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“I was the second oldest of five. We didn’t have much but we had each other,” Hart said. “Clothes were passed down until they had so many holes they looked like Swiss cheese. Sometimes meatloaf Monday was three days a week, but, hell, when Dad grilled outside, we were all there.”

“How many boys and girls?” Crystal asked as she spooned the food into the various serving dishes.

“Three boys and two girls,” Hart answered. “All of us guys in the house were older so my sisters’ boyfriends used to be terrified to come over.”

“Where is your family now?” She walked the dishes over to the table where Hart was just finishing up setting it and placed them in the center.

“Shelly and Portia still live in Seattle; Mikey lives in Alaska like a homesteader with his wife. They don’t have TV or Internet. They raise animals and stuff.”

“Ugh, no cable or Internet?” She shuddered.

“Right, that’s what I said. I visited once and almost went insane,” Hart said. “Great bike ride, but I wanted out of that state.”

Crystal laughed. “And your parents and other brother?”

She saw sadness creep into his eyes. “We lost Mom and Dad ten years ago. He died of cancer and she followed a year later of a broken heart. Gerry died in a car crash when he was twenty-three. He was a lawyer and heading for a political career in D.C. when it happened.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged. “What can you do? The rest of us are spread so far apart that we try to keep in touch via e-mail, or, in Mikey’s case, letters. I’ve got a niece and two nephews I’ve never met.”

“Well, you should remedy that,” Crystal said firmly. “I was an only child and my parents didn’t have family I could lean on when they died. It’s just me and Kaydee against the world. I wish she had cousins to play with.”

“Her dad’s side of the family?” Hark posed the question.

Crystal looked away abruptly. “They don’t see us as family. They are convinced I made him join the Marines so he could marry me, and when he died they blamed me. I have Lyn. She’s a lawyer and her husband Jim is one of the good guys in the sheriff’s department. We have Miss Emma, who is like Kaydee’s grandmother, so we’re fine. We don’t need them.”

Hart grabbed her arm when she went to turn away. She met his gaze and he said gruffly, “Their loss.”

Her heart give a little flip flop and she took a deep breath, wanting it to behave. Their moment was gone when Kaydee came skipping out of the room and she smelled like her Bath & Body Works body wash instead of antibacterial hand soap. Crystal gave her a look but said nothing as she invited Hart to sit down and they shared dinner. It all felt too comfortable. Kaydee was talking a mile a minute, and Hart was listening and even commenting on Nickelodeon shows. She learned he was a Saturday morning cartoon buff and loved Fruit Loops with almond milk. The window was slightly open to let in the cool spring breeze with a hint of honeysuckle in the air. It felt so good and for just a little while Crystal allowed herself to enjoy it.

They were finishing up dinner when, from outside, she could hear the roar of bike engines coming near. She firmed her mouth in a thin line and waited for the noise to go by so they could continue eating and enjoying each other’s company. But the noise didn’t go by and when the first shot hit a glass-framed picture of her and Kaydee, she screamed.

“Get down!” Hart shouted.

“Kaydee!” Crystal screamed and crawled across the floor as bullets peppered her home.

“Stay down. I’ve got her,” Hart called over the noise and she could hear her baby crying as they all moved behind the sofa, hoping it offered some protection.

She wrapped her arms about her baby girl and tried to shush her as the bullets kept coming. It seemed to be minutes before they emptied the automatic weapons they had and she heard laughing before they roared away. Kaydee was crying so hard that she began to hiccup and gag.

“It’s okay, baby, it’s okay” She brushed the hair on Kaydee’s face aside and saw a smear of blood.

“Hart, she’s bleeding!” Crystal cried out.

“Crystal, let go, let me see her,” Hart said calmly, but she was unwilling to do so. Her baby was hurt and she needed her. She jumped when he snapped at her. “Crystal, listen to me, let me see her, now!”

He pulled Kaydee out of her arms and she wanted to fight him. But he crooned to Kaydee and she responded to him. Hiding her face in his shirt, she got drops of blood on it. “Let me see, baby girl, shh, it’s okay.” He looked at the area and assessed it before saying, “It’s a scratch from glass, that’s all. It must have happened when I grabbed her off the chair and took her to the ground with me.”

“Thank you, thank you so much,” Crystal said reverently and wiped her tears with her sleeve. “They tried to kill us. They were trying to kill us.”

“Call your friend and her husband, then call nine-one-one. I’m going to start snapping pictures with my phone. There is no way that fucking sheriff can deny this shit happened.”

“He probably gave them the go-ahead,” Crystal said. “I’m done with this, done with it all. I want out of this town.”

“Don’t let them chase you away,” Hart said roughly and cupped her cheek. “I’m going to fix this, and you won’t ever have to be scared again.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt because of me,” Crystal protested.

“I won’t get hurt. They want a war, I’m sure as shit going to give them one,” Hart answered. “Go call your friends.”

She crawled away to find her cell phone, still too afraid to get off the ground. She sat by the bedroom door and watched Hart rock her daughter and calm her crying. Beneath that bad boy exterior, he was a good guy, but she still didn’t believe he was stable. She saw the look in his eyes when he reassured her.

But then, the attack stirred up something deadly inside her too. On one hand, she wanted him to crush every last one of them who tried to hurt her and her daughter. On the other hand, she was unsure if he was let loose if he could be restrained once more. That scared the hell out of her.

She closed down the motel. There was nothing else to be done. After the shooting, she couldn’t stay there. Her apartment was in need of serious repair before it was inhabitable again. And after the shooting Joseph quit because he felt like they were all in danger. The few decent guests checked out and high tailed it out of there without even asking for a refund. And the Deuces bikers left too, probably at Sheriff Layton’s urging. They didn’t go far, just to a motel chain down the street. They drove by and sneered, calling out derogatory things as they passed. The only person who stayed was Hart as he refused to leave. He said that leaving the motel completely unoccupied, the bikers would destroy it by retaliation. He wasn’t about to let that happen no matter how much she urged him to leave.

She made a formal report at the sheriff’s office. Jim took it and filed it himself so it wouldn’t get “lost.” Some of the deputies looked at her with sympathy and voiced their anger in muted tones, afraid Sheriff Layton would hear them. And then there were the others that just snickered and laughed, believing they were above the law. She wanted them to pay because Kaydee had a bandage on her forehead and woke up every night screaming and crying. They’d allowed people to terrorize her child and were now laughing about it. They deserved whatever was coming.

She and Kaydee were staying with Lyn and Jim. The very next day after the incident, Lyn went to Atlanta to the FBI office. She took them a packet that she and Jim had been compiling, which included the attack on her house. They were going to start an investigation, but until they had the facts of their own, everything was at a standstill and many people in Honeywell were still living in fear.

After what happened at the motel got around the rumor mill, residents of the town who were afraid became even more afraid and people barely glanced up anymore. Everyone did their errands quickly downtown and if they heard bikes, their footsteps quickened and they got out of there fast. Some even went as far as to hide behind a bush or a tree as the bike gang passed.

Crystal dropped Kaydee off with Miss Emma at the restaurant while she went to the motel real quick to pick up some paperwork. The silence was almost deafening and when she closed her eyes she could still hear the gunfire and her screams… A knock on her office door made her shriek in fear and she took up the bat next to the door ready to defend herself. But it was only Hart at the door with a frown on his face.

“You could’ve called my cell and I could have collected anything you needed. You shouldn’t be here, Crystal.” Hart stepped into the office.

She gave a humorless laugh. “Even in daylight I have to be scared now, huh? You shouldn’t be here either, Hart. How do you sleep knowing they can kick your door in?”

“They could try, but they’d fail, and I sure as hell would defend myself with deadly consequences,” Hart answered. “Any word from the Feds?”

“None that Jim or Lyn told me about. Oh, Jim wants you to come over to a cookout this weekend. He wants to meet you,” Crystal said.

He shook his head. “I’m okay here. I’m not good with family orientated stuff.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it.” Crystal blew out a breath of frustration. “You were having dinner with us and having fun. You have family and you were raised with a big family.”

“That was before and this is now,” Hart said simply.

“Yeah, sure, then why stay here and help us? Why be so good with Kaydee?” she asked.

“Maybe I just want to get in your pants,” he answered.

“Then, in that case, don’t use my daughter to get a booty call. I’ve got enough assholes in my life.” Crystal grabbed the envelope and her purse and went to move past him.

Hart grabbed her by the shoulder and pressed her against the wall. He was way too damn close but she wasn’t afraid. In fact, she wanted it. She looked up at him and his gaze bore into her like he was trying to see into her soul.

“Say something,” Crystal said.

“I’m not an asshole, but I’m not a good guy either,” Hart stated.

“You want everyone to think you’re tough but I see through you,” she retorted.

“I drink, I fight, I fuck and I ride. I keep it simple and you, Crystal, are not simple,” he said flatly.

“Then move and let me walk out of here and you can go back to your life the way you like it,” she dared him. He looked at her silently and she spoke again. “Let me go.”

For an answer he pressed his lips to hers gently. That lasted for all but five seconds before he was devouring her mouth in a kiss that devastated her senses. Everything about him was dangerous and decadent, but as he penetrated her mouth with his tongue, Crystal gave up even that thought and immersed herself in the pleasure of his kiss. He lifted her up and she wrapped her jean-clad legs around his hard, muscled thighs. She whimpered as he pressed against her and she could feel the hard bulge of his cock. Hart thrust against her, simulating the act of fucking her and her body exploded in ecstasy. He did it again, harder, while their lips clung and tongues dueled. If he kept that up she would come right then and there and they still had their clothes on. There was a hair’s breadth between his lips and hers when he spoke.

“I could fuck you right now and you wouldn’t say no.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” she whispered.

He gave a soft laugh. “If I slipped my fingers in you right now you’d be so wet. Your panties are probably soaked. Your nipples are hard under that thin sweater. I can feel them through your bra. Say no to me, Crystal.”

“No,” she practically whimpered. God, his words were like heat against her skin.

“That doesn’t sound too sure or forceful,” he murmured and bit her bottom lip gently.

“Regardless, it’s still no,” Crystal answered.

“Very true.” Hart stepped away and she instantly felt the loss of his touch. “Run away, southern belle, and I bet you I’ll be in your dreams tonight. But one more thing.”

“What’s that?” She was trying hard to find her composure.

“The next time I see you like this, I will take you hard and hot until you’re screaming my name while my tongue is buried in your pussy,” Hart promised. “Then I’m going to fuck you in so many different ways and you’ll still beg for more. Not like those men in those books you have stacked up there, but like a real man, pulling your hair and telling you dirty, nasty things.” He stepped close again and she swallowed hard. “So run away, sweetheart, and come back when you’re ready to play with the big bad wolf.”

Crystal did just that. After picking up her purse and the envelope, she fled her office and didn’t stop until she got to her car. Inside, she leaned against the steering wheel and tried to regain her composure. She saw him come out and their eyes met and held. She felt a shudder roll through her. His gaze spoke volumes and his intent was clear. He wanted her and damn if she didn’t want to say yes. He watched her as she pulled out of the parking lot. He probably wanted to make sure she got out of there okay. She drove the opposite way from where she knew the Deuces bikers were staying, not wanting to give them any reason to chase her down. All the way back to Lyn’s he kept her eye constant on the rearview mirror and her phone ready to call for help in case she saw anyone following her. All the while her thoughts were on Hart and how he had made her feel. Getting naked and between the sheets with him would bring her the utmost pleasure, that wasn’t a doubt. But when he left he’d shatter her heart. A leopard never changes its spots and a bad boy never gives up the life, even if he seemed great with kids.

****

So it’s time to set a fire under some people
, Hart thought with too much devilish pleasure. While Crystal may have thought he was just staying at the motel to secure her property, there was something more. He needed to be able to move around without questions and being alone in a motel was the best place to be. With her keys, he changed rooms every night in case someone came looking.

But at night he tracked the bikers and the dirty cops easily, collecting evidence silently. The deputies didn’t even try to hide what they were doing, hanging out and partying with bikers. Wearing a disguise and keeping himself hidden, he saw a few of them do a little drugs and even manhandle a waitress. All the while he documented it and then transferred it to SkyDrive for safekeeping. He’d give it to Crystal’s friend or the Feds, whoever would do the best job at putting these guys behind bars. Right now, he was antsy from being in one place for too long and from the ache of wanting Crystal.