Page 20

Crow

P atti’s is its usual bustling, lively self on Saturday night. Most of the guys from the club are here, the old ladies and the club whores hanging around playing pool, darts, drinking beers, shooting the shit—and holy fuck, that’s a statement I never thought I’d say.

Even Tyrant is here, though he probably won’t stay long. I dropped Connie off with his old lady, Lark, because their daughter has been begging me to let the dog come stay with her for a few hours at her house, ever since she saw her at the club one afternoon. As far as kids go, Penny is pretty awesome. There was no way I could tell her no. Tyrant will be at the club later, and I know that he’ll spend a few hours between now and then, doing dad stuff and probably working on house renovations at his place.

I’m in my usual spot, holding up the wall. I just feel more comfortable here, but I did let Wizard convince me to play some pinball earlier. Spoiler alert—I fucking suck at it. It was fun anyway. His score was so high, the machine shut itself off and restarted. He was pissed that he lost all his free plays. He had like eighteen balls lined up.

I spot Bullet and Smoke over at the far pool table. They’re in Tarynn’s section, and they’re both trying to pretend they don’t notice how hot she is in those short leather shorts, Patti’s tank top, and her badass biker boots. She’s got her hair down, but tucked into a braid, offset with heavy dark eye makeup and red lipstick.

She’s so utterly beautiful that it makes my balls tight. Of course my cock is raging hard. When is it not? There’s been times where I actually thought I was in danger of having to go to the hospital or something, the erection lasted so long.

Tarynn is sweet, gorgeous perfection. I dropped her off earlier on my bike and I can’t wait to take her home on it. I’ll take her for a good long ride, get her heady and high on that freedom open road feeling and fresh air before I set about parting her from the clothes she looks so irresistibly hot in, and ruining her hair and makeup.

I watch her cast shy smiles at Ella, Rita, and Jodie. They’re at a booth over in the corner. Tarynn walks over and lingers for a while, seeming to enjoy talking to them instead of just forcing it for work. She hasn’t made plans for dinner with any of the old ladies yet, but I know they’ll take her out soon. Probably for more than just dinner. Ella loves books as much as Tarynn, and the others love any kind of shopping. I’m sure they’ll have a great day or night out.

Tarynn might say she’s just an ordinary person, but to me, she’s a miracle worker. She’s the one who set up the truce between Raven and myself. Long before she ever got us to agree to give sharing equal amounts of time as the Dominant a try, she brought calm and quiet to my head.

I no longer feel like I’m constantly locked in a battle of good versus evil, restraint versus control. I don’t physically, mentally, or emotionally feel like shit anymore.

It’s not just a change on the inside.

After I told her about Raven, I told the club. Having that out and having other people tell me that I’m just fine the way I am, not broken or someone to be feared and fixed, has made a huge difference. I don’t feel strained anymore. I don’t have to hide. I can just be who I am and if that’s fucking weird, then so be it.

I’m finding that I can come out and enjoy myself outside of the club as well. I never would have been able to come here to Patti’s and think it was anything more than putting in time, pretending to be like everyone else. I don’t come here for me. I come here for Tarynn, so we can spend time together even when she’s working, and okay, also because both Raven and I are in full agreement about protecting her. I know she doesn’t need it here—the other guys know that she’s mine, and they’d take a bullet for her any day of the week. Aside from the pure enjoyment of watching her work, getting her secret smiles every now and then, and her fucking delicious grilled cheese sandwiches that she always has waiting just for me, I’m actually starting to feel like I’m part of something here.

Even at work, people are noticing the difference. Instead of tattooing for eight hours or more without saying a word, I try to talk to my clients, if they’re open to conversation, especially if I notice that they need it. I’m not so up in my head now that I just barrel on through until they beg me for a break. I always felt terrible about not noticing when someone was reaching their breaking point until their body physically alerted me to the fact that they needed a breather, or calories and sugar.

I failed to realize just how unlikable I was. At work, my employees thought I was the typical tattooist with a huge ego, too far above them to ever deign to ask them a single question about themselves. Since I stopped being so tense, they smile a whole lot more. We often exchange hello sand goodbyes. I haven’t told anyone outside of the club about Raven, but maybe one day soon I’ll come clean with my coworkers too.

Life is so different when I learned to stop hating and fearing myself.

It’s just about time for that long awaited grilled cheese. Tarynn is turning around to find me, and I can tell just by the questioning look on her face that she’s asking me if I’m starving yet.

I’m so wrapped up in her that I almost miss the man walk through the door on the other side of the bar. Almost, but I don’t. From where I’m standing, I have a vantage point of the whole place. It’s a strategic spot, so I can survey everything and everyone while Tarynn works. She told me the first time she caught me doing it that I didn’t need to, but at the same time, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to change my mind and she thanked me for caring enough about her that I’d hold up the wall for hours on end. I don’t stay for the full length of her shifts, but while I’m here, you bet your ass she’s going to be safe.

Even if I had no clue who Tarynn’s dad was or what he looked like, it’s easy to spot an outsider in this crowd. With his white button up shirt, black slacks, and polished shoes, he’s glaringly out of place.

Tarynn hasn’t seen him yet. She’s speaking with Raiden, who’s tucked himself into the booth beside his wife. It’s a tight fit, and that’s probably what they’re all laughing about. Tarynn is taking drink orders. She’s got that look on her face that says she’s concentrating on not messing anything up.

The asshole had the nerve to ignore her when she went to their house three days ago, and now he shows up at her place of work?

Yeah, that’s not fucking happening.

I’m usually the one cautioning against violence, but for once, Raven and I are in perfect agreement.

I take two steps forward to cut the bastard off at the pass, but stop abruptly, Tarynn’s sweet, earnest expression, her big eyes so full of everything, asking us both to promise that we wouldn’t hurt her dad. She had her dad’s number. She knows that he’s a hypocritical, self-centered waste of skin. She even walked me through how this would play out, with her father goading me into doing something stupid and then persecuting me doggedly, which would hurt Tarynn terribly.

I can’t let that happen.

I made her a promise.

No, we made her a promise.

I’ve only hesitated for a few seconds, processing all of this quickly, but in that time, Tarynn has spun around, ready to head back to the bar to give Patti the drink orders for all her tables. Her eyes lock on her dad and she freezes.

He was waiting for her to notice him, and now that she has, he cuts straight across the bar for her, parting seas of rough, leather clad men.

My chest hollows out that I can’t stop him. I’m scorched all over by my desire to break ever bone in his body and leave him in a useless sack of bloody spare parts outside.

The noise in the bar seems to dial down, though I know that it hasn’t. I’m just hyper focused. The thing is, some of my club brothers are too. A whole bunch of heads turn to the middle of the bar, where Tarynn and her dad are about to clash together from opposing sides. A few swivel to me, waiting for some sign that they should close ranks, but I slowly shake my head.

The attention remains fixed on that spot, a whole lot of burly, tattooed, biker aggression. The club isn’t full of a bunch of violent, women abusing, foul criminals, but that’s the impression that most people have of bikers, and I have to say, most of us look the part. That image serves us well, even if most people in Hart know that the club’s history has been about protecting our hometown, not fucking around with guns, women, and endless violence.

I might not be bent on doing harm, but I am going to stand next to my woman.

Our woman. I’m right here with you.

For the first time ever that I can remember, Raven isn’t trying to leap out of my skin at the first sign of violence. He’s not banging around in my skull, screaming for a fight.

“Dad,” Tarynn breathes, visibly upset. Her eyes sweep across the bar and land on Patti standing like a mother hen ready to grab for her shotgun and come out, Wild West style.

I don’t think Patti has a shotgun stashed under there or anywhere else, but she certainly has that look to her that warns others not to fuck with hers. She looked at me the night that Tarynn dragged me into the back kitchen after she keyed my face seven ways to Sunday.

Fuck, that was hot.

Tarynn swallows thickly, eyeing me nervously. I give her the same subtle shake of my head that I gave the guys a minute ago, letting her know that I’m not going to do anything stupid.

A hard glint in her eyes stops me where I am, fifteen feet away. She needs a minute. I don’t like it, but I’m going to give it to her. I respect her enough to let her fight her own battles when doing so is important to her. She’s equipped with far more tools that what I have. I’m built for blood and fighting, but I remember what she said to me just yesterday.

“Just because enforcing is your job doesn’t mean that that’s all you are. You’re not a goon. You have so much more to offer. You’re smart, artistic, compassionate, beautiful, and kind.

“Dad,” she whispers again, angling in to shield their words from most of the bar. Family drama isn’t something she wants aired out where everyone can witness it. “What are you doing here? I’m working.”

“That’s right,” the fucker claps back with a greasy smile. “You’re a working girl now.”

Tarynn’s face goes red, and I swear I want to throw her dad straight through the closest window. A working girl? What the fuck?

“I tried to come talk to you a few days ago, but you- you weren’t ready.”

It burned me up like no one’s business when Tarynn tearfully told me all about how her parents refused to answer the door, how she’d ended up at the church instead, making what peace she could with her family’s cold response.

“I have a new phone now. I’ll give you the number and we can have lunch or something,” Tarynn suggests bravely, shrugging off her dad’s leering expression. It almost looks like he’s drunk, but that would be impossible. I doubt this guy’s tasted so much as a drop of wine unless it’s for church purposes.

“You’re coming home with me, right now. You’ve been playing at your little rebellion long enough. It’s embarrassing. You’re an embarrassment, mingling with a bunch of dirty, disgusting criminals and these loose women. You’re encouraging the sin of drunkenness.” His eyes sweep over her, taking in her tight tank top, her breasts pushed up to swell over the top, and her tight skirt. “This is exactly what I knew would happen. They’d lead you astray with their vile, wicked influence. You’ve defiled the temple that is your body for long enough. You’ve been baptized, Tarynn. I want you to think long and hard on what that means. It means that you promised to live a godly life.” His lips pull back in a sneer. “Yet all I see is a wanton woman wallowing in the pleasures of the flesh.”

Okay, this has gone on long enough. He’s just being plain fucking weird.

At Raven’s urging, I stalk across the bar, closing the distance to Tarynn’s side in a few strides. I cross my arms, menacing as all shit, but her dad doesn’t flinch away. He’s come to claim back his daughter for righteousness, and apparently nothing is going to get in his way.

Just like she said, he wants this fight, and he wants it public. I’m not going to give that to him. “Sir, I’m going to ask you once, kindly, not to speak to my wife that way.”

“Your wife?” This guy has no control over his features. He’s drenched in a pallid gray that gives over to angry scarlet splotches. He rakes his eyes in a slightly crazed way over me, then flicks them back to his daughter, narrowing them darkly.

How could he not have known? We haven’t made a secret of it, and I was so sure that word would get back to him. But then, it’s not like Tarynn has bumped into any of her parents’ friends, and the few she had from high school have moved on. Her med school friends were just people who had a common interest, and usually that was studying. I guess there was really no way that word would have reached her dad. Yet. Given time, I’m sure it would have.

Her father’s jaw locks so tight that I’m surprised it opens again without the aid of a crowbar. “This is it? You’re a criminal now? You know what I’ve told you about picking a god fearing husband.” He does his best stabby finger impression at me again. “You can’t pull someone like that up. They’ll only drag you down. It’s impossible.”

Tarynn wrings her hands, then clasps them tightly to keep from doing it again. I want to slip an arm around her, but I don’t know if she wants that.

My instincts are strong, and my eyes rake the place, taking in every single tense man, every astounded woman, although a few of them look like they’re gearing up for a fight too.

Tyrant has edged over to Raiden. Not good. Our Prez and VP are only going to take some much of this shit talk. They might have cool heads, but I still keep them in my line of sight.

Tarynn leans in slightly, like if she’s closer to her dad, the words might actually sink in. “You taught me to look for the goodness in people and to extend love where possible. Crow is my person.”

She hesitates, eyes flicking to me, but doesn’t complicate things. I can pretty much hear her apology to Raven. You’re both my people.

“Your person?” Spittle sprays from her dad’s lips. “Your drug dealing, thug, sinner of a husband? He’s lost, daughter. He won’t find his way and soon you’ll join him down that dark path. If you insist on living this life of sin, then you’re dead to me.”

I can barely to watch Tarynn’s face crush in on itself. I can’t describe the feeling that takes over me. It’s half crazed, adrenaline and panic mixed with fear and violence.

To fuck and gone with that promise. Grab the nearest pool cue and ram it in his eye. Let two of the guys hold him upside down while you see how many pool balls a prison pocket can actually hold. Take him to the bar and waterboard him with—

Stop. Raven. We’re not doing that. Christ.

Tarynn’s losing her family, but she doesn’t break down. I don’t know if she’s in shock or if she anticipated this very moment. No one says anything. Silence falls over the place like a shroud. It’s so quiet that I can hear everyone’s breathing.

Where the fuck did the music go?

We could always track him down later. Lock him and kill him slow. Not for days or months, but over years . He’s going to wish that he’d just hurled the Jezebel insults and had done with it.

Yeah, that’s really going to make Tarynn feel better.

I’d love it if this guy’s head was served up to me on a platter. I think it would make a great anniversary gift.

“I hope to prove you wrong.”

The whole place seems to let out a collective breath at Tarynn’s soft response. She’s a warrior, this woman. A queen.

Her father hates that he hasn’t ruffled her or broken her. His own daughter, and this is how he treats her? Like his property?

“Hope all you want,” he splutters. “But you won’t.” He snaps his head to me. I wish it was his neck that snapped. “I spent years raising that girl. Teaching her the right path. The true way. I hope you’re happy.”

Tarynn slips her hand into mine. The warmth of her palm spreads calm through me that I didn’t even know I could feel. “We’re both happy, and I’ll do everything in my power to keep it that way.”

“With all due respect—” I have to cut myself off. What a stupid saying. I don’t feel that any respect is due to this hypocritical, blind, holier than thou piece of shit. “Owning a motorcycle doesn’t make me a piece of trash. Being in a club doesn’t mean I’m bound for hell. It doesn’t put me past redemption, and it doesn’t mean I can’t be a good man.”

“But you’re not. You’re not a good man. My daughter is going to reap what she’s sown.”

“She’s sown nothing but kindness and the desire to reconcile with her family.” I can’t help it. My voice is a dead level growl. I’m about ninety-nine percent of the way to taking out the real trash. “If you won’t be her father and love her enough to see past your own ego and pride, you don’t deserve to have peace of mind, but I’m going to give it to you anyway. I’d die to keep her safe. I’ll do anything to make her happy. She won’t be alone. She’ll have a family.” The same family that didn’t hit me hard until the night I told them about Raven. My club. My brothers.

“If you think a club full of drug dealers and rapists is going to pass as family-”

A blur of leather and blonde hair comes streaking up from the back. Patti grasps onto Tarynn’s father, taking his arm so hard that she nearly wheels him completely around. “Hey, now. My name’s Patti, which you already know, but there it is again. I own this place and I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Talk like that isn’t welcome here.”

“I’m Tarynn’s father! I’ll stay and talk to her if I want to.”

That earns a few shuffling feet, cleared throats, and cracked knuckles from around the place.

“I believe you just disavowed that right, and more’s the pity for you. Somehow, you managed to raise a beautiful human being.”

Tarynn basically collapses against my side now that Patti has this. I sweep my arm around her, tucking her tight to me, letting her lean on me. I can be her strength. Now. Always.

“Lucky for her, she’s downright smart and didn’t turn out closeminded and bigoted like yourself,” Patti says, clucking her tongue. “Men like you gives meaning to that saying about the blind leading the blind.”

Tarynn’s dad shakes off Patti’s hand and whirls around. “I want to talk to my daughter.”

“Not right now, you can’t. This is her place of work, and I believe I heard her repeatedly express a desire not to have a personal conversation while she’s trying to do her job. Believe me, I’m doing you a favor.” Patti sweeps her hand around the place in a ‘read the damn room’ gesture. “If it wasn’t me kicking you out, one of them would. You think that a man takes kindly to being called a rapist? That’s a strong accusation and completely unfounded. Bikers don’t settle scores with words. They do it with their fists. If you don’t want your face beat in, you’ll leave now.”

He ignores that good advice and sets his sights on his daughter again in one last appeal. “Tarynn! Come with me right now. Walk away from all of this. Turn your back on this life. If you don’t, I’m not responsible for our damnation.”

“Honestly, if that’s the option, then I’ll be damned. But Dad, we both know that’s not the way it works. My salvation isn’t between you and me.”

Patti slams her fists onto her hips, none too gently. Even she’s past her seemingly endless store of patience. If Tarynn’s dad didn’t take the hint about my menacing presence, it’s clear he’s not going to listen to anything she’s going to say. “That’s enough now. Let me see you to your car. I’m going to ask you not to come back here. Homicide is bad for business.”

“You think you’ve got all the answers, girl? You don’t have the sense that god granted an insect. You’ve turned your back on your family, your church, your faith.”

“Hey. You know that saying about preaching to the choir? Well, this is the wrong choir. They’re looking a touch bloodthirsty.” Patti snaps her fingers and points at the front of the bar. “There’s the door. If you’re not out of it in the next few seconds, I won’t be responsible for what happens.”

The gun comes out of nowhere. I’m moving before I can even think, wrapping Tarynn in my arms and spinning her around behind me. Someone screams from the back and men burst into that explosion they were primed for.

Tyrant flies with inhuman speed, tackling Tarynn’s father to the ground from a dead run, heedless of his own safety. He grasps the man’s wrist and bangs it on the floor, over and over until he releases the gun. It’s only her father’s obvious inexperience and Tyrant’s speed that kept something terrible from happening.

What the hell was he going to do? Force his daughter back under his control at gunpoint?

Tarynn tries to surge past me, but I wrap both arms around her waist and tug her into my chest. She throws her hands over her mouth, tears pouring down her cheeks. “No! Dad!”

I don’t know what she thinks is going to happen, but it’s not going to be a biker form of justice. Patti is already on her phone, calling the cops. Her father is going to get real justice. For Tarynn’s sake, I’ll ask Tyrant to do what he can to see that the charges are dropped. He’ll have a detail on him, someone following him and watching him from afar, constantly now. One moment of insanity was all it took for him to lose everything.

This will be all over Hart and he’ll lose his job. What else will he lose? His house? His wife? His community? The one person I know he won’t lose is Tarynn.

She’ll do what I ask her to do for her own safety, but I know that if the day ever comes when her father is truly sorry for what he’s done and how he’s treated her for her whole life, I know that she’ll forgive him.

The bar turns into chaos while her father is picked off the floor and restrained by both Tyrant and Raiden. Bullet confiscates the gun. The women cluster together, Patti tries to calm down her other staff, and through it all, Tarynn stands silently in my arms, watching everything with tear stained cheeks.

***

Even after the cops have come and gone, loading up her father, the tears don’t stop.

Patti comes over to check on us now that the other waitresses have calmed down and gone for a break in the back.

“You gonna be okay, honey?”

Tarynn doesn’t know how to respond. She leans against me, needing my strength. I’m happy to give it to her, but unhappy that the circumstances led us here. I wish that I could absorb her pain. I wish I could fix everything.

Even I wish I could glue it all back together. Me. The one who normally just wants to wreck it all, burn it down, and piss on the ashes.

I think Patti can see how defeated we both look.

“Do I still have a job?” Tarynn’s wavering words cause my throat to close up. It was already halfway there, my misery and distress matching hers, but now it’s nearly impossible to breathe.

“Of course!” Patti is so tough that she has the ability to shake her head and laugh. Fuck. I have no idea what she’s seen, but this doesn’t appear to even have her rattled, so it can’t nearly be the worst of it. “I’m going to close up for the rest of the night. I think what we all need is some air to clear our heads and a good sleep after that.” She gives me a motherly stink eye. “You take her for a good long ride on your bike now, you hear? You can’t outride heartbreak, but what you both need right now is each other. I hope you can find some peace tonight. I’ve learned myself that things might be bad in the moment, but they’re not bad forever.”

“Thanks, Patti.”

As soon as she’s gone, Tyrant and Raiden come over to check in. “How are you holding up?” Tyrant asks.

Tarynn doesn’t really know him, but she knows who he is. Her eyes flick back and forth from my Prez, over to Raiden.

“I don’t really know,” she admits. “I’m just so sorry for all of this.”

“Hey. No.” I don’t know how he does it, but Tyrant has this special aura about him that makes him so easy to trust.

He has a face that says that he won’t allow anything bad to happen when he’s around, and that you can put your faith in him to figure out all of your shit too. He’s got one of those magnetic personalities, and his classically handsome face doesn’t hurt his cause either.

“We can’t control what other people do or think. This wasn’t your fault. We’ve got you both, you hear me?”

Tarynn reluctantly nods. Everything is all wrong and it’s going to take more than a few minutes for her to get over it.

“If you want to leave Connie with Lark tonight, that’s understandable.” He pulls out his phone and shows us both a picture that Lark texted him, of Connie curled up on the foot of Penny’s bed, her bright purple cast standing out against the pink princess bedding. Both Penny and Connie have a look of absolute bliss on their faces. “You could pick her up in the morning, or I could have Lark drop her off.”

“But she might need—”

“You showed Lark how to help her go out. It’s all good, brother. Whatever you want.”

What I want is to create a perfect world where Tarynn doesn’t have to hurt. Where her mother isn’t a zombie, and her dad isn’t a total fucking moron.

“Connie can stay at your place tonight, if Lark’s okay with that. I think I might need to take a pass on the club stuff, unless you’re calling church?”

Tyrant shakes his head. His face is soft, and his natural charisma goes a long way to assure Tarynn that no one is mad at her and that this isn’t her fault.

At least, I think she’s reassured, until she grabs her work backpack, and we hit the asphalt parking lot. As soon as we’ve walked to my bike, she stares it down like it’s a flesh sucking monster who eats all the skin off the body and lets the rest mellow as a big old meat bag.

Imaginative.

She squares down with my bike, posture so rigid that her spine could snap with the slightest breeze.

“Tarynn?”

She turns just enough that the light from inside illuminates the fresh tears shimmering on her cheeks. The golden lights pouring from the diner’s windows highlight the coppery gold tones in her hair, caressing the slope of her nose. The tears pour down silently, trickling over her lips.

I don’t even know if she’s aware that she’s crying again.

I take her hands, threading our fingers together. “Want to tell me what you’re thinking?”

“I- it’s so obvious to me that- that you must want to bail and I’m just trying to hold the pieces of me together.”

“What?” The roar echoes through the night.

I surge forward, slamming my mouth over hers. She’s salt and misery, but beneath the pain, she still tastes like herself. Strawberry sweet. I twist the strands of her hair out of the way and glide my hand to the back of her neck, cupping that vulnerable spot protectively.

After I devour her mouth, I kiss her tears away, trying to be her strength, to take her misery, to bear this all for her.

“Tarynn… Why would you say that? Why would you ever think that I would want to leave?”

She swipes at her eyes and brushes her nose with the back of her hand. “Ugh.” She sniffles. “I don’t have anything to—”

I’m already shoving out of my vest and stripping off my t-shirt. “Here.”

She doesn’t protest. She mops her face with it, twisting her hands into the soft fabric. I put my vest back on, bare chested. She blinks at me and gives me a once over, her eyes lingering on my abs before she’s able to tear them back up to my face.

“Damn, now you’re going to be everyone’s fantasy.”

“Everyone doesn’t matter. Only you.” I tilt her chin up, caressing her pulse point with my thumb. “You think that I’d leave because your family has a little bit of crazy?”

“A little? My dad pulled a gun on you!”

My thumb smooths small circles at her neck. “Tare. It isn’t the first time someone’s done that. I know you’re still so innocent, but being in a motorcycle club means that sometimes dangerous things happen. My role is to keep everyone settled and to keep the peace. Hart is a small place and we’ve done most of the hard work to make it our town, which means that there aren’t going to be turf wards or a bunch of thugs running around trying to take us out, but that doesn’t mean that there won’t still be assholes or people who want to come and try us on. Just a few months ago, Gunner got shot by a little prick college kid who didn’t like getting a verbal warning. Shit like that just happens.”

She chews on her lip while she processes that. I bracket her shoulders in my palms like I can brace her and level her, but I know that all her turmoil is on the inside.

“I’m sorry that your parents made the choices they did, but Tyrant won’t press charges. It’s going to be a hard road for your family, but that’s on them. I don’t blame you for any of it.”

She swallows thickly. “You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad at your for trying to live your life, reconcile with your parents, and getting shit all over by your dad, who by the way, seems exactly like the kind of preachy asshole I imagined. There has to be good people when it comes to religion, right?”

The little smile she offers is like a beam of warm sunlight. “Of course there are. But I meant, are you mad at me for doubting you?”

“We’re still new, still learning about each other. I’m not mad at you for anything. Come here.”

I turn her around so that she’s facing my bike, and I can press the hard length of my body all along hers. It’s not sexual, through being this close to all her curves is intoxicating, and if I keep it up, I’ll be as hard as stone, but I want her to know that I have her back. What better way than to literally have it?

I sweep her hair off her neck, exposing her pale skin to me. “I can’t promise that we’ll have a life filled with only goodness or that shit won’t come for us one way or the other. I can’t even promise time because no one can. But I hope that all the time I have left, I get to spend with you.”

A little sob shuddered through her. “You know what I think first attracted me to you?”

My hands are locked right under her breastbone, so I feel every shuddering inhale of her breath.

“That, like your namesake, you were wild. Free. Crazy smart.”

“Attracted to shiny things.” Her laughter, though it’s small and shaky, is still glorious music. “I didn’t take the name Crow for the birds. I took it because I love black.”

“Yeah I get that. But that first night I saw you, I wasn’t just attracted to you. I thought you were hot, obviously, but I wasn’t drawn to you because you’re gorgeous. I wanted to be free as well, but I had no idea how to do that. I was trapped, and you made it so easy to leave. I never could have done that if you hadn’t stolen me from my cage so that I could fly with you.”

“Speaking of flying.” I nod at the bike. She always has an extra helmet in her car, in case we go for a ride after her shift. “I’ll get your brain bucket, and we’ll ride together, both of us soaring in the wind, wild and free.”

“Not wild. We belong to each other.”

She’s right. We’ll still have many demons to slay, but a whole horde lies behind us.

I find her keys in her bag and get her helmet, locking the car back up after. I fit it over her hair, doing up the chin strap for her. She waits for me to get on my bike and kick it into a roaring thunder. She trembles as all that power rolls through the pavement at her feet, and again when I help her onto the back, and she locks her arms around me.

“You know how we weren’t sure what getting married meant?”

I stroke her ring finger, the gold band smooth and warm, her heartline pulsing right beneath the metal. I fold my hand over hers, ring to ring, heartline to heartline.

“I think I might like to just keep on being your wife. I mean, I’m always going to be yours , Crow and Raven’s, but I like the way wife sounds. I like the way it feels. I like the promise of it.”

“Ours. Wife. Promise. Together. Those are good words.”

“Yeah?” She rests her chin on my shoulder, hands splayed on my bare abs.

“Yeah.”

“You’re going to ride like that? A shirtless god of all my dreams, rumbling off into infinity on this gorgeous leather and chrome Harley?”

“I am.” I grasp her leg, squeezing her thigh lightly. “But you forgot one thing.”

“What’s that?” She speaks loudly over the bike’s rumble. It’s summer, so both our brain buckets are old school open.

“You. You’re our ride or die.”

I make sure she’s holding on tight before I wheel the bike out of Patti’s parking lot, leaving the diner and the golden glow of its lights behind. Patti’s is the last stop on the highway, the stretch of road that leads to Seattle. There’s a whole lot of nothing for a while, the night dark and peaceful, wrapping around us like a velvet, star studded blanket.

Tarynn’s yells scare the shit out of me at first, until she presses her palm right over my heart. She’s screaming out her pain, her sorrow, her joy, her hopes, her dreams. She’s yelling because it feels damn good to be alive out here, the wind whipping away at us, the air stinging our faces.

She’s yelling because she’s free.

I tilt my throat to the sky and let my voice join hers.