Page 12 of Ridin' True

“Is any of this documented? Do you have specific dates and examples we can present?”

Wrangler shook his head. “Can’t recall the specifics right now, but I’m sure I could find out and get back to you.”

“Okay, great. Please do. Keep going.”

“Well, that brings us to now. Few weeks ago, Axel broke his arm on my watch. Can’t say for sure how her messed up brain works, but I’m bettin’ that’s what got Nicole thinkin’ she could come up with the bogus idea that my kids are better off only seein’ me every other weekend.”

Alexia looked up with another frown.

It was distractingly cute.

“Every other weekend? That’s what she’s proposing?”

“Yup,” Wrangler muttered.

“Okay, tell me about this broken arm. What happened?”

Wrangler leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “Ax likes to skateboard and ride BMX bikes. I built him a half-pipe in the backyard so he could practice tricks. I’d rather him be outside than glued to a screen like a zombie.”

“Sure, yeah,” she hummed, a small laugh accompanying her words.

“Well, he’s fearless. Trick went wrong, he fell hard and broke his arm. He’s been itchin’ to get back out there since.”

Alexia tilted her head slightly as she studied him contemplatively. “So, Axel had an accident, and your ex believes that’s grounds for renegotiating your custody agreement?”

Wrangler smirked, appreciative of the way her tone implied the stupidity of the whole thing.

“She also got hitched a couple weeks ago. She says she and Evan can provide anormalhome life for them, and it’s what’s best for their wellbeing.”

“I see.”

Ridiculous and weak as it sounded, he knew Nicole wouldn’t leave it there. Not if she was fighting to win.

While he rarely took her bait, she always fought to win.

“She’ll throw the club in my face, too. We need to be prepared for that.”

“The club? You mean,” she pointed her pen at him, “the Wild Stallions Motorcycle Club?”

“Yup. Our babies were born long after I’d established myself as a Stallion. She knew good and well the man she had in her bed. Her problem was thinkin’ I’d pick her over the club. I’d do anything for my kids—except tie myself to a woman who would make me chose between her and my brothers.”

“Alright, let’s explore that. Has your membership with the club ever negatively affected your ability to parent?”

“Nope.”

“Has your membership ever put your children in danger?”

“Nope.”

“Do you have a record?”

“Nope.”

She smiled and tapped the end of her pen against her notepad. “Do you ever bring Marlowe and Axel around the club? Are there other members who might have a record your kids associate with?”

“Clubhouse is fair game for offspring so long as the sun is up. I don’t bring them around all the time, but they have been. I’ve got brothers who’ve got kids. Besides, I’m part Stallion, which means they are, too. As for any records amongst the guys—there might be a couple who’ve been arrested once or twice, but not for anything serious.”

“I’ll run some background checks. If you think your ex will use your affiliation with the Wild Stallions against you, I’m sure they’ll do the same. Could you provide me with a few names?”