“There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be than here,” Kane said.“With this patch.These people.You.Drag me to another state for vacation sometime if you want but home exists in this clubhouse and Miss Irene giving me late fees when I return books on time.”
I laughed through the tears welling in my eyes.
“Perfect,” I said.“Because I never want to leave either.”
Kane pressed his lips against mine.The kiss began soft, gentle.Then he deepened it.
Home.That’s what Kane was to me.
When he pulled back, his eyes were darker.“You know what I keep thinking?”
“What?”I asked.
“We met because a man tried to own you,” he said.“We stayed because we chose each other.Diaz is caged.Victor’s in a jumpsuit.Roth’s a body in the dirt.”
I let my fingers curl in the front of his cut.
“You think it’s ever going to feel normal?”I asked.“Not checking the windows twice.Not jumping when the gate buzzes.”
“Maybe,” he said.“Maybe not.Normal’s overrated.I’ll take safer.I’ll take happier.I’ll take you in my bed and kids running barefoot through the yard and Spade yelling at his laptop instead of at you.”
“You love Spade,” I said.
“Shut up,” he replied.
I laughed, the sound ringing easier than it had in a long time.
Voices floated from the clubhouse behind us.Music.Laughter.Somebody whooped as if they’d just won a hand of cards.
Life.Loud and messy and ours.
I looked down at my cut.
Savage Raptors MC.
Property of Falcon.
“Come on,” Kane said, tugging me gently back toward the door.“If we stay out here any longer, Marci’s going to assume we’re making out and send a kid to interrupt on purpose.”
“She would,” I said.
“She will,” he corrected.
We walked back in together.
General raised a beer in our direction.
Spade waved his tablet in the air, shouting about “phase two” and “cleanup ops” I’d hear about later when my chest didn’t feel ready to burst.
Casey caught my eye across the room and gave me a single nod.I saw everything in her expression -- pride, gratitude, a silent understanding between us.
“Aunt Jade!”Riley crashed into my leg with the force of a tiny meteor.“Knuckles promised you can pick the movie tonight because you earned your vest.”
“Is that right?”I asked.
Knuckles pretended offense from the couch.“I said I would tolerate her pick,” he said.“There’s a difference.”
“We’re watching cartoons,” I told him.
