“Nothing says love like an ass-kicking,” Diesel said dryly, but he was smiling. “I knew, Marcus. I did. But maybe I . . . I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t feel like I deserved it for only being me.”

And maybe he and Dani Novak had even more in common than he’d thought.

Marcus’s expression softened. “But you feel different now?”

Diesel thought about the woman who’d dedicated her life to caring for others so that she’d be more deserving. When everyone who mattered already loved her for herself. “Yeah. I think I get it now.”

He hoped Dani did. If she didn’t, he’d spend the rest of his life convincing her.

Marcus smiled slyly. “So? You and Dani? Finally?”

Diesel realized that he and Marcus hadn’t talked since the night Stone was shot. “Yeah. It’s all good. Finally.”

Marcus swallowed hard. “Good. I want my child’s godfather to be happy.”

Diesel’s mouth fell open. “But . . .”

Marcus grinned. “Still not naming him Elvis.”

“Thank God,” Diesel muttered. “What about Stone, though? Won’t he want to be the godfather?”

“He can be godfather for the next one. He’s happy to be an uncle. And Diesel, I can’t think of a better role model for my kid.”

Diesel wiped his eyes with his sleeve. “Shit. Not fair, man.”

Marcus ran a hand over Diesel’s head, but Diesel could feel his hand tremble. “I can’t get used to you with hair. It’s been forever.”

Subject changed. Thank God. Too much emotion for one night.

The front door of Gladwin’s house opened and Marcus straightened abruptly. “It’s Scar and she’s got the woman and her baby. Be right back.”

“Where’s Dani?” Diesel yelled after him. He heaved his body, managing to turn himself in the seat, but had to stop with only his feet out of the door, because the world started to spin.

And it hurt. Motherfuck, it hurt. It had been bad when he’d remained still. But moving? “Shit.”

The passenger door opened on the other side of the Subaru. “Diesel, get your ass back in the car,” Marcus snapped, then his voice gentled. “Sorry, Evelyn. My friend just left the hospital against medical advice. Diesel, Evelyn. Evelyn, Diesel. Sit tight, Evelyn. The ambulance will be here soon.”

Diesel edged himself back into the seat. The woman was in her late twenties but looked a lot older due to the circles under her eyes. “Hi, Evelyn. Where is Dani?”