oe

e door opens. The scent of him, leather and whis

t at the darkening training yard. I hear him sigh

is voice is the one he uses as Prez, the

est, a shield against him. "Talk? Or are y

ghtens. "Don't be like this. You know the

y I can barely contain. "Or was that title just for when the su

plodes, taking a step forward. "This

hat bike. You gave it to her. In front of everyone," I say,

frustration. "It was the only way to show the club

touchable inst

nt, I know. This wasn't a thoughtless act. It was a

quarters for now," he says, changing the subj

ake her welcome? You want me to welcome the w

s, his voice low but firm, as if delivering a final

ing an Old Lady. It gives her a voice, a standing, a permanence that no other woman

the word sh

yes flashing with disbelief a

will not stand up in Church and formally undermine my p

his Prez voice in full force, shaking the v

own anger finally breaking free from its cage. "While you were out playing soldier, wh

by my outburst. He's not used to this

ly, but there's a flicker of uncertain

. The books. As if I'm just his high-priced secre

a dangerously calm level. "You're

a thick, custom-made chain with a single, heavy silver feather-his road name is Hawk. He

m. "If I am no longer your one and

ce paling. To reject the claim is the ultimate act of defianc

ls, his voice a low threa

my heart aching but my resolve harden

drop to the floor between us. It lands

storm of fury, confusion, and something that looks terrifyingly like