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“You would know all about selfishness, Ophelia. You let that man corrupt—”
She raised her hands. “That’s enough,” she said fiercely. “That’s not true. I just let you believe it. But I was never on board for what you wanted for me. I hated, still hate, your plastic, controlling world. You’re right. We don’t belong here. Thank God for that.”
She went back to Dean and slipped her arm through his. Taking Jackson’s hand, she moved them away from her mother’s shocked expression, her father’s weary eyes, and Katie’s mortified indignation.
There was no conversation in the car, and when they pulled up and parked behind the shop and took the residential elevator up to the lofts, all Ophelia could manage was a soft and heartfelt thank you to Jackson, who nodded and went inside the loft.
Once inside Dean’s loft, she stood there in the foyer, feeling Dean’s scrutiny against her back.
She turned to him and impulsively wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I’m sorry. It was wrong of me and it’s a terrible thing to have done. It’s just so stupid, the childish need for my mother’s approval. I was afraid that I was somehow not worthy of her approval. I was in my own denial stage. But you were gone, and it was easier.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s not stupid, O. I’m guilty of the same thing. But that’s when we were still kids, idealistic and vulnerable.” He cupped the back of her head, delving into the curls and rubbing them against his fingers. “We both ran away. But we’re not kids anymore. We can’t change your mother’s mind, or the reality of my dad’s life and death. We can only move forward with our own lives, our own disappointments. We’re both flawed and imperfect and that’s okay.” He released her. “This is not something we’re going to resolve in one night or one week.” He took her hand and drew her to the bedroom. “C’mon. We’ve got an op tomorrow that’s more serious than our own problems. LA is in danger, and we’re going to make sure that danger is nullified.”
Ophelia lost herself in the heat of his body, in the bliss, in the comfort he offered her without words. She gave herself over to him, thought nothing of right or wrong, only of Dean. So strong, so wise. She wanted to give him everything, be everything for him. She wanted to press him to her heart and never let him go. He filled up the hole inside her, washed all the pain away, made her believe for a moment she could get past everything…find peace…find forgiveness…find herself.
In the morning they were all business. Yesterday had to be put aside to focus on the op. So much rested on their ability to discover the weapons and the seller.
Gage had already gone ahead to Ave Automotive to prepare for Dean and The Black Hearts to arrive. Logan, Ophelia, and Jessica loaded into the van. Dean saddled up for the ride over to the clubhouse. They arrived just before nine. Jessica parked the van, and they watched as Dean kicked the stand down with his bootheel as Dos, Cal, Tubby, and Roach came out of the clubhouse.
There was a black SUV parked in front with a trailer hitched to the back. Cal indicated Dean should join them. Tubby was sweating heavily and avoided making eye contact with Dean. O’s SWAT senses went off the chart at the same time Dean whispered into his mic. “Something’s up. Stay sharp.”
The men piled into the SUV, and Jessica took an alternate route on cross streets to keep track of Dean using the GPS on his phone. When they reached Ave’s garage, The SUV stopped in front. They watched from concealment as Dean walked in front of the two BH members. Her SWAT senses were still off the charts, but Dean was a professional. He knew how to handle himself, and she would have to trust him in this.
* * *
They went to the office and found Ave sitting at his computer. Dean pulled the prop gun from his waistband and pointed it at Ave.
“What do you want? I don’t have any cash here. You’ve effectively scared away all my customers.”
“Where’s the bike, old man?” Cal asked.
“Get out of my garage.”
Dean grabbed Ave by his shirt collar and pulled him out of his chair. “Show us where the bike is or I’ll be taking your last breath,” Dean said.
Ave’s eyes went wide, and he ducked his head. “All right. All right. You win.”
They moved into the large garage that was virtually empty due to his loss of business. He walked to a storage unit that was locked. Cal shoved him and he hit the wall hard.
“Open it.”
Ave’s hands shook as he keyed in the code and unsnapped the lock. Tubby went to the large bay door and hit the automatic switch. With a creak of metal, the door started to lift.
Cal shoved him inside and they all paused to look at Dos’s machine. A Vincent Black Shadow. Dean had some in his father’s inventory, but they were in bad shape. This one…Ave was a genius.
“You do good work, old man,” Cal said grudgingly.
“I didn’t do this. My mechanic, Gage Moore, did it. He’s the best I’ve ever seen.” The admiration in Ave’s expression sealed the deal for Gage. Dean had already been impressed by the guy. Now he was certain he wanted Gage on his payroll.
Tubby came into the storage room and upended the stand on the Shadow. He wheeled it out. Cal walked over and hit the switch to close the doors. As soon as the metal touched down to the concrete, he looked at Dean.
It was his cue to take out Ave.
“This is the end of the line, you old, stubborn son of a bitch,” Cal said.
Ave backed up, his eyes going wide in terror. His hands up, he yelled, “No, no. No!”
