“He did it because your men killed Mary, someone who was important to him. Besides, are you telling me you haven’t killed anyone?”

He shakes his head no.

“Beaten anyone? Threatened anyone?”

“Of course I’ve done those things, I’m not innocent, but I’ve never taken a life,” he says.

“Yet,” I add.

He tightens his lips at that and says nothing. What is there to say?

“Are they going to let you see me again?” Talon asks, pushing his plate away.

“They don’t have a choice, and of course I want to see you again,” I say. “Maybe we could see each other once a month or something.”

He smiles widely, running a hand through his white-blond hair. “I’d like that.”

“Good,” I reply. “But I need you to understand that I love Arrow and I won’t ever leave him.”

“Anna,” he adds, jaw suddenly tight, “I won’t ever approve of you being with Arrow.”

“I wasn’t asking for your approval,” I say firmly. “You don’t have to like Arrow, but around me you won’t disrespect him.”

His lip twitches. “Noted.”

“So, tell me about you. Everything I’ve missed out on,” I say, lightening the mood.

“Well,” he starts. “I remember sliding down a tunnel, and then there was a light—”

He laughs when I pinch him.

He tells me a little about his childhood, but I feel like he’s leaving things out on purpose.

“I’m not very close with my mother,” he says. “I was close with my—with our dad though.”

I nod my head and smile sadly. “Hey, at least he was there for you.”

He frowns. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to . . .”

“It’s fine, Talon,” I say. “I’ve made my peace with anything to do with my dad. I honestly feel like he was your dad, not mine. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why did you keep contacting me?”

He sighs. “Honestly, Anna, I feel like you’re family. I want you in my life. It’s not guilt, although I do wish that Dad had been there for you. Okay, maybe there is a little guilt. I kind of feel like I took something that wasn’t meant for me. But that isn’t why I want to be in your life from now on.”

I nod, accepting his answer. “I think I understand. Maybe you could tell me some cool stories about him sometime.”

“I’d like that,” he says, looking hopeful.

A comfortable silence appears between us.

“Are you going to be president of the Wild Men one day?” I ask.

He nods, eyeing me closely. “I am. Is that going to be an issue?”

“Not if we don’t let it.”

“I don’t want to come between you and Rake. I know he’s been there for you your entire life while I’m only just entering your life.”

“Rake and I will be fine, we always are. You know, you both share something in common. He didn’t want me to be with Arrow either,” I admit to him.

“Really? Why?” Talon asks, frowning. “One of his own brothers? That should be a good thing, keeping you close.”

“He said he wanted better for me,” I tell him. “Maybe a man in a suit. A professional. Someone who comes home at six every night and doesn’t live dangerously.”

“But you didn’t want that?” he asks.

I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “I just want Arrow. I didn’t go looking for a biker. I didn’t go looking for anyone, really. I just saw him and I wanted him.”

“And so you took him,” he replies, lip twitching. “Trust me, Anna, you suit this lifestyle. You’re strong and tough but with a sweetness inside that no one will be able to destroy. Arrow should be on his fuckin’ knees, grateful that he has someone like you.”

My mind flashes to Arrow on his knees, telling me how sorry he was.

“He’s not perfect, but he’s mine,” I reply. “He’s good to me.”

“He better be,” he grates, tone menacing.

“So, do you have a woman in your life?” I ask him, changing the subject. “Anyone I need to threaten?”

He chuckles. “No one special.”

I roll my eyes. “Is that code for just club whores?”

His expression turns innocent. “Where did you learn such a word Anna? I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m not sure how the Wind Dragons run their club, but—”

I smirk at him. “Save it, Talon.”

“I think we should get some dessert; how about you, sis?” he says, flashing me a boyish grin.

“I think you read my mind.”

We both share a smile.

*   *   *

When I get back to the clubhouse later that day, Arrow is waiting for me.

“Will you come to the cemetery with me?” he asks. “Everyone is going.”

“Of course I will,” I tell him. “Should we pick up some flowers on the way?”

He nods, a grateful expression on his face. “You know, Anna, when I think of Mary, all I feel is guilt. A good woman I didn’t do right by, a woman who died paying the price of this lifestyle. A woman I couldn’t even commit to.”

He sighs and takes my hand in his. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you, Anna. Never. I just want you to know that.”

I lift his hand to my lips and kiss his fingers. “I get you, Arrow, I know.”

I know that he doesn’t want me to worry about him being upset on the anniversary of Mary’s death. The truth is, I’m not. He has loved before me, and that’s okay, because I have him now and that’s all that matters to me.

“How was your lunch with Talon?” he asks.

“It was good; I told him we could try and do it every month,” I tell him, reaching up to do a missed button on his shirt. I ignore his frown and smile up at him. “Come on, let’s go.”

In the living room, Faye is waiting for us, along with the rest of the MC. She runs to Arrow, who hugs her tightly. I watch them embrace and feel lucky that Arrow has her in his life, and that she’s now in my life. Faye is a great friend, and I feel like an idiot over how I first felt when I met her. I know the two of them were closest to Mary, and I let them have their moment.

I’m more than surprised when Sin wraps his arm around me. “You’re a good woman, Anna, and you make a hell of an old lady.”

I smirk. “Thank you, Sin. I never knew you liked me.”

He grins. “I didn’t like that Rake and Arrow were fighting over you, but I can see you’re a worthy woman. Arrow did well for himself.”

“I’m glad you approve,” I mutter, but then turn to him with a smile. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

He laughs then, and, damn, he really is a good-looking man.

Vinnie wraps an arm around me from behind. “Everyone ready to go?”

“Yes.”

Irish opens the car door for me, and I slide in. “Thanks, Irish.”

“Welcome, Anna,” he replies in his sexy accent.

Arrow and Faye come out of the clubhouse last, Arrow’s eyes immediately searching for me.

“She’s in the car, calm down,” Sin says to him, shaking his head.

Arrow opens the door. “I want to ride.”

He lifts me out of the car and carries me to his bike, placing me on it. He puts a helmet on me but doesn’t bother with one for himself. “Hold on tight, darlin’.”

I smile. “I always do.”

And I always will.

When we get there, we all stand at her gravestone, everyone a few steps back except for Faye and Arrow. Tears spill from my eyes as I feel the pain radiating off them.

Faye places flowers at her headstone and speaks quietly.

Arrow says a few words, then stands.

We all touch the gravestone and then leave.

ARROW

“I hope you’re happy, Mary, wherever you are,” I say to the gravestone. “I know you gave me everything you had, and I didn’t appreciate you enough, and I’m sorry. I know if you met Anna, you would love her. Just as much as I love her. I will never take her for granted, Mary. I’m sorry you lost your life, and I will carry that burden with me forever.”

I take a deep breath. “I killed her father. I fuckin’ killed her father, and if I could go back and change it I would. I wouldn’t have killed him in revenge for your death. It nearly made me lose Anna.”

There is nothing I wouldn’t do for Anna. To think that I almost lost her . . .