“More important than that is the woman who chooses to take a man’s side,” Tack stated on the heels of Joker’s words, and Joker looked back to him. “You wouldn’t have your cut if any one of your brothers thought you weren’t defined as Chaos. But your old man chose the kind of woman who would clear out on her kid, that defines him. Your ma cleared out on her kid, that defines her. You get your shit together and explore what’s on offer right now to you, you’ve already beat that ’cause you know what’s on offer does not have that shit in her.”

It was time to share.

So he did.

“It’s me protecting her, Tack.”

“Against what?”

He leaned toward his brother and hissed, “Demons.”

Tack held his gaze and whispered, “He beat you bad.”

“Wasn’t worth shit.”

“Him?”

“Me.”

“Brother,” Tack slid further his way. “He planted that seed.”

“I know. Doesn’t mean it didn’t take root.”

“You fear the dark.” It was a statement.

A correct one.

“She doesn’t need dark,” Joker told Tack something anyone knew just taking one look at Carissa. “She never shoulda had it and she’s had a lifetime of it. What I got in me gets loose, it’ll engulf her.”

“You gotta find a way to set it free.”

“How?”

“God’s honest truth?” Tack asked.

“Absolutely,” Joker answered.

“If your brothers haven’t brought you to that revelation, then you gotta sink your cock in cute, sweet, wet, butterfly pussy.”

Joker leaned back.

“I’m not shittin’ you, man,” Tack told him.

Joker again said nothing.

Tack studied him before he remarked, “You think I’m whipped.”

Joker made no reply. He wouldn’t disrespect a brother like that, especially not Tack.

But he did think that.

Absolutely.

Tack grinned and took a pull from his beer.

After he dropped it, he said reflectively, still grinning, “Maybe I am. Though, the way I am and the woman holds that whip, it’s a good thing to be.”

“Right,” Joker started and got his brother’s gaze back. “I go there, she’s got a kid. Her ex fucks with her, and he’ll fuck with her, man, and I lose it, then where will she be?”

Tack’s face drained of amusement. “That right there is what you need to get.”

“What?”

“She is what I think she is, all you’ll need to do is take one look at her, and it’ll check.”

“It’ll check?”

“Do you think I’d do fuckin’ anything to harm my woman?”

Joker felt heat hit his throat.

“My kids?” Tack pushed.

“No,” Joker forced out.

“She is what I think she is, it’ll check.”

“What if it doesn’t?”

“Then she isn’t what I think she is.”

“She is,” Joker stated inflexibly and Tack stared at him a beat before he burst out laughing.