Page 105 of The Vows We Keep

I knock my cups to hers. “I’ll drink to that.”

I stay for about an hour until Iris has to leave for yoga with Briar. They invite me to join them, but yoga is so not my thing. Lying around, bending into a pretzel, and trying to not think thoughts that keep rattling around ... no thanks.

I’d rather find my Zen punching the shit out of a sand-filled bag.

When I leave, I lift my face to the weak sun. March and spring are just around the corner. You can smell it in the air and see it in the first tiny buds on some of the trees.

I text Niro to let him know I’m headed home via the shore, seeing it’s a nice day, and ask him what he wants for dinner before starting my engine.

There’s a special kind of joy that comes with knowing where you’re supposed to be, and also knowing you’re welcome there.

The ocean is churned up as I travel down the shore. I hope I can persuade Mamá to come visit in the summer. I think she’ll enjoy it. And who knows, perhaps I could persuade her to move here.

I’m hoping Neva will come to her senses and travel with Mamá, but there is so much distance between us now.

I try not to care, but I wrestle with the image that she’s cozying up to the men who killed Papá while shutting me out. Eventually, it will become unforgiveable.

I’m so distracted by the thoughts of Neva and my family that I don’t even notice the bikers ahead of me. Out of habit, I scan for Niro but quickly realize it’s not the Iron Outlaws.

As I get closer, I see their rocker patches.Barstow, CA.

Then Felipe’s unmistakable helmet.

I try to slow my bike to a stop, but they pull out around me.

Riding three wide is reckless, requires huge concentration. I hate being in the middle—where you’re at the mercy of the two bikes on either side of you. Felipe is to my right. Nudillo, Neva’s dad and the club enforcer, is to my left. Perrito and Mateo are in front of me. Two more behind.

Whatever reason they are here must be serious.

This is a nontraditional formation for a ride out.

I feel like a prisoner.

I start to brake, to slow my bike in a way that notifies those behind me, but Felipe sounds his horn, and I look at him.

He shakes his head and tips it in the direction of Perrito before making a slicing notion across his own throat.

With care, I reach into my pocket and press my panic alarm and pray to God that Vex receives the signal, wherever it’s connected to.

And that Niro can find me.

33

NIRO

“He’s not going to like this.” Clutch’s deep baritone travels along the corridor outside the room I crashed in last night after the weapons run. Bates slept on the floor, but he’s already loading up his bike. I shove the last of my things into my panniers.

The bed was comfortable enough, but Catalina wasn’t in it, so I slept like shit. Can’t wait to get back home and see her tonight. It’s less than a ninety-minute ride home from Philadelphia, faster maybe if King’s in a rush to see Rae. I’ll have Catalina naked and on her knees as soon as I’m through the door.

Seeing my name inked on her back does something to me. It’s more than feeling horny as fuck. She trusts me enough to let me own her, and owning her looks different for her and me versus my brothers and the other old ladies in the club. The more freedom I give her, the more she becomes mine.

I never thought I’d get myself an old lady, so I can’t say I ever gave much thought as to what having one would feel like. But being with an old lady as capable as Cat, one I don’t have to worry about? An old lady who is strong makes me feel ... proud.

I pick up my phone to tell her we’re leaving, and I see the message about dinner.

I want to eat you for dinner. And maybe lasagna after that.

When I look up, I see King and Clutch come through the door, followed by Vex and Spark.