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I know she can be tough, but Marco isn’t to be messed with. She came to us to get away from him. She put up with me hating her to avoid him. The man is a problem she knows she can’t handle alone. And after last night she must be terrified that he was able to get so close.

And she would still rather be at risk than be with me. Because she thinks I’m letting her down again.

The sooner the gear Micah promised me arrives, the better. I want to be able to trace her every step. If anything happens to her, I will never forgive myself.

Rook follows them out.

Bronx stares out the window and shifts from foot to foot. He’s probably wishing he’d run after her too.

Golden is texting. Her name is at the top of his screen. He puts his phone away. “What were you thinking, bro? Were you trying to earn her back or turn into the stalker ex that she needs a restraining order against?”

Stalker ex? They have no understanding of what I am willing to do to make Kelsey happy this time around. The family we started... while I can’t change the past... I will do everything I can to ease her pain. The future we were supposed to have... I’m going to give it to her. All I need is for her to give me that chance. I’m going to earn it.

I did not expect my gesture to backfire so spectacularly, though. I’d just wanted to show her that I was serious about us. That I want a real shot at making her happy this time.

I tried forgetting her. Then I tried hating her. But both were their own twisted versions of my infatuation. I never stopped craving her.

I crave her body, her heart, and her attitude. The way she used to make me feel invincible. The way she inspires me.

That I let her go in the first place... what an idiot I was.

The thought of losing her completely to Kodiak—not because they had sex, but because more and more she turns to him like he is her rock. When it used to be me. When it would still be me if I hadn’t ruined it—destroys me.

This pain in my chest is nothing in comparison to what I’ve caused her to endure and it’s still too much.

How do I show her how much I regret it? How do I prove that I will do anything for her when the one thing she wants me to do, I can’t do without risking her to Sonatina’s fucked up games.

“We need to have a talk about that cuntasaurus coming on tour with us,” Bronx says.

Golden crosses his arms over his chest. Nods. “It’s a bad fucking idea. The two of them in the same space for weeks. It can’t end well.”

“It’s worse than that. We should talk.” I sit on the edge of the tattoo chair. The door chimes and new faces pour into the shop. There are too many people who could overhear us. “Not here. In private.”

Bronx and Golden look to each other. Bronx tips his head to one side and brings it back up. Golden shrugs.

Felix comes back. He runs me through aftercare. It’s fairly standard information except for the part about erections and how they will be a problem until it’s healed. That’s fine. At this point I’m basically celibate.

I pay the man for his work and walk out onto the street. Bronx and Golden are right behind me. Every step stings like a motherfucker. I don’t care. Every wince is worth it... having her name on me like that... where no other woman will ever see it, because no other woman will ever get to touch me again.

“You’re limping like an old man.” Bronx chuckles, coming up beside me. “Regret it yet?”

“No.” I don’t give him the satisfaction of a grimace as I straighten. I pull an app up on my phone and find us a hotel room.

“So... what’s the story?” On my other side, Golden raises a brow. “Or should we wait until we’re back at the hotel?”

“We’re not going back there until we’ve had this conversation. I’m finding us a place where we can talk without being listened to.”

His other eyebrow shoots up.

“Just get the others to meet us,” I tell him. I’d do it, but I suspect Kelsey wouldn’t come just to spite me. And I really need a chance to explain why I’m making decisions that don’t make sense to her.

Golden shifts his focus to his phone, reaching out to Kelsey, Kodiak, and Rook. Making sure that they will definitely get the message one way or another.

“How far is this hotel?” Bronx asks me with a grin. “Should I order a car? Or would a piggyback suffice?”

I roll my eyes at him. Yes, my cock fucking stings. Yes, every step is more painful than I expected. But I did this for a reason I will not quit on. Kelsey needs me to prove myself. Whatever the pain... however long it takes... I’m not giving up on us. “Just fucking walk.”

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