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“You know I like it when you fight me.” His tongue hits my cheek as he licks up my face. “I love the taste of your salty tears.”

She brushes the tears from her eyes. “Don’t fucking do that,” I tell her.

“Do what? Care? Have emotions? Be an actual human being?”

“Don’t fucking pity me.”

“Pity you? It’s kinda hard not to. But it’s not a bad thing. I’d never look down on you because you’ve had a hard upbringing. That’s not your fault. My heart goes out to the little boy and young man who had to deal with that stuff. I do not pity the man you are today because I know that man wouldn’t stand for any of that. He wouldn’t allow it, but that boy is a different story, and he deserves someone who cares.”

I don’t respond to anything she says. No reason to argue my stance on the subject.

“You know…” Her voice breaks through my thoughts. “I understand the reason behind the whole shaving. It’s a control thing for you. No hair to grab, no way for him to force you. But he’s not here, Tylan. And you’re in control of your life now.”

“I’m fucking trying, Jenni.”

The car ride is quiet the rest of the way. It makes me sick to think of the awful things he had to go through growing up. I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to come to terms with the things he’s told me.

He stalks ahead of me as I follow him into the building. I’m not sure what the next step is, but the fact that he’s willing to try says that he isn’t a lost cause.

“Good morning,” Maggie addresses us, shaking my hand and nodding politely to Lick. “I hope you’re ready for this.” She nods again and turns to leave. I follow her as Lick stays with his gaze fastened to the floor, rooted in his spot.

“What are you doing?” I ask when I turn around. He lifts his gaze from the floor to me. There’s so much uncertainty floating in his eyes. “Tylan?”

He pulls on the hem of his flannel jacket, and I notice the black leather of his cut behind the cottony fabric. I’ve never seen him so confined in his clothes. Even in the chill of the night, he’s always in jeans, a thin T-shirt, and his cut. I know he’s trying to make an effort. He’s purposely covering up who he is to make sure we have a shot at getting his niece and nephew, and I’m not sure if I should feel proud or sad.

“Yeah, I’m coming. Don’t get your panties in a twist. You’re wearing britches, aren’t cha?” In three long strides, he’s caught up with me.

My eyes widen, and I feel the embarrassment creep up my neck. “Seriously?” My eyes dart around the area to see if anyone heard his mouth. There are two women and one man staring in our direction. I turn on my heel and continue my way towards Maggie who seems to be observing us with a hint of amusement in her eyes.

“It’s refreshing, Mr. McCoy,” Maggie says as we approach.

“What’s that?” His voice comes from behind me, but it’s the feel of his hand on my shoulder that has me fidgety.

Maggie peers down at me then back at Tylan. “Because even though crude and a bit unconventional, you’re true to yourself. We don’t see that a lot these days. People are always trying to please everyone, and in the end, they’re unhappy.”

“He’s anything but compliant,” I tell her as she pulls the door open and we continue down the hall.

“I am who the fuck I am.”

“All right.” Maggie places a stack of papers on the table in front of her. “Have you filled out the paperwork I sent home with you?” She lifts her brow.

“I did.” Lick pulls a now rolled stack of paper from his flannel. “There’s some questions that I have and some information that I need you to know.” He begins to flatten the papers out. “Sorry.”

“It’s all right. Why don’t you ask me those questions and tell me those things you feel that I need to know?”

“I’m a member of a motorcycle club,” he says as he removes his jacket. I swallow as my eyes cut to Maggie. She doesn’t seem phased by what he divulged. “I thought coming here, hiding the fact that I’ve spent most of my life as a member of an MC would be the best for the kids. Better my chances to get them and try to give them what I never had. But that’s not who I am, and I ain’t no pansy-ass piece of shit who hides who they really are. You said yourself that you don’t see many people stay true to who they are. The fact is, I’m trying to do right by a woman who cared about herself more than her own fucking kids. But I’ll always be a member of an MC. That fact ain’t gonna fucking change.”

“I see,” she tells him. “Anything more?”

“Yeah” He sits up, folding his arms and resting them on the table. “The name’s Lick.”

“Good grief,” I murmur under my breath. His behavior has me a little shocked.

She laughs. “Is that your road name, Mr. McCoy?”

“It is.”

“Do I want to know how you got that name?”