Smooth As Whiskey (As If… #3)

Chapter 11

Irish

Rolling over, I groaned.

Fuck I had too much whiskey last night.

Throwing my arms over my head to stretch, I felt a warm body next to mine.

Knowing that she was wet and ready for me, I rolled over and then froze.

That hair. That wasn’t Sutton’s.

Why was my daughter in bed with me and not at home with Sutton?

This was weird as fuck. Nothing had happened last night that I could remember.

Carefully getting out of bed, I walked to the en-suite bathroom.

Turning the water on hot, I stripped out of my clothes and climbed under the spray.

Just as I closed my eyes to let the water run down my body, I remembered everything that had happened yesterday.

And I fucking froze.

Then I unfroze, cut the water off, and hurried out of the shower, ignoring my body, leaving a trail of water from the bathroom to my nightstand, all the while also ignoring the nudity I was sporting, I tagged my phone.

Sutton’s words to me last night had been, I didn’t realize I had any tattoos.

The moment my eyes landed on the tribal sun tattoo on the back of the woman’s shoulder, I all but sank to my knees.

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Maisie lifted her head and blinked up at me, “Daddy, what’s wrong?”

Grabbing a blanket, I covered my dick, ignoring my daughter, I called Sutton’s phone.

It went straight to voicemail, and at the sound of her voice, I felt my heart fucking clench, “You’ve reached Sutton. Leave me a message.”

As soon as it beeped, signaling to leave a message, I said, “Sutton. Baby. Please call me back. Fucking, please.”

I ended the call and then looked at the photo again.

And that’s when it hit me.

It definitely wasn’t Sutton. How I had thought it was yesterday, I had no goddamn clue.

She had tattoos.

Her hair didn’t have the same shine.

And that was when I read the message underneath the picture.

Pagan – Fucking hell. Sorry man. Sent it to the wrong person. This bitch has been cheating on a friend of mine. He didn’t believe me. So, I fucking showed him.

Oh god.

I was this close to hitting my knees.

My eyes closed, remembering with vivid clarity the shit I had spewed at Sutton.

It was the tears in her eyes that I’ll never forgive myself for.

It was the hurt look on her face that she didn’t even try to hide.

I was a piece of shit.

Maisie wiped the sleep from her eyes when she asked, “Are you letting Mommy come back home?”

I nodded, “Yeah, cutie. As long as I can get her to accept my apology, I am. Then I’m making her my ol’ lady and marrying her.”

With the blanket around my bottom half, I checked to make sure she hadn’t called back, then pressed a kiss on Maisie’s forehead.

“Let daddy get dressed, then we will get you ready. Go potty right quick,” I told her and then grabbed my clothes while she scrambled off the bed, ran around me, and pottied.

Fifteen minutes later, once we were both ready, I looked at the bedroom door. I've never dreaded walking out of my room and to the main part of the clubhouse ever in my life.

Not like I am this morning.

I remembered the looks my brothers gave me.

If I wasn’t the man I am, it would have shriveled my balls.

But I wasn’t a coward.

Far from it.

I kicked ass, and I took names.

And if I proved to Sutton that I was the right man for her, then by god, I would be the greatest man to ever walk the planet.

With Maisie’s hand in mine, we walked down the hall, down the steps, and then we walked out of the clubhouse.

I felt the glares from my brothers, but I knew they wouldn’t do or say anything with Maisie right there with me.

Once I got her safely ensconced in the truck I had bought a few weeks ago, we started looking for Sutton.

For hours and hours, we looked and nothing.

She wasn’t at Coal and Adeline’s place. She wasn’t at Pipe and Gabby’s place. Nor was she at Asher’s.

But what freaked me out?

We went to the salon.

Sutton had canceled every appointment she’d made for at least six months.

I went to every single brother and asked if they knew where she was.

None of them would tell me.

Especially Asher.

I recalled her following him into his office, so I knew that he knew.

The fucker just wouldn’t tell me.

After I dropped Maisie in my room at the clubhouse with what I now knew was the movie Frozen , I headed to the main room, got a cup of coffee, and waited.

***

My eyes kept watch on the clock.

I knew Gabby would know where Sutton was.

If Asher wouldn’t tell me, then Gabby would.

The moment the door opened, and I saw Pipe with Gabby’s hand in his, I stood up and then stormed over to where Gabby had just entered the clubhouse, “Gabby, where is she?”

She narrowed her eyes, then shrugged, “I can’t tell you, Irish.”

I growled, “Why the fuck not?”

Then she lifted her hand and counted down, “One, she asked me not to. Two, you’re an asshole. Three, you don’t deserve her. Four, she needs this time away from you. And five, you lost all respect in my eyes when you left Sutton to watch your daughter while you fucked that whore.”

And with that, she let go of Pipe’s hand and then shoulder-checked me and walked away.

I looked at Pipe, hope surely shone in my eyes, but he held his hand up, “I’m not going to risk pissing my woman off. I don’t sleep unless she’s next to me. Sorry, brother.”

Just then, Asher came out of his office, leveled a glare on me, and snapped, “Church.”

The moment the doors closed behind us in church, I slammed my hands on the table in church and growled, “You’re my fucking brothers. Why the fuck are you taking her wishes over mine?”

Rome slammed his fist down and stood, pointed his finger at me, and said, “I’m tired of your shit, Irish. You’ve been told. You’ve been warned. Fucking hell, time and time a-fucking-gain that you were fucking up with that woman, but you didn’t listen. You didn’t give a flying fuck. I hope Sutton meets someone wherever she is that realizes that the moment, the very fucking moment he gets a look into the soft spot she has, that he knows he’s just been given the world. And you had that. Just with a crook of your finger. You make me sick.”

And with that, Rome stormed out of church. All without a backward glance.

As I took in the faces of my so-called brothers, I realized something.

They all felt the same fucking way.

Fuck.

Me.

Then the very last person I expected to say anything stood and then said, “You can go fuck yourself.”

I watched as Coal stood and walked out as well.

And as he did so, everyone else stood too and walked out.

Asher sighed and then banged the gavel on the table.

“Irish, I warned you. Time and time again. What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I fucking wasn’t, Pres. But goddamn.”

A retort formed on the tip of my tongue along the lines of old habits that are hard to break, but I swallowed them down.

She didn’t deserve that.

She didn’t deserve to have a man who thought like that.

And when I found out she was gone, I had made a vow to be the man that deserved her.

And I would be that man. Come hell or high fucking water.

He sighed then, “Not sure I should tell you this, but if I was you, I’d want to know. Word got to me that a brother from another charter found out she was rid of you. He’s making his claim on her. Soon.”

“Then tell me, Asher. Tell me where she is so I can go get her and bring her home.”

“You won’t be able to bring that woman back here. Think about it, Irish. Think. She was raped by someone she should have been able to trust. And if that wasn’t enough, the very first person she should have been able to count on, always, was the one who sat there and watched it all fucking happen.”

I sat down in my chair then and dropped my head to my hands.

But Asher didn’t let up, and if he had, I wouldn’t have respected him as I should, “Then she gives her heart to you on a silver fucking platter, and you don’t see it. Even though I know she’s told you. She’s told you so much that she loves you, it’s a wonder those three words haven’t lost all meaning for her. But then to watch her with Maisie and I know they haven’t. She’s shown you, Irish, until she’s been blue in the face. You want to know where she is, then fucking earn it.”

I didn’t know how. I would go about that.

What the fuck could I do to earn the information he held close to his chest.

Hell, the information that all my brothers held close to their chests, as well as their women.

I wouldn’t know until almost two weeks later what I had to do.

And funnily enough, it had been the easiest thing I had ever done.

I was sitting beside Maisie, helping her color a picture of Minnie Mouse, her favorite, by the way, because she was Sutton’s, too.

When the door to the clubhouse opened.

I lifted my head from the image and looked in that direction.

And when I saw it was the Soulless Outlaws, I dropped my head, knowing there was no danger, and kept coloring with my daughter.

It was only minutes later when I felt a hand trace the base of my neck, my entire frame tensed, and I pulled away, then jerked my head up to see who had dared to put their hands on me.

Because I knew it wasn’t Sutton.

My body knew her touch, it fucking craved it.

And no one else would ever do.

Cynnamin stood there, smiling down at me, “It’s been a long time, Irish. I need you. No one else has been able to satisfy me like you have.”

I shook my head, “Can’t. Go find someone else.”

I looked back at the picture and started coloring again.

Cynammin sighed, “I see that you’re busy, so I’ll find you later.”

When I felt her move, I said, “Don’t bother. I’m spending the day with my daughter, then I’m going to bed,” I bit back the words that I would be going to bed alone until I could get Sutton to forgive me.

Because Sutton didn’t deserve to have me talking about her to this woman.

Not after the shit I had put her through.

Cynnamin frowned, “But any time I’m here, we always go to your bedroom. What’s changed?”

I didn’t know that we had the eyes and ears of everyone in the clubhouse not until after I said what I did and everything that unfolded after.

I looked down at Maisie and said, “Cover your ears, cutie.”

I waited until she did just that.

Then I looked up at Cynnamin and said, “I know that. But shit has changed. I had the perfect woman in my life, and I was blind to it. Not anymore. She’s the only woman for me. So again, like I said, you need someone to feed your habit, then go find someone else.”

And that was all she would be getting from me about Sutton.

“Wait, is it the same woman who always looked sad anytime you headed off with me?” I didn’t answer her.

She stood there.

Waiting.

But it was Maisie who I learned could still hear everything, and she proved that when she said, “My daddy already told you no. And he wants my mommy back. And I want her back, too. And he already knows that if he doesn’t bring her back, I will never forgive him for it.”

Jury came over then, the same fucker who I had knocked out for daring to ask Sutton if she wanted to head back to her room for some fun playtime, tagged Cynnamin’s arm and pulled her away from the table.

I didn’t watch where they went. My head just dropped to the picture I was coloring with Maisie.

Minutes later, her little arms wrapped around me as far as they could go, and she said, “I know you gotta work on getting Mommy back. You do that, and she still doesn’t come home, I won’t be mad at you. But if you ever go near that woman again, then I’ll pull a Mommy and take your plate and throw it in the trash can.”

I lifted my brow at her as she released her little arms and asked, “You will, will you?”

She nodded, “Yeah.”

I smiled down at her and said, “You got a deal. Food is to be cherished; no way am I missing out on food.”

She giggled, and then we finished the picture we were coloring.

It was after we had dinner, and she had taken her bath, that we settled in my room at the clubhouse when I asked, “What do you want to watch tonight?”

She smiled, “Frozen.”

I nodded, then brought up the movie and pressed play.

My little girl was out in minutes.

And I was almost asleep moments later when there was a knock on my door.

My eyes moved to Maisie, and when I saw she was still sleeping, I got up carefully and walked to the door.

When I opened it a crack, it was to be met with Asher.

“Seen Cynnamin go off with two other men. See, you’re settled for the night. See how you do while she’s here.” And with that cryptic as fuck statement, Asher walked away.

I sighed, then shook my head and headed back to bed.

Within minutes, I was out, but not before I whispered, “I’m going to find you, baby. And if you don’t want to come back, then me and Maisie will be following you. Anywhere you wish to go, we will be right there with you.”

The next day, after I got Maisie ready and dropped her off at Adeline and Coal’s house, I had just planned the route for the next gun shipment we were dropping off when I walked into the garage and got started on a few of the repairs that had come in overnight.

It was two hours later when the air in the garage shifted.

I frowned, lifted my head out from under the hood I was working, and looked out of the open bay.

Cynnamin was standing there, her hands on her hips, and when she saw me, she dropped her hands and then walked over to where I was.

The moment she reached me, she said, “Those two guys last night wouldn’t help me. I need you, Irish. Surely, these cars can wait. I can’t.”

“You are not her. I won’t say it again, Cynnamin. No other woman is getting any part of me but her. She has all of me. So do me a favor and get the fuck away from me. And stay the fuck away from me, or else you’ll be banned from all Zagan MC properties.”

Nuke spoke then, “You want me to go further, your ass will be kicked out of Soulless Outlaw’s MC properties as well. And since we got allies, you won’t find any refuge with Wrath MC, Immoral Saints, or Pagan’s Soldier’s MC. And seeing as we dominate the south, you’ll need to move up north. He’s told you he’s claimed. You don’t step on that. Ever. Don’t test me.”

It was half an hour later or so when Asher walked into the garage, came straight to me, and dropped a piece of paper on my toolbox.

“Don’t fuck this up.” And with that, he turned on his boot and walked away.

My fingers trembled as I tagged the slip of paper, knowing what was on it by his words last night and just now.

When I saw the address, I automatically calculated how far away she was.

An hour later, after I was packed, I first texted Asher.

I needed an emergency club meeting, and if it took divulging a secret for a secret, then I would do it for my woman. I would break anything for that woman, including my word.

But I would never break it... for her.

Once everyone was in church and Asher banged the gavel, he said, “Irish has called an emergency meeting. Let’s hear him out.”

I nodded at him, then took in a breath... “Six years ago, Cynnamin was violently attacked almost as bad as Shiloh was. You all know that story. And ever since then, she has had a kink of sorts. She hates it, but with help, she’s learned to deal with it.”

I took in a breath, “Cynnamin enjoys telling someone what to do while they say no. She called me one night, crying because she had a man in her bed, and he told her no, and she didn’t listen. So, I offered to be that person for her. We don’t touch ever. She just tells me what to do with my body while I say no. I feel like I owe her. You all know I bounced around from foster home to foster home.”

They nodded in unison.

“What I didn’t tell you was that I hate, and I mean I hate, fucking sweet peas. They look like puke when they are overcooked. And one night, in one of the foster homes, I refused to eat them. The man didn’t like that. Cynnamin covered my body when the man started to beat me. She took the beating that was meant for me. Had she not done that, I would have been seriously injured, I was seven at the time and she was thirteen.”

None of them reacted, even though looks of shock marveled all their faces.

“Not once have I ever touched Cynnamin like that. And she has never touched me like that. I swear that on my kutte, my club, my life, that of my daughter’s, and on Sutton’s.”

It was Stoney who exploded, “You let us give you so much shit, boy. What the fuck for?”

I simply said, “I promised her. I gave her my word.”

“Fuck. I gave you so much shit,” Pipe said.

I lifted my chin, “Don’t mention it. Had I really been doing what you all thought I had been doing, I would have expected nothing less.”

Rome held up his thumb and middle finger, “I was this close to putting a bullet in you.”

“If I had done that, I would have deserved it. She’s the last one I ever want to hurt.”

“We got your back. Whatever you need.” Asher said.

I nodded.

Once I shared everything, I went to Adeline and Coal’s house, and when Maisie came skipping out, I dropped to my haunches and said, “I’m going to go talk to Mommy. I’ll be gone a few days, a week at most. You’ll be okay with Adeline and Uncle Coal?”

My little girl put her hands on her hips and said, “You’ll be gone however long it takes to bring Mommy home.”

I smiled at my girl, “I’ll do my best, but I gotta grovel to your Mommy. Okay?”

She sighed then, “I want to ask, but I’ll wait to find out what grovel means.”

Adeline laughed, then offered Maisie her hand, “I’ll tell you what it means, okay?”

Maisie nodded, then pressed a kiss on my cheek and walked with Adeline into their house.

Coal spoke then, “You need me to go with you?”

I shook my head, “You're guarding the other half of my heart. So, I know she’s safe. I gotta fight for the other part of my heart. Rather not have y’all see me get my ass kicked and ride with me with my tail tucked between my legs.”

“It’ll be hard,” he said, then looked in the direction of the house where his own world had just walked into, then looked back at me, “but so fucking worth it.”

I nodded, knowing he was right.

Then, I climbed on my bike and headed to Texas. Bradford Valley, to be exact.

Where one of the charters of Wrath MC was located.

I was grateful, honestly, that she had gone there.

Yes, every club of Wrath MC was safe, as were all our allied clubs... but for a group of active Special Forces, there was only one safer place for her to be, other than my arms.

This was going to be a long ride, almost eleven hours, but if I needed to drive to Alaska to grovel, then I would.

If I needed to travel through the Bermuda Triangle to get to her, then I would do that, too.

***

I made the drive to Austin, Texas, in eleven hours.

I was beat.

But nothing compared to the way my heart felt when I remembered in vivid detail the pain on my woman’s face.

And she was that.

My woman.

As I pulled into the compound, I stopped at the gate.

And before I could say a word, the six men filed out of a building that was hidden to the outside.

Cruz, Teague, Waylon, Miller, Trajen, and Raj.

Cruz crossed his arms over his chest and glared, “She needs time. Leave.”

I shook my head. “No. You don’t know her like I do. What she needs is for me to tell her how I really feel. How I was too fucking stupid to realize what I had in front of me.”

“And it’s my understanding that everyone tried to tell you about that, but you wouldn’t fucking listen. Now, you lost her. Sucks to be you.” Teague rumbled out.

Then, at the same time, Raj pulled a knife from the back of his jeans and started spinning it, blade first, in his hands.

“I’m not leaving until I talk to her. To see her.” I told them, enforcing my determination in my tone.

Cruz smirked, “And that’s why you won’t see her.”

I narrowed my eyes, “Come again?”

“You were told she needs time. But once again, you don’t give a damn about her, you only care about yourself. Now get.” Cruz growled.

“I’m not leaving until I have eyes on her. You wanna keep me from her, you go ahead, but I promise you, I’ll take two of you with me as I go.” I told them.

Not caring that I just threatened them. Not in the fucking slightest.

Then, I caught sight of the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life.

She was pissed.

Oh yeah.

She was livid.

And with every step, as she grew closer to me, she stomped.

“How dare you show up here after the shit you pulled and said. Get the fuck out of here.” She screamed.

“Sutton, baby, we need...” I stopped talking.

Because she hissed, “Don’t you dare tell me what we need, you motherfucking asshole. Those men were horrible to me. But no one has ever had the power to break me. You want a medal for doing it? I’ll have one made and sent to you. You can show your new woman that you’re a real fucking winner. You’re a real motherfucking prize.” And with that, she turned on her foot and walked back into a building.

I growled, clenched my fists, and deep breathed.

“Damn. I’d hate to feel what you're feeling. Good thing I’d never treat a woman like Sutton the way you did.” Waylon said.

Then, all at once, they left.

I had half a mind to ram the gate.

But I would fuck up my bike.

But did it really matter?

My bike or her...

No... there was no comparison.

I thought about doing it, even backed and revved my engine to do it, until I saw something and then looked down at my chest.

A red dot was hovering center fucking mast.

I dropped my head, then sighed, then whispered, “I’ll be back. I’m going to win you back, baby.”

I found a hotel and got a room, and then I crashed.

Unfortunately, I was only able to get about four hours of sleep because I woke up while remembering the look on Sutton’s face as I hurled that shit at her.

After I showered and got dressed, I packed up the room, checked out, and headed back.

I sat on my bike in the blistering sun for six hours.

I felt eyes on me, but I didn’t move.

Sutton knew a lot about me.

But she didn’t know how stubborn I could be when I really wanted something.

I had just taken a sip of water when I saw movement.

Sutton.

My world.

My heart.

She reached the gate, put her hands on her hips, and asked, “If I hear you out, will you leave?

I nodded, “Yeah. Please, baby.”

She sighed and then waved her hand.

The gate started to move then, and as I walked my bike in, she said, “Follow me.”

I did.

When we stopped at a brick building, I dismounted and then followed her in.

All six men were sitting there, their weapons on the tables, just waiting.

I warned them, “I won’t stand still for y’all to shoot me. But I will for Sutton.”

Sutton scoffed, then rolled her eyes, mumbling, “Yeah, fucking right.”

Fuck. But I had broken her. She never would have reacted to me like that.

“Where’s Maisie?” she asked.

And that.

That right there was why I had been one dumb fucking son of a bitch.

She didn’t ask about anyone else.

She didn’t check in on Gabby, Adeline, Stella, or Chloe.

No, she only wanted to know about Maisie.

“She’s okay. She’s with Adeline.”

She nodded, then crossed her arms over her chest and sighed, “Why are you back here, Irish?”

“Because you’re here. And Maisie told me that if I didn’t bring you back to her, she would hate me forever.”

She snickered, “That’s my girl.”

“Yeah. She is from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. She’s all yours, baby. And so am I.”

When she didn’t respond to that, I asked, “You won’t come back? Not even for Maisie?”

She sighed, “I love her. I do. But I think she’s gathered that if her father wasn’t a blind asshole, then I wouldn’t have ever left.”

“And you're right. One hundred percent right. I was a blind asshole. But baby, my eyes are wide fucking open now. And if you’ll give me another chance, I promise you, I won’t let you down. You can count on me. Give me your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, and I’ll carry it all for you. I’ll shelter you from any storm.”

She didn’t respond.

No, what she did was rip me to shreds when she asked, “How many women have you been with?”

I winced, “Sutton, please, don’t do this.”

“Answer me.” She snapped.

I ran my hand through my hair, locked eyes with her, and said, “Too many to count.”

And I’ve never felt lower than shit as I did right then.

Standing there in the main room of some building in the Bradford Valley clubhouse, watching as the woman who was the light of my life, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

“Exactly. It wasn’t me who didn’t deserve you. It was you who didn’t deserve me.” And with those final words I had thrown in her face, she placed her hands on my chest and shoved me out the door. And I went willingly because there was no way I would ever do bodily harm to her.

And with that, she closed the door in my face.

And I stood there; my heart felt as though it were breaking into a million pieces.

My knees went weak, but I gritted my teeth.

I would be damned if anyone saw me hit my knees other than Sutton.

It was time for round two.

I was going to be known as the man who never stopped fighting for what he wanted and what he needed.

Challenge accepted, baby.

I drove back home and then spent a week getting everything ready.

I replaced her wardrobe in my closet.

Had her a set of keys made.

Had adoption papers made.

Rings made.

The form for a marriage license.

And I had her property kutte made.

When Maisie saw all of this, she clapped.

I was hoping this would work because if it didn’t... I didn’t know what I would do.

I also went to Hugo, a badass tattoo artist at Badd Motha Ink, and had him create a design that takes up the entirety of my left chest.

All with Sutton’s name right in the middle, visible for the world to see.

A week later, I made the drive again.

And I sat out on my bike for two hours this time when the gate moved, and Sutton came out, threw her hands in the air, and growled, “What fucking now?”

I grinned and then walked my bike in again.

Once I dismounted, I grabbed one of the black saddlebags.

Then I followed her inside.

Walking to a table, I began pulling stuff out of the black saddle bag.

First came out her property kutte.

Followed by the box that held her ring.

Next, the marriage license form.

Followed by the adoption papers.

Then I pulled out her set of keys. One to my house, one to my truck, one to the garage, and one to my room at the clubhouse.

Then I gestured, “Everything on the table is yours. I am yours. Maisie is yours. Forever.”

Then she crossed her arms over her waist and whispered, “Nothing’s changed, Irish. Nothing.”

I nodded, “Everything has changed. My eyes are wide fucking open, baby. Fucking wide.”

“And that woman?” she asked. Hatred in every word.

Then I repeated the same words to Sutton that I had told my brothers because I knew them by fucking heart.

“Six years ago, Cynnamin was violently attacked. And ever since then, she has had a kink of sorts. She hates it, but with help, she’s learned to deal with it.”

I took in a breath, “Cynnamin enjoys telling someone what to do while they say no. She called me one night, crying because she had a man in her bed, and he told her no, and she didn’t listen. So, I offered to be that person for her. We don’t touch ever. She just tells me what to do with my body while I say no. I feel like I owe her. You all know I bounced around from foster home to foster home.”

She didn’t react.

“What I didn’t tell you was that I hate, and I mean I hate, fucking sweet peas. They look like puke when they are overcooked. And one night, in one of the foster homes, I refused to eat them. The man didn’t like that. Cynnamin covered my body when the man started to beat me. She took the beating that was meant for me. Had she not done that, I would have been seriously injured, I was seven at the time and she was thirteen.”

Tears welled in her eyes, at what I said. But she didn’t open her mouth, nor did she make a move to pull me into her arms as she had done so many times before.

And why wouldn’t she?

Because every time she did that, I was the dumb fuck that pushed her away.

“That’s the god’s honest truth, Sutton. Not once has she ever touched my body like that. And not once have I ever touched her body. I swear to you. Just the thought of touching her makes my balls shrivel up. She does nothing for me in that way. Only you do.”

And when she didn’t react to that statement, I gathered every bit of pride I held onto and made sure Sutton was my only focus as I dropped to my knees right in front of her.

With my eyes looking up into her eyes that hold all my dreams, I said, “This should tell you things about me. This should show you.”

She lifted a brow, “Show me what?”

“I don’t go down on other women. Only you.” I told her, pouring every ounce of honesty into my words that I could.

She scoffed, “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

Seeing that what I was doing wasn’t working, I stood up and then crowded into her space, ignoring the growls from Cruz, Waylon, Teague, Miller, Trajen, and Raj.

I brought my hand up and cupped the side of her neck, “Baby, a man will only drop to his knees for the woman who holds his heart in the palm of her hand.”

She rolled her eyes, then stepped out of reach and asked, “Are you finished? Get everything out you wanted to say?”

I swallowed, then nodded, “Yeah, but two things.”

She sighed, “And those are?”

“I’m sorry for every single time I hurt you. And I love you. I love you so fucking much, Sutton. It’s a wonder I can feel my heart beating.”

And with that, she nodded, “I appreciate you apologizing, but that’s not enough. I don’t think anything ever will be.”

And with that, she walked out of the building.

The six men stood then, and Cruz said, “Time for you to go.”

I was stubborn, but my woman seemed to be even more stubborn.

But the ball was in her court, and I would be here for her, no matter fucking what.