Page 153 of Stand: Part One

Darren was quiet as he mulled over the options, the easiest of which was just to tell me no like he usually did. When he said nothing, I wrapped my arms around his neck and gently pressed my forehead to his.

Running my hands down his chest, he sucked in a slow deep breath, a low hum of appreciation rumbling up his throat as he nudged his head against mine.

“Please,” I whispered, my voice desperately sweet while my stomach secretly ate itself alive.

Pulling away, he met my gaze, the sharpness of his stare cutting me deep, making me fear he could see right down to the core of my scheme.

“And what do I get in return for doing this enormous gesture for you?”

I leaned in close, a smirk hot on my lips. “How about I fight you for it?”

Darren huffed a short laugh, a dark chuckle rolling from his throat. I didn’t miss the quick flash of heated desire that flickered across his deep blue eyes, the promise of a rough afternoon headed my way.

Clutching my waist, Darren swiftly stood, taking my weight with him without effort. Planting my bare feet on the floor, his hands cupped my face as he leaned down to kiss me. I moaned into his lips, letting him feel what would be my impassioned gratitude, and praying he wouldn’t notice the tremble in my spine.

Releasing my mouth, he pinned my gaze in place, that deep blue swallowing me whole while his thumbs rubbed along my cheeks.

“Alright,” he finally said. “Be ready to leave in an hour.”

And with that, he turned away and headed back into the suite, Scott waiting for him at the door. For a split second, Scott’s gaze locked with mine, a strange look in his eye before he turned away to follow Darren back inside.

I dismissed it just as quickly, far too busy keeping my elation and surmounting panic to myself. Because holy shit, I had actually done it. Again.

Hook. Line. And fucking sinker.

Now, I just had to make sure we stayed there for the next three days.

37

Drive

The jet landed an hour ago, and my body was vibrating like I was still inside it, my nerves rattling me to the core. Everything inside me hummed with anticipation knowing what I had miraculously managed to do—line us up for a full-scale combative assault. My mind was running up the walls with ideas of what could happen in the next few days.

Destruction.

Death.

Freedom?

Maybe. It seemed way too easy. Could I really just bench myself and assume that everything would go according to plan? Fuck no. I wasn’t going to let anyone fuck this operation up. I had to be there to make sure the agenda was met. Hell, maybe I’d finally get the chance to kill Darren myself if the opportunity presented itself.

No one would give a fuck about me if they thought Darren had been killed from all the fighting. I could just quietly disappear, especially since Darren had just told me that was exactly what I was supposed to do now anyway.

But what if Jason was planning on engaging in the fight? Matt couldn’t confirm if he was, so there was only a chance that Jason would be there. Although I couldn’t imagine Jason would want to sit out on any operation that would lead to my rescue. He’d want to be right in the middle of it. So that was where I would be. Front and center.

And then I would find him.

My plan decided, I figured I would need to take the edge off and have some fun with my dog before the shit finally hit the fan. I needed something to distract me before my anxiety literally ripped me apart. But as I got closer to the back parlor, I overheard Darren speaking to someone with enough aggression to make me halt in my tracks.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Daniel?” Darren growled, his elevated voice making me cringe back against the wall.

“I don’t know how it happened, but as of this morning, the money is gone,” a voice said from what sounded like a cell phone. Daniel’s voice, I suspected.

“How the fuck is that even possible?” Darren growled.

“Still trying to figure that out.”

“Were you monitoring the system? Watching the accounts?” Scott asked.