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“If I thought that what we had was long term, I’d have already asked you for it,” I say. “Please know that I’ve grown to think of you as one of my closest friends. A friend that I know if I call, you’ll come. It’s not something I’ve had in over a decade but I’m so glad that I have you. We’ve had so much fun and I feel like I can finally breathe again and that’s all because of you.”

“Jesus, you’re giving me the kind of speech I’ve only ever heard guys give to a clingy woman.” Cole sits back on the couch and rubs his face with his hand. After a moment he hops up and walks around the couch and starts to pace the length of the furniture. “Is this what it feels like to be dumped? Fuck.”

That would imply that we were in an actual relationship, I want to say but let him work things out. I don’t want to hurt Cole but I also don’t want him to think that what we’ve been doing the last few months will ever lead to something more.

“He’s not the man you think he is.” Cole stops his pace and turns to me. I wait for him to explain more. “Reaper can be dangerous.”

“I’ve known Rhett since we were kids. We grew up in the same small town,” I inform him. “I may not have seen him in the last fourteen years and prison definitely has changed him but he’d never hurt me or Ryder. That, I’m sure of.”

“He doesn’t live here, Remi, and he’s not going to relocate for you,” he throws out there. I know what he’s trying to do. I see right through him but I’m going to let him toss all the negatives out there. Little does Cole know that what Rhett and I have been through has bonded us so deeply that we’ll never be out of each other’s system. Even if we didn’t have Ryder to connect us.

“I’ve done some research on MCs since yesterday, which by the way, why didn’t you tell me more about your club?” I ask. “It’s such a big part of your life and you let me believe that it was just some gathering you have with some guys and hang out. I read articles about Dead Road and the trouble some of the chapters have been in recently.”

He blows out a breath and starts rubbing the back of his neck.

“Thought I’d ease you into it,” he utters. “Not many women can handle the lifestyle so I thought I was doing you a favor at first.”

I hope he realizes that what he was doing was keeping me at arm’s length because he knew deep down that we weren’t going to make it in the long run. If he really felt a certain way about me, he’d have shared that entire side of himself and would have wanted me to be in that part of his world and not kept it separate.

“The MC life is hard. Bringing in someone from the outside is risky. Bringing in someone with a kid is even riskier. It can complicate things and put targets on your backs from our enemies,” Cole tells me. “Reaper and the Texas Chapter are dealing with a lot right now and aren’t on stable ground for you and Ry.”

“What does that mean?” His words are so cryptic.

“It means that I’m asking you not to go with him. Stay here in Montana and I’ll look after you and Ry.”

“Cole,” I soften my tone. “Ryder deserves to know his dad. If Rhett can’t be up here because Texas is where he needs to be then Ryder and I will go there. I’ve always put the needs of my son above everything else and I think the most important thing in his life is to have his dad in it.”

“Even if it could get you or Ryder killed⁠—”

“That’s enough,” a deep voice that could rattle the glass of the windows booms. I turn and see Rhett standing at the edge of the living room in a white t-shirt that stretches out across his broad chest and muscles, black sweatpants sitting low on his hips, tattoos marring is arms. The tips of his long hair on the top of his head drip with water onto his shoulders. Rhett’s shoulders are locked into place and his hands are balled into fists. The last thing I need is for these two grown men going at it and waking up my son. I already have an indentation in the wall by the back door, in the outline of a large body, so I can only imagine that it must be from one of them.

I stand and turn my attention back to Cole.

“I understand your concern. This is something that Rhett and I have to discuss and come up with a solution. Before it was me making all the decisions but now if Ryder’s father wants to be in the picture, it is going to be something we both talk about and decide on.”

Cole takes a deep breath and sighs. “The club leaves tomorrow for a rally out of state. If you need anything, text and I can send someone over,” he offers.

I won’t need anything but I nod in appreciation anyway. “Thanks.”

He pauses for a moment then dips his chin at me before heading to the front door.

“I’ll walk you out,” a barefoot Rhett comments, following behind Cole.

I blow out an exhausted sigh and feel drained from the last few days. My bones are tired and I know after a long hot shower, my bed will be calling me.

I’ll let the two of them handle their situation while I start my nighttime routine. I just hope they don’t disturb the neighbors and get the cops called on them.

Istep out on the porch and make sure the front door is closed shut. The nerve of this motherfucker is unbelievable. If I knew that I wouldn’t start a war between chapters, I’d torture the shit out of this asshole and let the wildlife finish him off out in the woods.

“You need to take the hint and mind your own fucking business where they are concerned,” I say as he storms towards his house next door. He stops abruptly and turns to face me.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he spits back at me.

“I heard your conversation. You need to chill and leave them alone now,” I tell him.

“You think it’s that easy? She doesn’t know what we represent, she’s walking in blind and you aren’t even trying to protect her,” Bulldog spews.

My fingers stretch then ball into fists, ready to knock the shit out of him.