Page 3 of August 20

Skye came inside, lugging one of her boxes. She hurried to grab the container before Skye dropped it. Setting it on the floor, she scooted it toward the hallway.

"Push it into the first bedroom while I get everything from the car." Brooke left Skye alone in the house and went outside.

She had four days until she was due at her new job. The woman she replaced would train her for two weeks, and then she'd be alone. More excited than nervous, she knew the days would go fast.

In the meantime, she needed to find somewhere Skye could go while she was at work. Mr. Graham assured her that she would be welcome at the youth community center in town, which helps working parents have a babysitter for kids five to twelve years old during the summer.

It almost sounded too good to be true. Before dropping Skye off, she wanted to check out the place and ask other parents about their experience with the center.

Outside, the salty air refreshed her. She looked toward the ocean. Somehow, she hoped her grandma could see her and be proud of what she was doing with her and Skye's lives.

There was no option for her to fail. Skye depended on her. And like her grandma had done for her, she would make sure the family raised Skye.

Chapter Two

Jagger, the president of Havlin Motorcycle Club, tossed a size five-thirty chain toward Maverick. He caught the part in the air and nodded his thanks. He should've left the clubhouse a half hour ago.

Too much depended on him getting home. He couldn't fuck up now and blow his plan.

But he wasn't going anywhere until he fixed the chain on his Harley. It was the wrong damn time to slip a link.

"Hey, Mav," shouted Bane.

He exhaled loudly and turned around with his hand on the back door to face the club's vice president.

Several seconds later, Bane walked between the shelves and came into view. "Can you go out with the first crew tonight?"

He shook his head.

"When can you work?" asked Bane.

"Not for a—" He gripped the doorknob tighter as his throat spasmed, keeping him from speaking.

"Bane, I've got the schedule covered," shouted Jagger from the other side of the room. "Maverick's off rotation until we hear otherwise."

Bane tilted his head and frowned. Maverick met his gaze without explaining why he wouldn't be around. He'd asked Prez for time off so he could handle personal business and then informed Jagger of his plans.

After hearing what he planned to do, Jagger hesitated to let him step away. His president was worried about him ending up in prison again. But Jagger owed him a favor or two.

The jobs he'd done for Havlin guaranteed him time off. And the protection of the club.

Out of nowhere, Bane slapped Maverick's arm. "Call if you need backup, brother."

Without knowing all the details, Bane's acceptance and support were among the reasons Maverick joined Havlin Motorcycle Club. He needed someone to watch his back and people surrounding him who were just as loyal to the patch. It was better than having a family.

He walked out of the shop and into the clubhouse at the back of the building. Both ends of Havlin's businesses were now under one roof.

Recently, Havoc Lincoln MC, better known as Havlin, split in two, putting a Chapter in Seaglass Cove. They purchased an old bus barn where they could run the motorcycle parts shop, and the building was big enough to house the clubhouse in the back.

On top of running a legal business, they also hired out to run security for local businesses in the county—that was downright illegal.

The new direction took him away from Beaverton—upsetting his life again.

He only now felt like he was getting back on track since his injury and incarceration. He pushed out the back door of the building and fell to his knees beside his motorcycle, dropping the chain in front of him.

As soon as he got his bike up and running, he'd be one step closer to getting his life back. It was a long time coming.

After the explosion and then spending almost two months in the hospital before getting sentenced to two years in prison, he'd formulated his plan. The move to Seaglass Cove only made things more challenging and the wait unbearable. But the time was now.

---