Steel, with his hands and bare feet wrapped with athletic tape, was beating the fucking snot out of a heavy bag that hung in the corner of D’s large warehouse, which was home to In the Shadows Security.

“Can’t wait ‘til Slade gets that fuckin’ gym open,” Mercy grumbled next to Dawg.

Diesel grunted in agreement. “Needs to quit bendin’ Diamond over an’ givin’ her dick every five minutes. That’s why shit ain’t gettin’ done faster.”

Dawg’s eyes slid to Diesel, then back to Steel, as D’s man punched and kicked the bag with a power that was impressive. And a little scary if Dawg had to admit it.

“You’re always in your office porkin’ your ol’ lady an’ you get shit done,” Mercy muttered. Mercy’s cold eyes landed on Dawg. “Heard you’re gettin’ some from that sweet little thing whose daughter went missin’.”

“Heard you ain’t gettin’ nothin’ but your own fuckin’ palm since no woman in their right mind wants to look up into that ugly-assed face of yours when you’re huffin’ an’ puffin’ on top of her.”

A smile that didn’t quite reach his gray eyes crept over Mercy’s face as he grabbed his dick through his jeans and shook it. “The dick makes up for the face.”

“True that. Easy for ‘em to close their eyes, right?”

“They don’t like my face, I can give it to ‘em from the rear.”

Diesel snorted and smacked Dawg on the back. “C’mon, brother, got fuckin’ business to talk about.”

“Want me in there, boss?” Mercy asked.

D gave the large, scarred man a chin lift. “Yeah.”

Mercy followed them down a corridor off the large open area of the warehouse as they headed back to D’s office.

When Diesel shoved the door open, Jewel lifted her head from the desk and blinked at them.

“You in here sleepin’?” Diesel barked.

She gave her ol’ man a frown. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m pregnant. Your kid’s suckin’ the life out of me.”

Dawg bit back his laugh and shot Jewel a smile. “Hey, Jewelee.”

“Hey, Dawg.” She got up from the chair and moved around it to stand between Dawg and D’s former special ops guy. “How’s Emma?”

“Good. You?”

“Getting fat and cranky.” She glanced over at Mercy. “Hey, handsome. How’s it hanging?”

“A little to the left,” Mercy answered with a poker face. He glanced at Dawg. “See? She’d do me from the front.”

Diesel sank his bulk into his office chair with a grunt.

“The scar gives him character,” Jewel agreed with a wink. “I’m sure it’s only scary when he’s making his ‘I’m coming’ face.’” Then she squeezed her eyes shut and let out a big orgasmic cry while twisting her face up.

“Somethin’ you ain’t ever gonna see. Out,” Diesel barked at Jewel.

“Jesus. Good thing I love you, asshole.”

D swatted a hand in her direction as she walked out of the office.

“Woman,” he bellowed. Jewel paused and looked over her shoulder at him. He softened his voice. “Don’t leave the warehouse, got me?”

Her lips twitched and her eyes crinkled as she gave him a nod. Then shut the door behind her.

D stared at the closed door for a moment then grumbled, “Fuckin’ women.”

Dawg snorted. Diesel was crazy about Jewel. No matter how much he bitched about her or pretended she was a pain in his ass, he loved her to death. No fucking doubt about it. That man would do anything for the woman and though he wasn’t thrilled about her becoming pregnant, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill for her and his unborn kid.

And Dawg knew D worried constantly about her getting snatched again by the fucking Warriors. Especially now that she was pregnant and even more vulnerable.

No matter what, Dawg never wanted to see that happen. The huge man would lose his shit and go on a fucking rampage worse than Godzilla in a Japanese town.

However, the Warriors had been quiet ever since Dawg, D, Jag and Hawk, along with D’s crew went into their midst to extract Slade from the outlaw MC. But then, that day there had been a lot of carnage left behind. A clear message to the rest of those assholes that the Angels were done with their bullshit.

Even so, the nomad club was probably not done fucking with the DAMC. Dawg couldn’t imagine they ever would be. But he also had a feeling that the man with the scarred face leaning against the wall was on a mission. And that mission included exterminating every Warrior he and the rest of D’s “Shadows” came across in retribution for everything the fuckwads did to Kiki, Jazz and Jewel.

Payback was a black-hearted, son-of-a-bitch named Mercy.

“Trail went cold...” D started, and Dawg’s stomach sank.

“In Brunei,” Mercy finished.

Dawg’s gaze swung to the former Delta Force operator. “Where the fuck is Brunei?”

“Small nation on the island of Borneo,” Mercy explained.

“Run by some fuckin’ sultan,” D added.

He didn’t even know where the island of Borneo was. He’d never had a geography class in his life, but he was keeping that to himself and he nodded like he knew. “A sultan?”

“Yeah, won’t give a shit about any American girl. Especially one with her father. If they’re still there, we can get in an’ out with no one the wiser. If they moved on...”

“When will you know?” Dawg asked Mercy.

“Hunter an’ Walker are headed there now,” Mercy answered. “Problem is, there are plenty of other countries Americans can hide an’ not worry about extradition. Cuba bein’ one. Russia. The Western Sahara. Hell, Mongolia. Even fuckin’ Iran an’ Afghanistan. Though, don’t think the boys want to take a trip back down memory lane into those hell holes.”

Dawg lifted a hand. “Hold up. Were they plannin’ on contactin’ the governments in these places first?”

“Fuck no,” D grunted.

“Nope,” Mercy confirmed. “This mission’s goin’ to be of the shock an’ awe variety. Get in, get the girl, get the fuck out.”

“Maybe not so neat,” D muttered, raising a brow toward Mercy.

That made a smile curve at Mercy’s mouth. Though his smile looked not only crooked, but sinister from the scar that ran diagonally across his face and pulled up one side of this lip. “It’ll be neat. Painless.”

“Don’t want Lily witnessin’ any shit, D. Don’t want her scarred for life.”

“Like me?” Mercy asked.

“No, mentally scarred, not just stuck with an ugly puss like yours.”

“She ain’t gonna see shit,” D confirmed, giving Mercy a look, whose expression reminded Dawg of stone.

“Emma’s gonna get Kiki to file for full custody, so when Lily comes back, there ain’t goin’ to be any issues,” Dawg told them.

“Not goin’ to need that. But let her do it, anyway. The man will never return to American soil. Guaranteed. But she doesn’t need to know that.”

Diesel nodded at Mercy’s word. “Guaranteed. An’ agreed, your woman don’t need to know. Better she not know any fuckin’ details.”

“An’ when the FBI asks how Emma got ‘er back?”

“We’ll come up with a story. Might even be true,” Mercy said. “Girlfriend got knocked up, didn’t want to be saddled with the man’s kid anymore, put her on a plane back to her mother. Simple.”

Dawg didn’t think it was that simple, but he wasn’t going to argue. Whatever it took to get Lily back was okay with him.

“Ain’t divorced yet, right?” D asked.

“Right.”

D’s eyes met Mercy’s as he gave his man his orders. “Death certificate. Got me? Man died in a tragic accident, girlfriend don’t wanna raise another woman’s kid, ships her home. No problem with custody. No problem with the fuckin’ divorce. The widow gets the man’s shit. Life insurance, any assets, whatever.”

“If he didn’t change the beneficiary,” Mercy murmured.

D shrugged. “Either way. She’s free of ‘im. Kid’ll be safe. No fuckin’ worries.”

Mercy nodded. “An’ the girlfriend will never show her face in the good o’ US of A, either. She’s a fugitive.”

“Yeah,” D grunted. “Lemme know when you hear from Hunter or Walker.”

“Got it. I’ll be on standby. Will head out as soon as I get a twenty.” Mercy pushed away from the wall. He whacked Dawg on the back as he passed, saying, “Got your six, brother.” He headed toward the door. “Get your woman’s girl back an’ you’ll get grateful pussy for the rest of your fuckin’ life. Guaranteed.”

Dawg doubted that. As soon as Emma got her daughter back, she’d be getting her life back in order. He was sure Emma wanted to be a good role model for her girl, not raising her kid over a strip club where she only had to walk down the steps to be the Heaven’s Angels’ hostess and have men pawing at her.

“Spill it. What’s she to you?” Diesel asked him once the door closed behind Mercy.

“Nothin’.”

“Ain’t nothin’. Makin’ too much of an effort for nothin’.”

Dawg stayed quiet, hoping the club’s Sergeant at Arms would drop it.

But that wasn’t good enough for D. “Known her less than a couple weeks, right?”

“Right.”

“My guys’ asses are on the fuckin’ line headin’ into some of these countries, got me?”

“Yeah.”

“So ain’t fuckin’ nothin’. Not gonna continue this mission if she’s nothin’. If she’s nothin’ send ‘er on her way. Ain’t attractin’ trouble for the club or my business for nothin’, got me?”

“I gotta cover it, I’ll cover it.”

“More than you got.”

Dawg stared at Diesel with dread. The man knew what Heaven’s Angels was pulling in revenue wise every month since he sat on the DAMC’s Executive Committee. So he knew that Dawg wasn’t hurting for scratch in any way, shape or form. But what Dawg had banked wouldn’t be enough?

Fuck. He had almost five hundred grand tucked away in his personal account. And Diesel knew that, too, because the club got ten percent of the net income every month from all the DAMC businesses. And Diesel was no dumb fuck. The strip club was one of the DAMC’s top earning businesses.

The big man shrugged. “Three men in several foreign countries. Payin’ people off, payin’ for info, special equipment, travel, expenses. Also had to pay off the fuckin’ P.I. since Emma owed ‘im money. Wouldn’t spill any shit ‘til he was made whole. So, made ‘im whole. By the way, she was wastin’ ‘er scratch on that fucker. Didn’t do much besides trace some airline tickets an’ ping the husband’s phone. Phone ended up ditched at an airport. Asshole never woulda found your woman’s girl, but woulda kept suckin’ her dry.”

Dawg’s jaw got tight. Emma said she lost her house and her car trying to pay for the guy’s help. The cage she currently drove, and the one now parked in his back lot, had to be no more than a five-hundred-dollar clunker. It wasn’t safe for her or her daughter. She’d need a better ride when Lily was back in her custody.

“Paid ‘im for nothin’?” Dawg asked, fighting the urge to smash shit on D’s messy desk.

“Yep. Didn’t do nothin’ more than any computer geek could do. With her knowledge, Ivy woulda done a fuckin’ better job.”

“Guess I gotta go visit the fucker.”

Diesel shook his head. “Guy got his fuckin’ money an’ a lesson ‘bout takin’ advantage of a desperate mother. Got me?”

Dawg dragged his fingers through his beard. “Yeah, got you.”

“So, tell me again how she’s fuckin’ nothin’ to you.” He pinned his dark gaze on Dawg. “In your bed?”

“Yeah.”

“Plannin’ on keepin’ ‘er there?”

Dawg took a deep inhale. “Dunno, D. Like you said, only been a little over a week.”

“Might have to talk to Z ‘bout switchin’ up the club. An’ when I say club, ain’t talkin’ the DAMC. I’m talkin’ your club. Ain’t gonna raise a seven-year-old above a club like that. Got me?”

“Since when’re you worried ‘bout how a kid’s gonna be raised?”

Diesel sat back and scrubbed a hand over his short dark hair. “Since I put one in Jewel’s belly.” He tapped his temple with a beefy finger. “Makes you think.”

“Yeah, that it does,” Dawg said softly. Because if his own daughter was a part of his life, he wouldn’t be raising her over a strip club, either.

“If this is gettin’ serious, start thinkin’ about who’s gonna take your place. Got big shoes to fill, though. Which sucks. Heaven’s Angels brings the club a fuckload of scratch. Needs to keep runnin’ like a fuckin’ machine.”

“Yeah.” If he did what D was suggesting, which was handing over the management of Heaven’s Angels to one of the other brothers, what the fuck would he do? He had to do something to bring money into the coffers. He wasn’t a damn mechanic, so he couldn’t work at Shadow Valley Body shop. He wasn’t an ink slinger, so he couldn’t work with Crow. And he was no bartender, so The Iron Horse was out. Ace didn’t need anyone at the Shadow Valley Pawn, either.

There was always Shadow Valley Gun Shop and Range. Pierce was lying low, keeping away from church, so it might be a good idea to get in over there and work on taking over that business. Then if they needed to push the former prez out of the club, it could be done a lot easier. The gun shop was one of the reasons the Committee decided not to strip the asshole of his colors. But if someone else could step in without a hitch...

He’d need to talk to Z. See what his opinion was on the subject.

But right now, he didn’t need to figure that out. Once he knew Lily was on her way back home, then he’d have to see where he and Emma stood.

Though, if it was up to him, he knew exactly where Emma would end up every night.

The same place Dawg laid down his own head.

Guaranteed.

Emma stood in the reception area of a small law firm that sat in the center of town watching Dawg give an attractive woman a welcoming hug. With long dark hair and blue eyes, she kind of looked familiar.

“When are you going to shave off that shit?” the younger woman asked, tugging on his beard.

“Ain’t gonna,” he grumbled when he released her and smoothed his beard back in place.

“You wouldn’t be so ugly if you did.”

“I like it,” Emma said softly, attracting her attention.

Dawg stepped back to Emma’s side. “Em, this is Jayde. Zak an’ Axel’s baby sister.”

“I’m not a baby,” Jayde chided him. “I have my Bachelor’s and now an actual job!” She stuck out her hand and Emma shook it. “Welcome to the sisterhood.”

The sisterhood. “That’s not the first time I’ve heard that,” Emma murmured.

Jayde’s eyes slid to Dawg, arched a brow at him, then her gaze landed back on Emma. “Right. Well...”

“So, your brother’s the cop?”

“Both my brother and my dad are part of Shadow Valley PD.”

“And Zak...” Emma gave Dawg a questioning look. “That’s your MC’s president, right? The one with the baby?”

Before now, Emma hadn’t put two and two together. Even though they did all look alike. However, two cops and an MC president in the same family? Weird.

“Yes! Zeke! Oh my god! Baby Z is sooooo adorable! I want a baby!” Jayde squealed, bouncing on her toes.

“Gettin’ knocked up’s the easy part, Jayde. Raisin’ ‘em ain’t.”

“Like you would know,” Jayde huffed.

“Wouldn’t. But ask your fuckin’ mom an’ pop. Guessin’ they’d tell you raisin’ you three was a pain in their ass.”

Jayde waved a dismissing hand. “Axel and I are the good ones. Z’s the one that gives Dad a headache. Well... Now that Axel’s with Bella, though... I don’t think he’s thrilled with that.” She smiled. “So I guess that means I’m the only good one.”

“Right, an’ now you’re workin’ for Kiki, who’s the club attorney. Mitch probably ain’t likin’ that, either.”

“He’s not, but he agrees it’ll at least look good on my resume.”

Kiki peeked out of her office door and beckoned them. “Okay, come on back you two.”

Dawg put a hand to the small of Emma’s back as they headed in the attorney’s direction.

“Sorry,” Kiki said as she returned to her desk. “Got stuck on a call. Close the door, Dawg, will you?”

When Emma saw Kiki at the party at church a week ago, she’d been wearing casual clothes. But now she wore professional attire even though her skirt was snug and a bit shorter than Emma would wear. Plus, the stiletto heels the woman wore... The woman would probably have no problem dancing in the platform shoes that the girls danced in on stage.

But as Kiki sat down behind her desk, Emma knew there was no way this woman would ever be in a jam enough to have to dance in a strip club for money. Being an attorney and owning her own firm probably made a lot more than a typical kindergarten teacher. A lot more.

Dawg closed the door behind Emma and then hurried to help her into her chair. She frowned, wondering why he was hovering like he was. He sank into the chair next to her after sliding it over within a few inches of hers.

Kiki’s eyebrows rose as she noticed it, too. Her gaze bounced from Dawg to Emma and back to Dawg, and then a small smile curved her lips.

“Dawg, do me a favor and tell Linc, next time you see him, that Jayde has baby fever, and he needs to stock up on wraps. Mitch will skin him alive if he knocks her up.” She pursed her lips. “On that note, Z and Axel might, too.”

Dawg’s head jerked. “Linc’s doin’ her?”

Kiki sighed. “I don’t think so, but you know they’ve been eyeballing each other for a while now. And it wouldn’t hurt for him to be prepared. But, honestly, I think Linc doesn’t want a hassle from Mitch and Axel. And, of course, Z. Last thing you want to do is get on your president’s bad side, right?”

“Yeah, makes sense. He’s young. Don’t need all that fuckin’ headache for just some pussy.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call Jayde ‘just some pussy’ but I know what you mean.” Kiki grabbed her glasses off her desk and slid them on her face. “Still, it’s a good idea to make sure he’s prepared... just in case.”

Emma watched with curiosity as Dawg’s eyes were drawn to the woman who went from looking like a sexy attorney to a naughty librarian with just one accessory, her glasses. His mouth opened, shut, then he twisted his head to stare at Emma for a long awkward moment before reaching down and adjusting himself.

Did Kiki turn Dawg on?

Kiki cleared her throat, drawing both of their attention. “Okay then... so I drew up the divorce complaint, the custody petition, a request for an accounting of all marital assets and, of course, a restraining order. We’ll need to appear in front of the judge and I’m sure he’ll have questions for you, Emma. Are you up for that?”

All of that sounded expensive. “How much is all of this going to cost me?”

“I... uh...” Kiki slid her glasses down her nose and peered over them at Dawg.

“Nothin’,” he grumbled next to her.

“But—”

“Told you it’s covered,” he grumbled in his “no lip” voice.

“Right,” Kiki said, waving a hand around. “Don’t worry about that for right now. I think the club’s covering any filing fees and I’m working pro bono.”

“Pro bono? Your time is worth something!”

“Yes, but if you’re a part of the club—”

“I’m not a part of the club!” Emma exclaimed, cutting her off.

Kiki turned surprised blue eyes to Dawg. “I thought...”

“Yeah, it’s covered,” Dawg said again in a tone that didn’t invite an argument.

She protested anyway. “Dawson!”

“Dawson?” Kiki repeated.

“Fuck,” Dawg muttered with his brows pinned together.

“I like it,” Kiki said, chuckling.

“I do, too,” Emma agreed with a smile.

“Fuck,” Dawg muttered again.

“Anyway, Emma, I need you to sign some papers and I’ll get the petition for divorce filed, and the rest of the paperwork. Then I’ll let you know how soon we can talk to the judge for the PFA.”

“PFA?”

“The restraining order. It’ll be for you and for Lily, too. It shouldn’t be a problem to at least get a temporary one. Permanent?” She shrugged. “The man abducted your daughter and left the country without your permission. Parent or not, that’s unacceptable. The judge should see it the same way. Plus, once he’s back in the States, he should be charged, so that will help the judge decide on the permanent one. Then once Lily turns eighteen, it’ll be up to her whether to see her father or not. Just a warning, he could file for supervised visitation.” Kiki lifted a hand before Emma could protest. “Doesn’t mean he’ll get it.”

Dawg reached over and grabbed her hand from her lap, squeezing it. “Ain’t gettin’ it. Guaranteed.”

“Well,” Kiki continued, “Here’s the thing you two have to consider... Dawg not only manages a strip club, but lives above it, and you’re working there, too, right?”

Emma nodded, “But it’s just temporary.”

“Which part?” Kiki asked.

“All of it. Well, not the part where Daw... Dawg’s the manager.”

Dawg cut in. “Yeah, it’s all temporary. Gonna talk to Z.”

Kiki’s eyebrows rose. “About what?”

“Movin’ an’ findin’ something else to do other than the club.”

“Like a new business?” Kiki asked, clearly surprised. She wasn’t the only one. This was the first that Emma was hearing this.

Dawg shrugged. “Not sure yet. Gonna talk to Z.”

None of this made sense. Why would Dawg give up a business he’d managed successfully for years for her? Was he thinking this was more than a temporary situation?

Her plan had always been to find a new apartment as soon as Lily was returned to her custody. And to find another job doing what she was meant to do, loved to do, what her degree was in, which was teaching.

He had no reason to cause a total upheaval in his life for her.

She appreciated everything he was doing for her and she certainly appreciated the time they spent together being intimate, but if he was thinking long-term...

Was he thinking long term?

Her gaze slid to the left to where he was sitting so close to her. Then it dropped to their clasped hands.

Oh Lord, he was thinking long-term!

He was a tattooed biker who managed a strip club.

She had a daughter to raise...

Her heart began to beat furiously.

He was certainly not the ideal father figure for Lily.

What kind of judge was going to give her full custody of her daughter if they were living with a man like Dawg? He could be the kindest, gentlest man in the world and he would still be judged by what was seen on the outside. The beard, the tattoos, the cut, the biker boots and worn jeans, the clunky silver rings on his fingers of a skull and more...

It was what he represented, not who he actually was inside.

Her husband’s family had money and lots of it. His parents, Lily’s grandparents, could fight her for custody claiming that she was an unfit mother, a bad influence. That Emma made bad choices... like even temporarily living with and working for Dawg.

The one person who has helped her the most, just might have hindered her. And not because he meant to. Clearly the man had nothing but the best intentions.

“Dawg,” she whispered, scared that accepting his help had been a huge mistake. A colossal mistake.

He must not have heard her because he went on to say, “Got somethin’ else to run past you, Keeks.”

“What?” Kiki removed her glasses and placed them on the desk blotter.

“Ain’t just thinkin’ ‘bout movin’ for Lily. Thinkin’ about my parental rights for my own daughter. Fightin’ for visitation.”

Kiki’s mouth dropped open, and she sat back in her thick leather desk chair. “You have a daughter?”

Emma didn’t blame the woman for her reaction. Hers probably looked similar since she had no idea that Dawg was going to bring that up today. Or ever. She had no idea that he was even thinking of getting to know his daughter. Not after the conversation they’d had.

“Yeah.”

“Dawg,” Kiki breathed, then groaned. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve started working on this a long time ago.”

“Doin’ criminal defense.” The hesitation before his answer was a telling sign to Emma. He hadn’t considered it until now. Or this last week. When he originally told her about his daughter, he thought it was better for her for him not to be involved in her life.

Crap. And her thoughts about raising Lily with him were the exact same as his were about raising his own daughter. He didn’t think he was good enough.

Kiki’s voice dragged her out of her thoughts. She realized that she was squeezing the crap out of Dawg’s hand and relaxed her fingers slightly.

“Dawg, I’m the club’s attorney. You know I handle everything for the MC now. Which would include something like this. So you better believe I’m going to help you out on this. There’s no reason you shouldn’t see your biological daughter. How old is she?”

“Fourteen.”

The man missed out on fourteen years of his daughter’s life. Emma couldn’t imagine that.

Again, Kiki looked a little shell-shocked. “Fourteen and I haven’t heard a word about her?”

“Just found out ‘bout her myself last year. Didn’t think I’d want to interrupt her life. Got it good where she’s at.”

“Are you listed as her father on the birth certificate?”

He shook his head, his fingers twitching within Emma’s. It was her turn to give him a reassuring squeeze.

“So, you didn’t know anything about her until recently?”

“No.”

“Dawg... Are you sure she’s yours?”

“Ain’t had a test yet, but saw her. Positive she’s mine. Gut tells me so.”

“Wow.” Kiki sat back and rubbed a hand over her forehead. “Do any of the guys know about her?”

“Nope. Just Emma, and now you.”

“How did you find out?”

His eyes slid to Emma for a moment, then back to Kiki. “A friend of ‘ers let it slip.”

A friend of hers let it slip? Hers? As in the mother’s? From the way Dawg talked, the mother’s friends wouldn’t be running in the same circles as Dawg. Emma wondered if there was more to it than that.

“Okay, well... First thing we need to do is get a DNA test ordered to establish paternity. She’ll fight it, of course. Then once paternity is established, I’ll petition the court for visitation. It might be a problem when it comes to you not only managing Heaven’s Angels, but living above the club, too. That may give them ammo to keep you out of your daughter’s life. They could say that you’re unfit to be a parent. Even just for visitation. I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to some other attorneys I know that specialize in family law. But again, if you’re thinking about moving and giving up the club...”

“Givin’ up Heaven’s Angels. Not the DAMC.”

“Right, that’s what I meant. Even so, Dawg... when it comes to custody or visitation rights... just you being a part of the DAMC, even though it’s not an outlaw club, might hinder both you and Emma. I’m just warning you now. I hope I’m wrong, but...” She shook her head. “Life’s unfair sometimes, as we all know.”

“Right,” he grunted. “Lemme know what I gotta do to get it done.”

“I will, Dawg. As long as everyone stays out of jail, you and Emma will be my top priority. Got me?” Her pretty blue eyes twinkled as she said the last.

“Got you,” Dawg chuckled. “Appreciate it, Keeks.”

Kiki rose from her seat. “You know I’d do anything for you guys,” she glanced over at Emma, “and the sisterhood. You’re all family.”

Emma’s gaze dropped to the diamond on Kiki’s left ring finger. “I’ve been meaning to tell you since I first spotted it, that’s a very beautiful ring.” And very huge, too. It had to have cost a fortune.

Kiki’s eyes got soft, and a smile drifted over her lips. “Yes. My ol’ man’s very generous.”

Dawg’s hand settled on the back of Emma’s neck under her hair and he squeezed gently as he said, “Hawk’s world revolves around you.”

Kiki shook her head. “No. I think it’s the opposite.”

“When you gonna give him babies?”

Kiki laughed. “It isn’t my turn. Jewel’s unexpected news screwed up the betting pool. Ivy was supposed to be next. So I’ve got time.”

“Not so sure ‘bout that. Though, doubt Hawk’ll be passin’ out like D did when he heard the news.”

Kiki’s laugh filled the office and it made Emma smile. “Diesel passed out when he found out Jewel was pregnant?”

“Oh yeah,” Kiki said. “He dropped like a tree onto the pavement. Luckily he’s hard-headed so he wasn’t hurt.”

“Wow.”

“Yes, it was a wow moment, all right,” Kiki agreed as she escorted them back out into the lobby where Jayde was texting furiously on her phone.

Kiki tilted her head toward the younger woman and raised her eyebrows at Dawg. “See? Make sure you talk to you-know-who if you see him before Hawk does,” she whispered. She raised her voice, “Jayde, who are you texting?”

Jayde glanced up in surprise, then slapped the phone face down on her desk. “No one... A friend.”

“Uh-huh,” Kiki said. She turned to Emma and Dawg. “I’ll let you guys know when I need you back in here.”

“Thank you for everything,” Emma said.

Kiki gave her a smile. “It’s my pleasure. I might not be a family law expert, but I’ll do my best to get your family back together. For both of you.”

Dawg steered Emma out of the law office and out to the curb where his bike was parked.

She took the helmet from him but didn’t put it on. Instead, she watched him mount his “sled.” “Dawg...”

His head twisted back to her with a frown. “Now you use my name when nobody’s ‘round?”

Emma grimaced. That wasn’t what they needed to discuss. And she didn’t even know where to begin...

“Does she turn you on? I saw what you did when she put on her glasses.”

Holy crap, did she sound jealous? Was she jealous?

Did she have any reason to be jealous?

She bit her bottom lip and Dawg’s eyes were immediately drawn to the gesture. His eyes darkened and his arm snaked out, grabbing her at the waist and pulling her to him.

“Wasn’t her, baby girl.” He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, pulling it from between her teeth. “She slipped on those glasses an’ suddenly I saw you doin’ the same fuckin’ thing, but only wearin’ a half-open button-down shirt and biting that lip when you did it. Hot as fuck.”

“Oh,” she breathed.

“Kiki’s hot as fuck, too, but if I had those same thoughts ‘bout her, Hawk would kill me with his bare hands. Wouldn’t blame ‘im one fuckin’ bit, either. Now you know how I feel when my customers are eyeballin’ you like a piece of hard candy they wanna suck on. Got me?”

Oooooh. “Dawg...”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Really? Em, stop fuckin’ ‘round an’ get on the sled. Need to take you home.”

“For what?”

“So I can be in the A/C when I answer the thousand questions you got in your fuckin’ head right now. But first gonna fuck you.”

“Oh,” she breathed again. And suddenly, it wasn’t just the sun’s heat making her warm.

“Yeah, oh. Get the fuck on. If you haven’t noticed, it’s like a thousand degrees out here an’ doubt you wanna suck sweaty dick.”

Emma bit back a laugh and pulled the helmet over her head. Dawg helped secure it and she slipped on the bike behind him. She wrapped her arms tightly around him as he took off, heading back toward Heaven’s Angels and his apartment.

She agreed, sweaty dick didn’t sound the most appetizing. However, nothing was stopping them from taking a long shower together first.