by Jen Davis
His father’s eyes darkened. “What’s this, boy?”
“I’m out.”
His mother gasped.
Malcolm shot to his feet. “Bullshit. This club just stood at your back against your old lady’s father, and this is how you repay us?”
His fingers curled in the front of Malcolm’s shirt, the urge to hit him coursing hot like the blood in his veins. “Repay you? For setting me up in the first place?” He gestured to the scar on his face. “For this? For conspiring with the man who got Scott killed?”
Mama V tugged at his arms. “What are you talking about, Kane? Let your daddy go.”
He released his grip, but he stepped further into Malcolm’s space. “You gonna admit it, or are you gonna lie like a fucking coward?”
Malcolm shook his head tiredly. “Do what you want. I’m sick of fighting to hold this family together.”
What a load of shit. “The only person you ever fought for was yourself.” He turned to his mother, but her gaze was rooted to the floor. “Mama.”
She shook her head, tears already falling down her cheeks. “I can’t be your mama anymore.”
“We’re gonna lose everything,” Malcolm muttered. “The deal with the Russians is gone. And you know Ace will only negotiate with you. You don’t care. You don’t care about anything except your precious piece of pussy.”
He did hit his father then. A hard right-hook to the jaw. “You just showed the difference between you and me. I don’t think of the woman who loves me as a piece of pussy. She’s going to be my wife, and I will always put her first. Thank you, Malcolm, for teaching me what kind of husband and father I don’t want to be. And Mom, if you ever decide you’re worth more than this, my door is always open.”
Breathing deep, he turned his back on his parents and left the Skulls MC in his rear-view mirror.
***
Amanda
Amanda traced her fingers nervously over the tattoos on Kane’s forearm as they waited for his friends to arrive. Brick and his fiancé were coming over for drinks, and even though Kane promised she’d love Olivia, she didn’t make friends easily. It was hard to simply be herself around strangers.
She jumped up when the bell rang.
Brick’s broad shoulders filled the doorframe as Kane let them in. “I hope it’s okay. I brought Robby along too.”
“It’s fine.” Kane had told her he and Brick had sort-of adopted Xander’s young assistant. “Come on in.”
Brick’s fiancé was a willowy blonde who greeted her with a hug. “It’s so great to meet you. It’s about time Kane got a little happiness in his life.” She lowered her voice. “And great job with his new look. I barely recognized him without the beard and all the hair. What a lucky lady you are.”
She chuckled. “Oh, I know. I’m reaping all the benefits of his makeover.”
Kane was already handing out beers to the guys. “You want something, Liv? Beer? Wine?”
Her eyes sparkled. “Do I see zinfandel over there?”
Once everyone had a drink, Kane caught them up on what happened with the club. Robby made a noise of disgust and wrinkled his brow at her. “Your dad gets off scot-free? It doesn’t feel right.”
Kane shrugged. “No, it doesn’t. But if it helps to know, Nathan Shaw’s death at his house has ruined him politically. He’ll never be governor of this state, and I doubt he stands a chance at re-election for mayor since David Bennett talked to the media.” The new president of the Christian Soldiers gave a tell-all interview about his ties to the mayor, obviously worried keeping it a secret could provide a healthy motivation for making him disappear. He conveniently left out any details that could incriminate himself. “Beau will be lucky if he doesn’t go to jail.”
“And your club?” Robby pressed. “They’ve all turned their back on you?”
“Frank has called me a couple of times. I think he’s willing to buck the rules, but otherwise, yeah. They’re gone.” It had been two weeks since he patched out, and from everyone else, it had been radio silence.
“I’m sorry.” Robby tapped Kane’s beer bottle with his own. “I know it’s not the same, but you know you’ve got me. We’re family, remember?”
“Yeah, man, I remember.” Kane nodded gratefully, then turned to Brick. “Speaking of family, when are you two going to make it official?”
Liv snuggled in Brick’s side. “Valentine’s Day. It’s going to be a small wedding, but it would mean the world to us if you were both there.”
“What about you two?” Robby elbowed Kane in the arm.
Amanda grinned. “Kane’s moving in this weekend. We could really use a few extra pairs of strong arms to help with the boxes.”
“Count us in.” Brick smiled.
Kane leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Not a bad little family we have here, huh, babe?”
She brushed her lips over his smooth cheek. “Not bad,” she whispered. “Not bad at all.”
EPILOGUE
Kane
Sliding into Gerry’s chair at the Slipknot felt as familiar as breathing. The old tattoo artist had given Kane every piece of ink he’d ever gotten, including the bold letters of Mandy’s name he wore on his back.
Other than his first tat, this would be the only art he wore that actually meant something.
The vinyl seat was cool against his bare back, as Gerry disinfected the skin of his left pectoral where Mandy had shaved him last night. At first, he’d considered putting the new tat on his hand, but in the end, it felt better to wear it over his heart.
They’d gone over the design last week, and the stencil was already done. The only thing left was making it a permanent part of his skin.
Mandy laced her fingers with his while Gerry worked, although the sting of the needle was barely a blip on his radar. She knew, of course. She was there for emotional support. Without her, it would be far too easy to fall back into memories that might break his heart.
Thank God for his wife. They’d quietly made it official after Brick—who went by Jonathan these days—and Olivia said their I Do’s. There was no ceremony, just an exchange of gold bands and a justice of the peace to make it legal. Mike and Cindy grumbled about it, but in the end, they understood. Kane couldn’t live another moment without tying her to him forever. He was blessed beyond measure she felt the same way.
Still no word from anyone but Frank in the club. It was better than he’d hoped, honestly. At least he kept one of his old friends, even if he missed Cue Ball every day.
The design on his chest was simple, but Gerry was a pro and took his time. It was a couple of hours before he held up the mirror and surveyed the scorpion so like the one Scott had drawn for them months ago.
“You happy with it?” the old guy asked gruffly.
He nodded, rather than dump his emotions all over the sterile field.
Gerry bandaged him up and carried off his credit card to settle the bill.
Mandy helped him button his shirt, then fidgeted with her own small bandage fitted over the inside of her wrist. When she told him she wanted her own tattoo, she could’ve knocked him over with a feather. Once he saw the design, though, he understood.
Just like the pendant he gave her for Christmas, it was two hearts woven together with the words I Love You and Forever in script underneath. It was her way of marking him on her body as he’d done for her.
It was dark outside by the time they were finished, and they were only a few feet away from her car when she grabbed his wrist. Her head was tilted back, a smile curving across her beautiful face. “Kane, look. A shooting star. Make a wish.”
He closed his eyes, but he was only playing along. There was nothing else he wanted.
All his wishes had already come true.
CHAPTER ONE
Robby
The smell of fresh pepperoni pizza mingled with the new-construction scents of drywall and sawdust as Robby set the delivery boxes onto the just-installed island in the nearly finished kitchen
area. The countertops wouldn’t come in for a couple of days, so a piece of heavy plywood served as a flat surface in the meantime.
His buddy, Kane, sniffed out the food first. “Hot damn. What did we do to deserve this?” Pizza was usually a treat reserved for the beginning or end of a build, not a random weekday lunch.
Robby grinned. “You can thank your wife for this one. Something about it being your birthday?” He tore open the top box and held it up. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
With a careless shrug, Kane plucked a piece from the offered pie. “Birthdays were never really a big deal in my family.”
Brick, Robby’s best friend and surrogate older brother, pulled out two pieces at once and folded them together with his big hands. “Not sure I’d advertise being born on April Fools’ Day either.” He winked as he took an enormous bite.
“Whatever. You’re just jealous because my lady takes such good care of me.” Kane punctuated the pronouncement with his own hefty bite, the movement pulling the shiny scar taut across his cheek.
“Don’t get too ahead of yourself. Not only does my beautiful wife take care of me, she’s looking out for your dumb ass too. She’s cooking a big dinner again, and she wants to make a birthday party out of it.”
Kane stopped chewing and swallowed, shuffling his feet.
“What?” Robby laughed. “Haven’t you ever had a birthday party before?”
Brick gave Kane an appraising look. “I don’t think he has,” he murmured. He flashed a small smile. “Can’t say I’ve ever had one either, but Olivia’s real big on celebrating. First time we ever met was at a birthday party she threw for Will.”
Robby let Brick’s words sink in. “You guys have never had birthday parties?” No matter how bad his final memories of home were, his childhood had been full of laughter and love.
A birthday never passed unremarked in the Jordan home. His mom had always said each of her children was a miracle worthy of rejoicing. Of course, those were the days before his father kicked him out. But still, the idea no one had ever celebrated the birth of his friends…it was all kinds of wrong.
The strange thing was, neither Brick nor Kane seemed bothered by it. Kane shrugged. “Don’t sweat it, brother. We just didn’t do things like that.” He paused. “Well, we did stuff for my dad, but for Dad it was different. I guess it’s hard to miss something you’ve never had.”
Robby instantly saw the statement for the lie it was. He’d never had a real relationship, and he sure as heck missed having one.
John didn’t count. If the man had ever loved him, he would have never…No. He wasn’t going there.
Still, he understood what made Kane want to ignore the hurt, so he didn’t call him out for the fib. “Maybe you didn’t celebrate with your old family, but this year, things will be different. I, for one, am very happy you were born, and I’m going to be at this dinner with bells on.” He turned to Brick. “Who else will be there?”
“I was just going to invite the guys from the crew. I already texted Will, Cy, and Evan. They’re coming. Xander can’t make it; he’s got something at his kid’s school. Which leaves Matt.” Brick kept his voice free of any inflection.
Kane wasn’t quite so considerate. “Matt, huh?”
Robby scrunched up his face. “Stop teasing me over my stupid crush. I’m more than aware he doesn’t feel the same way.”
“C’mon, Robby.” Brick wiped his mouth with the bandana he always carried in his back pocket. “You can’t control how someone else feels.”
Kane rolled his eyes. “Yeah, if you’re gonna feel stupid, maybe it should be because you’ve convinced yourself you’re in love with a man you barely even know.”
Pfft. What did Kane know about how he felt? Robby looked to Brick for some backup, but the big man wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Look,” Kane softened his voice, “I’m not trying to bust your balls, but really, what do you know about the guy? What makes him laugh? Is this his dream job? What did he want to be growing up? Hell, do you even know his kid’s name?” He sighed. “I get it. He lights your fire. I’m just saying, maybe get to know him before you decide he’s the man who hung the moon.”
Robby wracked his brain, hoping to find the answers to any of Kane’s questions. Surely, he knew the little boy’s name.
Nope.
He had to know something about Matt.
Quiet. Kind of shy. Lean and muscular with dark brown skin Robby had dreamed countless times of touching. His black hair was neat and trimmed tight to his scalp, and it was just one of a dozen ways he always looked put together. Always clean shaven, always in khakis and a polo shirt. About the same age as Robby, the guy looked like he belonged more on a college campus than a construction site.
So, the sum total of Robby’s knowledge: Matt was reserved…and hot.
Apparently, Kane knew what he was talking about.
“Guess I’m pretty shallow.” Robby winced.
Before his friends could answer, the man in question came in from where he had been working in the master bedroom and swiped a slice of the pizza. He drifted to the corner of the room before he took a bite.
Brick cleared his throat. “We’re, uh, having a little party at my house tonight for Kane’s birthday if you want to come.”
Matt kept chewing, his eyes trained on the floor.
“Matt?”
The man’s head shot up with a confused expression that was almost comical. “You’re talking to me?”
To Brick’s credit, the big man didn’t laugh at Matt’s confusion. “Yeah, man. It’ll be fun. My wife is making fettucine. Come reap the benefits of her pasta of the week.”
As they waited for an answer, Matt seemed to shrink a little under the weight of their attention. He bit into his slice of pizza without answering.
There’s no time like the present.
Robby took a step toward him. “There won’t be anyone there you don’t know. Besides,” he grinned, “I’ll need someone to talk to while these two are making cow eyes at their wives.”
Brick must have been slouching because, somehow, he seemed to stand taller than his normal six-feet-and-change. “I’ve never made cow eyes in my life!” he sputtered at the same time Kane scowled and muttered something unflattering about Robby’s anatomy.
A hint of a smile flickered across Matt’s handsome face, but he didn’t say anything.
“You don’t even have to talk much,” Robby coaxed. “And Liv’s a good cook, so at least you’ll get a nice meal out of the bargain.”
Brick elbowed Kane in the side. “And birthday boy here can convince himself there are people in the world who don’t think he’s a complete asshole. At least for one night.”
The glower on Kane’s face gave way to a slack jaw. “What the fuck, brother? If this is what birthdays mean to you guys, I’ll take a pass.”
It was impossible not to laugh at his outrage. Even Matt chuckled. As the laughter died out, he nodded. “Okay. Sure. I’ll be there. It’s the house on Burgundy Street we finished last year, right?”
“Seven o’clock.” Robby beamed.
Kane didn’t share his enthusiasm. “I hate to break up this love-fest,” he groused. “But none of us are going anywhere unless we finish up here for the day.” He muttered under his breath about birthdays being bullshit as he stalked out into the garage, signaling everyone it was time to get back to work.
***
Every time Robby stepped into Brick and Liv’s house, he felt a ripple of pride. Not for anything he’d done necessarily, but for the amazing craftsmanship put into building the place.
It was a Cooper Construction original, built by his own crew. Well, technically, Xander’s crew, but same difference. No one had any idea when they were building that Brick would eventually buy the place.
The investment had helped the company at a time it really needed it.
Now, whenever he walked into the living room, he remembered sharing a pizza with the guys during the sh
eet rock process. Or in the kitchen, the time Xander, the foreman, remembered his birthday and gave him one of those birthday cards that played a little song when he opened it. This was also the build where he and Brick had become friends.
Brick’s wife, Liv, welcomed him inside after he rang the bell with his elbow. “Robby! I’m so glad you could make it. Here, give me one of those.” She took one of the two bottles of wine he carried and ushered him inside. “Leave the other one there on the table. Jonathan is with Kane in the garage.”
He smiled at her use of Brick’s given name and left the wine where she’d indicated before seeking out his friends. He thought he’d find them playing darts with the board on the garage wall. Instead, they were side by side, staring at a small square of paper in Kane’s hand.
“—the size of an avocado right now. I still can’t believe it’s real.” The former biker glanced up as Robby entered the room, a shell-shocked expression on his angular face. Just a hint of a beard shadowed his jaw these days. His once-long dark hair now barely touched his collar, but it was a tousled mess, like he’d been running his hands through it a dozen times or maybe tugging it out at the roots.
Brick, on the other hand, was all smiles. He slapped Kane on the back, then rose to his feet. “Kane here’s gonna be a daddy!”
Kane held out the paper in his hand, a gobsmacked expression on his face. When Robby took it, he realized it was an ultrasound photo. Happiness for his friend warmed his heart, and he sent up a quick prayer of thanks for the blessing. “Congratulations. I’m really happy for you.”
Raking his fingers through his hair, Kane blinked rapidly, his expression giving no sign he’d heard a word Robby said. “We’re having a baby.” He launched to his feet. “A baby!”
Brick chuckled. “We got it, brother. When is it due?”
“What?” Kane’s eyes focused on his friend. “Um, October. Looks like we had a shotgun wedding, and we didn’t even know it.” He froze. “She got a tattoo. Christ. That’s bad, right?” Without waiting for an answer, he rushed past Robby, back into the house.
