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Just that baby enforcer and the pretty VP.
I scrambled to my feet and put down another King. Not the enforcer. In my peripheral, I saw him annihilate Drummer, and I couldn’t pretend to be sad about it.
I didn’t need any help defining my sexuality—that horse had bolted years ago—but it had been a long time since I’d set eyes on a man who made my blood rush like he did.
And McGovern? I’d keep him for my dreams.
He never put on Folk, and the respect was so rigidly mutual that sometimes I wondered how far they’d go to protect each other.
making use of the extra inches I was pretty sure he had everywhere.
Somewhere among them was a lone weeping willow that had my daughter’s initials carved into the trunk, but I didn’t have time for nostalgia.
“I hate it when he doesn’t come home, and I miss you when you’re not right there missing him with me, but knowing you’re together makes it easier.”
“I need you for lots of things, brother. But more than anything, I need you to trust me.”
Cam shrugged. “All right. We’ve got another leaner. I don’t give a fuck.”
“Liar.” Alexei spun in his seat. “You are obsessed with rituals, biker boy.” “You’re obsessed with me. Get some new jokes.”
it hit me harder than I was prepared for that I was holding someone else’s kid when my own needed me more.
Rubi came with me. “I’m not doing yoga with you.” I held Hope between us, using her tiny body as a shield. “That fuckin’ hurt last time.”
“How old were you?” “Nineteen. I knocked her up and her dad went kind of crazy. Then we lost the baby at five months.” I pointed to a tiny, blown-out angel tattoo on my wrist. “But we were all in by then, and we had Willow when I was twenty-three.”
Our mother was dead. But I couldn’t deny she’d left a legacy of awesome men behind. Men who cooked, cleaned, and mostly took care of their own chores.
I covered the meat with foil and watched my little brother hack up cabbage as if it had been the sentient being to plant a bomb in the rusty Defender our dad used to take fishing.
Embry didn’t need to see the glint of a blade in the late evening sun.
“You’re annoying,” I growled instead. “And tell River to stop harping on about that fucking curse. It’s pissing me off.” “When has that ever stopped River doing anything? You could try not reacting to every little thing.” “That’s your advice? Really? Mr Overreacts to Everything?” Cam opened his mouth to respond.
Saint didn’t ask much of me in return for the love he didn’t give any other woman. If he wanted me to accompany him to Dublin and back before dinner, I’d do it.
I dropped the hammock on my seat and faced him. “I’m your friend, aren’t I?” Locke kept his eyes on my face, pupils expanding as he gazed down at me. “If that’s what you want.”
I held the mysterious hammock in my lap. “Who’s it for?” “Folk.” Saint eased onto the road that led to the compound. “He likes to sit in the sun around the back of the timber store.” “That’s your spot.” Saint shrugged. That was it. Case closed.
Juana waited for me at the top, a weapon in each hand, my ultimate wingwoman.
While my ma had been teaching the boys to be men, my dad had made sure I’d never need one to survive.
Beside me, Decoy rose and gave his chair to Juana, joining Locke by the door. She took it, shooting me a wry look, still not over her unrequited crush on our oblivious club secretary. Her secret crush. It was a damn shame that Folk was absolutely perfect for our shy soldier. Though I couldn’t lie; Juana would’ve eaten him alive.
I wasn’t pregnant. And I never would be, but Alexei didn’t know that, so I let it pass, ignoring Nash’s concern bleeding across the table.
Locke spread his hands. “I come in peace.” I didn’t want him to come in peace. I wanted him to come inside—
“It wasn’t platonic, not for me . . .”
I shoved my plate away. Beside me, Rubi pulled it back. “Nopety nope. You’re a terror when you’re undernourished.”
While I’d sought sanctuary in her body, Folk and Decoy had left for the night, Mats and Em with their brood too.
“You’re a survivor, brother.”
I grinned. “I’m not. But can I say something?” “You’re the boss.” “That all I am to you?” I was ribbing him,
“Want him too.”
“Stay. Please?”
“I wish we’d woken up in bed together for better reasons.”
the drainpipe Embry and Saint seemed to think was a ladder.
Saint moved so fast it was hard to believe he’d been in the room at all.
No one else was worried, aside from Rubi who couldn’t make peace with the idea of Nash Scared of Heights McGovern jumping off the roof.
like Liliana, Willow had been told to put her trust in Rubi—a man she’d never met.
Willow blinked at Embry, overcome by his killer cheekbones and sparkly eyes.
“I like you,” Willow retorted. “You’re the only one who doesn’t.”
Like all the men in my life, Nash was emotional.
If we’re lucky enough for it to happen to us, I’m cool with whatever, and I’d always tell you if that changed.” My sweet boy. I’d loved him for so many years, but in moments like this, my battered heart grew new wings.
I hadn’t missed Willow’s wide-eyed stares at the pretty chaplain. A motherfucker I’d watched shoot a cartel boss in the face at point-blank range.
Like T.K. and Carlos?”
“You think you’re not useful?” “Sometimes.” Cam subtly grasped my elbow and turned us away from the crowd. “Nash did my job so well it’s taking me a while to find my place again.”
“What do you think, Dad?” “About Mateo’s hotness?” I hung a left. “Not a lot. Don’t reckon I’m on his mind much either.”
“Showing up isn’t always literal, and that kid isn’t one who’s ever gone a day without knowing you love her.”
Embry eyed me over the top of Saint’s head. He had the tiniest cut on his cheekbone. From the glass of the RAV4’s shattered windscreen. Nothing, really, but with Mateo hovering, Saint had the sense to treat it with all the care of an amputation.
Mateo’s furious voice echoing in my head. “They ran them off the road. With fucking guns. Someone has to die for this.”
“Cos I care about you, and thinking about you going through that alone makes me want to break stuff.”
