Danger (The Driven World)

“I appreciate you both seeing me.”

“Monterey said you needed my help?”

“Yes, why yes I do.” The room fades away as I discuss the ins and outs of Rylee’s business with her. I don’t get too specific, but there’s things I’d like to understand about her charity.

Before long my eyes drift to the dance floor, and that’s when I see it… Thad dancing with my woman.

With his hand wrapped snugly around her waist.

I listen to the words Rylee’s telling me, and am amazed at how devoted she is to her cause.

“I know it’s mainly just runaway boys, right?”

“Yes, but I know many people in the industry and with child protective services. Here’s someone you can speak with.” She slides a card across the table and I pick it up.

“Thank you.”

“Just give him a call, and he’ll be able to help you.”

I plug the phone number into my phone and then I give Rylee my personal phone number in case she finds out anything else.

After thanking them again, I stand, ready to claim my woman out there on the dance floor.

“Oh and Danger,” Rylee says as her husband helps her out of her chair. “Just remember, many children go into the system and are never found again. But that doesn’t mean the same thing will happen in this case.”

I smile, because it’s all I can really do at this point. “Thank you, Rylee.” I shake her hand and then I shake Colton’s, with a nod.

Colton kisses his wife on the cheek and I think back to his earlier words. I guess it’s true, falling for the right woman can change any bad boy.

And now, my mission’s on Thad.

Chapter 20

Monterey

“I feel like our relationship was ripped away from us. We never got to fully explore it,” Thad says as he spins me around the dance floor.

I roll my eyes. “It’s because you were too busy exploring other women.”

He hugs me closer. “Monterey, I’ve learned from my past mistakes.”

“What did you learn? How not to get caught?”

“You hurt me.” His voice is steady like he rehearsed this speech in the mirror before reciting it back to me.

“I’m engaged, Thad. And I’m happy.” He doesn’t need to know that it’s all fake. Or that maybe a small part of me wishes it were real. As real as the connection between us is.

A small part.

Ok, maybe it’s a bit bigger than small. Make sense?

Good.

My head’s a mess. Even though every cell in my body vibrates with want every time Danger is near, I’m hesitant.

I don’t want a repeat of what Thad put me through. I’ve built walls since Thad did what he did, and even though I want to destroy the walls I have in place, I don’t know how. I don’t have the ammunition to get rid of them.

So they stay, cemented against my heart. An unbreakable barrier I don’t think I’ll ever be able to remove.

“Mind if I cut in with my fiancée?” Danger’s deep, husky voice asks from behind me.

I turn my head, and my eyes slam into his. I’m already letting go of Thad’s clammy hands, because there’s nobody I want touching me more than Danger in this moment.

Thad fades away. Actually I’m not even paying attention. My sole focus is on Danger, and Danger alone.

For the first time in a long time he looks almost happy. No, that’s not the right word. Like he’s hopeful.

“How did it go with Rylee and Colton?” I ask him once I’m sure Thad is no longer anywhere near us.

Danger doesn’t say anything but just pulls me closer, snuggling his nose into my hair. “Thank you,” he whispers.

Tingles race up my spine and I don’t say anything, not wanting to ruin this moment with any words. I let Danger lead me around on the dance floor.

I don’t ask any questions about what they spoke about because it’s none of my business.

And I don’t want to break this trust Danger is beginning to feel toward me. Maybe I can’t bring my own walls down for him, but maybe just maybe I can penetrate the walls he has constructed around his past.

He kisses the shell of my ear, his hot breath fanning against my heated skin. “Let’s get out of here,” he says, but he doesn’t give me time to answer because he’s already leading me toward the exit.

The room swirls into a mass of blended colors, and I can’t really focus on any one thing. Except his hand, holding mine so tight as we rush from the gala as if the world’s on fire.

He jabs his thumb against the button of the elevator, and when the doors ping open, I laugh when he rushes me inside.

“We have all night,” I tell him, finding his sense of urgency endearing.

“I won’t be able to last one more second if I don’t get my mouth on you.”