Page 72 of May 11

"Why don't you take off? Go find Wire and hang out with him." Dania handed Cora a napkin. "There's only a couple of hours until closing. Brooke and I can handle the shop."

She hated leaving when they depended on her to work. But she was no good when she couldn't control her emotions.

"Thank you." She hugged Dania. "I promise I'll walk into work tomorrow with a smile."

"Not tomorrow. On Monday." Dania waved her hand. "Enjoy your weekend."

Cora gathered her purse and walked out of the coffee shop. The afternoon sun hit her eyes, burning them more. She was exhausted.

All she wanted to do was find Wire, go to his house, and have him hold her until she felt strong again.

She hated that she fell apart at work.

Maybe Dania was right, and all these unwanted emotions came from grief. She'd gone through the last year on her own when what she needed was a life coach or a doctor or a Dania who could hold her hand and tell her everything would be okay.

Walking through the front door of the Havlin Motorcycle Parts shop, she waved at Bane behind the counter.

She approached him. "Do you know if Wire is around?"

"Let me check." Bane walked through the shelving units and disappeared into the back.

A door opened and shut. She understood the clubhouse was off-limits until she was with a member.

While she waited for Bane to return, she got out her phone and looked at Wire's schedule for the day. He'd had two appointments that morning, and if she remembered correctly, he mentioned he'd either be at the clubhouse or the house by one o'clock.

She'd parked her car behind the clubhouse that morning before work. If he weren't there, she'd drive to the house.

The door opened. She raised her gaze, looking for Bane, and found Wire striding toward her. From the stern expression on his face, he had a bad day, too.

"Babe." He hooked her neck and brought her to his chest. "Why aren't you at work."

"Dania let me off early." She pressed her cheek against his chest. "It's been a rough day."

"Yeah?" He palmed her head. "Talk to me."

"Later." She sighed, holding on to him tighter. "Right now, I just want you to hold me."

His heart raced against her ear. She opened her eyes. Suddenly aware something wasn't right, she held her breath. The only time his heart raced when he held her was when they made love.

She raised her head. "What's wrong?"

He kept looking at her. The longer he remained silent, the more worried she became. Had trouble come to Havlin again?

"Honey?" She planted her hands on his broad chest. "Talk to me."

"Cora—babe." He gripped her face with trembling hands. "Your brother rode in a half hour ago."

Her whole world swayed. She fisted Wire's leather vest, afraid she'd pass out. Her brother was here?

He'd come.

"Cora, he doesn't know you. He doesn't know you're his sister." His gaze intensified. "I'm not sure he's going to listen."

"He has to," she said.

"You can try, but if he shows any sign of hurting you, I'm taking you out. I don't care what you say, I'll keep you away from him." He lifted her chin. "I won't allow anyone to hurt you."

She fell deeper for Wire. Without him, she wasn't sure what she'd do.

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