Chapter 4

CHAPTERFOUR

“Are you insane?” I asked and threw my hands out before I realized I was the one who probably looked insane as I flailed my arms like a toddler throwing a tantrum. I settled my hands on my hips before I continued. “First you break into my room. Then you tell me we’re getting married.”

As cool as a man could be who had lost his mind, Davis nodded.

“Though you forgot the part where I told you I knew who your father was.”

“Right, Davis, and that makes you more insane. My father is worse than my brother. He won’t care I’m married to an outsider. Hell, he wouldn’t care if I was an old lady. He’d make the order to have me released and no one would dare to go up against him. This won’t work.”

Davis shrugged.

I stared.

What the infuriating man didn’t do was speak.

“Seriously—”

“Listen, Jane, you’re right. Us getting married won’t solve the problem but it’s a start.”

Now I knew for sure Davis had lost his mind.

Either that or he knew nothing about motorcycle club culture.

“No, Davis, it’s not a start. I’m telling you Satan won’t care. Not only that but us being married will only draw attention to you.”

“Exactly.”

Exactly?

That was it, just one word with no further rationalization.

“You’re going to have to explain that to me. No one, and I mean no one wants to be on my father’s radar.”

“Why don’t we sit?”

My gaze went from Davis standing in front of the window blocking my beautiful view of the ocean to the only surface I could sit on unless I was going to hike myself up on the dresser.

The bed.

If I’d known a crazy man was going to rent the adjoining room, pick the lock, and help himself to my personal space I would’ve reserved a suite with a sitting area. However, since I couldn’t predict my current dilemma I booked the smallest room in the hotel. And there was no way I was getting any closer to the bed while Davis was in my room.

“I’m good where I am.” I paused to add, “Though if you’re uncomfortable standing you could go back to your room so I could finish packing.”

Unfazed, Davis went on, “We need to talk about this.”

Exasperated, I couldn’t stop my hands from coming off my hips and flying out to my sides. I probably looked like a deranged prairie chicken trying to take flight with my arms flaying as they were but in that moment I couldn’t bring myself to care that I was making an ass out of myself in front of the very-good-looking-though-certifiably-insane Davis Wright.

“There is nothing to talk about. I already told you, calling Takeback was a mistake. I don’t want your help and I’m absolutely not going to marry you.”

“So, you’re what, just going to hope your dad doesn’t find you? Maybe move around until you run out of money? Or will Zeus be funding your expedition?”

Ugh.

“I get you think I condone my brother’s business practices but I don’t. I have never accepted money from my brother and I never will.”

Davis’s brows pulled together and that frown I was beginning to think was his signature look was firmly back on his stupidly handsome face.

“Business practices,” he spat. “Is that what you call blackmail and selling drugs? What about the women he pimps out? What do you call that, his side hustle?”

I didn’t need to be told that my brother had turned into a foul, lowlife criminal. Though I was sick of being reminded.

“No, Davis, I call that disgusting. I also call it none of my business because I am in no way a part of his world. I can’t stop him from doing what he does any more than I can stop my father from being a piece of shit. The only thing I can do is what I do—stay away from them and mind my own damn business.”

The wrinkles around his eyes softened, which only annoyed me more. One minute it was clear he thought I was just as bad as my family, then the next minute he looked almost like he felt bad for me.

Before he had a chance to insult me again I went on. “I don’t get you. You obviously don’t like me, so I’m confused as to why you’d want to help me.”

“I don’t not like you. I don’t know you.”

The absurdity of the conversation hit me. Nervous laughter bubbled up until I couldn’t hold it back, and I busted into what I was sure sounded like delirious giggles.

“You…you…you…” I stammered, unable to get more out.

“Me, what?” Davis asked when I didn’t finish.

It took more time than it should’ve before I was able to quell my laughter.

“You don’t know me,” I finally said. “Yet you want to marry me.”

Davis looked like he was going to say something but stopped and narrowed his eyes on the door across the room. Then lightning fast—I mean, superhero fast—he was suddenly in front of me and pulling me toward the door to his room, snatching my purse off the dresser as he went. I didn’t protect this mainly because I couldn’t. He was closing the doors and locking the one on his side before my mouth had time to process what had happened.

“What—”

“Shh.”

“Davis—” The last syllable came out muffled because the asshole had his hand over my mouth.

After that I understood why.

It wasn’t like the walls were paper thin, but it was a hotel and not a very expensive one. It was easy to hear someone was in my room, and not being quiet about it.

“She’s not fucking here.”

There were a few seconds of silence before the man in my room went on, “Trust me, I know Prez. I was nice the first time. I didn’t think the bitch had it in her. I won’t be nice this time.”

My eyelids drifted closed as reality set in.

The man who my father sent to Idaho to pick me up was in Hawaii. And he was right, he had been nice in an asshole-biker sort of way. In other words, he could’ve been more of a prick when he told me my father wanted me home and he didn’t want to hear any backtalk from me or he’d duct tape my mouth.

Davis’s hand dropped but only as far as my shoulder. He squeezed twice, which I was positive was meant to be reassuring but it did nothing to calm my fear.

Once again, my father was going to get his way.

Only this time, it would be me, not Trevor who paid the price.

If only marrying Davis would fix my problem. I’d be at the altar so fast my hair would catch fire.

Unfortunately, a piece of paper and a few promises to God wouldn’t deter Satan.