Dark Guardian (Black Hoods MC #3) - Avelyn Paige Page 0,31
mouth. “Oh my God!”
“He did it, and his last target was the daughter of one of my men. We tracked them down and rescued her and the kids.”
“What about their uncle, Randall? You told the police you didn’t know anything about him.”
“He won’t be bothering the kids anymore.”
“You mean, you…”
“He’s not a threat.”
He killed him. There’s not a doubt in my mind. The Black Hoods rescued the kids and took him out like yesterday’s trash on dumpster day. Justifiable as it was, it’s still murder. There’s a murderer on my couch. A flipping killer. Aaron was right.
“That’s why they’re with you.”
“Yes. They needed a safe place to recover, and I had an empty house with no one in it.”
“I don’t understand. Why would you want to take on two kids in, well, your line of work, I guess you could call it?”
“I was a dad for just a short while before I lost my son. I’ve been alone for a long time, and Kevin and Natalie need someone who will protect them. I want to give them a good life, a happy life. One where they don’t have to worry that someone is going to rip them away again.” His honesty shines through his dark eyes, like he’s giving me a piece of his soul.
Why is he telling me this now? Why tell me about his club’s dealings with the trafficking ring? I’m an outsider to their world. An outsider who has the authority to take those kids away from him.
“Why didn’t you call the police?”
His eyes narrow. “I think you know why. All I care about is that they’re safe, and they were until DFPS got involved.”
“You mean, me.”
“Yes. I know you’re just doing your job, but these kids are fine with me. They’re happy. I can give them the life they deserve with a big family that loves them.”
“By family, you mean your club. A group of violent vigilantes.”
His body stiffens before I get the last word out.
“If that’s what you want to call my club, sure. But we do what the police won’t. We protect our own, and those who can’t protect themselves. So, if you want to label us vigilantes, have at it. It doesn’t change a fucking thing.” His voice is almost a growl.
“It’s illegal.”
“There’s a lot of illegal things that happen every single day, but you don’t see those people trying to clean up the streets or save three innocent kids from a life of abuse, do you? Surely you can understand that.”
“I do, and I don’t. I’m bound by the law to protect children. You’re lawless. You do as you please without consequences.”
“There are plenty of consequences, Grace. It’s just not us who has to pay the ferryman.”
“So what happens to Kevin and Natalie when your club gets mixed up in something, putting them in the crosshairs?”
His face changes. “It’ll never happen,” he states matter-of-factly. “Those kids will never be in harm’s way.”
“You can’t guarantee that. You know you can’t. I know you think you can provide a great life for those kids, but there’s always going to be someone out there who wants revenge for something your club did. They’ll be the ones who are hurt in the end.”
“They won’t. When you love two people as much as I love those kids, I’d put myself in the line of fire to protect them, and so would my club. They’re a part of us now. If you’d give me a chance, you’d see that too.”
“I can’t just give chances away like that. The courts decide the cases, and I just investigate them. I have no power.”
“You have more power than you think.”
If he only knew the truth. I’m powerless. I always have been. Helping kids is all I’ve wanted to do, but I’m not a judge. I’m not an attorney. I’m the bad guy who rips families apart, along with my own heart.
“Do you trust me?” he asks.
I blink, unsure of how to answer. Finally, I decide that in this case, honesty is the best policy. “I don’t know how I could.”
“Just try. I need you to come with me.”
“You want me to come with you, right now? At this hour?”
“Yes. I need you to understand what I’m trying to tell you. The only way you can do that is to come with me.”
I consider his proposal. Riding off into the night with this man isn’t smart, but there’s something about his honesty that makes a part of me feel safe around him.