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"You never have a problem when my mouth is defending you."

"I've never asked that of you."

"You didn’t have to, Sin. That's what brothers are for."

"You didn't sound like my brother just now."

"Fuck this shit.” Hawk turns and leaves the house.

I've had to put up with Hawk's big mouth my entire life. It's never been a big deal, so what if I’d had to beat a few asses because of it. But this time—this time, I wanted to beat his ass because of it. I didn't need him filling Savannah's head with those thoughts. I didn't need her thinking that she's a problem, and I certainly didn't need her thinking that it would better if she left. His mouth has put way too much doubt in her head. She's not going to want to be the one who causes me problems, and now, she knows the club is anything but happy that she's still around. I was hoping since there hasn't been any heat these past couple of weeks that she'd be okay here.

“Maybe it’s best if I go.” She turns and walks out of the room, away from me. Fucking Hawk.

“Savannah, don’t.” My words make her stop her departure.

“You know he’s right...I’ve only been here a little over two weeks and all I’ve done is cause a rift with your brother and the club. I’ve tried to stay out of the way. I’ve stayed in the house, away from everyone else so I can be out of the way. I keep to myself when I’m at the shop, keeping my head down. I thought if I stayed quiet everything would be okay, but it didn’t work.”

“It’s fine. Everything is fine.”

“It not!” She yells, stomping her foot like a child. “God, it’s so far from fine.” She tips her head back, taking a deep breath, blowing it out in frustration. When she looks at me, I can see the tears start to well in her blue eyes. “I’m pregnant, homeless, and staying where I’m not wanted–”

“Stop, don’t say that.” I cross to her and grab her hands. I need her to know that she’s where she needs to be. “You’re fine where you are. Here, you’re fine and you’re not going anywhere, Savannah.”

“I’m sorry I did this. I’m sorry that I caused all this to happen. I know something’s going on. I know even though Hawk wouldn’t tell me. He’s right you know, even with barely knowing you, he’s right. You’ll do what you need to do to help me. I can’t let that happen, Sin.” She tugs her hands from mine and walks away from me again.

Before I can think, I grab her hand, stopping her. I gather her close to me and kiss the top of her head. Her arms come around my body as I pull her closer. She starts to shake as she cries.

“Shh, Savannah,” I run my hand down her hair, soothing her. “Hush, sugar.” It’s been years since I’ve held and tried to console a woman, to ease her tears. Other than my mother, the last person who I felt the need to protect was Sienna. Another comparison between the two that doesn’t go unnoticed and I’m sure everyone else. I don’t rush this. I know she needs to feel protected, safe. I don’t tense while I hold her or when she runs her hands up and down my back. I don’t worry that she can feel what’s underneath my shirt, that she’ll ask questions. That she’ll want to know more about than she already does. I need her to know that I’m there, that she isn’t alone and that her life and the life of her baby will be everything she wants it to be. “You called me Matthew.” I say into her hair.

She pulls back, looking up at me. “What?”

“Outside, you called me Matthew. You’ve never used my given name. It’s always been Sin to you. Never Matthew.”

“Really? I didn’t realize I said that. I’m sorry.”

I pull her back to me and give her a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t be, sugar. I liked it. Only two women have called me by that name in my adult life and both of those women mean the world to me.” I continue to rub her back. “This life that I live is a hard one. I forget that I’m more than just a club member. My mom tries, but I don’t think twice about it because she’s my mother and she will always try. But you, Savannah, you make me want to be more than the biker, something other than Sin; you make me want to be Matthew Sinclair. As terrifying as it is, the need to be that man you see is even greater.”

Her body relaxes into mine. Her cries stop; her sniffling calms. I pull away so I can look at her. Her newly colored hair is wet with tears and stuck to the side of her face. Her nose is pink, and her cheeks splotched red. The clarity of her eyes shines from tears. The color is vibrant, unlike my cold blue; hers are bright, electric blue with flecks of navy. They say the way to one’s soul is through their eyes. And I can tell Savannah’s soul, by just looking into her pools of liquid sapphires, is far too precious to be tainted by the likes of me.

She bites her lip as she searches my face. There is uncertainty and conflict still present as she studies me. I brush the bangs from her eyes as she blinks. I cup her face with my hands. There’s such a strong urge for me to take her lips in mine. To wipe away any doubt she has in her mind, but I know that’s the last thing she needs.

“You are where you’re supposed to be, Savannah. Believe me when I tell you that.” I move her bangs from her eyes again and press my lips to her forehead as her hands grip my forearms. “Now,” I tell her, breaking out connection. “Go get whatever you have in the office, you’re moving into the clubhouse with me.”

She looks at me in confusion. “What?”

I laugh a little. “You’re moving into the clubhouse. You should have been there all along but Cut wasn’t being reasonable, but now he is.”

“Why?”

“It’s better this way.”

“Why? Why now?”

“It’s safer for everyone, come on.”

She takes a step back from me, “What do you mean it’s safer for everyone?” Her eyes dart back and forth around the hall and I know she is starting to panic.

“Matt?” She questions me.