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“I’m right here, Syn. Like I said, for whatever you need. I grew up in an MC, one who upholds justice and walks the balance of life and death on a regular basis. The woman who became my second mother is one of the strongest women I know. She’s the one keeping everything together behind the scenes. And then there’s you. The big sister in this sisterhood you created. Balancing the ranch work, delegating, supporting your people, and trying to get the truth of the past out there to give you, along with your sister and the daughters of the others peace of mind. Now that, darlin’, that’s carrying the world on your shoulders. It’s no fucking wonder your knees buckle at times and that’s okay. It is because I’m right here to wrap my arms around your waist.” He tightens his embrace. “Taking some of the load so you can catch your breath and keep standing tall.”
I nuzzle my cheek against his chest and release a choppy breath. This. This is what I need; someone to lean on without hovering or pressuring me. And I have to admit to myself I’m falling and falling fast for this man. When our eyes locked for the first time there was an instant connection and it only grew from there on out.
Rising on my toes, I find his mouth and show what his words do to me. Gentle at first, but when I slide my hands up to cup his face, I deepen the kiss and pour every emotion my body holds into it.
He lets me take lead but his tongue battling with mine gives the subtle undertone that he will always be the strong presence I need to fall back on. Exactly what he told me and what I need for him to be.
“Hawt kisses again, nice,” Tikki’s voice fills the office and the kiss I was sinking into ends with Ezra’s deep chuckle against my lips.
“Get used to it,” I tell her over my shoulder. “My old man’s kisses are sin.”
Ezra’s chest rumbles with laughter again. “It’s just the way it is…’cause my old lady is pureSyn.”
Our eyes are locked and we’re both well aware of what we just did.
Tikki is sharp as a whistle when she yells, “That’s a claim!”
I glance over my shoulder to see her standing with both her fists thrown into the air as if she just had a major success.
“Our Prez has an old man and I’m the one who heard the claim. I amsotelling everyone.” She spins around and is about to head out but abruptly comes to a stop. “Shit. I almost forgot why I came here. Prez? Jorie and that asshole of a brother are here. He’s waiting at the gate but Jorie was heading for the clubhouse when I rushed off to find you.”
“Shit.” I grab my phone and tell Tikki, “Use your phone next time, honey. One simple text gives you loads of backup. We agreed yesterday we would deal with her together if she showed up.”
Tikki hangs her head. “Sorry, Prez.”
I’m about to reply but have to catch Ezra by his leather cut because he’s stalking past me with determined steps.
“Where are you going?” I question.
He spins and pierces me with a determined look. “You handle your MC business, but that fucker at the gate? He’smy business.”
Tikki points at my old man and whispers, “Overly protective Neanderthal. Hawt.”
Not seeing the humor in this situation–because Ezra has murder written all over his face–I ignore her and tell my man, “Just make sure he doesn’t get on the premises and don’t kill him. I’d rather you leave it be, but–”
He cups the side of my face and lets his thumb gently stroke the scar where he just removed the stitches from this morning. “You were mine the night you jumped into my arms and that fucker? He hurt what’s mine. It at least bought him a talk with my fists to let him know nobody walks away unscathed after hurting my girl. But also? A man doesn’t fucking touch any woman, let alone bring a damn knife to a fistfight. I’ll just make sure he’s going to get a scar or two to remind him.”
Yeah, I can only agree to his reasoning and I repeat, “Just don’t kill him.”
The corner of his mouth twitches and he brushes his mouth against mine. He stalks out the door but just before he’s out of sight I hear him say, “I’m not making any promises I can’t keep, Syn.”
Fuck.
We rush out after him but I come to a stop out front. On my left I watch Ezra stomp in Julius’ direction while the clubhouse is on my right. I have to deal with Jorie because I know she’s in the clubhouse right now with just Sonnet there because we had to move two herds into another pasture this morning and everyone was helping.
Tikki and Sonnet were at the clubhouse in case Jorie came back while Ezra and I were checking out the books to get into the financial history in an effort to find out exactly why two members were expelled.
“Hard choice. If you want my opinion, Prez? Let your old man do what he thinks needs to be done. He’s been here a few days and hasn’t interfered with anything. He even let us do our own thing with some of the heavy lifting. The only thing he said was a simple ‘if I need to help, just give me the word and I will.’ Of course, Medley told him to needlepoint something nice for us while we worked. Even then he just chuckled, shook his head and let us work. No remarks, no show of testosterone. He’s a keeper. And if this means we have to bury a body? Fine.”
“Tikki,” I scold but also have to laugh.
The rumble of bikes draws our attention toward the gate. Three bikers come to a stop at the same time I see Ezra take a swing at Julius.
“Dammit,” I grumble.
I’m about to head in their direction because I have no clue who the three bikers are and for all I know they could be buddies of Julius and they would render Ezra to fend for himself.
Tikki grabs my arm. “Look, Prez. The three new guys are your old man’s buddies.”
