CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

TYSON

I’m sitting here nursing a beer while going over everything with Dominic. Explaining how strong Lynne was today. How every word she expressed punctured an entire set of holes through my heart. How they all beat against my skull until something inside of me snapped, causing me to want to drive straight to LA and put a bullet through that bastard’s head. He tried to hurt her, and in the end, look where the arrogant man is now. Sitting in a jail cell just waiting for me to bury him underground.

My love for her and those boys kept me from going there today instead of tomorrow. All I can picture now is the way Jacob and Joshua lit up when I stepped out of the truck, badges in hand and concentrating on them. The way they talked, looked, and appeared to be strong when everything about them gave way to how much they love and miss her. How much they already care about me and how they’ve become an important part of my life.

There isn’t a thing in this world I won’t do to protect them. To give them the kind of life Lynne wants them to have.

I’m a man of my word. I live by honor, not pain. What kind of man would I be if I allowed them to be hurt? To be spotlighted because the same person who once hurt me wants nothing more than to hurt them, too. To pay a woman back for merely existing. In my mind’s eye, I wouldn’t be a man at all. I would be a selfish coward. And to the kids who someday I have faith I will be able to call my own, I wouldn’t be the role model they deserve me to be. That’s why they will never know who their biological father is. Not until we are ready to tell them.

“You’re a good man, Tyson. Don’t beat yourself up over not catching wind he was dealing, man. Hell, I had been watching him for weeks and not once did I see him step out of line.”

“I’m beating myself up over him. He isn’t worth it. I’m thankful the FBI got that punk taking and that Dietrich is kind enough to turn the other cheek for a few minutes tomorrow.” I stop talking and glance over my shoulder to find Dane stomping in our direction, a tight scowl on his face.

I eye him warily as he takes a seat next to me. The fire in front of us is giving way to the stress, dark circles, and bruising around his eyes. Something is going on with him, and whatever that something is has nothing to do with the pictures he gave me.

“You doing alright, man? You look like shit.” Dominic leans forward in his chair to face his brother. Dude is usually laid-back. Doesn’t speak much, and yet now he’s as worried if not more so than I am.

“I’m good. Tired, is all. Been running myself ragged lately.” Damn liar. Either this drug dealing, cheating shit with Richard has really gotten to him, or there’s something else going on. If I had to guess, it’s something else. He hasn’t had to do much. No one really has. Not like we all did when Cora and Vivian had hell on their backs. If anyone should be tired, it’s Dominic. He’s the one who’s been running ragged following Richard everywhere.

Hearing this makes me feel like shit after what Dane told me a few weeks back about their sister. So, if there’s a way I can pay both of these guys back for helping me out, then I know a good place to start.

“Tell you what. I have a place in the Coachella Valley. Not too many people know it’s mine. That’s where I went to clear my head a few months back. You can do some fishing, get wasted, and chill the fuck out. Your employees can run the business. They run into any problems, they can give me a call.” Dane stares his brother down, runs his fingers across his chin in that I’m-thinking kind of way as he contemplates his answer.

“Works for me. How about you?” Dane shrugs like it’s no big deal and turns to me instead.

“You toss in a couple good punches for us. Understand?” He lifts a brow, takes a swig of his beer, and quickly turns away from me. If I didn’t know him well, I would think he was really pissed off at me. I love the guy, but I’m not going to push him to open up and tell me what’s eating away at him. Maybe going away with his brother is what he needs. Get the hell out of here and work his shit out on his own.

“I’ll be sure to send the message. Thanks for the help. You too, Dominic.” I stand, dig in my pocket for the key to the house, twist it off the ring, toss it to Dominic, and rattle off the address.

We all turn at the sound of laughter. I’ll never get tired of hearing it. Feeling it or seeing it. Maggie and Lynne are making their way toward us.

“We always have your back, man.” Dominic’s comeback is words every friend wants to hear. I give him a nod. Eyes are gesturing I’ll have his if the time arises. Especially if he needs help with whatever is going down with his brother.

“You’re a lucky fucker, you know that, right? Just from the few times I’ve talked to her, I can tell how much she loves you. Not sure if I’ve ever run across a love like that.” Dane is sincere, but there’s sorrow in his tone. He’s feeding me another line of bullshit. He has run across a love like this. His own. Sucks like hell to see a grown man down. Never would have thought the way misery pours out of him like a rotten gutter was once me.

It’s only been a month or so, but I’m a better man, stronger, weaker, more powerful than I can recall being. It’s all for the love of a woman.

“I do know. You two have a good time.” I shake their hands, watch them walk away, and admire the beautiful woman who stops to talk to them.

Lynne is all about simplicity and making things easy for the people she cares about. She could run her family’s name through the dark, murky mud if she wanted. Unlike me, she’ll use it as her last resort tomorrow when she visits her mother and sisters. Who knows what will happen. She’ll poke the bear, make them beg before she finally wears them down and leaves them behind.

Lynne may have been fooled by them once, but she won’t allow it to happen again. That could feasibly be why there’s more of an easiness about her right now. The way she leans in and hugs both of the guys, her smile on those damn lips of hers that weaken me at the knees every time my eyes have the pleasure of looking at them. I’ll take my last breath believing that the eyes are the window to a person’s soul. But the mouth, especially hers, is the clearness that allows you to look through that window. For the mouth speaks what the eyes cannot. It tells your story, it speaks the truth. It expresses the lies you feel the need to voice in order to protect the ones you love. It provides everything that no other part of a person can, and I cannot wait to one day soon hear two simple words come out of hers.

“Hey, you two. Did you have a good time?” I grab Lynne by the waist, tug her to me for a kiss on that sexy little mouth. My dick jerks. Yeah, he wants that mouth. The two of them are becoming very familiar with one another.

“Yes. She finally broke down and showed me her secret. It’s definitely not as easy as she says.”

“It is if you don’t stand there with the torch in your hand pretending that you’re lighting it under your mother’s ass instead of soldering the silver.”

“She might need it tomorrow. Did you bring it?” I chuckle. The visual of Lynne doing just that in my mind. However, I’m hoping Maggie understands I’m not asking about the torch.

“Yes. I placed it under your pillow, you know, just in case you wanted to set fire to her ass.”

“I’ll set fire to her ass, alright. Come here.” I grab the belt loop of her worn-out jeans, pulling her all the way to me.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Don’t forget to slap the bitch for me.”

***

A reflexive groan slips out of me when Lynne steps out of the bathroom, her ass swaying, her back long and sleek, and those toned legs have my dick getting all hysterical underneath the crisp, clean sheets.

“Jesus H. Christ. You trying to kill me?” I prop up against the headboard, adjusting myself for the second time today. “You better get your ass in this bed. He isn’t going down this time.” I toss the sheet off me, grab my length, and start stroking him up and down.

“Take your hand off that.” She spins around and hell, my own slice of heaven. Her tits are perfect. Nipples erect and pert. Pussy right there in my line of sight.

“Get over here and make me,” I taunt, slide my body down a smidge, and keep on stroking. I want in her pussy, but right now I want her mouth.

Her eyes divert down to my cock the same time mine shift to admire her mouth. I watch her, taking in the way her tongue darts out to lick her lips. I may love her pussy, her tits, her ass, but that mouth holds all the power. Its exotic beauty is endless. She can heal my soul with it. Steal my breath and make passionate promises of a sweet life to come. Right now, though, I want her to wrap it around my dick.

“Hand off,” she repeats as she crawls up the bed to where I now have my legs parted to welcome her body to fit right where she needs to be. Warm lips attached to the greatest gift I’ve ever received glide up my shaft. My hand falls lax, my eyes roll to the back of my head.

Her weight shifts, her hands press into my thighs, and she takes my entire length in her mouth. Her head starts to move up and down. Damn.

“Sweet God,” I groan out when she sucks my head, shifts her body once more, and I sink inside of her root to tip.

“I love you,” she whispers, those words falling freely from her sweet, sweet mouth.