I sighed, opening my mouth to reassure him when Bear stepped in.
“Michael, we’ll talk later about that window. Because you’re absolutely right that it was your fault he got in, and you can’t leave your home vulnerable like that. Ever. But clearly, Jordan had been biding his time, waiting for the opportunity to come for Lexie. The important thing is that you were here when it mattered, and you saved your sister. You need to get it through your thick skull that you’re stuck with us, no matter what. Family is forever, and you’ve got a big sister and an even bigger brother now who have your back no matter what. And in a few years, if you want it, you can have a whole club full of brothers. As long as you graduate high school.”
Michael blinked several times and took a deep breath. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I asked, looking between the two guys. “That’s it?”
Michael shrugged. “Yeah.”
“No, wait. He says ten words and now you’re going to settle down and graduate high school?”
His nose scrunched. “Did I say settle down?”
Bear laughed, stepping out of the hug so he could reach down and pick me up. “Never settle, little brother. Now if you’ll excuse me, I had the life scared out of me and I need to have some alone time with your sister to reassure myself she’s not been injured.”
“Eww, gross,” Michael said, backing away. “I think I’ll go for a ride.”
“Great idea!” Bear shouted as he carried me down the hall. “Take a $50 from my wallet and enjoy yourself!”
“Bear, you can’t give him $50. He was suspended today. He should be grounded.”
“Baby girl, do you really want him stuck inside this house while I do all the things I’m about to do to you?”
I sighed. “Fine, you win. See you in a few hours! And lock the door behind you!” I shouted over his shoulder.
Michael’s laughter followed him out the door.
27
EPILOGUE
LEXIE
“Thanks for coming with me today.” I kissed Bear on the cheek before leaning over to sign our names into the visitor’s log. “It was sweet of you.”
“Sweet?” Bear snorted. “Did you really think I’d let my old lady come to Central Prison on her own?
Old lady.With my free hand, I ran my fingers across the leather of my brand-new cut. The one that read “Property of Bear” across the back and had Pixie stitched on the front as my road name. He’d given it to me last night at the clubhouse after he’d announced to everyone that I was his, now and forever. And then we’d gone up to his room where I’d tried it on for him. Just the cut and nothing else. And then we’d—
“Pixie.” His body pressed into mine as he leaned down into me. I looked down and realized I’d stopped halfway through my name. “What are you thinking about?”
I squirmed against him and was rewarded with a jump in his pants. “Last night,” I breathed, quickly signing our names so we could move out of line.
He groaned. “Do you want to do this to me before we meet your father?”
I shrugged. “What’s he going to do? Tap extra hard on the plexiglass?” I followed Bear to the booth marked twelve, and we sat down to wait for the inmates to be brought in.
“He’s still my prez.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Okay. So he’ll what, punish you with another cookout? That didn’t turn out so bad, did it?”
Bear smiled, and his eyes looked me up and down. “No, it sure didn’t.”
“Besides, it’s not like he’s really my father. I mean, he is, but he didn’t raise me or anything. He has no say in anything I do. Not that he probably cares.” I sighed and flopped back in my chair. “And not that I care if he cares.”
Bear raised an eyebrow but wisely didn’t say anything. Apparently there were “things I needed to know” about my sperm donor. Things Bear had learned but thought I should hear from the man himself.
At first, I didn’t care, especially after seeing how the MC took care of each other. My father could have shared this with me, and he chose not to. He could have told them about me, and they could have found me a home when my grandparents died. One of the guys could have taught me to drive or beat the shit out of Justin Mitchell in seventh grade when he stood me up at the school dance.
