Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83777 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Hell, I’d do just about anything to be sitting where I am tonight.
I had my brothers, my club, and my girl.
And nothing could beat that.
Devin looked over at me with that smile. Damn, it got to me every fucking time. I leaned in without thinking and kissed her, long and hard. When we came up for air, I whispered, “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“You better ‘cause you’re stuck with me.”
“And you’re stuck with me.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
EPILOGUE
Creed
Four Years Later
“Ican’t believe you agreed to this.”
“She’s sixteen.” Devin was standing in the kitchen with Grace, our two-year-old daughter, propped on her hip, and she couldn’t have sounded more unbothered as she announced, “I was fifteen when I started dating.”
“That doesn’t make it right.”
“I think you’re being a little overprotective here.”
I loved the woman. I loved the kids and the life we’d created together, but at that moment, she had me teetering toward the edge.
I’d faced the cartel, hitmen, rival MCs, and dirty cops who’d nearly destroyed everything I loved. But nothing, and I mean nothing, had prepared me for watching Chrissy get ready for her very first date. It was literally killing me. And when she came down the hall in a dress that was too damn short and her hair and makeup done, I swear to God, my heart stopped.
Hell, I barely even recognized her. Before, her idea of getting dressed up was ditching her sweats for a pair of jeans. And I wasn’t the only one who was struggling with it. Austin was standing at the front door, glaring out the window, just waiting for the guy to pull up. “So, what’s his name again?”
“Ethan,” Chrissy answered for the thirteenth time. “And he’s just a friend. It’s not a big deal.”
“Just a friend,” I echoed, crossing my arms to match Austin’s. “Uh-huh. What’s this Ethan’s last name?”
“Garrett.”
“Garrett,” I repeated, glancing at Austin like we needed to start a background check immediately. “Do we know his folks?”
“His dad is a preacher in town, and his mom works at city hall.”
“A preacher’s kid?” I gasped. “No fucking way. They’re nothing but trouble.”
“Jameson,” Devin scolded.
“Well, it’s true, and you know it.”
“What’s his GPA?” Austin asked, dead serious.
Chrissy’s mouth fell open. “Seriously?”
“Just wanting to know if this kid is a dumbass or not.”
“He makes better grades than you did.”
That wasn’t saying much. Austin never had much interest in school and barely graduated. But he’d gone on to vocational school and was working to become a mechanic. And when he wasn’t taking classes, he was at the clubhouse. He’d taken to the life and was planning on prospecting, and I was all for it. He’d make a hell of an addition to the brotherhood.
Unfortunately, all his schooling and hanging with the brothers hadn’t helped him adjust to his ever-growing teenage sister. It hadn’t helped me either. “What’s his driving record? Any speeding tickets? Reckless driving? Parking tickets? I need to know.”
“Dad!” Chrissy exclaimed, the word slipping out like it had a hundred times since I married her mother. She didn’t even realize it anymore, and damn, it still hit me every time.
“Don’t ‘Dad’ me,” I grumbled, though I couldn’t hide the grin tugging at my lips. “You’re not getting in the car with him until I know he’s a good driver.”
“And you best let your boy Ethan know that if he lays a finger on you, he’ll be missing that finger,” Austin finished, nodding with satisfaction.
“That he will.”
I could hear Devin laughing in the kitchen, and I turned to snap at her, but lost the thought when I spotted Grace offering a fistful of Cheerios to the dog. I walked over and took Grace into my arms, kissing her on her chubby cheeks as I told her, “You’re not dating until you’re in your thirties, kid. Isn’t that right?”
Grace giggled, and I gave her another round of quick kisses. “That’s my girl.”
“You need to stop,” Devin fussed, trying not to laugh. “You are going to traumatize the poor girl.”
“If me trying to keep her safe is traumatizing, so be it.” Grace babbled something that sounded suspiciously like Dada, and I felt the hard edge inside me ease just a little. “But I’ll try to ease up a little.”
“Please do,” Chrissy huffed, hands on her hips. “He’s a good guy, and we’re just going to the movies. We’ll be home by eleven. Mom already met him.”
“Okay, okay.” I let out a breath. “But, when he gets here, I want a word. Just a word.”
Austin nodded solemnly, adding, “Yeah, we’ll be quick.”