead on hers.

I need to feel the connection, the deeper one, not the sexual connection in that moment. I need our connection to penetrate the darkness of my soul. I need her to calm my fears, to give me the strength to endure my struggles and come out the man I know she needs. Her light is going to ease the shadows and make my life so much brighter. “I love you.” I take a deep breath. “I love you so much that I feel like I’m going to drown in it, and I welcome it. I want to drown in you, Savannah. I’m trying to get a grasp on everything I’m feeling. I’m trying to make sense of it all. This is new to me. The love, the way I feel for you. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I’m not a better man.”

She threads her fingers through my hair. Her chest trembles as a sob breaks free. Her breath hitches, “I love you so much, Matty.” Her voice cracks. “You’re the only man I need.”

I press my lips to her forehead. Her hands wrap around my waist as she continues to weep. I will not let her love down again.

“This is bullshit.” Louie shouts as he slams his hand on the stone table of the park we chose to meet in. It’s been five days since we made the rescue. The other three girls have been returned to their families. Everything has been hush, hush. The news outlets weren’t informed that it was an actual abduction, one that was supposed to end in the sex trade. They were just told that the girls had been found and returned safe. Louie’s daughter, Danika, is still being held by some of our clients until we have Louis in our custody. “You’re holding my daughter for ransom. You told me you weren’t going to do that!”

“I told you that we would make the exchange. This isn’t a ransom. Where’s your father?” Cut lifts his eyebrow.

“I’ll get him. I’m not going back on my word to you. I need my little girl. I need to know that she’s safe.”

“She is.”

“She’s got to be scared out of her mind. First she was kidnapped, then saved, then kidnapped again.”

“She’s safe. That’s all you need to know.” Cut continues the argument. “When we make the switch is up to you. When you bring us your father, then and only then, will you have your daughter back.”

“You better not be fucking with me. Don’t let history repeat itself or your body count from last time will be child’s play compared to the death I will rain down on you.” Louie growls out.

The hairs on my neck stand up. My heart beat picks up, adrenaline coursing through my body. “Don’t.” I say, turning my head in Louie’s direction. “Don’t fucking threaten us.” I stand up. “You think that’s what this is? You think that we are so fucked up, just as fucked up as your old man that we would take your daughter and torture her. Fuck her, sodomize her like the sick fuck that you call dad did to my sister?”

“Sin.” Cut’s voice warns.

“You think we would willingly put that picture in your mind? Make you live with it for the rest of your life like we do. Do you think this club gets off on having females hanging from cables?” I slam my hand on the table. His face has gone pale. “We would never put that shit on anyone! So don’t fucking threaten us. Bring us that piece of shit who fathered you and you’ll get your daughter back. Not before. This discussion is over.”

I turn away and start to walk down the street. The sound of an engine, that isn’t a motorcycle, has me turning my head. A black fucking Tahoe. Tyson Redding. This day just gets better and better. “Sinclair.” He calls out and I keep on walking. “Surprised they let you out without a leash.” I shake my head allowing his words to roll off my back. Ignore him, Sin. “How are my girls doing?” Fuck!