Standing face-to-face and staring up at Hack, I wished that I had reached out to him the first time I felt like someone was watching me. Then I would’ve been able to meet the hottest guy I’d ever seen months ago, instead of in the middle of this mess. His dark brown hair was longer on top and sticking up like he’d been running his fingers through it—making my digits itch to do the same. His square jaw was covered with several days’ worth of dark scruff, and so was the skin on top of his plump lips. The small gold ring in his right ear wasn’t hokey at all and only added to his sexiness. The black T-shirt covering his broad chest was stretched tight, showing off the ridges of his muscles. And the edge of a dark tattoo peeked out of his right sleeve with more of a tribal design showing on the left. If motorcycle clubs had websites, I would want to use Hack’s picture all over the site I’d build for the Silver Saints. It might not pull in a ton of prospects, but lots of women would want to drop by the MC.
“What’d I do to put that frown on your gorgeous face?” he asked, swiping his thumb across the corner of my lower lip where it was turned down.
I hadn’t even realized I was frowning until he pointed it out. Heat filled my cheeks because there was no way I was going to confess the jealousy I felt over the random tangent my brain had gone down. “It’s been a heck of a day.”
“It kills me to see you upset,” he rasped, stepping closer. “I’d do anything to see your pretty smile instead.”
I wasn’t sure when he would’ve had the chance to see my smile since nothing good had happened during the time I’d spent with the Silver Saints MC six months ago. But Hack didn’t give me the chance to ask about it. Instead, he brushed his mouth against mine as he took the final step that eliminated the remaining space between our bodies. When my lips parted on a gasp, he took full advantage. His tongue swept inside to tangle with mine, and his hands cupped the back of my head to hold me in place.
My body melted against his, and I whimpered into his mouth. Every inch of our bodies was plastered together. His unmistakable hard length pressed against my belly, a huge proof of how much he wanted me. Ripping his mouth from mine, he let out a guttural groan. I licked my lips, savoring his taste and making his dark eyes flare with need before they hardened. Dropping his hands onto my shoulders, he growled, “What did that motherfucker say to you when he came to your house that sent you running? And why the fuck didn’t you call me right away?”
The sensual fog cleared as his questions registered in my brain. My back straightened at the accusatory tone of the latter, making me feel a little defensive. Jerking my thumb over my shoulder, I answered, “I was so upset, I cried my eyes out until I passed out. But I texted you as soon as I woke up.”
“Shit.” His gaze scanned my face, taking in my puffy eyes.
“Yeah, having a decorated cop—who’d already threatened me—show up on my doorstep to rant and rave over something I didn’t even do was terrifying.” I shook my head and sighed, shivering a little as I remembered my confrontation with John Clark.
Hack led me over to the bed and settled me on the side of the mattress. He pulled the blanket off and draped it over my shoulders before sitting down next to me. Then he wrapped his arm around my body and pulled me into his side. “What pissed the bastard off enough that he broke his promise to my MC?”
“Apparently, the District Attorney’s office got some new evidence, and Sarah was released early.” I tilted my head up to look at his face so he could see how sincere I was being. “I swear it wasn’t me. I don’t know why he wasn’t able to find out what happened, but I had nothing to do with it. I haven’t talked to anyone about what I saw David do to Sarah since he was killed.”
“Fuck,” he groaned, his chin going to his chest as he stared at the floor. “It’s all my fault.”
4
Hack
“How could it possibly be your fault?” Paisley asked softly. She was staring up at me with such innocence that I almost felt guilty for the many dirty things I’d wanted to do to her the moment our lips touched. Almost.
“I found enough evidence to send to the DA to get Sarah exonerated,” I admitted. If I’d known it would blow back on Paisley, I would have snatched her ass up months ago. “I’m guessing John heard the news and assumed it was you. I’m so sorry I let that happen to you, baby.”
I shook my head, wanting to kick the shit out of myself for not listening to my instincts. Dom had had a point when he told me to give Paisley some space to recover from what had happened, but it had been foolish to wait this long. She would have been home, with me, safe and sound, rather than on the run from some dirty cop.
“Are you kidding?” My girl backed up onto the bed and brought her legs up so she could kneel on the right side of me. I twisted my torso to face her, and she cupped my face in her small, soft hands. “What you did was amazing. If I’d been able to dig up that evidence, I would have done exactly the same. Even if it had put me in that jerk’s crosshairs again.” Her bright green eyes turned sad, and I hated it. “Sarah was innocent, and she didn’t deserve
