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I held up a hand to stop the apology I didn’t need or fucking want. “Don’t worry, I’m just telling you how it is. Visit her often and it’ll be as easy as it’s ever gonna be.”

“Thanks, Golden Boy. How are you—”

Savior strolled up looking like he’d just been butt fucked by the devil, and all of that anger was aimed my way. “What the fuck, Golden Boy? Sheena said you got rough with her!”

Of course that no good bitch said that. I got in his face the same way he was in mine. Savior was a crazy bastard, but I was angry, bigger than him by at least four inches and fifty pounds of muscle because the only fucking thing I did over the past six years was read and weight train.

“Sheena needs to learn to keep her fucking hands to herself! I didn’t do shit to her other than remove her hands from my fucking body!” Fear flashed in his eyes, but Savior was no punk and he held his ground. I would’ve been impressed if I wasn’t so damn mad. “Thanks for the vote of fucking confidence, man. If you’re so worried about the bitch, make her your old lady.”

The crazy fucker smiled and grabbed my shoulder. “Fuck that shit. That girl is a first-class bunny boiler over there. I’m just checkin’ in with you man, you’re wound tighter than a virgin’s asshole.”

I shook my head at his foolishness. “You’re still a crazy sonofabitch, you know that?”

“All part of my charm, brother. You know I’d never doubt you, right? Well I doubt any man who hasn’t wet his dick with a willing woman after years of abstinence, but other than that, we’re brothers, asshole.”

“Yeah, I know. I need to get my head on straight, first.”

“All right, how about we go for a ride this week?”

A smile spread across my face. “Sounds good, Savior. Name the day and time.”

“I want some new ink, schedule me last and we’ll go after?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just fist bumped me and Gunnar, and walked off whistling.

I looked to Gunnar. “I gotta get to the shop man, later.” Walking through the parking lot, I couldn’t help the goofy as grin I wore. For the first time since I got out, I felt like I was home again.

With my family.

***

“Hey, Tate. Come on in. Thanks for coming.” She was stiff, wooden and on edge.

“No problem. Hey, you okay Teddy?”

She blinked, jumping and gasping when I touched her shoulder. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

I grinned. “Honey you’re jumpy as hell. Tell me what’s going on?”

She sighed and turned to me, her tumble of red hair falling around her shoulder, vibrant and beautiful. “Don’t freak out, okay?”

“I’m a man, Teddy. We don’t freak out.”

She rolled her eyes and clasped our hands together as she pulled me through her split-level home, barely giving me a chance to take it all in. “Yeah right. You forgot I’ve seen Max in action.” There was a hint of sarcasm there, but her voice was still tense as we entered the backyard. “Remember you promised not to freak out.”

“I didn’t, but okay.” She turned to me and stepped aside, pushing open the door to a little storage shed at the back corner of her garage.

“Well, look!” She gestured to the open door and I stepped inside.

“What the fuck?”

She nibbled her lip, another sign that whatever was going on had her spooked. “Someone has been sending me gifts. No, not someone. I think it’s this groom for the wedding I’m working on. He’s a slime ball, always hitting on me.”

“Why do you think this is him?” I listened as she told me, in a shaky voice, about the flowers and candy. “Th

at’s not quite the same as torn lingerie and slashed photos of you, I’m assuming from your modeling days?” Had to be because she was young, gorgeous and not a redhead. “You’re a natural blonde?”

She laughed. “No. I dyed it blonde because everyone wanted a blonde. The red is natural.” She grabbed a handful, lifted it up and let it fall to her shoulders.

“Well. Red does match your fiery as shit personality.” She scowled and I laughed. “So, I guess self-defense first and wedding stuff, second?”