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“No, you listen to me, I’m not going anywhere. I would rather be stressed and have you in my life than be carefree and without you.”

“Okay.”

He places his hand against my cheek. “I love you, Emma.”

“I know and I love you, too.”

* * * *

“Saw your article yesterday, baby girl,” Trey says.

“Yeah, you’re a total badass, sis,” Tucker adds from his seat on the other side of the bar.

I let out a laugh and shake my head. “First of all, it wasn’t my article, and second, I’m just doing what I have to.”

“Like I said, total badass.”

I laugh again. Glancing up, I see two members of the Bayou Devils, Storm and Chance, walking in. “Hey, boys, can I get you anything?”

“Beer,” Chance says and Storm nods in agreement. They sit on barstools next to Tucker and I slide them their beers.

“What’s up?”

“Just on babysitting duty,” Storm growls and I shoot him a look.

“Hey, Storm, did you get your name from your usually sunny disposition?”

Chance laughs. A grin is tickling Storm’s lips but he holds it back.

“Naw, it’s his eyes,” Chance says and I give him a confused look.

“Huh?”

“One of the old ladies said it looked like he always had a storm brewin’ in his eyes and it just kinda stuck.”

I understand what she was talking about. His gray eyes look just like storm clouds.

“And how did you get your name?”

He grins. “Just my name, darlin’.”

“No nickname?”

“Nope.”

“Now, wait, what’s an old lady?”

“It’s a term of respect for a member’s woman. It’s like wife status in the biker world,” Storm explains.

“Ah, okay. Makes sense.”

“YOU BITCH!” someone roars from the front door.

Ryan stands there seething, fists clenched and face bright red from rage.

“That’s our cue,” Storm growls and hops off the barstool, Chance on his heels. Ryan gets halfway across the room before the guys reach him and start dragging him out.

“I’M COMING FOR YOU, EMMA! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MINE!” he screams right before Storm and Chance take him outside. As soon as he’s out of sight, I release a breath and brace my hands on the bar.