Page 84 of August 20

"I love you." She inhaled deeply. "There are a thousand reasons why we shouldn't be together, considering how we met. But I can come up with a million reasons to argue why we need to be together.

Her gaze softened. He rolled to his side, taking her with him.

His mind wouldn't let go of today. For tonight, all he wanted to do was hold her.

Several minutes later, Brooke lifted her head and whispered, "Can I ask you something?"

He rubbed her back.

"Have you seen a doctor about your throat since you left prison?"

He grunted.

"Why not?" She propped herself up on her elbow. "Maybe another doctor could help you."

"I deserve..." He cleared his throat.

The spasms wouldn't let him finish. She scoffed, shaking her head in the darkness of the bedroom. He pulled her onto his chest, holding her tighter.

"It's not true," she whispered against his skin. "You don't deserve to live each day in pain."

He closed his eyes. There were things he'd done. Things he still needed to do. As a member of Havlin Motorcycle Club, he paid his dues to protect his family.

Epilogue

Skye disappeared underneath the pool table in the clubhouse. Maverick handed the paper with the directions to where he could locate the body back to Jagger, having memorized the location.

"Now?" he asked.

"Tonight. After dark." Jagger stroked his beard. "For now, enjoy your family."

"Appreciate it, Prez." He walked across the room to Brooke's side.

He cleared his throat, expecting the tightness that was always present, but none came. No spasms. No pain. No tearing.

After hearing Brooke tell him it physically hurt her that he wouldn't see a doctor, he'd let her make him an appointment. She wasn't meant to suffer because of him.

The doctor had seen him once and sent him straight to a specialist.

It took six weeks to see the otolaryngologist. Unlike the prison doctor, who only cared if someone lived or died, the new specialist informed them there were drugs that he could use to stop, or almost stop, the spasms, which in return would allow his throat to rest and get better. While it wouldn't heal completely, and he could have flare-ups, the relief of constantly living with the pain and frustration was a welcome change in his life.

He could talk to Brooke. He could talk to Skye. That's all that mattered.

"If each woman could bring a side dish, that would be great." Daisy held a notebook. "The club is handling the meat cost, and some of the guys can operate the grill. I think that will cover what the single men eat."

He patted Brooke's ass. She reached for his hand and brought him forward, leaning against his side.

"We're having a party next Saturday." She kissed him. "Family party until eight o'clock. After that, no kids, so I'll take Skye home with me."

"Meeting is that morning, so I'll leave when you do." He dipped his chin at Daisy and then pulled his ol' lady away from the group of women. "We need to be a united front."

Brooke wrinkled her nose. "Uh oh. What does Skye want now?"

Trying to make up for not being with Skye for half her life had backfired. She was going through a phase where she wanted everything that caught her eye, and to try and get her way, she'd often try to pit Brooke against him, trying to play her parents.

He wasn't going to let that happen.

"Momma cat is pregnant again." He tucked Brooke's hair behind her ear. "She's asked me three times if she can have another one of her kittens."