Nitro leaned against the doorway, his gaze flicking to me with a dark smirk. “Funny, ain’t it, Doc? A bullet wound barely makes you blink, but one look from a certain pretty little blonde, and you’re all shook up. Losing sleep and everything.”
Kane’s lips curved in a knowing grin. “Seems like our club doctor’s finally been laid low. Maybe we should call Hadley every time he gets ornery and watch the good doctor melt into a pussycat.”
I glared up at them, not bothering to hide my irritation. “Fuck off.”
Tyre chuckled, wincing slightly as I placed the first stitch. “Damn, Cage. Never thought I’d see you so pussy whipped. What happened to our fearless doc who didn’t bat an eye at anything?”
“You wanna talk shit while I’m holding the needle?” I asked, finishing another stitch.
Tyre grinned, his eyes dimmed with pain but clearly amused. “Point taken.”
Nitro chuckled again from the doorway. “Can’t blame him, Tyre. We’ve all been there. Women make fools of us all.”
Tyre snorted. “You have. Don’t expect me to be falling all over myself for a woman.”
Kane’s perpetual scowl eased slightly as he shared a look with Nitro. “Didn’t you say the same thing before you met Jana?”
Nitro smirked and nodded. “Pretty sure something like that came outta Cage’s mouth not too long ago.”
I didn’t take the bait, and the conversation shifted naturally into compound upgrades while I continued working, tension slowly ebbing as our familiar rhythm fell into place. Tyre gritted his teeth through the final stitches, but his voice was steady when he spoke up.
“Talked to the contractor this morning.” He visibly relieved as I began wrapping the wound. “Sent the deposit for them to get started. Playground install will be done next weekend. Pool’s up after that.”
Kane grunted. “Good. Might even be able to get Cecily out here to start lessons with the babies before it gets too cold. Pool will be heated, but still.”
“Cecily?” Tyre queried.
Nitro nodded. “Local swim instructor. She’s done an amazing job with the infant swim lessons for Kylan and Mylo. We just started her with Nella.”
Kane arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. “She’s an Olympic hopeful in artistic swimming. Doesn’t have a permanent spot, so we’ve had to go wherever she could find a place to teach. Now we’ll be able to have her come here once the pool’s ready.”
Tyre snickered, a teasing glint in his eyes despite the pain he was clearly fighting. “From motorcycles to swim lessons. Fuck, you’ve really gone domestic.”
“Yeah, but I’ve got a sexy-as-sin old lady that keeps my bed and the back of my bike warm, and a cute as fuck little girl that thinks her daddy hung the moon,” Nitro shot back dryly. “Worth it.”
A round of low laughter filled the room.
“Now if we could just make it two kids,” Nitro mumbled, a smirk playing around his lips.
I tightened the bandage on Tyre’s shoulder, then he slid carefully off the exam table, testing his shoulder with cautious movements.
“Take it easy,” I ordered. “Don’t go lifting shit and bust my handiwork.”
“Noted.” Tyre gave me a grateful nod, his jaw tight with pain but his eyes steady and clear. I respected the hell out of him. He was smart with money, strategic, and loyal as fuck. His skill with finances had made him invaluable not only to the club, but also to Kane’s racing empire. A man confident enough to lead, yet humble enough to follow another he deeply respected.
Nitro stepped away from the doorframe, slapping Tyre lightly on his uninjured shoulder.
Tyre grunted and hissed another curse.
Nitro grinned. “Come on. Let’s get you some whiskey so you stop whining like a baby.”
15
HADLEY
Ihad no idea what to expect when we stepped inside the clubhouse. Every TV show and book I’d secretly devoured had painted motorcycle club common rooms as chaotic dens of debauchery. Although I couldn’t picture Jana being okay with that, I had still braced myself for half-naked women draped over furniture, loud music, and empty bottles everywhere.
But it wasn’t what I’d pictured at all.