Page 53 of His Flawed Ride

“We can’t sleep with him in the bed. What if we roll over onto him?”

“Are you tired enough to sleep?” she quips.

“Not really.”

“There you go. Come lay down with me.”

I settle into bed with Roman tucked in between us. Holly lies on her side and I do the same.

“What’s on your mind, babe? Talk to me.”

Sighing, I say, “The brothers knew I’d run the club differently, and I have been for a long while. Now the brothers are acting like yesterday was the first time wearing the patch.”

“All brothers or a few?”

“A few,” I admit. “I did the right thing not paying to get Lily back, and every fucker knows it.”

“It’s not just Lily, is it? Something is eating at you.”

I can’t talk to her about Nora. I stroke Roman’s cheek as he sleeps soundly.

“There was a point in my life where I couldn’t see the next day coming, and now I’m thinking about days to come as far as a year, five years, ten years.”

“What do you see in five years?”

I smile in the darkness. “The club is strong. Our reputation proceeds us. And then there’s us with a couple more kids.”

“What if it’s just still the two kids?”

“That’ll be okay too. I’ve got my son and my girl. I’ve got you. Wanting more is pure greed, but I wouldn’t miss it if we stayed the way we are.”

“It’s the giving birth part, I don’t know if I can go through it again, even the once.”

“It’s your choice, you want another kid, I’m good with it. You don’t, I’m still good.”

She reaches across the bed and places her hand on my cheek. “I’ve got more than I thought I’d ever have. I’m happy.”

“That’s all I care about.”

“The club will sort itself out, you’ll make sure of it. Stick to the way you want to run it, and the brothers will come around.”

She climbs out of bed and picks up Roman. “Get some sleep and I’ll deal with our son.”

My eyes shut before she leaves the room, and I drift off to the chaos racing around my mind.

Chapter Twenty

Lily

Death. Life.

Bouncing between the two is numbingly cold and blistering hot all at the same time.

“Your brother has come a long way for you. You’re gonna get your wish, bitch.”

Hopper’s face fills my mind in distorted flashes before the darkness consumes me. Every breath is one I don’t want to take.

“Lils, you’re gonna be fine. Ride this out, and by the time we get home, you’ll feel better than you do now.”