Page 42 of Riding the Line (Steel Saints MC #1)

Would they regret every moment, every touch, every kiss?

My racing thoughts were interrupted by the dinging of the oven, letting me know it was preheated. I kissed him, then returned my attention to the mess behind me.

“I do want to tell you,” I whispered, but I don’t think he heard me.

As I finished putting the final touches on the chicken parmesan I was making, he went and grabbed two glasses and a bottle of whiskey.

Leaning against the counter, he sipped on his drink and watched me.

With dinner in the oven, I reached for my glass that he had poured for me.

I leaned next to him, and for a few moments, we just stood in silence.

He had opened his mouth to say something when his brother walked in, grabbed himself a glass, and poured a generous measure.

Something was upsetting Mac—I could see it in the way that muscle along his jaw jumped because he was grinding his teeth.

He leaned against the counter across from Dalton and me.

His eyes ran over my body like a drowning man searching for a lifebuoy.

I cocked my head at him, silently asking him what was on his mind.

Dalton’s eyes flicked between his brother and me, sipping at his whiskey and waiting for the conversation to start. After a minute, Mac finally spoke.

“Dalton and I are heading out soon, Vixen.”

I frowned at him. “What for?”

I glanced at Dalton, who didn’t seem phased by the news, and kept his eyes on his brother.

“Silas and Luca are moving a shipment. A big one. I need you to get the motel rooms ready. Clean sheets, make sure all the lights work, spotless. I’ll talk to Holly and Maria before we head out; they’ve helped before.

And—” he hesitated, looking between me and his brother and the floor.

Those blue eyes troubled like a stormy sea.

“Grab some kids’ toys. Girls’ toys. Put those in a few rooms, too. ”

It took everything in me to keep my jaw from dropping.

I’d learned at that awful dinner that the motel rooms were often used for victims of sex trafficking—the few women they could get away from the DiAngelos without too much fuss.

And I knew, from my training, that Luca DiAngelo traded in women like a cowboy did cattle.

But kids’ toys? That could only mean one thing…

Children weren’t easy to sneak out; their freedom did not come cheap.

As much as it disgusted me, I knew that children brought in the most money for scumbags like the DiAngelos.

Why would Dalton and Mac risk everything they’ve been working toward?

Unless they had finally decided that enough was enough.

Unless this marked the beginning of the end, and they were ready to give Silas the boot.

I looked over at Mac, who was watching me carefully.

I knew that if I were to give any sign, any hint of discomfort, he would have someone else do my job.

When I squared my shoulders and lifted my jaw, the faint glint of approval I saw in his eyes made me want to preen like a love bird.

I ignored the oven when it dinged and walked over to Mac instead.

Wrapping my arms around his waist as best I could, I stood on tiptoes and kissed his stubbled jaw.

I was faintly aware of Dalton pulling dinner out of the oven, and setting it on the counter.

Mac pulled me into him and, when he leaned in for a kiss, I opened for him eagerly.

I loved the taste of this man—a delicious combination of coffee and whiskey and mint.

I pulled away from the kiss reluctantly and stepped back, looking between the two men I had grown to love despite my best efforts not to.

“Please promise me you’ll be careful.”

“We’ve done this a hundred times, baby girl.”

I shot Dalton an admonishing look. “Don’t do that. Don’t lie to me. This is different. You know it, I know it, Mac knows it…”

He flashed me a crooked, apologetic smile, and glanced at his brother who said, “You’re right, gorgeous. This is different.”

“I told you those killer instincts were going to be trouble. We can’t keep her in the dark forever.”

I nodded, agreeing with Dalton. Part of me wanted the full story so I could protect them as best I could, while another part wanted it so I could do my job.

“What he said. Don’t you trust me?”

You shouldn’t . But I want you to . I kept that part to myself.

Mac ran a hand through his hair. “It’s not that, Vixen. We’re just trying to protect you. This is messy. Club business always is.”

“I don’t need protecting. I don’t mind messy.” I was still standing between the two of them, but Dalton came closer, and ran a tender thumb along my jaw.

“We know, baby girl.”

My eyes searched his, which don’t give anything away.

I frowned. “Then tell me.”

Dalton brought me to him, stealing a kiss that I pulled away from with a huff. “Tell me,” I demand.

But another look between Dalton and Mac said I’d already gotten all the information I was going to get tonight.

I scoffed, and stomped over to the fridge.

Pulling out a couple big bags of salad mix, I turned my back to them and distracted myself by focusing on a salad to go with my chicken. I could feel them watching me.

“When do you leave?”

They both answered, “Tonight.”

That gave me pause, and I froze for a second before asking, “And when will you be back?”

“Tomorrow.”

I knew that if I were to have turned around, they’d be standing side by side.

My dark prince and my knight in shining armor.

Different, yet so similar. There wasn’t a thing I could do to keep them from going.

And what kind of person would I be if I even asked them to?

They were saving lives. Innocent lives. They had to go.

“Please,” I whispered, “please just be careful. Come back to me. Promise me that.”

My words were met with silence, then strong hands wrapped around my waist, turning me around. I found myself sandwiched between the two men, who had moved closer to me. Dalton had his thumbs hooked through two of the belt loops on my jeans.

Mac took my hand, tracing soothing circles over my palm.

“I don’t make promises I can’t keep, gorgeous.

What Dalton and I do is dangerous. Being a part of this club is dangerous.

But I can promise you that there are very few forces on this earth that would have the capability of stopping me from coming home to you.

” He brought my hand to his lips. “Very fucking few.”

I leaned my head back against Dalton’s shoulder. “I love you both so fucking much. Just be careful, okay? I… I don’t deserve this. Us.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dalton open his mouth to protest, but I pressed my head back into his neck and he quieted. “One day you’ll understand. But, for now, let’s just eat. You two need food and rest before you go.”

Without another word, I disentangled myself from between the two of them. Mac sent out a text and, a few minutes later, more of the club came pouring in.

Rodney shot me a wink. “I thought we were doomed to my cooking or something.”

I laughed, but it felt a little forced, and I took a step back for the flood of people helping themselves to a plate before taking their seats at the table.

I don’t see Maria or Holly, and Dalton noticed my questioning look. “They’re at home, Vixen. Jackson and Diego are going with us.”

That made sense—they were probably cashing in on some much-needed family time.

I sat between Mac and Dalton, and was quiet throughout dinner.

Dalton bantered back and forth with a few of his friends, his hand never leaving my thigh under the table.

Mac, meanwhile, was sipping a whiskey, leaning back in his chair, and just watching everything around him.

When he caught me looking at him for the millionth time, he leaned towards me and pressed a kiss to that sweet spot between my neck and shoulder. “Just breathe, gorgeous.” He whispered the words into my ear, making me shiver .

Instead of everyone just leaving after the meal was over, like normal, every person at the table helped clean up.

The mood was somehow more somber, as if everyone knew something was going down.

I found myself watching Dalton and Mac. They had left on plenty of these so-called errands, and I’d grown used to coming to find rooms empty but clearly freshly slept in.

They were here, and then gone again. For their safety, and ours.

But this time, there were kids involved. This was a greater risk. They couldn’t travel to the safehouses alone—they were more valuable to the DiAngelos.

I couldn’t help but think this would all be a hell of a lot easier if my dumb ass hadn’t fallen in love with the Mills brothers.

I glanced over at the men in question, aware that it’s too late to go back now.

Nor would I, even if I could. I was just going to have to trust that they knew what they were doing, and wouldn’t do anything stupid in their determination to bring Silas down.