HARDCORE: Storm MC(130)

Missy put a hand on his shoulder. “You've survived plenty of firefights before.”



“Sure, I have,” Cain agreed. “But like I said, you haven't.”



Missy felt a flare of rage again. “Look, I told you, just because I'm a woman doesn't mean...”



Cain held up a hand for her to stop. “Just let me talk for a minute, okay? It's not because you're a woman. It's because you're...I mean, I'm...” He stopped and took a breath, trying again. “I never said this to anyone before, so bear with me, all right?”



Missy cradled Cain's face in her hands, looking deep into his eyes. “Hey. Whatever it is, just tell me. I promise it'll be fine.”



Cain's expression softened. “I'm...falling...for you. You know? And it's fucked up, and I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with it. All I know is that the thought of something happening to you...I mean, if I lost you...I don't think I could take that. Even the thought of people shooting at you is freaking me out. And it's not like I'll be able to watch your back properly, because I'm not exactly in peak condition right now and it'll probably be all I can do just to make it out of this in one piece. But if you get hurt, or worse—”



Missy kissed him on the lips, stopping him mid-sentence. “I understand,” she said. “I really do. But Hunter will be looking out for me, and so will Keith and the other Eagles. Just like they do for each other, and just like they've always done for you. And on top of that, I'll be watching my back, and yours too. And if something does happen to me, well, then you'll just have to deal with it like you would if it were Matches or Burger. Beyond that, none of us have any guarantees in this life.”



Cain's eyes were filled with affection, but more than that—respect for her, and pride as well. “I'm pretty sure I can guarantee I'll never meet anyone as strong, smart, and surprising as you are,” he said. “And that I'll probably love you 'til the damn stars burn out.”



Missy could feel her heart melting in her chest. She'd never seen such desire and devotion in anyone's face before when they'd looked at her, and in that moment, she believed she could easily spend the rest of her life with someone who looked at her like that and never get tired of it. No matter how infuriating he could be.



“I love you too, Cain,” she said.



Their lips met again and they sat like that for a long time, holding each other on the couch and kissing. Missy didn't know whether they'd be alive tomorrow, but she knew that she wanted to spend every available moment curled up with him while they still could. She felt like she'd found something she'd been deprived of—perhaps even deprived herself of—for her entire life, and now that the rest of her life might only extend to a few more hours, she wanted to savor it as much as she could.



Instinctively, she could feel that Cain was having the same thoughts. All of this passed between them wordlessly—an understanding that was all arms and lips and heartbeats intertwined.



After a while, they fell asleep in each other's arms, their bodies letting go of the tension and stress that had been running through them both like jolts of electrical current for the past few days.



Missy dreamed of sharing a long and happy life with Cain, her head on his shoulder, her body perfectly still except for the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.





Chapter 37



Missy



At sunset, Cain and Missy were awakened by the roar of motorcycles approaching up the street like the inhuman snarls of enraged giants. A moment later, Keith appeared at the window, rapping on it excitedly with his knuckles. “Hey, they're here! Come on, get up. They're here!”



Missy jumped off the couch and helped Cain to his feet as the bikes' headlights washed through the living room. Missy opened the front door and saw Hunter driving the MC's van in front of almost two dozen Eagles, including prospects without patches and guys who'd retired from the club years ago. All of them appeared to be heavily armed.



“You guys ready to rock?” he asked, leaning out the driver's-side window.



“Damn right,” Cain said. Missy nodded.



“Cool,” Hunter nodded. “Arm yourselves an' be ready to roll out in five minutes. Missy, I've got Cain's bike in the back of the van for you.” He tossed her the keys and she caught them.



Missy grabbed her .38, her knife, and the shotgun she'd been keeping in her car. Then she pulled her socks and boots on as Cain tucked his pistol into the back of his jeans.



Once they were ready, Missy and Cain headed out. Keith and the Eagles in the garage were already on their bikes. They’d unloaded Cain's bike from the van and it was sitting in the driveway, gleaming in the disappearing rays of sunlight.