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I’m shocked and can feel my eyebrows pull towards each other. Why is he saying all of this, like we’re in some type of exclusive thing? From the very start of this I was very clear that sex was just sex. He could be with whoever else because that was all I was willing to offer. I’d moved around so much and with Ryder being my number one priority, I didn’t want any attachments or problems if and when we had to leave again. Cole knew this and was perfectly fine with the no-strings hookups. Or so he said.

I feel someone come up behind me, the warmth and smell tell me that Rhett just entered the chat. He’s so close, I can feel him shaking.

“Watch how you speak to her, Bulldog.” Rhett’s voice is low and deep but there is also an underlying threat dancing with each syllable.

“Mind your own fucking business,” Cole grits through his teeth towards Rhett.

“She is my fucking business,” Rhett claims and both men start to stand a little straighter like they’re about to pounce.

A group of men that I’ve met through Cole come up behind him all standing at attention, rolling their shoulders. All the fun we’ve had for the day is wiped clean from their faces, replaced with a look of seriousness.

“We aren’t gonna do this here, brother,” I hear from my left side and look over and see Stone and all of Rhett’s friends standing beside each other.

“Think you forget who this chapter belongs to and whose state you’re in, brother.” Cole narrows his eyes and tilts his head slightly to the side.

The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife. An arm bands around my waist and when I look down, I see the metal chain locked over Rhett’s wrist.

Stone takes one step and he is right in Cole’s face, and I watch like I’m about to witness a train crash. Angry energy filters off the both of them.

“Don’t do something you can’t take back, Bulldog,” Stone snarls.

“And I think you forget who this entire club fucking belongs to,” Crusher says in what can only be described as a menacing voice, coming over and standing up between Stone and Cole. “Now take a fucking walk.”

The sound of kids yelling and laughing brings me out of all the chaos around us. Several kids are heading our way and I don’t want Ryder to be caught in the middle of any of this.

“Stop this,” I demand. “Whatever is going on here, stop. There are kids everywhere.”

Cole takes a step back and raises his hands. He looks over at me with hard eyes and says, “We still need to talk.” Then he turns and heads for the parking lot with his club behind him. Rhett and Stone, along with their club, watch as they depart.

As they pass Ryder and his friends, my son runs over to Cole.

“Hell fucking no,” Rhett blurts out and starts to make his way to them but Brass intervenes, holding him around the shoulders.

Does Rhett think Cole would hurt Ryder?

Cole talks to Ryder and my son responds animatedly before he reaches in and gives Cole a hug. Rhett growls and bares his teeth, still in Brass’s hold, as Hawk joins in holding him back. Ryder pulls back from the embrace then jogs back over to his friends. A breath I didn’t know I was holding exhales from my lungs. Is there something about Cole that I don’t know about? I thought all these men were friends. Why are they trying to fight and cause trouble with each other?

“Think it’s time to clean and pack up,” Stone utters, then walks over to where Raegan and the babies are.

Rhett finally lets go of me and I turn to face him. His face is blank and shielding his feelings.

“Can I come by after this?” he speaks up. “Spend some more time with Ryder and you?”

“Yeah, of course. You don’t ever have to ask to see your son, Rhett,” I tell him honestly.

“Got some things I need to discuss with you afterwards,” he says.

I run my hand across my forehead, then look around thinking how perfect today was, until just a while ago.

Sometime later, after all is cleaned up and we’ve gotten home, after Ryder showered and went to bed exhausted with today’s activities, Rhett and I are on opposite sides of the couch. The TV is playing in the background but all my focus is on the six-foot-four man lounging back on the cushions like he’s been doing it here for years.

“Will you tell me how bad it was after Ryder was born?” he asks, looking at the wall of the few baby pictures I have.

“We don’t have to⁠—”

“I want… no, need to know,” Rhett states then looks over at me.

I feel a pit in my belly thinking about that time and everything I did to survive those years. I bend my knees and bring my legs up to my chest.