oe

is to plunge it under the cold water of the industrial sink. The shock of the cold is a brief re

cial "Doc," a retired army medic and one of the few people here I

he'll be fine. It's just a little burn." It's Constance, who has follo

t," Frances says, ignoring the matriarch and gent

ay, my voice tight with pain, my gaze fixed on Const

e. She's not used to being challenged. "The boy i

be," I re

ging a tearful Cody by the arm. "He has someth

sniffles, looking at my angry re

stake. My anger is with the adults, not him. But I

ext time," I say, my voice fl

g more, for me to be the gracious, forgiving Chloe

Frances says, taking charge.

at the back of the clubhouse. Frances follows, carrying her medical kit. Constance glares a

eaning the burn and applying a soothing salve a

she says quietly as she

t draining out of me, leaving

. He dismisses Frances with a nod. She g

me, his large frame seeming to shrink in

rough with what sounds like sincerity.

my bandaged hand, a pristine wh

uching my uninjured arm. The familiar spark is

ine," he admits. "I told Cod

small gesture in the face o

sper?For grounding the child you brought into my home last we

. The hurt in his eyes

y. "I'm trying. I know it doesn't

your Dyna and rode her home in front of the whole club. You moved her into my house and

hl

e home. So don't stand there and tell me what isn't fair." I reply, pulling my arm from h