“You’re goddamned right I am. You can have a thousand more guys out there waiting for you to answer their marriage proposal. You’re mine.”

It’s absurd, funny, and awful all at the same time. Yet, still somehow sweet. I twist my fingers into his cut and yank him closer. “Get back here soon.”

Chapter Four

Z

The ride downstate helps clear my head, but not much. All the pieces floating around in my brain usually seem to sort themselves out when I’m on my bike. This time, it’s harder.

I have my suspicions, but she wouldn’t confirm or deny anything with Chance in the house. Lilly wasn’t being dramatic. She wants to protect our son and I respect that, no matter how frustrating.

I don’t have lots of time before I need to be downstate, but I can’t help stopping at the upstate clubhouse.

It feels weird to ride through the gates wearing another charter’s bottom rocker. No one treats me differently, but it still doesn’t sit right.

Rock greets me out front with a happy, welcoming hug. “Fuck, Prez, look at the smile on your face. You need me to go away more often?”

“No, fuckface. Just glad to see you. What’re you doing?”

“Headed back, but it didn’t feel right riding by without stopping in.”

“Good choice. Soon you won’t be riding by at all, right?”

“Planning to look at a place today.”

“Murphy said they found a nice area. Safe for the kids.”

I glance around at the clubhouse and the woods surrounding us. This has been my home for a long time and I’m not okay with leaving it. It’s where I want to raise my son. “It’s still not home.”

“Yeah, this is some fucked-up shit.” He glances at the woods towards his house. “We all know it’s a possibility in this life. Doesn’t take much. But fuck, shooting him in his own clubhouse’s driveway?”

“That’s the part that keeps sticking with me.”

“How do you feel about the brothers down there? Anyone strike you as especially power-hungry?”

“If they are, they’re playing a long game. No one’s complained about me taking Sway’s place.”

“That right there should make you worry.”

“Right?” I laugh even though it’s not funny. “Jesus, Sway’s been trying to stay off of Priest’s radar since National.”

“Instead, someone made sure he stayed on it.”

“Makes you wonder if it was intentional or someone fucked up. Or…” I stare at him for a minute, contemplating my next words. I can trust Rock with anything, but even kicking this idea around is dangerous. “Priest ordered it.”

Rock’s slow to answer. “Yeah, that crossed my mind, too.”