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“Put me down,” Beth whined as she practically dove from Shell’s arms

“Whoa, girl, careful Don’t want to drop you You are seriously heavy”

Beth giggled and shot off toward her grandmother as Cindy’s s to the master bedroo her mother still looked, but then she recalled herShe’d had Shell at nineteen so she was only in her early forties Shell’s pops had been a decade older

“Hey, Mom,” Shell said as she set down her suitcase-sized purse “Brought some dessert”

“How’sher little face with kisses

Beth squealed in delight and returned the affection

As she waited to be acknowledged, Shell pulled the box of donuts she’d purchased from a local bakery out of her purse After another thirty seconds of being ignored, she rolled her eyes and said, “Want these in the kitchen?”

Once again, not even so lance from her mother Shell was used to it Cindy hated the MC with a fiery passion Blamed them for her husband’s death What she’d never co to admit, was that her husband’s own actions were the reason for his death He’d been coloring too far outside the lines and without the knowledge or backing of the club Not that his death was justified or deserved in any way shape or form, but it wasn’t the fault of the club Even if it had been, heron for when she rew up in an MC in California One that was rittier than the Handlers

But after Sarge was killed, her moot pissy and huffy anyti her association with them Especially after Beth was born Her hter The product of soht of passion Shell wouldn’t ’fess up to Made her hate the MC even more

If she only knew…

Thing of it was, even if Shell hadn’t been in love with the club’s president since she was a kid, she’d still want to be involved with the club They were her family The only family she knew, and not only did she want theruff gang of ’em That had become obvious when she’d lived out of state and was miserable for five years

Shell frowned as her mom turned and walked into the kitchen with Beth in her arms Usually, she wasn’t this standoffish Sure, she and Shell were far fronored in herall right?”