Page 92 of Truck Stop Titan

“Yes.” And all of me. My body. My rage. My hunger.

“Dane. I told you I love you, and you disappeared.”

“I’m here.”

With a huff, Moriah wiggled free of the blankets, the bed bouncing under her defiance. Hard footsteps marched across the floor, light flooded the room, and my gorgeous woman, with her wild hair, ridiculous freckles, and killer curves, stood hands to hips, and glared. Until she took in the condition of my mug, the bruising now a dark purple, evidence of my fight with Tango.

Sympathy flashed across her face before her brows pinched. “Jesus. He really did a number on you, didn’t he?”

“It was long overdue.”

“What does that mean?”

“That’s between me and Tango.”

“Unbelievable.” She plucked my shirt from the floor and threw it at me. “Get out.” My jeans came next, whipping my face. “Get. Out!”

The pain shooting through my chest was unbearable. I threw the blankets back and dropped my feet to the floor, counting in my head,one,two,three, forcing the anger and frustration down. I rose, slow and steady.

Moriah stepped back, chest rising and falling, cheeks red, eyes wet. “I’m having your effin’ baby and I’m stuck with you, but that doesn’t mean I have to put up with your bullshit.”

I stalked closer. “I’m here.”

She stood her ground. “You’ve said that. You’re here. But guess what? I’m here, too. I’m here with you. I’m here for you. I’m here when you aren’t. I’m here when Mim calls out for you at night.”

“What?” My head snapped back like I’d taken a punch.

“Yeah. She cries for you in her sleep. She was calling your name. And you were gone.”

“Shit.”

“So cut the bullshit. If you’re here, then effin’ be here. All of you. You hear me? All of you. I need words, Dane. I need to hear about your day. I need to know what’s going on in your head. I need to know if and why somebody beat the shit out of your face. I need to know why you disappear for days. And I need details. I don’t care how ugly they are. You can’t give me that, then get the eff out of my house, and give me back that spare key.”

Ultimatums pissed me off, and despite the fact I was in the wrong, I lashed back. “You want ugly details? You want my ugly details? Fine. Years ago, I helped my cousin drug Tango. I helped her because I hated that pretty boy motherfucker. What he had, who he had, what he stood for. Hated him. I helped Addy drug him, fuck him, make a God damn baby with him. Then I tried to take his girl.”

Moriah’s gaze dropped to my feet, then she raised her chin and met my glare. “That’s why he hates you?”

“Oh, no sweetheart, that’s not the half of it.” I slid a hand around her neck, then fisted the hair at her nape, holding her steady, giving her no room to flee. “Tango left. Slade didn’t want me. Addy found out she was pregnant with Tango’s kid. Know what I did? Not a God damned thing. I went on with my life while Addison fell apart. While my father and his sick fucking friends abused her. Blondie tried to save my cousin, despite knowing she was carrying Tango’s child, and she managed to save the baby. But Addy? She was too far gone. They hurt her, they killed her, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to stop them.”

“Who?” Her voice trembled. “Who killed her?”

“The club. My brothers. My sick fuck of a father.”

“Dane,” she whispered on an exhale.

“That’s only a sliver of my ugly. Want more?”

Her mouth formed, “Yes.” Her eyes pleaded,no.

“My father went after Slade. Tango took him down, but I killed him. Made him pay for what he’d done to Addison.”

Fat tears rolled down her cheeks, and she mirrored my glare, feigning composure and failing. “That all?”

God, I loved her grit, despite her repulsion. “Not even close.”

Moriah stared right through me, chin high, challenging. I gave it right back, silently begging her to concede.

Thank fuck, she backed down, closing her eyes and whispering, “No more. I don’t need anymore. Not tonight.”

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