Crushing Beauty (Harbingers of Sorrow MC): Vegas Titans Series (14 page)

“David!” Britton called as she tried to run toward him. Jagger
shot out his powerful arm and stopped her.

“I said: how did he get here?”

“Why would I know?”

“Well I certainly didn’t tell him where our warehouse was
located.”

“Neither did I.”

He rolled his fingers around her shoulders, desperately
trying to refrain from crushing them beneath his fingertips. “Then enlighten
me, Britton. Who told him?”

She wanted to tell him it was Hank. It would be the perfect
way to get rid of the only glitch in her operation. She opened her mouth,
willing herself to lie, but every ounce of her moral judgment stopped her
voice. How could she use someone as a scapegoat only to cover her own tracks? The
man had a family, and Britton had no idea what Jagger would do if he thought
Hank had betrayed him.

Britton’s thoughts raced faster. Not only that, but Jagger
had no knowledge of the connection between Hank and David. If he knew that, he
would know that David was with the FBI, and then her cover would be completely
blown. She couldn’t believe that she had almost slipped up with that
information. How much longer would she be able to juggle all her lies?

“I truly don’t know.” She admitted. It was the honest truth.

David began to squirm. He obviously wanted to say something.
He wanted Jagger to let go of Britton. He frantically tried to break his
bindings. Jagger stepped forward, amused by his efforts.

“Would you like me to remove the gag from your mouth?”

David ceased his struggle and nodded, feeling defeated. Jagger
obliged, and pulled Britton to his side, wrapping his free arm around her
waist.

“Do you have something you would like to say to us, David?”

“Get your filthy hands off of her.”

“I don’t think that’s a very nice way to talk to someone who
has you tied up.”

“I don’t care what happens to me, just let her go.”

“Well, well, well, we have a martyr here.” He grabbed
David’s collar and jammed his fist into his neck. “Now, how did you find us?”

David coughed from the pressure on his throat. He knew if he
didn’t give him an answer, Britton would be blamed for releasing his secret. “I
have GPS on Britton’s phone.”

“What?” Britton was shocked. “David, why?”

“I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

Jagger released his collar and pushed him back onto the
chair. “Give me your phone.”

“Jagger.”

“Britton, this is not a request. Give me your phone.” His
voice was deep and haunting.

She fished her phone out of her pocket and handed it to him.
He threw it on the ground and crushed it under his boot.

“Jagger, please don’t hurt him.” Britton pleaded with him,
unfamiliar with the devilish look in his eye.

“But he knows where my family is.”

“Who is he going to tell?”

“I don’t know, but I need to make sure they’re safe, at all
costs.”

“Jagger please…I can’t…” She looked at David’s weakened
stature. He had blood on his face and his shirt was torn. “I can’t let you hurt
him.”

“This is not your call, Britton.”

“Please, please, I’ll do anything.” She jumped in front of
David, protecting him.

Jagger stared at her, confused by her surrender. Why was she
doing this? Didn’t she understand the gravity of this situation? That a stranger
with an obvious vendetta against him now knew where he operated his business?

He lowered his booming voice. “Britton, please move.”

“No.”

She wasn’t going to budge. He needed a different approach.

“What do you suggest I do?”

“Just let him go.” She came closer to him, hoping to weaken
his desire to do harm.

“How can I do that?” He was now pleading with her. His
patience was being tried. He eyed David. He never let his guard down around his
enemies, but he needed to understand Britton. More so, he needed her to
understand him, and his previous tactics were proving to be less than fruitful.
Why couldn’t David just have done what he was told and let her alone? This
whole situation was completely unnecessary. Why was David being so senseless? There
was only one reason why he would…of course.

“Do you love her?”

“Jagger.” Britton attempted to stop his query.

“Do you love Britton?” Jagger’s face was now inches from
David’s.

“Yes.” He whispered, and continued to nod while his thoughts
took him away.

Britton stared at David, unsure if he was playing the part
of her ex-boyfriend, or if her superior actually garnered feelings for her over
time. His eyes met hers and her mouth dropped open. David shrugged his
shoulders in apology. It was a confession.

Jagger stepped away, silent. Of course he loved her. They
had been together for the last four years. But what did that mean? Did Britton
love him as well? He wanted Britton all to himself, but was she holding on to
some requited love for the man he had forced her to break up with under his
supervision? How could he be so stupid, so blind? What he had asked her to do
was ridiculous and childish on his part. Why did she go along with it?

“Britton, are you scared of me?” He was coming to a
realization.

Britton paused, considering Jagger’s assumption. Had she
been truly scared of him and that’s what made her bend to his will? Or had it
been her desire to succeed as a field agent that kept her spiraling deeper into
his game? Or was it only love? Was it a love she wasn’t able to fight?

He couldn’t handle the seconds of anticipation. Jagger
pulled her in, crushing her ribs against his. “Are you scared of me?” He
implored.

“I don’t know.” She mouthed as tears sprang from her eyes.

“What?” His voice cracked.

“I don’t know.” She buried her face into his chest. Be it
from fear, the operation, or love, there was no one she wanted comforting her in
that moment other than Jagger. That was where she wanted to be.

He softened, wishing he could take back the last few days of
absurdity, or that he could stop himself from what he was about to do. “Hey.” He
lifted up her chin. “Hey.” He smiled at her, hoping she would mirror his
expression. “It’s all right. I trust you, okay, with all my heart. Britton, I
trust you.” He held her tight to his chest, wanting nothing more than to take
all her pain away.

What hurt her most was that he actually shouldn’t trust her.
She was only positioned there to get inside information and witness his arrest.
He had every right to be nervous and cautious. She was playing him. She should
be the one tied to the chair. Instead, he was blinded by love, and she could
see how much it hurt him every time he strayed from his trust of her. He was
beating himself up about it. His instincts were getting in the way of his
heart.

Jagger took a deep breath. “I want you to choose.”

She looked up at him. “Choose what?”

“Me or him?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It was wrong of me to assume that after all these years, we
could pick up where we left off. You had a life, and I just barged in and
forced you to change it. If you want to be with David,” he fought his words,
“I’m not going to stop you.”

Britton was stunned. Who was this man standing in front of
her? From where did this sudden change come? She didn’t want to leave Jagger:
not at all. She had a family again, a nephew, and the love of her life. How
could she leave all that behind?

“I choose you.” She quietly announced.

Jagger caught his breath, and his whole body relaxed. She
wanted him. After everything he had put her through, she still chose him. “I
love you.” His smile took over his face and his dimples pierced his cheeks.

She returned his expression. “I love you too.” She ran into
his arms, clutching as tight as she could. She never wanted to let him go. “But
please, Jagger let David go...for me. He's innocent in all this.”

David had no idea what he was witnessing. How deep had she
gotten herself in? Was she actually in love with this monster? Or was she just
that profoundly into the operation? Either way, he believed her: she was either
in love with him, or a very good liar. He needed to get her out before she
wasn’t able to distinguish between the two. Or was he too late?

“David can go.” Jagger offered.

“Really?” Britton had never felt so relieved.

He looked to David. “But if I ever see you around here
again, I’m going to have someone else make that decision for me.”

“I understand.” David nodded.

“Can I…” Britton hinted to Jagger that she wanted to say
goodbye.

“Of course.” He kissed her forehead and made his way to the
door. He trusted her more than he had ever trusted another person, and he could
finally accept that. The thought warmed his heart. She chose him. Britton loved
him.

He walked out of the room and pulled the door behind him.

“What the hell are you doing here, David?”

Her tone changed the instant Jagger left the room.

“Oh thank God, I feared you actually had fallen for him.”

“What are you doing here?”

“You said he blindfolded you. I needed to make sure we’d get
the location.”

“So you got it. Why are you here?” She continued to push for
his answer.

David played with his response. Why did he show up at the
warehouse? There was no real reason for him to be there until Britton called
the raid. He sighed, knowing the real reason he had come. He had already
admitted it.

“I needed to make sure he was treating you all right.”

“You’re kidding me right? I thought we talked about this.”

“And yet you keep showing up with new bruises.”

“Don’t…I bruise easily. Believe me, I would take him out
before he could ever really hurt me.” She wasn’t sure how much truth was in
that statement, but at the time, it made sense.

“I know, but Britton, I couldn’t help it. I was sick with
worry.”

She dropped her head and ran her fingers through her hair. “Here,
let me untie you.”

She pulled at the knot, allowing his wrists to breathe. She
rolled the course cords in her hands. It was the same rope Jagger had used to
tie her up in the casino hotel room. It had only been a few days, but so much had
happened since their first encounter. She looked at her wrists. The bruises
were fading and the scrapes had turned to faint markings. Jagger was a jealous
man, but only because of his love for her. He had waited so long for her return
to him. He had protected her, took care of her family, and killed for her. And
the entire time, she had no idea. Of course she loved him. How could she not?

And now he was changing. He sacrificed his reputation for
her. He chose not to punish someone who, a week earlier, he would've undoubtedly
killed without a second thought. He did it for her. She quietly laughed at the
thought.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yes. There you go.” She stood up and tossed the ropes to
the floor.

“Come with me.”

“What are you talking about? I’m not finished here.” The
truth was that she still hadn’t decided what she was going to do. She had all
the information she needed to arrest him. Now she was just stalling. Now she
had another reason to stall.

“Britton, I don’t know what’s happening here, but I need to
get you out. It’s becoming too much for you.”

“No it’s not.”

Either she wasn’t seeing it, or she was hiding something
from him. He decided to play the only card he had left. “As your supervisor,
I’m calling off the operation.”

“David. Please, no.” She begged of him. “I’ve been working
so hard for years. Please don’t take this away from me.” And yet all she could
think was,
please don’t take Jagger away from me
.

“I have to. This isn’t working.”

Britton began to defend herself, but stopped suddenly. If he
called it off now, Jagger would be safe from a prison sentence. They wouldn’t
have any evidence to hold him. Should she take the high road and let her love
live his life? Was she willing to sacrifice everything she had built, all the
feelings that had been stirring inside her since she was reintroduced to Jagger
Stromm? And what about Dominic?

If she left now, her brother, sister-in-law and nephew would
also be safe. Maybe this was the right decision. It was painful, but Jagger had
sacrificed so much for her, now it was her turn to do the same. She found
herself thinking that maybe in another ten years their paths will cross again,
and they’ll be able to laugh about the time she almost arrested him. If only…

“Okay.”

“Then we can drop this?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Thank you.” David stepped in, drawn to hug her. He
slid his arms under hers and lifted her body to his. He felt soft sobs, and
pulled her closer, allowing their cheeks to touch. She was warm, and soft, so
soft. Her hair smelled of chestnuts and he forced himself to resist the urge to
nip at her ear that delicately lay at his lips. As her cries deepened, she
clasped the back of his shirt between her fingers. David felt her nails grace
his back, and it sent a chill up his spine, causing him to harden with desire. He
lightly kissed her cheek, convincing himself that it was an acceptable act.

She allowed her tears to flow, only causing her to clutch
tighter to his yearning body. He rested another kiss on her cheek, this time
inching his way to her lips. She didn’t stop him, only pulled her face away to
wipe the tears from her lashes. Their eyes met, and David couldn’t help
himself. He flexed his arms and pulled her into him, meeting his mouth to hers.
It was his moment of ecstasy, an answer to the dream that had been haunting him
since the day in the terrycloth towel.

Britton quickly pushed him away, shaken from her state of
loss. “What are you doing?”

“I…” he stuttered. “Oh.”

“David, no.”

“I thought.”

Britton turned to run to the door.

“Britton, wait. I’m sorry.”

He followed closely behind, meeting her as she threw open
the heavy door. She stopped dead in her tracks, and David’s momentum crashed
into her.

“Agent Howard, what are you doing here?” Hank could not hide
his shock.

“Agent Howard?” Jagger questioned, looking to Britton and
David. He stared at David; his thoughts clear to everyone around him. His eyes
bounced back to Britton.

Britton saw the realization hit him. His face twisted as
though he'd been punched in the gut. It wasn’t his normal display of anger; his
jaw wasn't clenched and his muscles weren’t flexed with tension. He was
completely defeated, weighed down...Jagger was heartbroken.