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desperate she craved him. She tried to play it off as a need to remain safe, but she'd be lying to herself.
    Away from him, she was miserable, as if she'd lost all direction. She inhaled through her nose swiftly, overcome with desperation to stay by his side. Raul pulled away and frowned.
    Going down on one knee on the mattress, he said, "You're worried."
    "Can't you stay with me today?" She let her body sink into the mattress. "Let the other guys take the run without you."
    He pushed off the bed. "You know better than to ask or come between me and club business."
    She watched him move across the bedroom naked. The sight of his tight ass, meaty and squeezable, put her into a bad mood. Her attitude shifted at his tone. She hated and loved the firmness of the rules. Lived for them, really.
    Something deep inside of her needed the discipline, the structure, the knowledge that she was accountable to someone for how she behaved. She'd rebelled against that same kind of structure growing up until her stubbornness divided her from her family. Why she wanted the rules in her life now made her question her sanity. Maybe if she'd listened, conformed, and followed the tight upbringing demanded of her, she wouldn't be in the predicament she was in right now.
    All the years of depending on herself had her continually fighting to rebel against every person and thing. She worked her lips in worry. She recognized her moods and attitude enough to know when she was spinning out of control. That's why she was irritated that he was going on a run. They hadn't talked about what happened at last night's meeting or if he'd come up with a new plan.
    She wanted to tell him about Tango and the accusations he'd made. Raul would know if there was any talk going on about her, but he hadn't said anything. The openness and honesty they'd created in their relationship before they broke up never returned. Something kept Raul from trusting her. She needed more than the official 'my woman' stamped on her. It was as if they had to start from the beginning all over again, and she wasn't sure how to do that now that they had more problems between them.
    They couldn't live off good sex alone.
    Raul walked out of the bathroom. He tossed the towel he'd hung over his head to the floor, still half covered with droplets of water, and glanced at her. "Going back to sleep?"
    "No." She pulled the sheet around her body and walked over to him. "Can we talk before you leave?"
    "No time." He picked up a T-shirt off the dresser top, held it to his nose, and then pulled it over his head. "Not sure I like the talkative Crystal."
    She came up short. "What's that mean?"
    "Means what it means. If you need to talk, you can do it when I get back. In the meantime, stay on club property. You'll be safe. I've posted Luke and Nick outside until we ride in. If you need someone, let the prospects know and they'll get help. Nichols, Charlie, and Layrd will remain at the club," he said
    "Fine." She remained beside him.
    He put on his jeans, grabbed his vest, and turned around looking for the chair. "I'll bring another chair up when I get back too."
    Raul carried his boots and socks to the bed and sat on the edge. She dropped the sheet, stepped toward him, and kneeled at his feet. When he put on his socks and slipped into his black, heavy boots, she laced them for him.
    After finishing his left boot, she glanced up at him. "Is Tango riding with you today?"
    "Yeah." His gaze narrowed. "Why?"
    She shrugged. "No reason."
    "Jesus, Crystal…spit it out."
    She sat back on her ankles. "He's one of the guys involved in the same shit that Ethan was."
    Raul waited for her to pull his jeans over his boots. She pushed to her feet and continued. "Last night, he hinted that everyone thinks I set up Ethan. I need to know what happened to him, and how I was linked into the business he had going on the side. I know I should've left him once I knew he was in deep shit, and when that deal I was telling you