The roar of a Harley broke through the birds chirping. Jett walked around the side of the house, opened the wooden gate, and headed toward the driveway.

Chief shut off his motorcycle and got off the bike. "Hard night?"

Jett glanced back at the front of the house. He'd stayed out all night, not trusting himself to be around Sydney. His hand hurt like a son of a bitch, and he'd wanted to fuck her. The combination frustrated him. Afraid to lose control and hurt Sydney, he watched the hours pass from the deck.

He ignored Chief's question. "Did you get the parts?"

"Yep." Chief removed the duffle from the back of the motorcycle and opened the bag. "Olin and Thorn are coming by. It'll make the job go faster."

Anxious to get his Harley customized to his need to use his left hand, instead of his right, he walked to the garage before he realized he had to open the door from the inside. He went to the front of the house, turned the handle, and found the house locked.

He knocked. Less than a minute later, Kylie opened the door and stepped back.

"Hey, can you push the button to open the garage for me?" he asked.

"Sure." Kylie walked deeper into the house leaving him at the door.

Jett gazed around the living room unable to see Sydney and wondered if she'd gone to bed after he'd sent her inside and if she still slept. Pulling the door shut, he returned to the driveway and Chief. Several seconds later, the garage door opened.

Even the sight of his Harley and speculating if the alterations would work couldn't pull him out of the fucking mood that'd taken hold of him last night. He couldn't handle being weak.

All he'd wanted to do was set Sydney up on the hot tub. He'd acted before thinking, and he'd paid the price.

As he watched Chief put the Harley up on the stand, Olin and Thorn rode up. They looked like shit.

Olin sported a black eye and split lip. Jett looked at the rumpled appearance of Thorn, guessing he wore yesterday's clothes and it was a woman who'd kept him up last night. She must've been damn good because Thorn walked bowlegged.

Last night, if he wouldn't have forgotten about his hand, his night with Sydney would've been better than great. He gritted his teeth. It would've been everything he needed to give her and everything he needed for himself. But, he couldn't even lift her one-hundred-and-twenty-pound body.

"What happened to you?" he asked Olin.

Olin chuckled. "Freddy decided to pop off one too many times."

"What's he look like?" asked Chief, pulling the rollaway closer to the motorcycle.

"Worse than me." Olin rubbed his stomach and looked at Thorn. "Where's the sack Mom sent with you?"

"On my bike." Thorn strode over to his Harley and returned carrying a bag from Dockside Donuts. "By the way, Mom wants to see you. Said something about how she was worried you were checkin' out."

"Right. I'll check out the day I'm buried." He shook his head at the offer of a donut. "Take those into the house and give it to the girls."

Thorn stopped halfway to the door to the house. "Johanna's not in there, is she?"

Chief's head came up. "What's your problem with her?"

"She asked me to watch the kids this afternoon, and I told her I was busy." Thorn squinted. "You didn't hear that from me."

"You'll watch your sisters if she asks you to." Chief lowered his head, running the impact wrench.

To Chief, it didn't matter that his sons were forty-one, thirty-nine, and thirty-seven years old. They were family, and it was all of their responsibility to make sure they looked out for one another.

The loud puttering from the air impact filled the garage. Jett walked over and picked up the bottle of whiskey from last night. Shoving the bottle in his armpit, he managed to crack to the top with his left hand and took a swig. Everyone could pretend that it was a normal summer day all they wanted, but he wasn't going to get sucked into the bullshit.

There was nothing normal about him.

Still tuned into prison life, he waited for a guard to tell him what to do, where to go. He drank again. It was better than accepting what he couldn't do.

Fix his motorcycle.

Sleep.

Warm up.

Fuck Sydney.

The air tool stopped, and Thorn came back to the garage empty-handed. Jett studied his youngest brother for any hint that things weren't right in the house with Sydney and Kylie.

He took another swig of whiskey. It was his job to take care of them.

He should've gone after Sydney last night after the pain in his hand eased. He should've continued what he'd started in the comfort of the bed where he could hide the fact that he was less of a man without his full strength.

***

"WELL?" SYDNEY HID IN the kitchen out of sight.

Kylie shut the door that went to the garage. "They're definitely working on the motorcycle."

"Shit," she whispered. "This isn't good."

Her stomach ached. Having eaten only the maple bar Thorn brought into the house and going without any sleep last night, she couldn't decide what to do about Jett.

He'd yelled at her and then never came in to talk. Thinking he'd come in during the day, she waited with Kylie, trying to keep busy scrubbing the house and doing laundry, and as time went by Jett continued to stay out in the garage.

"He can't ride with his hand." She thrust her fingers into her hair and blew out her breath.

Kylie jumped up and sat on the counter. "Tell him he can't ride."

"Yeah, right. I can't tell him what to do or not do."

"If you love him, you can."

She shook her head. "I could talk and talk and talk, but he's not the type of man to listen or do what someone else wants."

"I've noticed." Kylie sighed. "I'm glad Milo wasn't like that or we never would've got together."

"It's different. Milo's the same age as you." Sydney walked into the living room, knowing it wasn't fair of her to put her bad mood on her sister.

To Chief, Olin, Thorn, they probably thought everything was normal with Jett. But, he wasn't okay to her. Whether he'd changed so much from prison or his injury caused him to pull away from her, she could only guess. And, none of her guesses left her feeling good about their relationship. It felt a lot like she was losing him.

"Sis, breathe." Kylie rubbed her back. "Everything will be okay."

Her chest ached and her eyes burned. Every time she tried to inhale something in her throat stopped all the air from getting to her lungs.

Kylie moved in front of her and stepped over to the window. "Someone's pulling up to the house."

She couldn't face anyone else. Whoever it was could go to the garage to see Jett.

"It's Johanna, and she's got the kids with her." Kylie turned to Sydney, and her mouth softened. "It'll be okay with you and Jett. Just keep telling yourself that and give him time."

"What if I don't have time?" she whispered.

"You've both survived more than four years apart. At least he's here, and you can talk to him whenever you want." A knock drew Kylie's attention. "I'll get the door."

She ran her fingers under her eyes, even though she shed no tears. Inside, a heaviness held in her sobs.

"Come on in, you guys." Kylie stepped away from the door.

Jackie crossed the threshold first and slumped on the couch. Sydney tapped the toe of her shoe against Jackie's sneaker. "What's with the frown, clown?"

Jackie shook her head refusing to talk. Johanna came in holding Stassi by the hand and said, "She's upset because I told her to come in the house and she wanted to go out in the garage with her dad and brothers."

Johanna lugged a heavy sack closer to Sydney. "I brought some food over."

"I'll take it and put everything away." Kylie grabbed the bag.

"Thanks." Sydney pointed to the couch and took the chair. "We haven't had a chance to go to the store yet since Jett returned."

"How are you doing?" Johanna let go of Stassi who ran to the front window to look outside.

"Okay." She glanced at Jackie, taking in the grownup conversation. "Tired."

"I bet." Johanna leaned over closer to Jackie and said, "Why don't you take your sister in the backyard."

Jackie ignored her mom. Sydney almost smiled. Little sister was more like her oldest brother than anyone realized. Stubborn and didn't care who knew it.

"Now," whispered Johanna.

Jackie huffed and dragging her feet, grabbed Stassi—who slapped out at the forcefulness of being moved. Sydney heard Kylie join the girls and go outside.

"Okay, now that they're gone. What are the guys doing in the garage?" asked Johanna.

Relief flowed out of her at having someone understand her worry, and she blurted, "Working on Jett's motorcycle."

"That doesn't make sense." Johanna frowned. "He's not going to be riding."

"Exactly." She leaned forward. "I've been telling Kylie that. He's still healing from his surgeries, and with his fingers not working, he can't get on his motor—"

"Sydney, enough," said Jett behind her.

She turned her head and found him standing at the edge of the kitchen. She swallowed at the intense anger etched on his face.

Johanna stood and walked over to Jett. His scary mood failed to push her away. She cupped his face and kissed his cheek. "I've missed your face."

Caught up in the reunion, Sydney watched rather than listened to their conversation. She wished Jett would allow her to be with him the way he tolerated Johanna.

"Where're my sisters?" asked Jett.

"Outside playing." Johanna hugged him lightly. "They'd love if you said hi. We've made sure to talk about you all the time, and I think Stassi believes she remembers you because of all the pictures we have up in the house. She's so funny. Your dad says she's a lot like you and your brothers. Jackie—well, she's not a baby anymore. She's sweet and strong, and she's missed you."

"I'll go out and see them." Jett stepped back. "Chief wanted you to know he's going to be done in about a half hour and that Thorn will meet you at the house to watch the kids."

Johanna laughed. "I wasn't going to hold Thorn to babysitting."

"Don't tell him that." Jett walked to the sliding door and left the house.

Johanna pivoted and gawked at Sydney. "Oh, boy. He's having a rough time."

Sydney nodded. It wasn't her place to discuss Jett's difficulties, even though Johanna was involved with Chief.

"Change of plans. You're coming with me to get your hair trimmed while having a pedi—don't worry, the place I go to takes walk-ins. You need to spend some time away from this house. Jett needs to learn he can't take everything bothering him out on you."

"He isn't," she mumbled.

"You can be strong later. I've been where you are and had to deal with Chief. I doubt living with Jett is much different than living with his dad when he's full throttle ahead and the hell with everyone who steps in his way." Johanna raised her brows. "You need time to be you and feel pretty and pampered. Afterward, you can deal with Jett."

The change of topic so abrupt, Sydney could only shake her head.

Johanna approached her, wrapping her in a big hug.

"Something you'll learn real fast...men coming home from prison are real assholes. I should've realized how hard this would be for you. You're young...practically the same age as I was when Chief was released." Johanna grabbed her hand and pulled her into the kitchen.

She dragged her feet. "I can't leave him."

"Yes, you can."

She stopped, yanking her arm. "I don't want to leave him."

"I know. God, I know." Johanna exhaled loudly. "Trust me on this. A couple of hours away from him will do you wonders, and it will do good for Jett to see you enjoying yourself."

"It'll only make him in a worse mood."

Johanna put her hands on Sydney's shoulders. "Listen to me. I grew up with Jett. I've been with Chief forever. I've seen dozens of Brikken members come back from prison. They're all moody, closed off, and angry. Jett's running on empty, plus he's in pain and probably pissed off because he can't ride again. But, deep down, he knows what he's doing to you, and it makes him angry at himself. I'm kicking myself for not talking to you before he came home or you would've been prepared for the emotional ups and downs. But, I'm going to make this up to you. Give me five minutes to talk to Chief, fill him in on my change of plans, and then you can ride with me to the house when I drop off the kids with Thorn before heading over to the spa."

Everything in her told her not to go along with Johanna's plans. That it was more important for her to be here in case Jett needed her. But, Johanna's understanding and empathy for her had her nodding.

She'd go out for a couple of hours. Maybe during that time, Jett would be more responsive toward her, and she'd find the strength to not let his mood put her in a funk.

"Tell Kylie, too. She can go with us." Johanna smiled, backing up to the door leading to the garage. "I'll only be a second and then we'll take off."

Left alone in the house, Sydney tilted back her head and closed her eyes. There was a good chance that when she walked outside to tell Kylie about the change in plans and let Jett know she was leaving to go with Johanna that he'd tell her she couldn't go.

There was an even bigger chance that he'd tell her to leave and not come back.