Father.
Father?
I looked at Knight; everyone and everything around me disappeared as I gaped at the face of the man claiming my paternity.
โThat isnโt possible,โ I blurted out.
His expression was tight. โItโs possible. You look just like her.โ
The air in my lungs whooshed out and I felt myself falling. Boxer was suddenly lifting me into his arms.
โWhat the fuck is going on out here?โ came Coltโs angry voice.
I hadnโt even heard the shed door open, but then Colt was there. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see anyone, not wanting them to see me.
No one answered Colt.
โIโm not gonna ask the fucking question again. Why are you carrying my woman?โ
โIt was either catch her when she fainted,โ Boxer drawled. โOr let her hit the ground.โ
โFaint? She fainted? Why the fuckโโ โBrother,โ Knight began.
I moaned. โI didnโt faint.โ
โHere,โ Boxer said, all but dumping me into Coltโs arms. โYou need to go inside with her. Knight too. The rest of us are gonna stay out here and
get wasted.โ
โWhy does Knight need to come inside?โ Colt demanded. โAsk her,โ Boxer said and then strutted away.
Colt began to move, his strides long and sure. He was able to get the back screen door open with one hand and then he was walking to the living room. He set me down on the couch and then took a seat on the coffee table, facing me.
โYou okay?โ His callused hands reached out to touch my face. My gaze darted to Knight who was standing over us.
My father was watching me with the man I shared a bed with. I swallowed and nodded, batting Coltโs hands away.
โWhat is all this?โ Colt demanded, looking at Knight.
โYour boy tackled me when he thought I put a move on Mia.โ โMove?โ Coltโs voice was deadly.
โItโs not like that, Colt,โ I said before Knight could defend himself. โI donโt know how to tell himโโ
โTell me what?โ
โKnight saysโheโs claimingโโ โIโm Miaโs father.โ
Colt slowly stood up from the coffee table, his face dark with anger. โYouโve got to be fucking kidding me.โ
Knight shook his head. โItโs the truth.โ โWhy should I believe you?โ I asked.
โYour eyesโฆthey turn down at the corners. Just like hers.โ
My mother was beautiful, but she had looked sad even when she was smiling. Even in old photos of when she was very young.
โSo you knew what my mother looked like,โ I said. โThat doesnโt mean anything. That doesnโt mean youโre my father.โ
โYouโre right. Thatโs not enough proof.โ Knight wiped at the corner of his mouth, smearing the almost dried blood. He reached into his back
pocket and pulled out his wallet. He flipped it open and drew out a photograph.
I stared at his outstretched hand and with a labored sigh, grasped the photo. It was a picture of Knight with his arm around my mother. She couldnโt have been more than nineteen. Twenty at the oldest. Sheโd died young, in her twenties. Frozen in youth. I was older now than she was when sheโd died.
In the picture, Mom was looking up at Knight like he hung the moon. He was staring at the camera, full of swagger and youthful arrogance. He was nearly clean-shaven, but he had stubble.
My mind was spinning out of control. How was this possible? What were the chances of this happening? That I was meeting the man whoโd sired me. I remember asking my mother about my father but she had given me evasive answers when I was a child, never fully explaining something that perhaps at the time I wouldnโt have been able to grasp anyway. Maybe sheโd been waiting to tell me everything until I was older.
But she died before she got the chance.
Grammie had been just as cryptic about my paternity. I wondered if it was because she never knew.
I looked at Colt, whose face was expressionless. He wasnโt going to intervene or stop this conversation from happening. And if it derailed like a train on the tracks, then so be it.
โDid you know about me?โ I blurted out.
Knightโs eyes went from grim acceptance that I was going to reject him to flaring with hope. โNo. God, know. I had no idea. I swear.โ
I got up from the couch, setting aside the photo on the cushion. โWhere are you going?โ Colt asked.
โI need a drink. If weโre going to talk about my mother, then I need a drink.โ
โWhy donโt you guys take the office,โ Colt said. โYouโll have more privacy in there.โ
Knight nodded. โThanks, brother.โ
Colt rubbed the back of his neck. โIโm sorry for what Boxer did. Heโs taken to Mia like an older brother. He was just looking out for her.โ
Knight smiled. โNo apologies needed. Iโm glad she found you. Found the Angels.โ He held out his hand to Colt who took it immediately.
They shook hands but said no more. Colt led us to the office. โBottle of bourbon in the file cabinet. Under Z.โ
I raised an eyebrow. โThatโs what you do in your office? Drink?โ He smiled.
I smiled.
Even Knight smiled.
And then I remembered that Iโd just found out my absent father was the president of the Coeur dโAlene Blue Angels.
Before Colt headed for the door, he pulled me into his arms and brought his lips close to my ear. โYou need me, you call for me. Otherwise, Iโm letting you handle this.โ
I nodded. โHowโd it go with Sanchez?โ
โTell you about it later. Youโve got other things to worry about.โ He kissed my lips, sent Knight a look, and then he was gone.
Knight waited to see what Iโd do. I wanted distance from him, yet I also wanted him to spill everything he knew about my mother. The mother I hadnโt gotten nearly enough time with.
I took a seat in one of the office chairs, keeping my posture stiff, my body alert. Knight tapped his fingers against his jeans, clearly nervous. Though why he was nervous, I couldnโt imagine. Heโd already dropped the bomb that he was my father.
โI always thought my father was older,โ I said, breaking the tension. โI mean, when I allowed myself to think about him, I always thought of a man
in his sixties. Gray hair, you know? A guy who wore khakis and a polo.โ โMust be a surprise to find that I donโt match your vision.โ He looked
out the window and stared for a moment. What could he see through the blinds? Was he wishing for an escape?
I got up from my chair and headed to the file cabinet. I opened the drawer all the way and pulled out the bottle of bourbon under the Z file.
I shook my head. โItโs not even a bourbon that begins with Z. Why not have it under the B file?โ I threw him a smile, but his own lips didnโt waver in humor, though he was watching my every move. Almost like he was drinking in the years heโd missed, as if studying me would make up for lost time.
โMaybe we donโt talk about her just yet,โ I voiced. โMaybe itโs too soon and we should justโI donโt knowโtry and talk like two normal people.โ
โWe arenโt normal though, are we? Thrown into this fuckery.โ
I unscrewed the cap on the bourbon and took a sip before handing it to him. The liquor burned, but then warmed my insides, melting the ball of ice that had lodged itself in my throat since the moment Knight had shown me the photo of him and my mother.
He took a long drink and then sauntered over to the couch and sat down.
He leaned back, stretching his long legs out in front of him.
โI donโt know what to do here,โ Knight said suddenly. โI want to hear it all. I want you to tell me all about you and how you grew up and if you were happy. I canโt believe this shitโthat you somehow wound up in this life when all your mother wanted was to keep you out of it.โ He frowned. โItโs why she left me. Itโs why she didnโt tell me she got pregnant. Itโs why she left Coeur dโAlene.โ
โDid you know she went back to Waco?โ โYeah.โ
Thoughts swirled through my head. โHow did you two meet?โ
โShe was waiting tables at a diner just outside town. I was newly patched in, looking to throw some swagger around.โ He smiled in fond remembrance. โYour mother wasnโt impressed, but I wore her down enough and after a time she gave me a shot.โ
โHow?โ
โI found out she liked boats. My buddy had a small speed boat and let me borrow it. I took her to a picnic on the other side of the lake and she started to fall for me. I was exciting to her. Something more than just waitressing and making ends meet. We were inseparable that summer. Except when I had club business. It was fine at first, but after a while, and a few times I came home with black eyes and blood on my shirt, she started to lose her cool. Said she wanted more out of life and a relationship than what I was giving her. We were both really young. Your mom had dreams, and that didnโt include being a bikerโs woman. Her being left in the dark, wondering, waiting if shit was gonna go down, or if a brother would come to the door with bad news about me was too much for her.โ
My breath hitched. Iโd had the same thoughts when I realized what it meant to be with Colt.
โThe night she left,โ Knight said, his voice soft in the still air, โwe had the worst fight of our entire relationship. She was pissed and hurt that I chose my brothers over her and what she considered a respectable life. Sheโd talked about her parents, not a lot, but a bit. I knew their background, the families they were a part of. But I didnโtย reallyย understand where Scarlett was coming from. This lifeโthe club lifeโwas all Iโd ever known. Scarlettโs parents left Chicago, right? Neither one of them wanted to be involved with either of their familiesโ legacies. It was easy for Scarlett to choose something better because sheโd had that example, you know? Her parents wanted her out of a life of crime. Me?โ He shook his head. โMy dad was club president. Mom was a club whore who didnโt care that my dad
dicked around on her. I was twenty years old when I was patched in. Your mother was nineteen. We had no idea what life was gonna look like.โ
He shrugged, like he was trying to shrug off the past and his regrets. โSo I let her go. That night, she asked me if I really loved her. Asked me
if I loved her enough to let her go and be happy with someone who could give her what she wanted.โ He dropped his head in sudden exhaustion. โI let her go. She took my heart with herโI never got it back. Made the two women after your mother miserable for it. Made the mistake of marrying one.โ
โAre you married now?โ I asked.
He shook his head. โNah. Divorced. Your mother was the love of my life.โ
โAny,โ I licked my suddenly dry lips, โany kids?โ โNo. Justโฆyou.โ
Just me.
Knight talked of legacies. Was this mine? Born from criminals? My motherโs family on both sides belonged to notorious gangster families. And my fatherโKnightโwas president of a biker club.
And now Iโd taken up with Colt.
Mom had wanted something different for me. Something different for herself. So sheโd left Knight and Iโd grown up without a father. Iโd grown up without a mother, too, and in some strange twist of fate that upbringing led me right back to a life with Colt.
โI came to Waco once,โ he said quietly. โA few years after she left. Walked right into your grandparentโs store and there she was behind the counter. She looked the same as the last time I had seen her.โ He shook his head. โNo, thatโs not really true. She lookedโฆsettled into her body. Lived in, you know? Like the few years apart from me had made her an adult or some shit. Though now I realize it might have been because she had become a mother. I donโt know.โ
I nodded in understanding. โThereโs something that happens in your twenties. Like you become sure of yourself in your body. I know what you mean.โ
He smiled slightly. โYeah, exactly.โ โWhat did she do? When she saw you?โ
โNothing. She just watched and waited.โ He rubbed the back of his neck. โI wasnโt sure what I was supposed to say to her. I knew begging her to come back wouldnโt do anything. Iโd ridden over eighteen hundred miles on my bike just so I could see her and then turn around and leave again.โ
I swallowed the emotion brewing in my throat. โDo you thinkโdo you think it wouldโve been different for all of us if youโd said something? Do you think she wouldโve told you about me?โ
โI donโt know, Mia. Iโve spent twenty-five years trying not to think about the past. All my fuck ups and great regrets, you know? Shit like that can kill a man.โ
We fell silent and took a few minutes passing the bottle of bourbon back and forth.
โDid she ever get married? Do you have any siblings?โ he asked suddenly.
โYou didnโt keep tabs on her? Well, I guess that makes sense since you knew nothing about me.โ My tone wasnโt bitter, just honest. โNo, she never married and I donโt have any siblings. She died when I was five.โ
โScarlett died,โ he stated.
I could hear the tension in his voice, the shock of learning that the woman heโd loved most of his life had passed.
โShe drowned. Off the coast of Catalina. She was swimming, and a riptideโฆโ I didnโt need to finish.
He made a slight noise, almost like a stifled wail, but it caught in the back of his throat.
I forced myself to finish the rest of the story. Only Shelly and Grammie knew it. I hadnโt even been able to bring myself to tell Colt. We had enough horrors to contend with. But I owed this to Knight.
โI saw it,โ I murmured. Knightโs eyes snapped to mine. โI didnโt speak for two years.โ
He leaned forward, his face earnest. โTell me about your life. Tell me everything.โ
I talked to my father long into the night. Not once was there a knock on the door interrupting us. Questions turned into stories. Stories that made my childhood vivid.
He winced when I recounted when I was eight and fell out of a tree, breaking my arm. He laughed when I told him when I was ten I tackled a schoolyard bully.
โWhat about you?โ I asked finally sometime around two in the morning. โIโve told you about me. What about you?โ
โNot much to tell,โ he said quietly. โI have a small house on the lake. Spend my time working on my bike when Iโm not dealing with club business.โ
It sounded like a lonely existence to me, but who was I to judge? I couldnโt tell his age since his face was hiding behind his beard and the sun had weathered his skin.
โHow old are you?โ I asked suddenly. โForty-six.โ
โForty-six,โ I repeated. โYou were twenty-one when I was born. Thatโs so young.โ
Mom had been twenty. I couldnโt imagine having a baby that young. I couldnโt imagine having to scrape it all together. Thank God for Grammie whoโd been there through it all.
Still, I couldnโt help but wonder what my life wouldโve looked like if Knight had been in it. Would we have lived on the lake? Would we have spent Saturday mornings on a boat? Would my mother still be alive?
The questions were exhausting and the bourbon was causing my eyelids to droop.
โYou should hit the sack,โ Knight said. โYou look exhausted.โ โItโs been a long day.โ
โYeah.โ He nodded but made no move to stand up. I forced myself to rise and then I went for the door.
โDoes he make you happy?โ he asked suddenly. โI know Iโve got no right to ask. Iโm your father, but Iโm not your dad. But I still want to knowโฆโ
I smiled and turned my head to look at him over my shoulder. โYeah.
He makes me happy.โ
I left him sitting alone, pondering everything weโd discussed.
He was right, though. He wasnโt my dad. A dad picked you up when you scraped your knees. A dad checked in your closet for monsters. A dad threatened to kill any boy who broke your heart.
I mightโve shared DNA with Knight, but that didnโt make him family.
Colt was propped up in bed, shirtless, the lamp on the bedside table casting a warm glow across his golden skin. Seeing my name in ink settled me in a way I couldnโt explain. It was like Coltโs arms were around me, giving me silent, solid comfort.
He looked up from his phone. โHey.โ
โHey.โ I shut the door and then padded my way over to the bed, falling face first on top of the comforter.
โLong night?โ
โLong night with bourbon.โ He chuckled.
โI have a father,โ I murmured.
He paused and then said, โYeah.โ
โStill trying to wrap my mind around that.โ
Colt lifted his arm so I could scoot closer to him. I pressed my nose into his side and took a moment to breathe him in, needing the solid assurance that he was there.
โWhat happened with your call to Sanchez?โ I asked, my eyes drifting shut.
โHeโs agreed to help us. Not without a steep price though. His shit is already being distributed through the Southwest. He hasnโt claimed Waco, but he is now. He also wants his product in the Heartland of the United States.โ
โSo weโre trading one cartel for another?โ
โYes, but thereโs one major difference,โ Colt said, his hand finding a way under my shirt. โSanchez is on our side.โ
โThe devil you know, I guess.โ
I wanted to ask more questions but with the comfort of the man I loved next to me in bed and the flow of potent bourbon in my veins, I fell asleep.
By the following morning, news that Knight was my father had already rippled through the clubhouse. Boxer publicly apologized for punching Knight in the face. Knight graciously accepted Boxerโs apology and slapped him on the back.
The Blue AngelsโWaco and Coeur dโAleneโhad all gone to the shed for church, no doubt to discuss the Sanchez situation and what do about the product sitting unguarded in the storage unit.
The kids were still asleep downstairs in the theater room, but I knew it would only be a matter of time before they were awake and demanding food like angry baby birds.
The remains of last nightโs party were minimal. The bonfire had burned out hours ago, and all the beer bottles and plastic cups had been tossed into
two huge garbage cans.
The girls and I were out back at one of the picnic tables, enjoying the morning air. Rachel sat across from me and was on her second cup of coffee. Darcy perched next to her, staring into the distance. Joni was by my side, close enough that I had to pretend not to see the whisker burns on her neck. Allison had returned from throwing up her guts due to morning sickness. She stood at the edge of the table, nibbling on a cracker.
โThis is just so weird,โ Rachel said. โI canโt believe Knight is your dad.โ
โI know,โ I said with a nod.
โHow are you feeling about it?โ Darcy asked.
โI donโt know yet,โ I admitted. โHeโs young. Which is blowing my mind. Heโs not who I pictured when I thought of who my dad might be.โ
โHeโs also kind of hot,โ Rachel said. โSorry, but itโs true.โ
โYou would go there, wouldnโt you?โ Joni said with a laugh. โWhat did you guys talk about?โ
โEverything. My mom. How they met.โ I frowned. โWhatโs that face for?โ Darcy asked.
โI justโI feel like he knows me, a little bit anyway. I told him about my childhood and growing up with Grammie. But I donโt feel like, I donโtโย knowย him. He wasnโt really forthcoming about his life and what it looks like.โ
โDo you want to know all those things?โ Joniโs gaze was curious. โI mean, itโs one thing for your long lost dad to show up. Here, of all places. And a Blue Angel, too. Which, wow, coincidence much? But itโs another thing for you to actually want to get to know him.โ
โAnd you wonโt get to know him in one night, you know?โ Darcy added. โThat takes time.โ
โYeah.โ I nodded. โThatโs true.โ
โHeโs still a stranger,โ Allison said, swallowing the rest of her cracker. โJust because you share blood doesnโt mean you automatically have trust and a relationship.โ
โAnd this adds a whole new layer of family ties to the Blue Angels,โ Darcy remarked. โThink about it. The Coeur dโAlene chapter was willing to help the Waco chapter because they consider each other family. But now Knightโs daughter is the Old Lady of the president of the Waco Blue Angels. Itโs all meshed and intertwined.โ
โBlood allies,โ Rachel added with a nod. โYeah.โ
The shed door opened and the Blue Angels poured out. They all looked alert and ready for the unknown despite the fact that weโd all gone to bed late and woken up early.
Darcy immediately hopped up from her seat and went to Gray, wrapping her arms around him. I loved seeing them show each other affection. Torque came to Allisonโs side immediately and whispered something in her ear. She sidled up to him and pressed her head to his chest and closed her eyes.
Reap sauntered up behind Rachel, set a hand on her shoulder, and stole her coffee. She didnโt even bother fighting him over it.
I pretended not to see Zip giving Joni a long, lingering look.
โWhatโs for breakfast?โ Boxer asked, breaking the tension filled silence. โWhatever youโre cooking,โ Darcy said.
โAh, come on,โ Boxer whined. โIโm hungry.โ
The back door to the clubhouse opened and Lily ran out, clutching her blanket, her eyes sleepy. She encircled Darcyโs legs with her spindly arms before looking to her father. Gray scooped her up, causing her to giggle.
A gesture so simple it reminded me that Iโd never had that growing up. I caught Knight looking at me, his face schooled into a blank expression.
I placed my hands on the table and stood up. โIโll make pancakes. But I need help.โ I looked at Lily. โYou want to help?โ
She nodded eagerly, scrambling to get down from Grayโs arms.
By day three of the lockdown, everyone in the clubhouse was at each otherโs throats. Kids squabbled, couples bickered, and I had to pretend that I didnโt see Joni and Zip sneaking off to be with one another. The inactivity had everyone on edge.
Colt and I hadnโt spent a lot of time together since he was constantly talking to Knight, Mateo Sanchez, or Flynn Campbell.
The fourth morning of the lockdown, I finally broke my silence. โYou have to let everyone out of here.โ I pulled on a pair of jeans and went to the dresser and grabbed a Blue Angels tank top they sold in the garage. It was soft, faded cotton and it felt like wearing pajamas.
Colt lounged from his spot in the bed, one arm underneath his head, eyes heavy-lidded as he watched me get dressed. โWhy?โ
โI donโt know if youโre aware of this,โ I said with a wry grin, โbut Iโm pretty sure thereโs going to be a death or twoโgladiator styleโand soon. The tension in this place is at an all-time high.โ
โHuh. I havenโt noticed.โ
โLiar. Whatโs been happening with the Iron Horsemen?โ I asked, changing the subject.
โNothing. Dev has been silent. No blood on the streets. That doesnโt mean it wonโt happen,โ he said.
โYouโre being overly cautious.โ
โThatโs my job. I have to look out for you and the club. Until I know for sure when Sanchez will send men to move the product, I donโt want our people on the streets.โ
โAnd when do you think Sanchez will be sending men?โ โSoon.โ
โThatโs not good enough,โ I snapped. โWhatโs this really about?โ
โIโm stuck in here unable to live my life. Thatโs what this is about.โ
โYou donโt think this has something to do with Knight?โ I rolled my eyes. โOh, please.โ
He shrugged.
โIt has nothing to do with Knight.โ
โSo you say. Have you talked to him since the night you found out heโs your father?โ
โBeen kinda hard to.โ I wasnโt actively avoiding the man, nor was I really seeking him out. There were always people around, and furthermore, what was I supposed to say to him?
A shouting match started up just outside our closed bedroom door, followed by a thump and another thump. The sound of yelling migrated down the hallway. A door slammed shut and then nothing.
I looked at Colt and raised an eyebrow. โWho do you think that was?โ โReap and Rachel, if I had to guess.โ
A rapid succession of knocks sounded on our bedroom door and then, โYou two better be decent!โ
โHeโs talking to you,โ I said. โIโm fully clothed.โ
โNot by my choice,โ Colt muttered as he quickly reached for a pair of jeans. He didnโt bother with a shirt, but headed for the bedroom door after heโd gotten his jeans buttoned.
Zip strode in. โCall the lockdown off.โ
โOh good, maybe you can talk some sense into him,โ I said to Zip. โHe wonโt listen to me.โ
I left the two of them to duke it out and went into the living room, wondering if I could pick at some of the breakfast leftovers. Meals had been on a rotation schedule, but we were all tired of cooking for the masses.
โWhere are the kids?โ I asked Darcy, who sat at the kitchen counter.
โVideo game show down,โ she said. โI hate sticking them in front of the TV, but sometimes itโs the only thing to do.โ
โThey need to be running around after a Frisbee or soccer ball,โ Gray muttered from his spot on the couch.
The living room was fully occupied, but I didnโt see Knight or Bishop, his VP, who Iโd yet to really talk to. Iโd caught him side-ways glancing at me, though. I couldnโt help but wonder what he thought of Knightโs long lost daughter.
I scraped together the last of the eggs and bacon, poured myself a cup of coffee, and stood at the counter to eat.
โDid you talk to Colt?โ she asked.
โAbout letting us out of here? Yeah. He didnโt really want to hear it.โ
โThe charity sale for the elementary school is this weekend. I promised Laura weโd be at the park to help her.โ
I hadnโt seen the woman whoโd brought me a bunch of clothes in a few weeks. Nor had I given her a check for a donation like Iโd wanted to, either.
โI feel so cut off from the world right now,โ I said. โYeah, I feel you.โ
โI havenโt even called Shelly,โ I admitted. โTo tell her about, well, everything.โ
No matter how much I tried to keep her in the fold, she wasnโt part of the Blue Angel family, and therefore would always be on the outskirts. She shouldโve been the first person I talked to when I found out about Knight. But we were on lockdown and Rachel, Darcy, Joni, and Allison were here so Iโd turned to them.
โThis is fucking ridiculous!โ came Zipโs roar.
โIโve a right to be concerned!โ Colt yelled back.
All movement and conversation stilled as the fight down the hall unfolded.
โConcerned, yes. But this is fucking ridiculous. We need to be able to live our lives.โ
โGet the boys. Weโll fucking vote on it,โ Colt bellowed.
The Blue Angels didnโt need to be gotten since they could hear everything that was going down between Colt and Zip. With a sigh, Gray stood up and headed out back. Boxer, Reap, Torque and the others followed suit.
I finished breakfast, tossed the paper plate in the trash, and then headed back to our bedroom. I was sorting our dirty laundry when Colt filled the doorway, his face dark with annoyance.
โVote didnโt go your way, did it?โ I asked.
โDemocracyโs a democracy,โ Colt said, but his voice was filled with anger. โWhy are people so shortsighted?โ
I nudged the door closed so we could speak in private. โI think because people make most of their decisions emotionally.โ
โYeah.โ He shoved a pair of dirty boxers into the bag. โYouโre right about that.โ
โTheyโre right, too, though. Canโt live your life in fear, waiting for something to go wrong.โ
He let out a sardonic laugh. โThatโs just it. I know things are gonna go wrong. Itโs just a matter of time.โ
โHell of an outlook on life, Colt.โ
โYou disagree with me? You? Based on what youโve lived through the last few weeks?โ
โSure, life is one shit storm after another,โ I agreed. โBut look what it can bring. Iโve got you. Iโve got the girls. New family.โ
โKnight.โ
โHeโs not my family,โ I protested.
โWe havenโt gotten a chance to talk about it the last few days, have we,โ he murmured. โSorry for that, babe. Sounds like you can use an ear.โ
โI could use my own bed,โ I stated.
โYeah?โ He slowly came toward me, backing me up until I hit a wall. โWhat do you want to do in that bed?โ
I grinned. โSleep for hours without being awakened by screaming children or fighting couples.โ
โEveryone is clearing out except for the Coeur dโAlene brothers. I donโt want to take you homeโnot while all this shit with Dev and the cartel is still a loose end.โ
I sighed and reached up to wrap my arms around his neck. โI know you couldnโt control the outcome of the vote and everyone is taking their families home. But if you want to stay, if itโll make you feel better, then I wonโt fight you on this.โ
He leaned down and captured my lips with his. โThank you.โ