"Yes.They’resetting up a kill box for your cousinChase."
Silencestretches between us.Hestudies my face to find a lie.Iam the best liar in the digital world, but right now,I’mtelling the honest truth.
"Why?" he demands. "Whyhelp us?"
"Becausethey have my brother."Thewords crack on the way out.Exhaustionstrips my armor away. "TheytookKevineight months ago to force me to crack your encryptions.I’vebeenfeeding them garbage data and blocking their malware whileIhunt for him."
Thehard line ofDaniel'smouth softens.Hisgaze drops to my mouth, lingering on my lips before snapping back to my eyes.
"You’vebeen fighting a war on two fronts," he states.
"I’mwinning,"Ilie.Thedrowning sensation in my chest suggests otherwise.
Shiftinghis weight, his hand leaves my wrist.Hisleather-gloved hand slides up my arm and over the rough wool of my sweater to cup the back of my neck.Hiscalloused thumb brushes the racing pulse under my jaw.
Ajolt goes through me, devoid of fear.
Pureliquid heat floods my veins.
Insteadof recoiling,Ilean into his touch.Theinvoluntary heat sparked by his raw power overrides my logic.He’sa predator.Imight need a predator.
"You'redone running," he growls.
"Ican't stop.IfIstop,Kevindies."
"Ididn't say you stop fighting."Histhumb traces the line of my jaw. "Isaid you stop running.You'recoming with me."
"Tothe clubhouse?"Ajagged laugh escapes my throat. "Theclub president will put a bullet in my head beforeIcan explain.I’vebeen inside your servers,Daniel.Iknow where the bodies are buried."
"Loganwon't touch you."
"Why?Becauseyou say so?"
"Becauseyou're mine now."
Theabsolute statement hangs in the freezing air.
Mine.
Hestates the claim as an undeniable fact, wrapping his violent protection around me.
Mylungs seize. "I’mnot property."
"No," he agrees, leaning in until his forehead rests against mine. "You'retrouble.You'realso freezing to death in a shack while trying to save my family."
Pullingback, his grip slides from my neck to my upper arm.Themassive biker hauls me up from the desk.Myknees buckle, sending me stumbling against the solid wall of his chest.
"Grabyour drives," he commands. "Leavethe rest."
"Myrig?—"
"Wehave better gear at the club.Grabthe data.We’releaving."
"TheCostasmight be watching."
"Letthem watch."Aferal grin spreads across his face, transforming the stoic mountain man into a lethal threat. "Letthem see me take you.Letthem know theTrackerhas you."
Scramblingto eject the external drives, my trembling fingers drop a casing.Danielscoops the metal up before it hits the floor.