On the long ass drive back to Polson, I can't help but reflect back on the conversation I had with Glory's father. We were getting ready to leave the hospital and I was on my way downstairs to pull the SUV around to the front entrance when Mr. Keller offered to ride the elevator down with me. Once inside and the doors closed, he turned toward me and asked me a question. A question I respectfully answered. This is a man who even though he's not Grace's father, he in a way stepped in and took on the role after she lost hers. I knew without a doubt this man loved Grace as if she was his real daughter.

"What do you love about Grace?" he asked in a no bullshit tone.

Without skipping a beat, I looked him straight in the eyes, "I love everything about her. I love her strength, her courage, her unwavering spirit to live. I love the way she reasons with logic, but is not afraid to challenge it. I love the way she put the people she loves first. But most of all I love all the broken pieces of her soul. They fit together with the broken pieces of mine. Apart we were like jagged little pieces not fitting in with any puzzle. No matter how hard you try to force them to fit, they don't go. I knew the moment I walked into Grace's bakery she was my piece. I knew the moment she looked at me with those wounded fiery blue eyes she was my person. The one who completes the missing pieces of my soul. I also knew her pieces were a little broken. So, I spent two years gluing them back together. And it was worth every single second."

By the time I was finished with my little speech, I knew I had given him the answer he was looking for and more. I had meant every word. If he was shocked that a man like me, a hardened biker, President of The Kings of Retribution motorcycle club, so easily laid his feelings out there, then he didn't let on. I'm not sure what kind of answer he was expecting from someone like me. Hell, maybe he thought I would say something like I love how beautiful she is or some superficial muck like that. If a man gives that kind of shit as his answer, then he has no idea what love is. Love is looking beyond the exterior. None of us are perfect. We all have a fuck ton of flaws. It is our flaws that make us unique. When you find yourself obsessed with the unique parts of the person you are with, then that is how you know it's love. When you witness a person go through some of the worst shit in their lives and they are at their lowest, but to you, they have never been more beautiful, that is love. Take Grace's scars for example. To her they are ugly. To me, they are a symbol of strength. Her scars show she survived what was trying to break her. My Grace is unbreakable, and to me that is the sexiest thing about her.

I'm pulled from my thoughts when I hear whispers coming from the back seat of Demetri's SUV we are riding in. Cutting my eyes over my shoulder, I see Grace fussing over Glory and Glory rolling her eyes. I know Grace is feeling guilty for what happened to her friend. Ronan sure did a number on her too, but it's not Grace's fault. The fact that her friend took a beating and still didn't give up any information on Grace has told me all I need to know about Glory and the kind of friend she is. To hear them talk and see them together, I know they are more like sisters. I have no doubt Glory would have given her life to protect Grace. And that too is weighing heavy on my Little Bird's heart. And the fact Ronan was still able to find Grace has Glory struggling with her guilt.

I direct my attention away from my woman when my phone alerts me to an incoming text. Pulling it from my cut, I see it's Logan updating me on how things are back at the clubhouse. He's been keeping me informed every few hours. Bella and the rest of the woman have been doing an excellent job at keeping Remi busy and her mind off her mom. The kid is smart; she knows her father is a bad man and is behind what happened to my garage. She's also worried something will happen to her mom. It will be a cold day in hell before I let anything happen to Grace or my family.

It's been a few years since the club has been on lockdown and even longer since we've had to bring in the entire family. Luckily the clubhouse is huge and able to house everyone comfortably without feeling like we are all on top of each other. Logan said none of the family put up a fight when told to get their asses there for which I am not surprised. My parents along with Quinn's mom and dad know we would not ask such a thing unless it was a matter of life and death.

Except for the one death there will be is that of the son of a bitch who thought he could come into my town and threaten what's mine. I feel my body tense and my blood heat at the thought of getting to wrap my hands around the bastard's throat and slowly watch the life drain from his eyes. And I will do so with sick pleasure.

"All good, back home?" Demetri asks from the front seat.

"Yeah, brother. Logan says things have been quiet since we left."

Giving me a curt nod, Demetri then glances over my shoulder and into the back at Glory. Something he has been doing non-stop since we have been on the road. The funny thing is he's not even subtle about it. He's blatant about it, and we all watch Glory squirm under his gaze. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he has taken an interest in Grace's friend. The first clue was back at the hospital when after Glory's parents declined my offer to stay with us in Polson, Demetri immediately stepped in once he saw the worry on Glory's face and insisted one of his men watch over her parents until the situation with Ronan has been handled. Not wanting to upset his daughter any further Mr. Keller accepted Demetri's offer. We can all rest a bit easier knowing her parents are protected.

There is also another look in my friends' eyes when he's watching Glory. It's a look I know all too well. Demetri lost the love of his life a long time ago. I'm willing to bet what he is feeling for Glory is something he's not felt since Rose and he doesn't quite know what to do with those feeling. Like me, he's probably assumed he'd never feel for another woman the way he felt for the woman he once loved and lost.

It's nearly nightfall when we arrive back at the clubhouse. When we pull up to the gate, Blake and Austin greet us, both armed and on high alert just as I would expect.

"Wow." Glory breathes when she takes in her new surroundings. "You all sure don't play around, do ya?" she remarks when she notices our security. Not only do we have Blake and Austin at the front gate, but we also have Reid and our new prospect Grey on the roof armed and ready for anything and welcoming us in the parking lot is Logan, Bennett, and Nikolai.

"Good to see ya make it back okay, Prez," Logan says as I slide out of the SUV. Clapping him on the back, "Thanks for holding things down here while I was gone, son."

"What the hell do y'all put in the water ‘round here?" Glory jests as Grace helps her out of the truck behind me.

"Girl, they sure do know how to grow them around here. At least I'll have some decent eye candy while we're in lock-up." She jokes while taking in all my brothers.

"Glory!" Grace whisper hisses. "You can't say stuff like that. Some of these men are married."

"Not all of them though, right?"

"Oh lord, let's just get you inside and settled." Grace huffs exasperated at her friend and Glory giggles.

Walking into the clubhouse Remi launches herself at full speed into her mom's waiting arms. "I was so scared, Mom."

"Oh Peanut, there's nothing to be scared of. I was safe the whole time. Jake wouldn't let anything happen to me."

Hearing Grace's words of confidence to her daughter that I would protect her fills me with pride. Leaning in, I whisper into her ear. "Why don't you, Remi, and Glory go on upstairs and catch up. I'm going to make my rounds with the family. Once you all have talked and settled in you can come back down and meet everyone."

"Thank you, Jake."

"You're welcome, babe. Now go on. I'll have the prospect bring Glory's bags up in a minute." I say giving her a soft kiss on her lips, and she melts into my touch.

Several minutes later I begin making my way around the clubhouse to check up on the family. My first stop was my parents who I found in the kitchen along with Raine and Ember who were busy setting up for dinner. Ma was showing the girls how to make her homemade peach cobbler while my dad sat at the table drinking coffee. Leaving the kitchen, I run into Quinn. "Hey son, I was looking for your folks. I wanted to say hi and see how they are doing."

"Hey, Prez. They're out back. I was just headed that way myself." Following him down the hall and out the back door, I see Bella, Alba, Mila, Emerson, and Leah all hanging with kids and watching them play. With them is Quinn's mom. Victoria is a beautiful African American woman with shoulder length hair and stunning honey color eyes. She's also a tiny little thing standing no taller than 5ft 2in. But don't let her size fool ya. That woman is a firecracker. She has to be with a son like Quinn. On the other side of the yard sitting around the fire pit is his dad Quinten. He has light brown salt and pepper hair and stands a couple of inches shorter than me. I decide to make my way over to the ladies first. When I approach, Victoria gives me a big warm smile.

"Vicky, get your ass over here and give me a hug." I say returning her smile.

"It's been awhile JD, how have you been?" I've known Quinn's parents as long as I've known him. JD is what Victoria has been calling me for years. "My son tells me you done gone and fell in love. Where is the lucky lady?" she asks hugging me.

"She'll be down in a bit. In the meantime, I wanted to see how you were holding up. You or Quinten need anything you let me know, sweetheart."

"We're fine JD. You focus on taking care of business. Quinn didn't tell us too much what was going on. But Quinten and I trust you, and when you said to get here and get here fast, that's what we did."

"I appreciate that Vicky. And I promise, me and the boys are going to handle the situation soon."

"You over here flirting with my girl?" I hear a voice question and when I turn I see Quinten walking up behind me.

"I'm tryin' too, but she's not buyin'." I hedge, holding out my hand for him to shake.

"It's good to see you, Jake," Quinten says shaking my offered hand.

"You too, man. I was telling Vicky I appreciate you all coming to stay here for a few days."

"No problem. You know we'd do anything for the club."

After spending several minutes talking with Quinn's parents, I walk around the yard and have a few words with all my brothers, then I stop and get my grandpa love from the kids. Across the yard, I spot Sam sittin' in a chair with a beer in his hand and his eyes on Sofia, who is down on the ground playing with the kids.

"Hey, kid." I say taking the seat next to him.

"How's it going, Mr. Delane?"

"You want to tell me what that's all about?" I ask tilting my head towards Sofia.

At my question the boy actually blushes and takes a pull of his beer. "And I don't care what Alba and Leah say, I don't believe for one second you're gay, not that any of us would care. But no way do I believe that shit with the way you look at that girl." No sooner do the words leave mouth when Sam chokes on his drink and beer sprays out of his mouth.

"Gay! My friends think I'm gay? What the hell!"

Chuckling, I hold my hands up in mock surrender. "Hey, don't shoot the messenger. Besides me and the guys never though for a second you were gay. Especially not with all the interest you've been showing Sofia." When Sam goes to open his mouth, I hold up my hand cutting him off. "Look kid, I'm not here to bust your balls, but I will say if you hurt that girl, I will personally cut your dick off and feed it to ya."

"I would never hurt Sofia, Mr. Delane."

"Good. Keep it that way kid, because I like ya and would hate to have to hurt ya."

On the way back inside, I notice Emerson propped up against the side of the clubhouse nursing a beer, and she has her eyes trained on Quinn and his parents.

"How ya holdin' up, sweetheart?" I ask saddling up beside her and taking a pull of my beer.

"I'm doing okay, Jake. How's Grace's friend? You know if you all need me to look at her or anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thanks, darlin'. I think she's okay for now though. Maybe see how she's feeling tomorrow."

After giving me a nod, we're both quiet for a moment before I speak up again. "You're wondering about his parents aren't ya?"

"Am I that obvious?"

Chuckling, I shake my head. "Darlin', you and Quinn have been dancin' around each other for too long now. One thing you should know by now is Quinn is an open book. You only need to turn the pages. I promise you won't be disappointed in what you find. I'm almost certain you want him just as much as he does you and you're holdin' back. And I get it, I do. Lovin' one of us men means lovin' the club. For most that is a scary thought. But one thing I know for sure is you won't find a better man than Quinn, and you won't find a more loyal family than the Kings." After kissing the top of her head, I leave her to chew on my words.