Page 56 of Bear

“Desperation will do strange things to a man.”

“But that’s the thing—we weren’t desperate. I mean, it’s a small town, and some days I’m flat out just cutting a paycheck for my brothers, let alone one for me or any help we might take on, but things weren’t dire. Sometimes the bank likes us and sometimes it doesn’t, but my bills always get paid—without drug money.”

“I can’t tell you why he did it, darlin’, only that I’m sorry it ended up this way.” I start peeling off her clothes one item at a time and throwing them in a sodden heap on the bathroom floor. “Maybe if he’d come to the club for help in the first place ...”

She shakes her head. “That wasn’t how we were raised. That wasn’t Bobby Ray. He’d rather risk his neck than hold out a hand.”

“So, I guess stubbornness runs in the family then?”

Her humorless laugh reverberates through my chest. “You could say that. I don’t know how we get through this without him.”

I hold her tighter and rub my palms soothingly up and down her arms. “One day at a time, Tink. Just one day at a fuckin’ time.”

I don’t say that I’ll be here with her every step of the way, because the truth is, I don’t know what Chaos’s punishment will be. I’m not a patched member of his club, but I’ve brought a war to their door with my actions tonight, and I know I’m going to pay dearly for it, maybe even with my life. But if it keeps Jupiter safe, then I can’t help thinking it was worth it.