“There’s no one out here, we have a nice big car… Do you know if Tylee has back up?”
“Yes. Ex-immigration. A bunch of guys with contacts inthe government formed a new gang fucking shit up for us. Tylee has lost her fucking mind, Oske. I swear.”
“I know. But there’s nothing we can do about it, Wyatt. She has a mind of her own.”
“She has three children. Obligations. A responsibility to this family that she hasneverfulfilled.”
I can feel his emotions rising. Like most men, his temper is quick and he takes offense pretty easily. I’m not justifying any of Tylee’s actions. But his sister has revealed herself in little ways over the years – the situation with Damara being the biggest where she paid Zebulon Blackwood money in efforts to scheme money out of the Sinclairs.
Dipping her toe into the dark side is unfortunate, but not entirely surprising. You run that risk when you ride that you fall off and land somewhere terrifying. Look at where Vickie Shaw came from. Or Zayna Blackwood. Even Joslin Sinclair came from a dark place. All hope might not be lost for Tylee, but for now… We just have to stay safe.
“Don’t send anyone. That might attract attention if there are people watching. We’ll bring the kids to Ethan and Amanda’s. Are you going to be there?”
“In two days,” Wyatt says. “We’re tracking the ex-DHS rogues, and before the next club meeting… I want heads.”
There’s a slight chill down my spine. A biker gang war. Just what we need. My mind immediately jumps to my brothers who are stupid enough to get dragged into the action and definitely stupid enough to die. I don’t like the idea of war.
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“It’s too late, Oske,” Wyatt says. “The good thing is, you and your folks will be safe in Oklahoma – as long as you stay there.”
I look over at Brinley.And what happens to her after all this?
“I’ll let you know when I’m at Ethan’s.”
“Stay safe.”
He’s like the older brother I never had, as strange as our relationship might seem from the outside. A better man than his father. A better man than most bikers. If there were going to be a war, I can’t think of a better side to be on than theirs… But truthfully, I would rather us have no war at all.
Once I get off the phone with Wyatt, I take initiative to distract the kids with my idea of a good time – Aaliyah. I used to love her music growing up and I definitely had a crush on her. They like the beat, and stumble through the words ofTry Againthe way kids do when they’re trying to learn a song. It’s cute… and we jam to R&B all the way to Ethan’s house.
Chapter Twenty-One
Isaac
Oske holds Aimee. Brinley holds Max and Kyler’s hands. The oldest boys look at me with wide and excited eyes. I can’t stop myself from running over to them. The entire world vanishes and I forget my anger and fear as my desire to protect my children and hold them again surges with a powerful primal need.
I grab Max by his outstretched arms and then scoop up Kyler. Oske tries to keep Aimee out of my hands, but I somehow manage to hold onto all three kids and hug them closely. I can feel Gabby hanging back, looking on at me curiously, but truthfully I lose myself the moment I hold my children again. My job is to protect them from the darkness in my world – not to ever let the guns and the bad guys get to them.
Maybe the Shaw family was too careless with her and that’s why their mother became so careless with them. Who knows what type of men she’s had them around. Even having the kids around Selma could put them in plenty of danger considering my mom’s liberal attitude surrounding cigarettes and alcohol. Max hugs me back with arms that feel way tooscrawny. Kyler clings to me and rests his head on me in a way that just breaks my heart.
Aimee might not know yet all of what’s going on, but she stares at me while Oske holds her up so she can see the entire scene. I rise to my feet and kiss my daughter on the top of her head. I don’t stop Max or Kyler from clinging onto my jeans. Aimee lets me hold her and reaches immediately for the stubble on my face. I hope she recognizes me or at least my scent as safe.
The tears almost pierce the corners of my eyes again.
“I love you too, little one. I hope you know that.”
Aimee stares at me with wide green eyes that look like Wyatt’s. That tug on my heart turns into a knot. How can I keep all of them safe? All the kidsand Gabby?
I will never let them go again. I want to finalize my divorce and cut all ties as much as possible. Tylee and I are done. She brought me so damn close to losing the kids – and not just custody.
I love everything about holding them now. How they smell. How they cling to me. I can’t stop myself from crying. I’m not emotional, but I don’t want to stop myself from showing my kids how much I love them. I cling to them desperately.
“Daddy will never let you go again,” I murmur as I hold Aimee. I hope they all hear me.
I feel a hand on the smallest part of my back.Gabby.She’s gentle. Supportive. Keeping appropriate distance so I can be with them, but the tiny gesture makes me feel like she understands my love for them and why my kids always have to come first.
It’s not that I can’t love anybody else. But those kids are a part of me. My life. If or when I have kids with a woman who isn’t Tylee, she will see that I love and care for my blood, wherever they are in this world. The fear I feel I can finallyadmit to myself. Tylee might have taken them from me and she might take them again if she gets a chance.