She laughed, and there was the resilient woman he knew. The one willing to tackle problems head on.

“They were exceedingly conservative, Bible-thumper types, colder than your Alaska winters, and more judgmental than Judge Judy.” She set her mug on the ground with an angry thump. “Uncle Duane said my parents deserved to die since they’d never gotten married. And that a woman isn’t complete without a husband.”

“Yeah, assholes.” Hawk studied her. She’d said her thinking was messed up. “How’d that affect you?”

Hands clasped tightly together, she averted her gaze. “I went kind of crazy when I left, rebelling by having lots of one-night-stands.”

“Youngsters.” He went with a noncommittal response. “Most of us like sex.”

“Me too,” she agreed, “but counseling showed me that my subconscious wanted me to find someone like Uncle Duane—because a woman isn’t complete without a husband. Then I had Aric without a husband.”

Fuck, no wonder. “You were easy pickings for Obadiah.”

“I really was.” She sighed. “It’s funny though. I can remember my parents enough to know they weren’t like that.”

Seems like they’d been about the same age when their brain programming got rewired. After all, that was what adults did—imprint kids with expected behavior.

Going from abuse into Mako’s gruff version of love, Hawk had absorbed his strong moral code. Kit had gone from loving parents to real bastards. Had she tried to adhere to their code to win affection from them?

Probably.

Yeah, he and his brothers had been damn lucky.

Thank you, Sarge.

At the dinner table in Mako’s house, Regan did what Uncle Hawk called “chowing down.” Cuz it all tasted awesome.

Frankie’d planned to make some fancy French stuff, but instead, she and Audrey cooked fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy.

Audrey called it comfort food.

Totally. Sirius had thought so, too, when Regan sneaked him little bits of the chicken. He’d kept putting his paw on her foot when she stopped.

After they cleaned up, Regan curled up beside Papá on the humongo couch, feeling all full and happy. His leg was hard but made a great pillow.

JJ tucked a snuggly blanket around Regan, then sat on Papá’s other side.

Dante and Lillian had come over for supper and stayed to talk. They were sitting in the chairs and holding hands like the teens did. Very chill.

Uncle Bull was supposed to be bartending at the roadhouse, but he’d come home.

Everybody was here except for Uncle Hawk and Kit.

Was that why people were acting kinda weird?

Even with comfort food and her favorite fuzzy blankie, she had a wiggly feeling inside. Like there was something wrong. Only nobody was shouting or anything.

Close to Regan’s feet, Aric was sitting beside Frankie with Bull on Frankie’s other side.

“Cazzo. Mannaggia a me,” Frankie muttered.