Restless Excerpt

 True love was aquixotic ideal, though a plausible desire.

For most, love was afleeting euphoria that either imploded without warning or slipped away indrawn-out pain. And a love for the ages…? That elusive perfect love forimperfect people? That was an exclusive club where only a select few had amembership.

John “Johnnie” Donovanlearned the hard way he’d been denied admission. He had loved and lost andloved again.

And almost losteverything. His friends. His life.

His wife.

Kendall’s suicideattempt sobered him. He’d sought perfection from imperfection. He’d based hisown frustratingly imperfect relationship on someone else’s impossibly perfectmarriage.

She’d been dischargedfrom medical care and put into a psychiatric facility.Unlike times past, Johnnie made sure she was as close as possible. After threemonths, she was released. He’d never been so relieved or grateful, yet sheinsisted on staying in a guestroom.

When their kids movedback in with them almost a year after Kendall’s near death, Johnnie convincedher to return to the master bedroom. Upon her agreement, he’d thought shewanted to share a bed with him again.

She hadn’t.

Instead, she’d swornif he didn’t move to a guestroom, she wouldn’t return to the master suite.Mystified at why she resisted each one of his seduction attempts, he’d givenher the master suite. As time progressed, they became each other’s bestfriends. He awakened with her on his mind and fell asleep with her in hisdreams.

They were liketeenagers, sharing secrets and spending every waking moment together. OnceRory, Matilda, and JJ returned, Johnnie had never felt so complete.

And, yet, his sex lifewas non-existent. Kendall denied him access to her body.

Over the next sixmonths, Kendall was slowly welcomed back into the fold of the other old ladies.Megan, as always, was the first to forgive. She, with the help of Roxanne,paved the way for the others.

For the first timeever, Johnnie knew what real happiness was. He saw how it looked on Kendall.She glowed and he floated. He’d never love anyone the way he loved her. Noteven Megan, whom he’d loved with everything in him. She’d been his first loveand he’d always hold a special place for her. Committing to help Kendallthrough her near fatal suicide attempt forced him away from constant contactwith Megan. True, Rory, Matilda, and JJ lived with her and Christopher, butJohnnie knew they were in good hands and refused to use his children as anexcuse to talk to his sister-in-law.

As his feelings forMegan faded into sweet memories, he realized how much he truly loved Kendall;she was his everything.

Exactly two yearsafter she tried to end her life, she finally welcomed him into her arms again.The next day, Johnnie moved back into the master suite and slept by her sidefrom that day to this one. There were exceptions, of course, such as club runsand business trips.

Kendall wasn’tperfect, so she had her moments, but neither was he.

And so that notion oftrue love was a quixotic ideal. Real, constant love took work and care andtime.

It took understandingand protection.

It was that last,protection, that saw Johnnie in the passenger seat of a Mercedes, driven by theclub’s attorney, Brooks Redding.

For most of thetwelve-hour drive, Johnnie hadn’t said much. Understanding the wisdom ofremaining on Johnnie’s good side, Brooks kept his mouth shut.

As he turned into theentrance of a wood and metal building, west of Salt Lake City, and paused atthe gate, a shaggy motherfucker wearing a denim cut, indicated he roll hiswindow down.

Swallowing, Brookssidled a glance at Johnnie. “Go ahead, Brooks. This is for Kendall.” “Supposethey kill us?” Brooks whispered.

The biker knocked onthe window.

“If I have to die tosave my wife, then I will.”

Johnnie didn’t intendto die, but it was a very real possibility. They were there withoutChristopher’s— anyone’s—knowledge. Death was a very real risk.

“Johnnie—”

 “Open the fucking window,” Johnnie and theenemy chorused.

Brooks swallowedagain. Heaved in a breath. Finally, he pressed the button.

“Who the fuck are youand what the fuck do you want?” Shaggy Motherfucker demanded once the windowwas rolled down.

High fences surroundedthe property, so Johnnie couldn’t discern if an army of motherfuckers trainedguns on them, ready to fire.

“Repeat your name.”“Brooks Redding.”

“And the motherfuckerin the passenger seat?”

Johnnie leanedforward, all the better to see fuckhead. “I’m Johnnie. Bash’s little brother,”he said blandly. “Outlaw’s little brother.” Only by six months. Asshole didn’tneed a fucking family history.

The gatekeeper leanedinto the car and dropped his gaze to the patches on Johnnie’s cut.Straightening, he backed away and opened the gate.

By the time Brookspulled into the parking space another biker directed him to, Johnnie had lit acigarette. Jamming it in the side of his mouth, he got out of the car andslammed the door shut. Standing for the first time in several hours felt good.His full leathers and steel-toed boots protected him from the January cold.

“It’s a full house,”Brooks said, suddenly at Johnnie’s side, briefcase in hand, glancing around theparking lot in wide-eyed fear.

Available NOW!Restless: Legacy Generation Book 2A Death Dwellers MC Novel