Crazy Bitch stared at Viper’s brother, trying to keep her expression cheerful as Calder introduced them.

That Gavin had been through hell was obvious in the shadows of his eyes and the scars on his wrists where they must have kept him chained. It was in the lethal awareness that he was unconsciously watching her as if he didn’t trust her movements. He wasn’t a man who had survived unscathed. He was waiting for hell to reach out and grab him back into its fiery grasp.

“I expected a woman named Crazy Bitch to be taller and scarier.”

“I only get scary the more you know me. I’ll take it easy on you until you get to know me better.” Prudently, she didn’t make any moves to go farther into his room as the tall man paced jitterily across the carpeted floor.

Gavin didn’t laugh at her teasing, but his lips did curl in the beginning of a smile. Restless, he kept rubbing his arms as if he was cold.

“I’m looking forward to it, if I ever get out of here.”

“Don’t rush getting released. My mother did, and both times she went back to using within a couple days. You can’t rush success. I didn’t understand that when I was in high school, so I dropped out. I thought the ones who stayed in school were the suckers. Made fun of them for wanting to go on to college. I was a fucking fool because I thought I could skip the steps that would make me a success in life.

“If I had to do it over, my ass would have stayed in school. I could have been a doctor, an astronaut, or a CEO, instead of a hairdresser. I’ll never know because I rushed into making a decision that I would regret, and I do.

“It took me years to get my GED, but when I did… Jesus, it was like someone had handed me the Pulitzer Prize or some shit like that when I got my diploma in the mail.”

Gavin stopped pacing. “Your mother was an addict?”

“Oh yes, she wasn’t like Killyama’s ma, who could hide it. My mother couldn’t hide her addiction. She lost custody of me a few times. She would swear to the courts and me that she was clean to get me back. She even managed to get through rehab and social worker visits to regain custody of me. Once she did, it would start all over again. She didn’t care enough about me or herself not to give in to the drugs again. Rehab gave her the skills to cope with temptation, but they can’t help you win the war unless you take advantage of their help.”

“I don’t need anyone’s help anymore.” He gravely regarded her.

“I said that about algebra. I flunked it three times before I found a tutor. It’s easier to dig yourself out of a hole if you don’t fall in there in the first place.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He gave her a brief smile that was more of a grimace. “How’d you get your nickname?”

“Most of my friends got their nicknames because they were the opposite of their nicknames. Sadly, I deserve mine. I get a little crazy when I get pissed off.”

Gavin lifted a curious brow. “How crazy?”

“I made the news a couple times,” she bragged to the men who were looking at her skeptically.

“I don’t remember any of the brothers mentioning that.”

Crazy Bitch could hear the doubt in Calder’s voice at her gloating.

“I was in high school.”

“If you were in high school, it doesn’t count. We all do crazy shit in high school.”

She stared down at her fingernail polish, admiring the color. So far, it was one of her favorites. She should buy another couple of bottles in case they stopped making it.

“Does it count if you have killed?”

The two men stared at her in shock. Then Gavin burst out laughing, slapping Calder on his back.

“If I didn’t like you so much, I would steal her from you. She’s funny as hell.”

She arched her finely arched brow. “You think I’m joking?”

“I think you’re trying to take my mind off my Taylor coming, and it’s working.”

“Glad to help,” she said as a knock sounded on the door behind her.

Gavin nervously jumped, hollowed cheekbones flushed when she nodded toward the private yard behind his back.

“Calder and I will wait outside. If you need us, just open the door.”

She and Calder went out the back door as Gavin told the person knocking to come inside.

Being nosy, she took the patio chair that gave a view into the room. She couldn’t hear what the woman was saying when she came into the room, but when the stunning woman moved toward Gavin, an imaginary hand gripped her heart when she saw that Gavin’s visitor was pregnant and his reaction to it.

“He didn’t know?” she whispered out of the side of her mouth, wanting to make sure Gavin couldn’t hear their conservation.

“I talked to Viper while you were checking us out of the hotel. He said Gavin took the news better than he thought he would. Now, I see why. I think he wanted to pretend the last eleven years never happened.”

They sat watching the awkward meeting between the estranged lovers.

“I can see why he’s so hung up on her. She’s a beautiful woman.”

“Yes, she is.”

Crazy Bitch wasn’t jealous at Calder’s compliment.

The pain emanating from the other side of the glass door was tangible. She wanted to look away, but she was spellbound, like waiting for a car wreck to happen and helpless to do anything about it, other than watch it before her eyes.

“What do you think she’s saying?” Calder asked.

“I think she’s telling him that she doesn’t love him anymore, that she loves her husband.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because she’s twisting her wedding ring and crying.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah, it sucks getting your heart broken, but it beats her giving him hope.” Crazy Bitch turned her eyes away, unable to watch any more. “You want to know what’s really sad? I think she’s still in love with him. She keeps looking away from his eyes.”

“Why would she lie about something like that?”

“She’s married.” Crazy Bitch shrugged. “Some women take that shit seriously, especially when they’re knocked up.”

“She’s leaving.”

Crazy Bitch didn’t turn back to watch, finding it too painful. You could put a Band-Aid on someone who was cut, but there was no way to help someone who was having their heart ripped out.

When she heard Gavin calling Taylor’s name, she still kept herself turned away, giving him privacy. Her hands clenched into fists at the ragged plea for her to come back and not to leave him. A tear slipped down her cheek at the guttural moan that next came from Gavin’s room.

She heard Calder take off when the sound of glass exploding came from inside.

Standing, she saw Calder trying to hold Gavin back.

“Taylor, come back! Let me go, Calder. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if you don’t. Taylor! God… Please don’t leave me.”

“Gavin, she’s gone. Don’t make it harder for her.”

“Hard for her? What about for me? She’s the only reason I’m alive.”

Crazy Bitch hesitantly walked into the room as Calder tried to keep Gavin from following the woman who had left with a heartbroken sob. She had thought Gavin would keep fighting Calder; instead, he stopped struggling to sit down on his bed, staring at the wall as if they weren’t there.

Calder looked questioningly toward her, neither of them knowing what to do next. Gavin might still have been in his room, but he was no longer with them.

A look crossed his face that had her stepping toward Calder in fear. Gavin’s appearance masked the desperation she knew he was feeling at truly losing the woman he loved.

Pushed beyond what his still fragile mind could handle, he didn’t move when Peyton came into the room, casting him a worried glance.

“Gavin?”

His eyes didn’t flicker as Peyton and Calder moved closer.

“Gavin, are you okay? Can I get you something?” When Peyton laid a hand on his arm, he didn’t respond, just continued to stare blankly at the wall. The lights were on in Gavin’s mind, but he was no longer there.

Peyton and Calder both tried to say something that could draw him out of his stupor. Then Peyton began crying when the nurse came rushing inside.

“I’ll stay with Gavin. You and Peyton go get something to eat,” Calder told her.

Crazy Bitch took Peyton’s arm, leading her from the room. “Where do you want to go get something to eat?”

“I can’t eat.”

“Let’s go to the waiting room, and I’ll get us each a cup of coffee.”

Peyton sniffed back her tears, nodding as she looked back at Gavin’s door. “I should call Viper. He’s waiting for my call at the hotel next door.”

“You go ahead while I get the coffee.”

She had just handed Peyton her coffee and took a chair next to her when she saw Viper and Ton striding down the hall, going into Gavin’s room.

“I tried to tell him to wait before seeing her. He’s tried so hard to get off the drugs and put some weight on. I think he really believed she would leave her husband and stay with him.” Peyton looked down at her coffee cup, not drinking it.

“When you’re lost, you want the one you love to make you feel better. He wanted Taylor to make him feel better, and he crashed when she didn’t. He’s going to have to regroup and find another reason to keep living.”

“What if he doesn’t?” Peyton’s shaky hand nearly spilled her coffee. Crazy Bitch took it away, setting it down on the small table next to her.

“He will. If he has an ounce of Viper’s blood inside him, he will.”

They sat for several minutes before Crazy Bitch stood, wanting to stretch her legs.

“I haven’t eaten since last night. Calder was in too much of a rush to get here this morning to eat. I’m going to get me and Calder something. You want anything?”

“No thanks. I’ll tell Calder where you are if he comes out.”

Crazy Bitch went out through the sliding door.

She and Calder had spent most of the night searching through the castle, but hadn’t found any hint of another clue. She hoped the others in her crew had better luck.

The restaurant was busy. Taking a seat at the counter, she ordered two burgers and fries to go. When she finished ordering, she absently looked around the restaurant, seeing a couple arguing in one of the booths.

Recognizing the woman as Gavin’s ex-fiancée, she saw that the meeting in Gavin’s room hadn’t just taken a toll on him. Taylor was sobbing into a man’s shoulder as those sitting near them nosily looked on.

When he managed to calm her, he stood and went into the restroom.

Crazy Bitch was about to get off her stool to approach her when she saw the bitch’s face. Any sympathy she had for the woman died.

The bitch had reached inside her purse and checked her makeup with an expression that she had seen on too many women’s face.

She wasn’t surprised when she saw Taylor hastily put the mirror back inside her purse and her lovely eyes once again swam with tears when her husband came out of the bathroom.

Crazy Bitch swung back on her stool. “Fuck me.”

“Pardon me?” the waitress asked, setting the bag of food down in front of her.

“Nothing.” She stood, throwing a twenty down on the counter. “Keep the change.”

“Wow, a whole dollar. You sure you don’t need it more than I do?”

She was angry at herself that she had her mind on what was going on back in Gavin’s room that she hadn’t paid attention to the total of the ticket. As a woman who worked hard for her tip money, she always made sure she gave a good tip. On the other hand, when her customers didn’t tip well, she didn’t get in their faces.

“Now that you mention it, I do.” She patiently held out her hand for the dollar, glad her food was already bagged and in her other hand.

Taking the dollar that was thrown down on the counter, she reached into her back pocket and took out her wad of pocket money. She took out a ten and two more twenties, handing the bills back to her waitress.

“The ten is for you. The twenties are to pay for Pollyanna’s lunch over there in the green top. Tell her that was the best performance I’ve ever witnessed.”

Crazy Bitch found Peyton still sitting where she had left her. Taking out her hamburger, she ate it, still fuming.

Women like Taylor made her ashamed to be a woman. She was willing to bet a thousand dollars that, when Taylor had found out Gavin was missing, she had soaked up all the attention she could, and when she couldn’t get anymore, she had married the sucker who had been sitting next to her in the booth. Now, with Gavin returned, she had waited until she couldn’t hold it over the poor sap she was married to anymore, turning the screws until she was ready to put him out of his misery by seeing Gavin.

Gavin would see that bitch again; she would put bank on it. She hoped she was wrong, sweet Jesus, she hoped she was wrong, but experience breeds contempt.

Her mother had shed the same crocodile tears every time she had wanted something. She had watched her cry fake tears every time she had lost custody of her, or one of her lovers had gotten tired of being used for their money. Even their landlords had been treated to them when they had threatened to evict her.

Taylor had the same scheming expression as her mother when her husband had gone to the bathroom. Crazy Bitch could sniff out a fraud five hundred miles away, but she had missed the scent outside of Gavin’s door because it had been too hard to watch.

She mentally gave Taylor one point by getting her once. Now she was on her scent. She never involved herself in anyone’s personal business, but if the bitch showed up again, she would make sure to introduce herself.

Calming herself, she opened the bag and started eating the burger she had bought for Calder. She always ate when she was mad. It was easier to deal with losing five pounds versus letting the fury that was simmering below her surface out.

“I thought you were saving that for Calder?”

“It’s cold now; no need wasting money.” She looked at Peyton as she took another bite of the burger.

“How many hamburger patties are on it?”

“Three.”

“That’s the same as the one you just ate?”

“So?” She opened the bag again, taking out his fries. “I eat when I’m upset, okay?”

“I tend to eat when I’m upset, too, but I don’t eat the whole cow.”

“I already planned to eat salads for a week to make up the five pounds I’m going to gain.”

“I’d make it two weeks and keep nine-one-one on speed dial.”

Killyama’s mother got her point across. Crazy Bitch wrapped what was left of the burger and fries, putting them back in the bag.

“Peyton, you remember how I used to say I wished you were my mother when I came home with Killyama on the bus?”

“Yes, those are some of my fondest memories.” The attractive woman didn’t look old enough to have a child Killyama’s age. Crazy Bitch prayed she looked that good at her age.

“Today isn’t one of those days.”

Peyton wasn’t upset by her snarky comment.

“I wish Gavin had your appetite. He’s so tall that you can’t tell when he gains a pound. I found a short-term lease that starts in three days. I promised to make him some home cooking. Some of The Last Riders have been sending food when their husbands come, but it’s not the same when you have to reheat it, and Gavin doesn’t like leftovers.”

“You’ve gotten attached to him, haven’t you?”

“He’s like the son I never had. I am so blessed to have both Train and Gavin in my life now. You can never have too many people who give you reason to get out of bed in the morning.”

“And Gavin gives you that reason?”

“Oh yes. Killyama comes and visits me all the time, and so do Jonas and Hammer. But Train and Gavin need me. There’s a difference.” Affection filled Peyton’s voice.

“What does Train need you for? He seems pretty self-sufficient to me.”

“He needs me to remind him of what it’s like to have a family. I think he misses his mother and sisters, and while I could never take their place, I think I fill a space so he doesn’t feel as empty inside.”

Crazy Bitch laid her hand over hers. “You do more than that. You’re what a mother should be. You’re home.”

She didn’t get sympathetic often, but Peyton had been there numerous times for her. She had given her a couch to sleep on many nights when she hadn’t wanted to go home to her mother. She was the one she had called when she had found her mother’s body, sheltering her in loving arms as the coroner had wheeled the woman out of her bedroom on a gurney. Peyton had pleaded and begged with her not to drop out of high school. She had also been the one to tutor her in algebra. She was an expert at mothering. Gavin couldn’t be in better hands.

Both of them were watching Gavin’s door when Calder came out. He looked as tired as she felt.

“The nurse gave Gavin a sedative. Peyton, I’m going to stay for a few days. If you want, you can go back to Jamestown. Can you give Crazy Bitch a ride if you do?”

“I’d like to stay in case he asks for me. I can drive her home, but I’m coming right back.”

Crazy Bitch shook her head. “It’s almost a four-hour drive. I’ll rent a car.”

Calder frowned. “I hate to put you out, but I don’t want to leave Gavin.”

“It’s not a problem. I’d stay if I didn’t have appointments tomorrow.”

“If you’re ready, I’ll drive you to get the car. I want to be back before Gavin wakes up,” Calder explained.

Crazy Bitch gave Peyton a hug before leaving.

As they walked toward the parking lot, Calder took her hand. She cast him a surprised glance.

“I’ve never held a man’s hand before. Joker would have laughed his head off if I tried to hold his.”

“Joker was a fucking idiot.” Releasing her hand, he gave her the keys to his bike. “You want to drive?”

She almost cried. “You’ll let me drive your bike?”

“Why not? It’s not like any of the brothers will see. I’ve seen you ride; you can handle it.”

She straddled the bike, turning it on and gripping the handlebars as Calder got on behind her.

“You remember when I said I knew I was in love with you when you pulled me back over the cliff?”

“Yeah.”

“I may have been wrong.”

He settled his chin on her shoulder as he curled his arms around her waist. She leaned the side of her head to rest on his.

“This…” She stared down at the powerful machine beneath her thighs, proud of the confidence he was placing on her. “This is love.”