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“I hated Judge to the very marrow of my bones. I also hid his twins from him, so there’s that,” Kaia shrugs.
“I was terrified of getting close to someone and them dumping me because of my illness. Now I have two people and they take such good care of me.” Jazz smiles, thinking of her two men.
“We all have baggage, and we’ve all found the men who are more than happy to help carry the weight of that baggage,.” Lovely rounds out.
She’s right. When I first started pushing Mad Dog away he didn't rage. He didn't whine or badger me until I gave in. He respected my word and in doing that he sneakily made me fall for him. Or maybe he wasn’t sneaky at all. Maybe he was just a good guy and I finally saw that once I told my fears to piss off and leave me alone.
Motorcycle pipes echo through the night and my stomach starts to flip and roll. I forgot what this was like - waiting for your man to come home from a run. But instead of hoping that Diesel was somehow dead on the side of the road, I’m here picking at my fingernails hoping Mad Dog is riding home, safe. Unharmed.
“They’re home,” Remy murmurs, standing in place.
The rumble of their engines grows closer and closer until it rattles the windows in their panes and we can feel it through the floorboards. Then one by one the engines shut off, the roar growing quieter and quieter until it seems as if the oxygen has been sucked out of the room and all we can hear is our heartbeats in our ears. Fucking pull it together Willa! You’ve done this before. You're an old hand at this. Yeah, but you didn’t love him like this.
I clench my fists when the boots hit the porch, the men's voices jovial, blending in and out of each other making it hard for me to tell if Mad Dog is one of the ones joking.
“Honey! We’re home!” Rider calls and booted feet all stomp into the room.
Then he’s there. Running his hand through his salt and pepper hair, searching the room until his gaze lands on me. Me. My feet carry me toward him before I know I’m moving and I don’t stop until I crash into his hard chest, his arms wrapping up tight, his nose pressed to my crown.
“Well, hey there, gorgeous.”
Chapter 17
Mad Dog
The moment Willa hits my chest, damn near knocking the wind outta me, I know I’m home. My arms wrapped tight around her lush body, I bury my nose in her sweet smelling hair and just…breathe.
“You’re home.”
“I’m home.”
“Quarter Mile?”
“Gone.”
My face bobs a little as she nods. “Diesel?”
Shit. How the hell do I tell her he got outta Dodge and left his men to take the fall? It was a shit show for them right from the beginning. I can see how Diesel got this far in life. He may have been inside for a while, but he’s a nasty bastard with no loyalty. Men like that? They have nine lives and use every single one of them to fuck people over.
Willa tips her head back, dislodging my face from her hair, leaving a few strands tangled in my beard. She looks up at me with her bright green eyes, and where I expect to see disappointment, I see exhaustion.
“He got away, huh?”
“Yeah, baby. He got outta Dodge before we could put him down.”
She lets out a breath, shoulders slumping. “He’s a slippery bastard. Always has been.” She runs her hand down my chest. “At least you came home to me.”
“Willa, babe.” I cup her face in my hands, making sure she’s looking at me. “Fucking nothing could keep me from coming home to you. Nothing.” I give her a tiny shake, to make sure it sinks in.
“Miles?”
“Willa?”
“Let me take care of you.” Willa takes me by the hand, leading me from the room.
No one takes any notice, too busy wrapped up in their own relationships, as they should be. Every time we ride out we do so knowing that at any moment shit could go sideways. As a recently single man I hadn’t really thought too much about it. I mean, if push came to shove I’d take a bullet if it meant my boys or my brothers went home to their women and kids. Now though? Now I have to make sure I keep my powder dry and get my ass home. Otherwise I have a feeling Willa would find me in hell and kick my ass.
She pauses at the door to my room. Unlike the other brothers I haven’t built my own place yet. Didn’t see a need. Now though? Now I may have to put down roots. Willa is a classy lady. She isn't gonna wanna live in my room. And I sure as hell aint gonna move into hers just yet. Although if I’m lucky I’m sure she’ll let me leave a toothbrush at hers maybe.
