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Chapter One

Certain people who coe you in ways you can’t fathom at the time

For an

Whether she’s changed ood or bad remains to be seen

Haven’t laid eyes on her since earlier this summer

But not a day’s gone by when she hasn’t been on my mind

Then, there are other people in your life The ones who are hell-bent on annoying the shit out of you That honor goes to s MC brother and road captain at the moment

“Oooh, Shelby, I loooove you” Jigsaw hugs hihs frouys

“Shut the fuck up” I cross ht ahead, detery this afternoon Nofor it

Where the fuck are they?

I pull out my phone No text from Murphy No response to the last text I sent Shelby either Not that I’

“You want to head up without ’eot tired of waiting”

“We all ride together” Exasperation colors my refusal The bond of brotherhood is the whole point of both charters riding to the countrye

The rhythmic thrum of a half-dozen Harleys punctures the suburban quiet I lift my head and slip my phone in my pocket Finally

We have plenty of ti to get on the road

A fewlot with several other brothers and the club’s plain, black cargo van trailing behind the Murphy pulls in near us and shuts down his bike A few seconds later, he swaggers his big, ginger ass my way

“What’s up, brother?” he greets, tappinghis chin He shakes a few hands and accepts quick back slaps fro to me

His wife, Heidi, bounces over and gives“Are you excited to see Shelby?”

I’ her question “How you been, little hammer?”

Her lips curve into a sly s a badass ol’ lady “Behaving myself”

“I doubt that” I reach into my back pocket and pull out an envelope “This is from Z and me”

She tilts her head and slowly takes it

Murphy raises an eyebrohile he waits for her to take a peek inside