Page 78 of August 20

At the beginning of last summer, he planned to get rid of Brooke. Prez was aware that his feelings toward her changed and, in the process, claimed Brooke as his ol' lady.

He faced Jagger, taking his time to speak. "My wife. My business."

"Does she know what you do?"

"She's. My. Business." He coughed and then slapped Jagger's upper arm, letting him know the conversation was over.

He was loyal to the club. Each time he went out on a job, he risked his life. With that level of commitment, he expected everyone to stay out of his family life. His freedom.

He would not involve Brooke in club business. He would protect her and Skye to the best of his abilities.

Dio jogged up to him. "Club meeting Sunday. We vote on Brett and Skinner."

He stopped at his bike and nodded. He'd be there.

"You've used Brett over the summer to watch your woman." Dio hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. "I haven't had a chance to deal with him. What are your thoughts?"

He sat on his bike. "Eager."

"You're voting him in?"

He nodded. The kid would learn not to talk and listen more. But he couldn't find any fault with his enthusiasm to join Havlin. He'd be on probation for a few years before touching any illegal business.

"Good to know." Dio scratched the back of his neck. "Skinner's been tagging Wire while he's recuperating, so I'll check with him on how he's voting. Though, anyone following Wire around as he hobbles on crutches should deserve a fucking reward. He's an asshole when he can't ride."

He patted his chest and smiled. Wire wasn't the only one who was ready to straddle a Harley. He was ready to go back to riding now that he had his family settled.

Maverick started his bike, held up two fingers to Dio, and rode off. Then, he circled around and reparked his motorcycle, shutting off the engine.

Dio jogged over to him. "What's wrong?"

He waved him off and parked his Harley. It was habit to ride. He'd forgotten Skye couldn't ride on the back of his bike.

He lifted his chin at Dio and took off jogging.

At the end of the block, he knocked on the glass window of Whale's Tails Coffee Shop, getting Brooke's attention. She waved with a smile. Knowing he had to hurry, he used his keys to get into Brooke's Honda and headed toward the school.

With five minutes to spare, he parked along the curb in the pickup line and got out of the car. All around him, mothers eyed him. Some women were attracted to the leather vest. Others feared the way he looked, hanging around the school.

Their reaction wasn't any better when Brooke was with him. She was just oblivious to the stares.

He ignored the looks and gazed along the pickup line to the front of the school. There wasn't a father in sight.

He wouldn't be that dad who worked eighty hours a week and was never home with his wife and kid. He'd already missed four fucking years of Skye's life. He wasn't going to miss anymore.

His skin crawled. He also wasn't going to be an alcoholic with a heavy hand like his stepfather. Brooke was nothing like Maverick's mom. Skye was going to have a damn good chance at life with both of them supporting, protecting, and fighting for her.

Kids spilled out of the front of the school. He looked over the heads of the other parents for the pink and purple jacket Skye had worn to school.

An older boy ran past him with one of the teachers shouting for him to stop, but her heart wasn't in it, and she let him go.

A second wave of kids came out of the school. He stepped back onto the sidewalk, looking for Skye. Her class usually came out first. The other kids who rode the bus were let out on the other side of the school. Only twenty or so cars lined up each day to pick up.

Recognizing one of the girls from Skye's class, he stepped in front of her. "Where's Skye?"

She backed away from him, yelling for her mom. The kid's mom rushed to save her daughter, glaring at him as if he'd done something wrong.

He moved along the sidewalk, searching through the kids. Spotting Skye's teacher, he approached the woman.