Meet the characters:
Wildcard has already been too late to save one girl, but he won’t let it happen to the woman he falls in love with. His life started off rough and only got worse, until Guard found him and brought him into the fold. He’s proved his worth time and time again. When Charlotte comes into his life, he knows she’s the one. The timing is all wrong but he’s going for it anyway.
Charlotte will always be grateful to the Pride for taking her brother in and teaching him that good men exist. She’s determined to make a home for her brother but didn’t count on her abusive father returning to turn her world upside down. When Wildcard jumps in with both feet, she’s afraid to screw things up but he’s worth the risk.
Determined to conquer all, Wildcard and Charlotte fight for the right to be happy.
Feel the passion:
She’s crying. Alone. In the fucking dark.
I’m about to approach when I see a shadow moving from underneath the streetlamp and heading straight toward Charli. Charli sees him coming too and jumps off the swing. She starts to run away.
The man calls out to her. “Charlotte, stop! You can’t avoid me forever.”
Charli ignores him and keeps running, straight back to where she came from. When the man gives chase, I jump out and block his path.
“Who the hell do you think you’re chasing?” I get a better look at the guy. He’s middle-aged with a gut on him, but something about him is familiar.
“Get out of my way.” The man tries to go around me, but I mirror his movements and stop him. “I said get out of my way.”
“Who the hell are you and what do you want with Charli?” I ask gruffly. He stops and scans my face.
“You know my daughter? What are you, her pimp?” the fucking asshole says. I see red and react fast, punching him once in the jaw and again in the gut. He doubles over in pain.
“Don’t you ever say shit like that about Charli again.” He’s about to spew more shit, but I stop him with a warning, “I won’t be responsible for what happens to you if you say another word. Get the fuck away from here while you still have the ability to walk.”
I’m seething with anger as I watch this guy back away toward a car. He drives off, but I can’t let this go. I head back to Millie’s Diner. All the lights are off, but I check the side door leading to the apartment anyway to make sure she’s locked it. In her state, I wasn’t sure if she was thinking straight.
I pull out my cell and dial.
“Wildcard,” Guard’s sleepy voice says into the phone. “Why can’t shit happen at a decent time?”
I ignore his question. “Shit’s not right with Charlotte.”
From the rustling on the other end of the phone, Guard is moving around and walking about. His voice is louder when he asks, “What’s up?”
“I saw her crying at the schoolyard. I was going to check on her when this guy calls her name. She knew who he was and ran. And I mean ran!”
“Who is this guy?”
“I stopped him from going after her, and he says he’s her father. That means he’s Noah’s dad too. The asshole insinuated that Charlotte was a prostitute and I was her pimp.” I pause, then add, “I fucking hit him. Hard.”
“Right.” Guard expels a breath. “Where are you?”
“Outside Millie’s. Someone’s got to be here if he comes back,” I say. “I’ll stay.”
“You need to sleep. I’ll get Priest to cover in an hour. But tomorrow, we call a meeting. I think it’s time to find out how much Noah knows about his father.”
I agree, but it’s also time to confess the reality of what’s happening. “She’s mine, Guard.”
“No shit, Wildcard. Figured that out at Roscoe’s wedding.” He laughs.
I thought I was being cool about it. Guess not.
Leaves you wanting more:
The ding of the bell over the door chimes, and in struts my crush. He’s charming, funny, and sweet. They call him Wildcard because, as he once told me, you never know what he’s going to do. I hope I’m not drooling. I swear that man has an effect on me that I can’t explain. The way he walks with purpose, his short-cropped sandy-blond hair with a curl that always seems to land over his eye that makes him even sexier… He reminds me of dashing and daring James Dean. And when his clear blue eyes meet mine, my knees go weak, and I feel a warmth run through me. Since he joined the Pride, he’s been working out a lot. That once skinny kid, the guys talked about is now a muscular, well-built man.
But right now, Wildcard is stalking straight toward me, his face is set in serious mode, and my mind goes to Noah.
Did Dad find Noah? Panic ensues. I grip the salt and pepper shakers I’m holding, feeling my fingers cramp.
“Noah?” I say, my mouth going dry.
“He’s fine, baby. But I think it’s time you come clean on what the hell is going on with you.”
I blink once, then again. How can he possibly know? Besides being stunned, I’m getting angry. I don’t owe him an explanation. I’m not asking for anything. I straighten my spine, narrowing my gaze, and, leaning forward, I tell him just that.
“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I hiss. “Who do you think you are, coming in here and accusing me? I’m not asking for your help, and I don’t need it.”
I don’t know what reaction I expected, but I certainly didn’t think I’d get the one I got, which is to have his sensual mouth with those perfectly shaped lips surrounded by those whiskers form into a smile that turns into a magnanimous laugh. His head is thrown back and his eyes crinkle as his laughter finally dies down.
In a humorous tone, he replies, “You didn’t ask for help, but you’re getting it anyway. What you don’t get is that you’re mine. I take care of what’s mine.”
“What?” I wheeze out. When did that happen? What is he talking about?
“Think back, dollface. You’ve been mine since the day I set eyes on you. I’ve claimed you.” And then he adds, “And Noah too.” I’m too stunned to speak. I know my mouth is gaping, and I can’t seem to do a thing about it, but he can. A gentle finger comes under my chin, putting slight pressure on it to guide my mouth shut. “This isn’t how I wanted this conversation to go. I’ve caught you off guard, and you need to think on it,” he says, his eyes warm and endearing.
I nod.
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