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“Especially with Spike on the loose,” Big G said.

She made a noise of agreement.

“I swear, he loves to show off. That man doesn’t have a shy bone in his body.”

“Can’t blame him though,” Big G countered. “If I looked like he did, with ladies crawling all over me, I’d wear nothing but my birthday suit, too.”

“Oh, come on. Ditch the false humility. You’re packing some heat yourself.”

He sputtered a laugh.

“Is that what you do in your spare time? Junk appraisals?”

“It’s not like any of you are fucking subtle,” Baby Doll said. “You never miss an opportunity to whip out the measuring sticks.”

“Is that jealousy I hear?” Big G’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

She scoffed.

“I believetraumatizedis the word you’re looking for. Last week, you spent three days straight in a back room of the clubhouse with that club bunny, Roxie. Andeveryoneknew it. I can still hear her voice echoing in my head, praising your big dick. I’m scarred for life, thank you very much. You owe me therapy.”

He smirked.

“Can’t fault an old guy for blowing off steam.”

“Yeah, well, the whole damn block heard her. Believe me, I would not spare your feelings if she was faking it. She definitely wasn’t.”

“I don’t strut around buck naked like Spike though,” Big G pointed out.

I sighed as Baby Doll and Big G talked amongst themselves, completely ignoring me.

“He does have a very nice ass,” she admitted thoughtfully. “But if you ever tell him I said that, I’ll kill you. His insufferable ego is bad enough as it is.”

Big G chuckled.

“Trust me, I won’t say a word.”

I cleared my throat. They glanced at me.

“Out,” I said. “Now. And I don’t want to hear one more peep about the qualities of Spike’s ass again, is that clear?”

“Someone’s a little sensitive today,” Baby Doll said with a small smile.

“I bet he’s cranky because we weren’t complimentinghisass instead,” Big G said.

“You’re probably right. We could change that if—”

“OUT,” I barked.

As they filed out of the room, Big G closed the door behind them with a wink.

Secretly, I was grateful that they hadn’t probed the ex-wife topic too much. I needed more time to process how I felt about seeing Hattie again. I knew it would spread through the Blackjacks like wildfire, and I had to quickly figure out how I would handle it when my brothers eventually brought it up.

After ditching my hospital gown, it felt good to finally slide my cut on again. To resume my role as President, with the weight of the leather across my shoulders, resting against my back.

I managed to dodge the nurse and the wheelchair required by hospital policy. No way in hell I was getting wheeled out of this place. Even though I might be a little roughed up, stiff, and sore, I still had two perfectly good legs.

Baby Doll and Big G were waiting in the parking lot for me with the cage that belonged to the Blackjacks—a standard black utility van, battered and rusted, with an interior that perpetually smelled like nacho cheese and motor oil, despite the lemon-scented air freshener, dangling from the mirror.