Dare to Love Read online

  “How can you, you hardly know me?” she asked.

  “You don’t believe me?” Kurt pushed and she shook her head.

  He stared at her and thought about it a moment. She wondered what he was up to.

  “How did you like those beautiful yellow flowers you saw at the supermarket?” he asked her.

  She squinted her eyes at him.

  “I loved them. When I saw them—”

  “You smiled so wide, so bright you looked angelic.”

  She thought about his words. She processed them and then it hit her.

  “You were there watching me? You got me the flowers?” she asked, her eyes welling up with tears.

  “I couldn’t approach you, talk to you then. I was still trying to work things out with myself, and waiting for Warner to get back from a business trip. Taylor said we needed to make a move and let you know how we felt about you. I didn’t think twice.”

  “Oh God, Kurt, that’s so beautiful of you.”

  She kissed him and then she hugged him tight.

  She pulled back and smiled at Taylor.

  “I was so fucking pissed off about those flowers. I tried hunting down your secret admirer but came up empty handed. Thanks to the big guy threatening everyone to keep his secret.”

  She chuckled.

  “You were acting funny,” she added.

  “Baby, I was just wondering why you didn’t buy those flowers yourself? You obviously loved them,” Kurt asked her.

  “Well, to be honest, after living on the streets and struggling to make ends meet and get a meal or two a day, I learned to not be foolish and to shop wisely. I only buy the things I really need. I’ve conditioned myself to be careful because there’s always that fear that I could lose my job, get sick, get hurt where I can’t work, and then I would be left with nothing.”

  Warner caressed her arm.

  “That’s going to change now, baby. You deserve the best of everything. We want to give you all the things you’ve ever wanted.”

  She smiled at Warner and reached up to touch his cheek.

  She shook her head.

  “I don’t need a bunch of things, Warner. What I truly, honestly need is your love, your embraces, each of you so I feel protected and safe. I need to know that we’re a team and that we can talk things through and learn to accept all our qualities.”

  “You got it, baby. It’s our pleasure to watch over you, protect you, and love you,” Taylor told her.

  She smiled.

  “Kurt, I’m glad you saw me in the supermarket and thought enough of me to want to make me smile. It means more than you know. Everything the three of you have done for me and how you’ve made me feel is so damn special, nothing will ever compare to it. So thank you,” she said and then she reached for a piece of bacon and began to eat. They watched over her, smiling and sitting in quiet, just being content and maybe even thinking like Mercedes was. That she could get really used to this. To going to bed at night and into her three lovers’ arms and then waking up in the morning having breakfast, talking, living lives together and then doing it all over again. Oh yeah, she could get real used to being their woman.

  Chapter 8

  “I don’t know if I like this idea,” Warner told Mercedes as she got out of the shower and walked into the bedroom to get dressed.

  “What’s there not to like? It’s the Grand Opening of the addition at Spencer’s. I want to be there for Marlena and the guys. Besides, you and Kurt will be there and Taylor will get there after work. Plus the other guys are around, too,” she said as she dropped the towel and began to step into a pair of black thong panties.

  “We’ll be working and trying to run security there. I’m not comfortable not having myself, Kurt, or Taylor right next to you at all times,” Warner told her as he absorbed her body and how truly sexy and beautiful she was.

  She looked at him with those hazel eyes and a defiant expression she had lately. It seemed to him that his brothers had truly helped her with self-confidence. She didn’t shy away more often than not and she stood her ground. He had to smile. It had been a month since the failed abduction and there were no signs of getting closer to the men responsible.

  “It’s not the same, having other men watch over you when you’re our responsibility.”

  She walked closer to him and ran her palms along his dress shirt as if flattening out wrinkles.

  “I love you, Warner. It’s been a month. I can’t live in fear or stop from participating in activities because those men could be out there looking. Then they win, and I’ve lost,” she said to him.

  He hadn’t told her about the website and about the money men were bidding on her. He and his friends doing the investigation thought that men would lose interest and stop bidding, thinking it was fake, but then Slick noticed a date. Next week’s date as the final night for bidding. They could already know where she was by now, and that scared him.

  He held her close and kissed her deeply. He let his hand massage over her ass. An ass he’d just fucked this afternoon while she rode Kurt and sucked Taylor’s cock while he was on lunch break. It was becoming a daily routine. Meet at their place for lunch then having Mercedes and maybe a quick bite afterwards.

  He squeezed her to him as he released her lips.

  “I love you, too. I just want you safe,” he whispered into her ear.

  Her delicate arms squeezed against his waist.

  “I’ll be fine. Let me get ready and I’ll even go with you and Kurt so you’re not late.”

  “We won’t be late. We got everything all set. Tonight we’re watching over the employees and making sure they took the training to heart and actually use what we taught them.

  “Let’s go,” he told her and gave her ass a tap as he released her.

  She smiled then walked over to the closet and took out a red dress. She grabbed it off the hanger, her back toward him, and he took in the sight of her body, the way her shoulders had definition, too, and then she had that great ass of hers. His cock hardened and he knew he couldn’t make love to her again right now, but tonight would be a different story. She stepped into the red, slim-fitting dress that had an open back that fell short of her waist. His imagination got the better of him especially when she stepped into the heels. It was a short dress that looked amazing on her body, fitting it like a glove.

  She turned around, running her fingers through her hair, giving them a little shake, and he smiled.

  He wasn’t going to be able to focus on this job tonight. Every single guy in the place would look at her and want her. He felt angry.

  “Warner, don’t you like it?” she asked, her voice sounding sad and her expression filled with disappointment.

  He closed the distance between them and swept her into his arms.

  He cupped her breast and held her gaze. She gasped.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? You look incredible. You look hot, and every fucking guy is going to want what’s mine. How the hell am I going to concentrate?”

  She gulped as he used his thumb to caress her nipple.

  “You’ll concentrate because you’ll remember that I’m going home with you, Taylor, and Kurt. You’re the only ones I want. I love you guys, remember?”

  He felt his chest tighten and he could hardly breathe as he covered her mouth and kissed her deeply. Using his other hand, he undid his pants, pushed them down, and then pulled from her.

  “I need you. Don’t say no. You’ll fix yourself after. I need you.”

  She was breathing just as rapidly as he was as she nodded her head in agreement.

  She slowly turned around and he lifted her dress. She pushed down her panties and then placed her hands on the bottom of the footboard.

  He suckled her neck as he thrust his fingers up into her cunt.

  “I need inside of you now. I need to know you’re mine and my brothers’.”

  “Take me, Warner. I need you, too.”

  She gripped the wood, he pulled her hi
ps back, spread her thighs, and aligned his cock with her pussy. He didn’t hesitate as he stroked up into her and sighed in relief.

  “Nothing feels better, calms me, completes me like being inside of you.”

  She pressed her ass back and he sought his relief, his need to feel content and assured that she wasn’t going anywhere and would always be his as he thrust into her over and over again until she cried out his name and he filled her with his seed.

  “Mine. All mine, always.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight as he kissed her neck and absorbed how good it felt to hold her like this and love her like this. He wished he hadn’t waited so long to let down his guard and to love her like she deserved. He’d make that up to her for the rest of his life.

  * * * *

  “I love it. It’s so big and I love the extra bar and the dance floor, too. Who did all the decorating?” Mercedes asked as she sat with her friends at a table near the bar. Monroe, Caldwell, Will, Leo, and Hank were nearby, all keeping an extra eye on Mercedes. She felt safe, though. Despite the crowds, she sensed Hank and Warner nearby, too, and every so often they would stop by and kiss her.

  “Alicia actually helped to decorate and come up with the great wall art and memorabilia,” Marlena informed them as she gave Alicia’s arm a hug.

  “That stained glass artwork behind the bar is so gorgeous and unique. Love that, too, Alicia,” Adele said to her and she thanked them.

  Mercedes finished her drink and then stood up.

  “I need to use the ladies’ room,” she said.

  “Oh, I’ll go, too,” Alicia told her and before they could get past the table, Monroe stopped them.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Ladies’ room,” Alicia replied.

  He nodded his head and followed them. But as he got to the hallway, someone stopped him, asking some questions.

  Mercedes sighed as they entered the bathroom.

  “Are you okay?” Alicia asked.

  “I guess so,” she said as she opened the stall and went inside.

  “You know they love you so much. Max has never seen Warner, Kurt, and Taylor act like this. In love. Seemingly happy, and he knows that it’s because of you,” Alicia told her from the other stall.

  Mercedes exited and washed her hands then looked at her lipstick.

  “I doubt it’s because of me,” she said and Alicia came out.

  “Well his friends would know. Max would. It’s his job to know about things like this.”

  Mercedes smiled at her.

  “It’s crazy, isn’t it? How we all came here to Chance, met one another, became friends, and never expected to fall in love.”

  Alicia smiled. “It sure is. But I’m glad I took a chance on Max, Monroe, and Caldwell. Though it wasn’t a smooth courting,” Alicia said and smirked.

  “But it worked out. I hadn’t wanted to take a chance, at getting close to anyone, at opening up my heart, never mind falling in love. I could have lost that chance.”

  “Hey, that was a freak thing. It’s in the past. You have your future with Warner, Kurt, and Taylor. Hey, when is Taylor going to get here? It’s almost nine,” Alicia asked.

  “I don’t know. Soon, I hope,” Mercedes said then winked at Alicia.

  Alicia hugged her arm as they exited the bathroom.

  “I know exactly what you mean,” Alicia said and they laughed as they headed down the hallway.

  The place was crowded as they came to the main area. Alicia was ahead of her and then Mercedes felt the hand on her arm. She swung around and some big, tall guy was staring at her and then he looked at his cell phone and then back at her.

  “Let go of me,” she demanded and tried pulling away.

  “You’re her. I found you,” he said and then began pulling her the other way and toward the exit.

  She planted her feet and tried pulling back as she yelled, drawing attention from those around her.

  He stopped and pulled her close. She was shaking.

  “Over a million dollars they want for you. But I found you. You’re mine.” He licked his lips.

  “And you’re fucking hotter than your pictures. And your fucking tits are huge.”

  She didn’t know what came over her but she smacked his face and he loosened his grip.

  She wasn’t going to get taken again. She didn’t know what the hell was going on.

  “You bitch.” He scolded, gripping her upper arm so tight she nearly fell to her knees but he wouldn’t let her.

  “Let go.”

  “Get your fucking hands off of her.”

  The guy released her arm as she heard Warner’s voice and then saw Warner punch the guy, throw him to the ground then onto his belly, and cuff him.

  Kurt pulled her against his chest and led her away from the man along with Monroe, Caldwell, Will, and Hank. Leo, Max, and the others remained nearby and stopped Warner from beating the crap out of the guy.

  “What the hell happened? Who was that guy?” Kurt asked her as he caressed her hair from her cheek and held her against the wall in the hallway. The others were there. She felt the tears in her eyes and then Caldwell touched her shoulder and took her hand into his.

  “You’re hurt,” he said and Kurt’s eyes darkened. She could see the veins by his neck and his eyes bulging he was so angry.

  “I’m okay. I’m okay, Kurt.” She hugged Kurt, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and he hugged her tight.

  * * * *

  “You are going to answer my fucking questions or I’m going to start tearing you apart limb from fucking limb,” Warner threated the guy who tried to take Mercedes. He had him in a chair, handcuffed in Danny’s office. Max was there as well as Danny, Hank, and Monroe. The others were with Mercedes and the women, including Taylor, who’d just arrived.

  “I got rights. You can’t ask me shit. I was just trying to pick her up.”

  “Bull fucking shit. Talk, or feel fucking pain,” Warner said and then pressed his thumb into the guy’s shoulder in a spot that he knew would cause massive pain.

  The man cried out.

  “Who the fuck are you? You work for R.J.S. National or something? I was just seeing if she was as good-looking in person as the pictures. I don’t have a fucking million dollars. But fuck is she worth it.”

  Warner slugged him.

  “Warner, you can’t kill him. I can’t stand here and let you do this. Let’s get the information and take it from here,” Max said to him.

  “Sorry, Max, but this whole case just got a lot fucking worse,” Warner replied.

  Just then someone knocked on the door. Danny opened it and Slick, Pinto, Breaker, and Gemini were there.

  “This the fucking asshole?” Gemini asked.

  Warner nodded.

  Pinto looked at the sheriff and the others then back at Warner.

  “We are taking him in for questioning. Miami is involved,” Pinto told Warner.

  Warner was shocked and his expressions showed it.

  “What’s going on and who is Miami?” Max asked.

  “Max, you have to trust me and let my friends leave with this guy. It’s the only way to keep Mercedes safe and possibly save other women’s lives,” Warner told him.

  Max held his gaze and then nodded his head.

  “But I expect to be kept in the loop.”

  “You got it,” Warner said to Max then looked at Pinto then at the guy who’d tried taking his woman.

  “Pinto, get this asshole out of my face before I slit his fucking throat.” Warner held the man’s gaze and knew his words sunk in.

  “I don’t want any trouble. I made a mistake,” the man said as Pinto pulled him out of the chair.

  “You sure did, asshole. You just don’t realize yet exactly how big of a mistake you made messing with a man like my friend here,” Pinto told the man as he, Gemini, and the others exited the room.

  Warner placed his hands on his hips, leaned his head back, and took a deep breath then re
leased it. He could have lost Mercedes again tonight. This shit had to stop.

  “She’s okay, Warner. You and Kurt got to her, and we were all nearby and would have been able to intervene and stop him,” Max said.

  “I understand that, but this shit has to stop. There are things going on that you don’t know, Max,” Warner said to him then looked at his friends.

  “You need to tell me so I understand,” Max replied to him.

  “Mercedes is being bid on,” Warner told him.

  “Bid on?” Max asked.

  “These men, the ones who tried to take her, wanted her so they could sell her to the highest bidder and make money off of her. Right now the bid for her is over a million dollars.”

  “What in God’s name?” Leo asked and Warner began to explain about the information they had so far. Jack and Danny were furious.

  “What are you going to do to protect her? Anyone, someone just like this asshole, could take it upon themselves to go after her and try again,” Danny asked.

  “I know that. I need to get that site taken down. I need to locate this Randall asshole and those other two fucks that tried abducting her,” Warner replied.

  “Who is this Miami person your not-so-friendly friends mentioned and seemed to shock you?” Max asked.

  “Someone with enough money, power, connections, and government power to destroy an operation like this one and get Mercedes out of trouble once and for all,” Warner said.

  “So that’s good then, right?” Jack asked.

  “Yes. But it’s going to cost me,” Warner said and when his friends asked him to elaborate he told them he couldn’t. He’d give Miami whatever he asked for, just as long as Mercedes and his brothers were safe and they didn’t have to worry about her getting taken ever again.

  * * * *

  “My God, baby,” Taylor said then pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight.

  He had arrived when Kurt and Max were going over what happened to her and how some guy tried taking her. He couldn’t believe what the guys said. He’d hunted her down and probably from the site men were bidding for her on. Mercedes was pissed off. He could tell. He was pissed off, too. Kurt and Warner had never mentioned the website or how serious this matter was.