“Excuse me?” my stare shoots back and forth between Kade and Nancy, and rests on my sister. “Run that by me again? I must be out of my mind, because what I thought I heard was that this motherfucker is your husband?”

“You heard correctly,” Nancy says, meeting my gaze. “What part of I’m getting married to Kade Jackson did you not hear back then?”

“How the fuck was I supposed to know it was this Kade Jackson? You never gave bikers or anyone who wasn’t perfectly white bread and middle class the time of day. I just assumed—”

“Don’t give me that. Your assumptions almost killed my kids’ father in his own home!”

Groaning, I lower the gun and jam the safety into place. I put it away, wiping my palms across my face. “Maybe you’re right. We do have a lot to talk about, and sleeping with the enemy is right at the top of the goddamned list. It may have occurred to you to have told me something like, Hey, Axe. Guess what? I married a Los Diablos member, and not just any Los Diablos, the president of the motherfucking Nevada Chapter. I mean, Jesus Christ, what if you hadn’t come in the house? Did you consider that, sis? Kade’s big ugly mug would be splattered all over your perfect kitchen.”

I clutch one arm to the counter beside me, suddenly visualizing that night all over again. “I could have fucking killed him, and the kids are right upstairs…they would have seen…”

Unable to cope, I quickly push off from the spot, brushing by Nancy and Angel. I make a dash for the front door, heading right back to the truck. One stupid move could have put those kids through exactly the lives me and Nancy had, even though I fought damn hard to protect her from it back then. My head pounds and even in the blistering hot truck interior, my skin is cold and sweaty. Thank fuck I haven’t had much to eat yet, because the thought has me ready to puke my guts out.

“Alexander?” Nancy’s muffled voice floats in as she knocks on my driver side window.

I crack the door open slightly, not wanting to bother with starting the engine to lower the window. “What?” I croak, swallowing down bitter bile.

“Are you okay?”

“I should be asking you that…I did almost murder your…Kade. You married that guy? What the fuck, Nance?”

“It wasn’t a secret. You knew his name. I figured that was one of the reasons you kept your distance.”

I shake my head wildly. “No way. I’m not buying that bullshit story. You knew exactly what you were doing by keeping the truth from me.”

A heavy silence hangs between us, and then she says, “Fine. Okay, maybe I did subtly neglect to mention the Los Diablos part. I should’ve told you a long time ago.”

“Yeah, you damn well should’ve.”

“Will you just come inside so we can talk?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, when Angel and I have been running from a bunch of Louisiana Los Diablos. How the hell can I keep her safe when Kade over there probably already gave them the heads up that we’re here? How can I be sure he’s not in on it? I could have just walked Angel right into her last day on the planet.”

She glares at me. “He is not, and he won’t.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Stop looking for another excuse to run, Axe. Get inside. We can all sit down and get this out. I’ll put on a movie for the kids upstairs, and we’ll have a good hour to clear the air.”

“Wait a minute. Who do the kids take after?”

“What the hell do you mean by that?” she grunts out. “You’ve seen them. Who do you think they took after? And why the hell does it matter?”

“Well, you’re a suburbanite. He’s a fight or die MC Prez.”

“You know what? I’m starting to like the quiet, brooding brother I knew all those years ago way better than the one who’s on my doorstep saying ignorant things about my children.”

“I’m not trying to insult you. Jeez. I just want to know…well, I’m curious.”

“They’re my kids and when they grow up they can do whatever they want… except join a motorcycle club. Is that clear enough for you?”

“Yep.”

“Oh, and just so you don’t go apeshit a year from now…” she lowers a hand to her flat stomach, and her face softens. “We’re expecting one more. A boy. I’m five months along… I know, I’m not showing that much. That’s how it was for Annalee, but I don’t know what he’ll be yet, all right?”

“Wow. Okay. Congrats!”

“Thank you.” Nancy raises. “Come on inside.”

“I don’t think so. You and I need a one-on-one. Get in the car.”

She nods and walks around the front, climbing into the passenger side. “Fine. I’m here. Let’s do this.”

“Okay. How about we start with the elephant in the room…or more like the Los Diablos in the kitchen,” I scratch my beard, trying to form the question in a way that doesn’t offend her. “My question for you about that is…what the fuck?”

She shakes her head and gives a faint smile. “Real classy, Alexander. I think you’re asking how I ended up marrying someone in the life. If that’s what you’re asking, I’ll just say, things happen. We met, we got serious, and I married him. I won’t get into the nitty gritty of falling in love and all the chick flick dramatic stuff that makes you men block us out. As for the fact that he’s a Los Diablos, it’s pretty much the same answer. Got any more questions for me?”

“Uh, at least tell me whether he’s been good to you.”

She nods. “Kade’s a good man. He’s great with the kids, he’d die for every one of us, and he’s never uttered a single negative thing about you, Satan’s Saints, or any bikers at all to the kids.”

“Fuck, so you’re saying I’m the bad guy in this lovely story? Because that’s what I’m hearing, Nance. All those years that you were on me about being in the Saints, living like an outlaw, and only consorting with other bikers. What was that? I’ll tell you what it was. It was a fucking double standard. Now, you’re telling me that you can date someone in an MC, marry and have kids with them, but you hound me and judge me for having that life? I’m your own flesh and blood, and you basically disowned me for that. What the hell do you have to say, sis?” By the time I’m done, I’m feeling way worse for saying things that have been burning the back of my throat.

She stretches her hand over and rests it on my shoulder. “I deserve that…every word. I’m sorry. I was wrong for trying to turn you into something you’re not. I didn’t handle things well. I know that now, Axe.”

“Damn right you didn’t. Jesus,” I say, unhappy that my voice sounds like gravel.

“I think you need to apologize too,” she continues, placing her hand back in her lap.

I turn and star at her in disbelief. “Me? Why the hell for? We were all we had, Nance. You turned your back on me.”

“Don’t be melodramatic. I’ve been phoning, trying to see you. We could have hashed this out at my wedding that you didn’t attend, or when the kids were born, or the couple of times you showed up to see the kids while Kade was away, even three years ago when we were supposed to clean out the storage unit with Mom and Dad’s things. The storage locker is still packed to the rafters, you should know. I keep renewing the lease, because I’m not going there without you. What do you have to say about that?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat, chest tightening with the sharp sting of all those years we’ve lost. “Right. The locker. I guess that part was my bad.”

“And not coming to my wedding, and barely getting to know the kids. Your niece and nephew, Axe.”

“That was a dick move on my part,” I admit.”

“I’ll take that as an apology, you little shit,” she says, and genuine warmth finally reaches her smile. Her hand reaches over and skims the back of mine. “Truce?”

A loud crash comes from inside before I can answer. Both our heads turn toward the front door. Angel’s voice echoes through the screen door.

“Aww, fuck.”

“I think your girl is yelling at my husband,” Nancy mutters, opening her door.

I step out onto the curb. “She’s not my girl,” I grind out.

“Like hell she isn’t,” my sister says, snorting out a laugh as she follows me inside.

Angel is in the middle of the kitchen when we get inside, shouting something about Los Diablos killers as Kade just stands there, arms crossed and head tilted, not making a sound.

“What’s going on in here?” Nancy asks from behind me.

“Your brother needs to tell his woman to back off with that fierce tongue of hers.”

I smirk and shrug my shoulders. “Oh, Angel-face? Yeah, sorry. I don’t control her.”

Angel meets my neutral expression and rolls her eyes. “Damn right. I just want to know why these Los Diablos have been trying to kill me.”

“You kids need to take this conversation out in the backyard or something,” Nancy suggests.

Angel cocks her head, seeming to assess the suggestion. “Maybe you’re right. I’m sorry, Nancy. Axe, are you coming?”

I paste on a half-hearted grin and make a motion with my hand. “Hell yeah. I want to see the fireworks. Please, by all means, continue nailing his ass to the wall.”