I shook my head. The thought of getting in that rental car and driving five hundred miles was beyond me. “I’m not going anywhere till I’ve had a fucking nap.”
Cam shrugged. “You might change your mind when you get some fresh air. Let me know, okay? I’m going to stick with the young’uns.”
“On your own?”
“I’m never alone, brother. None of us are. Now, with all the love in the world, off you fuck.”
He gave me a gentle shove towards the exit, and I drifted away, noting the club soldiers who must’ve followed Cam and Embry north.
They nodded to me, respecting my rank, but I didn’t care. Never had, never would. My place in the club had saved my life, I didn’t need an extra patch on the cut I never wore to know it. Ineededthat nap before I tripped over my own feet and fell into a bin. Or forgot where I’d parked the rental car, a hilariousprospect that fast became my reality.
Fucking hell.
I fished the keys from my pocket and pressed the button, crossing my fingers for a miracle, and for once, a god I didn’t believe in answered my call.
Lights flashed with a low beep.
I spun a slow circle and by the bonnet of a faceless car stood the soul I’d lived my whole life to find.
That tawny hair.
Those moon-blue eyes.
Folk.
He’s here.
And I’d never loved him more.
* * *
Folk drove.
I slept.
We were halfway home when I woke up and he was talking to Ivy on a video call. “Look, Dad’s awake.”
He angled the phone on the dash, pointing it straight at me. I cringed at the sight of my sleep-worn face but soon forgot about it as Ivy’s bright smile filled the screen. “Nice hair. Who did that? Nash?”
“Nooooo, daddy. Locke did it.”
“Really?” I’d been joking about Nash. He was a man of many skills, but perfect braids weren’t one of them. “It wasn’t Orla?”
“She needed to wee lots so Locke helped me. He said my hair’s like Willow’s now it’s long again.”
“Same colour too.”
“That’s what he said, but mine’s wavier. Look...” Ivy bounced the loose hair that framed her face around, showcasing the curl that had developed after Lauren chopped it off to spite me. “Are you coming home soon?”
“I’m on my way now, bug.” I checked the time. “I’ll be there to pick you up from school if you haven’t had a better offer.”
“No one’s better than you, silly.”
There’d been days in her short life, so many days, when I might’ve argued, in my head if not out loud, but Folk’s love had taught me to see the imperfect perfection in everything. Ivy had too many amazing uncles to count—she hadFolk. But I was her dad, and I always would be.
She hung up to go to school with Locke while Nash took Liliana.
Mateo, Embry, Folk.Me.