My father cocked his head and smiled, encouraging me to tell him more. I loved that he was willing to listen to my point of view. My voice was barely above a whisper, I was that choked up.

“The truth is that a bird needs both wings to fly. The answer is balance. That’s what I want—to both receive and give love equally. Unconditionally. Completely. Can you understand that?”

Finally I understood what I really wanted. A ‘shopping’ list of characteristics to tick off didn't ensure my happily-ever-after. It wasn’t my mind that had to choose which man I spent the rest of my life with. That was entirely my heart’s job. And the man that was making my knees weak wasn’t the one my mind would’ve chosen, not in a million years.

He nodded. “I understand, because that’s what Mom and I have always had. But, Jade, choose wisely. Who you decide to spend your life with impacts on many other levels, too. Once the romance dies, you have to still like one another if it’s going to last.”

“I get that, Daddy. Which is exactly why I can't be with Marcus. I’d never trust him again.”

“So, tell me about the motorcycle man. Is there something I should know?” The way he quirked his eyebrow confirmed that he wasn’t too comfortable with this development.

“There’s not much to tell. He saved me from Marcus and seriously embarrassing moments; that’s all. He’s not my type, nor am I his, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Even as I tried to assure my father, my stomach flipped. The little voice in my head was getting louder. Was I telling him the truth?

I hated telling lies, especially to the two people I trusted most in the world. But I hadn’t quite figured it out myself yet. I was still eager to find my own place, even if I never saw Ryder again. It was time for the next step into adulthood.

Were my feelings for Ryder becoming more than just rebellion and lust?

I hope not.

“Get into the fucking wheelchair.” I nodded my head toward the contraption Cobra was refusing to get into. “I’ll wheel you out of this place and take you home. But first, you gotta follow the damn rules.”

Cobra’s eyes widened. “Fuck. Ryder, is this really you speaking? Since when do you, of all people, follow the rules?”

I winked at him. “Since it’s the fastest way to get out of this place that smells like antiseptic and is as sterile as Ox’s balls.”

He chuckled. “You got a point, brother. Get me the fuck outta here.”

Cobra leaned on both the nurse and myself as we lowered him into the wheelchair. He grinned like a fool up at the nurse. “Don’t go missing me too much, sweetheart.”

She swatted him with the clipboard. “Get your ugly mug out of here before you have another injury. And stay out of the way of bullets in future, will you?” She quirked an eyebrow at him.

I laughed. “Trouble is Cobra’s middle name. Follows him like a stench.”

The nurse placed a few containers of painkillers in Cobra’s hands and explained how he should take them. He listened patiently, and nodded his head. Fuck, was Cobra going soft after all this time in the hospital? The Cobra I knew would have chucked the pills in the bin, proclaiming to be a man, and not a pussy who needed pills to get through the pain.

We were inside the elevator when Cobra spoke again. “Mia?” His voice was so soft that I hardly heard it. I even detected anxiety. Yeah. When a woman had a man by the balls, there was no way he could pretend otherwise. He was fucked, whether he knew it or not.

“Mia’s at the house. Waiting for you. Don’t stress too much, she was dolling herself up when I left. She can't be that mad at you if she wants to look all pretty for you.”

“Yeah?” Cobra sighed. “Since when are you such a fucking expert on women? Thought you hated bitches, except for their pussies.”

I shook with laughter. “Since looking after your old lady. Babysitting your family. And since—” I stopped talking just in time. Cobra didn't know anything about Jade. Was bad enough that Mia was constantly interrogating me. I didn't need him on my case, too.

Besides, since I’d last seen her that night, she hadn’t been taking my calls. She was being stubborn as hell, sticking to her guns. But what Jade didn't know was that besides being a tenacious man, I was also a patient fucker. If it suited me.

“You were saying?”

“Nothing, man. Just glad you’re out of this place. Gives me the creeps.”

“Ryder. I'm your brother. No secrets. If you don’t tell me, Mia will. You know that woman knows everything.”

“It’s complicated. Let it go, brother. Focus on Mia and the kids. Excited to see them?”

“Hell yeah. I'm sure they’ve grown so much since I last saw them.”

“They have. Your family is really awesome. You’re a lucky man, Cobra.”

“How lucky? I’ll find out when I see Mia again. You know she’s not gonna forgive me easily for losing the baby. And I don’t blame her, either.”

Silently, I nodded my head. Losing a baby was a big deal. One score I hadn’t settled yet with the fucking LA Demons. That baby’s premature death was on them. Fuckers.

“Anyway, stay at the ‘Rental Ritz’ in Beverly Hills, as Mia and I call it, for a few weeks while you get stronger. Take the time to bond with Mia, to sort your shit. ‘Cause once you get back to the club, you gotta step back into your pres shoes. Razor has been doing a stellar job of keeping the club running, if you know what I mean. With both you and me gone, he’s been king of the fucking world.”

“Little bastard must be having a ball. Nobody to rein him in. Has he been up to any shit?”

We reached the black SUV with the heavily tinted windows. I quickly ran a scan to make sure nobody had tampered with it since I left it in the car park. Those fuckers were still out to kill us, so I had to be sure.

“There’s this new barmaid chick, Lexi. Between Ox and Razor, I think she’s getting royally fucked. Neither man will give way to the other. We may have shit on our hands.”

“And you? Have you got stuck into the bitch, too?”

“Nah. Not my type.” I lifted Cobra out of the wheelchair and put him on the back seat. Fuck, he’d lost so much weight. I lifted him easily. I'd never been able to do that before.

“Since when has a pussy not been your type? You fuck any pussy—especially fresh pussy. Want to tell me why not this one?”

“I’ve been at the house, remember? Doing your fucking job, looking after your family.”

“Some other pussy has gotten to you. Fuck, how did I miss that?”

“You’re blowing smoke, man. That ain't true.”

“Jesus. You’ve got it bad, brother. Nothing has ever stopped you from taking pussy at the club, even if other men were in there too. You can't fucking bluff, Ryder. ‘Cause I’ve been there, brother. Since I laid eyes on Mia, I didn’t want any other pussy. Only hers. You’re cunt-struck. and you ain't telling me.”

“Fuck off, Cobra. It’s none of your business.”

Cobra pulled a face as I strapped him in. “Mia will know. She’ll fill me in.”

“Mia knows nothing. I ain't telling you or her my business.”

“Fuck. Ryder, what is it with your bitch? Must be something if you won't talk to me. Or Mia. Something fucking serious.”

I got behind the wheel and closed my eyes. Cobra wouldn’t let this go till I told him about Jade and her brother. And I knew what he’d say. He’d tell me to back the fuck off. He wouldn’t understand that I couldn’t. My mind and my cock wouldn’t let go of Jade, even if I knew she was dangerous territory.

“Yeah. There’s this woman—”

“I fucking knew it!” Cobra sounded triumphant. “So why hide it, Ryder? It ain't no sin to want a bitch, brother. Even happened to me.” He chuckled, as if he were still surprised by it happening to him.

“Well, this one is different. Not only is she a fucking princess, her brother is a cop. Special Task Forces cop. And her daddy’s a criminal lawyer. Beat that for fucked up.” I sighed. “And even worse, she doesn’t want anything to do with me. She says it can't work out. Family, and all that shit.”