Page 65 of Broken

“You want a beer, man?” Dom asks.

“Yeah,” I answer. “I’ll go grab one though.” Nicole had left after calling out Dragon, so I just follow her footsteps.

I walk into the house. I’ve only been in here a couple of times, but it’s a nice house. Nicole has a way of making the house feel welcoming. Gabby is much the same, I realize. I need to talk to her about finding a more permanent home. I haven’t thrown myname in yet to become a full member of the Tennessee Chapter. I like the men a lot. The whole vibe is a fuck of a lot better than what was going on at the Saints in North Carolina since Blade got out. Still, I need to know I fit in with the crew completely before I take the plunge. I can admit I miss Ford and the crew. It would have been good to see Grunt again. That was my home for a lot of fucking years. The time for me to move on was definitely at hand, though. I’m just not sure it’s in Tennessee. I’d move there absolutely for Gabby, but I get the feeling she’s not happy there either. She’s existing. I’m just not sure going to Denver is the right call. I’d rather have Gabby happy and near people she loves. If that doesn’t work out, then we’ll find our way somewhere.I’d just rather not move halfway across the country.

“Hey, sweetheart. Everything okay?” Nicole asks, turning around.

“Came for a beer,” I tell her. She goes to the fridge and yanks one out, handing it to me. “It’s good to see you again. I was hoping to see Gabby. How is she feeling?”

“We didn’t think this was a good place for her, Nic.”

She looks up at me. “Isn’t it something they all need to get used to?” she questions, looking at me strangely.

“It is.”

“Then—”

“But aren’t you the one who was more or less warning me away from her before?”

Nicole smiles, making a gesture with her hand like she’s waving me off. “I wanted your eyes open, but I want Gabby to be happy. This will be complicated, that’s true.”

“It’s not for me.”

“It’s not?” she asks.

“Not at all. I love her.”

“Love who?” a voice calls from the door.Fuck.

I look at the back door that leads into the kitchen to see T and Lyla standing there. I ignore T’s question and go straight to a smiling Lyla. “Hey gorgeous. I’ve missed you.”

She hugs me tight before pulling back to look up at me. “We’ve all missed you. Dad complains daily. He wants you to come home and spend some time with him and Grace.”

“I don’t think your dad would like another man around when he’s with Grace,” I laugh.

“You know what I mean,” she giggles. “You need to come home. It’s where you belong.”

“It’s not anymore, Lyla. I’m happy. I’ll always come back for a visit though.”

“I want to hunt that bitch down and throat punch her for all the sisterhood,” she grumbles.

I laugh. “She’s not worth your time,” I tell her.

“You look happy,” T says, and I smile. The more settled he is with Lyla, the less his stutter is an issue. I’m fucking glad the two of them worked their shit out. They were made for one another. I smile as I think about the fact that Gabby and I were, too. We were both broken and feeling alone. We understand one another in ways no one else could probably grasp.Fuck, I’ve only been away from her for a few hours and I’m missing her.

“I am, T. Life is good.”

“So, who are you in love with? For a m-minute you had me w-worried you were going back to that b-b-bitch.”

I shake my head. Apparently, just the thought of Shelby upsets T. Fuck, I hope they manage to accept Gabby. It would suck losing T in my life. He had my back and took up for me when he didn’t have to. We fought a war together. My relationship with him is always going to be special—if he can at least manage to be civil around my woman.

“A story for later. Life is good.” He frowns. I can tell he wants to ask more questions, but thankfully Nicole distracts him, and he backs off.

I spendthe next hour eating dinner and catching up with everyone. At the large table on the deck, I find myself sitting with Kayden and Chains on my left, and Nicole and Dragon on my right. It seems strategic. I’m not sure why it hits me, but the way Kayden keeps gripping my hand and smiling at me is telling me she may know what this meeting is about. It even feels like she’s supporting me. Then again, if I remember correctly, Kayden gave Nicole a bunch of stuff to bring to Gabby, so maybe she knows the whole story about Gabby’s pregnancy. If so, I’m hoping she doesn’t share. Jellybean is mine. I’d rather Dom and T not know the truth. They could use the information to hurt Gabby. I’d like to think they wouldn’t but fuck if I know for sure.

“Dad, y-y-you going to tell us what this is all a-a-about?”

“Chains?” Kayden whispers. “You got it, baby,” he says, standing up. “Little D. Why don’t you and Tam-Tam come with me? We’ll go play in the backyard on the swings?” he says. I look at Chains. He’s a tough-as-nails biker, covered in ink from head-to-toe. His blond hair is long and shaggy, and he’d be the last man you’d expect to be willing to babysit two little hellions, but he seems perfectly at ease. He comes around and slaps me on the back, in what by this time I’ve figured out is support. Yeah, he and Kayden know what’s going on.Damn.

---