Page 176 of Severed Heart

I nod.

“I’ve had to help Dom reroute our vendetta strategy thanks to Cecelia’s crash landing. While watching the slow-motion and dangerous descent of Sean and Dom collectively falling for her, I kept and continue to keep vigilant eyes on her to ensure no harm comes her way. This is while carrying out our plan to bring down our competitors—to be the first to get to Roman. In doing that, stumbling upon a nightmare by way of a warehouse inspection with contents so fucking dangerous that lifting them could have brought major heat to the club, with the potential to expose us before taking usall down.” He blows out a loaded breath. “During this time, dealing with Miami’s possible defection, especially after Dom blew his lid after a street race, where we’re almost positive it was a purposeful attempt to take Sean out. This is while we’re in the midst of orchestrating and framing two higher-ups in the military because of what we found in that warehouse, with the help of our birds in higher places ... Oh, add raiding an apartment full of drug addicts—alsoDominitiated—before we left them screaming naked on the highway. Then, tack on investigating one of our local birds, Clint, and weighing the decision to erase him as a liability or get him rehabilitation. And the most recent nightmare, fucking covering Dom’s tracks, yet again, by going on a tri-state crime spree. Finish it off with my daily responsibilities for the club, including passing out blessings and checking in for my mandatory Marine reserve duties, all the while trying to figure out the best way to deal with Tobias’s incoming wrath.”

My eyes are bulging out of my head as he finishes this list.

“So yeah,” he sighs before affectionately brushing my cheek, “it’s been a rough couple of months. And no offense to my brothers—and though I hate the fact that they’re gone—I could use some downtime. Because as much as your nephews like to pride themselves on not beingdrama queens,those two are neck and neck in earning the crown.”

“Mon Dieu, Tyler!” I rasp out, palming his chest as his grin widens at whatever expression I’m wearing. “How did you ... manage all that?”

“Well enough to fight another day,” he murmurs, “but the best part, General of my heart,” he whispers with affection, “is that it all comes back toyou. And I’ll give you every single detail of how, I promise. But I have to go see one of your drama queens in a few hours, so please let me get what sleep I can.”

“Yes, of course, but”—I shake my head in astonishment—“I will now say you are faring very,very wellconsidering.”

“It’s because of you, Delphine,” he insists as I shake my head in refusal. “Shake your head all you want,” he drawls, “but you’ve been with me the whole time. And when I tell you how I managed the summer from hell, and escaped so many sticky situations in the GRS, you will believe me.”

“I can’t wait to hear this, Soldier,” I trace his tattoo. “I don’t know how I will sleep, but rest, yes please,” I order, reeling.

Ten minutes later, I’m still peering at my soldier in astonishment, and sensing it, a beautiful and knowing grin lifts his full lips as he keeps his eyes closed.

“Soldier, I’m so sorry, and I want you to get rest, but can I ask one thing—”

“Merde,”shit, he exhales through a sleep-filled chuckle before he quiets all questions with his kiss.

Chapter Forty-Seven

TYLER

EXITING THE ELEVATOR, I stalk toward the glass door leading to Exodus’s reception area. Even all these years later, I’m still in awe that my brother owns a high rise. More so of what he’s accomplished, as well as the man he’s become. Even if I don’t entirely agree with all the manufactured parts of him. Of the decisions he’s made for himself in certain areas of his life. Nodding toward Shelly—Tobias’severythingassistant who forever has her phone glued to her ear—she gives me a wink of permission to head in.

A heartbeat later, I’m closing his office door and turn to see him peering out of his floor-to-ceiling windows at the Charlotte skyline. Though he’s immaculately dressed, his posture fitting of the mogul he’s become, I know the true state of him.

After our blowout, the Triple crew all but snubbed him when T attempted to get back into the day-to-day of the club. Which only added more insult to his catastrophic injury. Sensing it within days, I took back some of the reins to alleviate some of his burden. In silently watching him for a few seconds, I decide to cut straight to the hurt I know he’s feeling.

“You outgrew that role when you were sixteen, T,” I offer, hoping he takes my words to heart. “And you know it.”

“Here to gloat?” he counters, his words filled with an earned edge.

“Just the opposite. I’m here to give you the apology you deserve,” I say, taking a few strides in. “I’m sorry if I seemed flippant that day at the house. You deserved better. I’m not going to ask for your forgiveness because that’s up to you, but I want it. Though I need to have your trust back in the most basic sense for us to keep going, I know I’ll have to earn the rest.”

He keeps his back to me when he finally speaks. “Is this even my fucking club anymore, Tyler?”

“T,” I exhale. “I know this feels like fucking shit, but there is no club without you. We’d all been living separate lives foryearsbefore we came back in, so the transition hasn’t been easy onany of us.” I instantly see the rejection of my statement in his slight shift of demeanor. “But far before Cecelia, and even after she came, we never made a single fucking move without you in mind. Ever. If you don’t believe anything else that’s coming from me, believe that.”

“I don’t know what you expect,” he releases in exasperation as he turns to me, his fatigue evident even as he maintains his rigid posture.

“Nothingtoday, and maybe for months to come. I can only apologize so many times...though I would do it again.”

Eyes flaring in warning, he nods toward the door so I can see myself out.

“You weren’t there, Tobias, and it all comes down to that, but I’m not here to fight you or to glove up for them. They made their bed, and you reacted, and you’re stuck in yours. I’m trying to get comfortable in mine and know I never will if things stay as they are, but I’d be lying if I said this isn’t gnawing at me every waking fucking hour. I feel the disconnect you do, not on your level, but it fucking stings, brother.”

He rolls his neck and takes a seat behind his keyboard, dismissing the conversation as he speaks. “Anything on Miami?”

“We’re stalking their every move, but it’s quiet, and you know I don’t trust quiet.”

“I’m getting back to closing in on Roman,” he states. “It seems I’ve lost sight of a lot recently, so do what you willthere, but remember their ties and why we can’t simplyeliminatethe problem.”

“Understood, but I’m not done,” I say, stepping forward. “Tobias,” I prompt as he lifts his unforgiving gaze to meet mine. “I’m fucking sorry.”