Laken's Surrender (Haven, Texas 2)

“You won’t see anything,” Duncan growled. “We won’t be playing in the club.” Laken was far too fragile for that right now.

Saxon raised his brows. “Are you sure that’s the right move?”

“She had a panic attack.”

“But she went there, prepared to try. She was trying to get what she needed. She turned down a lot of offers before you stormed in. If you can’t give her what she needs…”

Duncan stepped towards the other man, his temper firing, his control shattering. He was frustrated and worried about doing what was right for Laken. Having her panic the other night had nearly torn him apart, and when she told him about being attacked… well, the guilt had nearly had him on his knees.

Yet, he couldn’t deny that Saxon had a good point. She had triggers for sure, but it was up to him to work through them with her, not avoid them out of fear that he would frighten her off, which was what he had been doing. Up until tonight when he’d been so rudely interrupted.

However, having Saxon goad him by acting like he knew more about his woman than he did… Yeah, he wanted to thump the bastard.

Kellan stepped in front of him. “Duncan, stop. This isn’t the time. Take a swing at him later. But right now we need him.”

Saxon snorted. “How nice to be needed.”

“Saxon, shut up,” Jake said roughly. “We’re not here to talk about Duncan’s sex life.”

“What am I here for?” Duncan snarled, stepping back. Although it would have been damn satisfying to punch Saxon, it wasn’t going to help things any.

His boss leaned back in his chair, looking tired. The scar on his cheek stood out, pale against his olive skin. “We need to bring you in on something, Duncan,” Jake told him. “Your brothers told me that you know why they are here.”

Duncan nodded, pacing. “Yeah, and it’s madness. There is no way we’re setting ourselves up as bait for some serial murderer, right?” He looked over at Jake, expecting instant agreement. His stomach clenched as he saw the look on his boss’s face.

“You have got to be kidding me, Jake,” he said with frustration. “You want to invite this asshole here to attack one of our women? How can you even think of putting any woman in danger?”

“It’s because I’m thinking of their safety, Duncan. If we do this right then we can protect them. If we ignore it then there is the possibility that we will have another victim on our hands.”

“There is no reason to think he will ever come here.” Texas was a huge place—what were the odds he’d end up in Haven?

“So you’re happy to let this maniac kidnap other subs and murder them?” Kellan asked him.

Duncan ran his hand through his hair. “Of course I don’t want that. I will do all that I can to stop him, except let our women be placed in danger.”

“We need to be proactive about this, brother. It’s the only way we have of keeping everyone safe.”

Duncan stared at him. “What are you talking about?”

“If he isn’t here already, then we have good reason to suspect he’s on his way,” Eli told him slowly.

“And what ‘good reason’ would that be?”

Kellan sighed and looked at his brother.

“You know what?” Duncan screamed. “Fuck you two. Fuck you and this stupid secretive shit. I’m not agreeing to anything unless you tell me everything.” He turned to look at Saxon. “I can’t believe you are going along with any plan of theirs that brings some maniac down on our heads.”

Saxon frowned slightly. “Believe me, I don’t want to. I still haven’t fully agreed.” He sent a sharp look at Jake, who sighed and shook his head.

“You know it has to be this way, Joel,” Jake said tiredly.

“Duncan, I wouldn’t do it this way if I had another choice,” Kellan said.

“Bullshit,” Duncan said, turning to leave. “You hate this place; you don’t give a shit about anyone in this town. But I do. I don’t know why you need my agreement, but you won’t be getting it until I know everything.”

“Tell him,” Jake ordered. “He deserves to know.”

Kellan sighed and nodded. “We know this sociopath will be coming here because he’s following the one that got away.”