Page 40 of Tempest

I held up my hands in mock surrender. “Yes, ma’am.”

We fell into an easy rhythm, moving around each other like we’d been doing this for years. It felt… right. Domestic. A pang of longing hit me, sharp and unexpected.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Kasen asked, sliding a stack of pancakes onto a plate.

I shook my head, pushing the feeling aside. “Just thinking how good you look in my shirt.”

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the flush on her cheeks. “Smooth talker.”

After breakfast, we headed out, the rumble of my bike a familiar comfort between my legs. Kasen’s arms wrapped tight around my waist as we tore down the coastal road.

The wind whipped through my hair, carrying away the last threads of tension. Out here, there was no club, no responsibilities. Just me, Kasen, and the open road.

I felt her press her cheek against my back, her grip tightening. My heart raced, and it had nothing to do with the speed. For the first time in years, I felt truly free.

I pulled the bike to a stop at a secluded stretch of beach, the roar of the engine fading to the gentle crash of waves. Kasen slid off first, her legs a little unsteady. I caught her elbow, steadying her.

“You good?” I asked, unable to keep the smirk from my face.

She swatted my arm. “Just getting my land legs back, smartass.”

We found a spot in the sand, close enough to feel the spray of the ocean. Kasen settled beside me, our shoulders touching. The silence stretched, comfortable but charged with unspoken words.

“Tell me about your family,” she said suddenly, her voice soft.

I tensed, old instincts flaring. But when I looked at her, all I saw was genuine curiosity. No pity, no judgment. I took a deep breath.

“Not much to tell,” I said, my voice gruff. “Dad was a mean drunk. Mom… she was sunshine. Until the cancer took her. Hodgkins. Unfortunately, she didn’t get checked early enough. It had progressed so far the treatments were only able to give her a few extra months.”

Kasen’s hand found mine, her fingers intertwining with my own. “I’m sorry.”

I shrugged, fighting the tightness in my throat. “Long time ago.”

She hesitated, then asked, “Have you heard anything about Rin? Wraith’s old lady?”

The change of subject was a relief. Even though, the topic of Rin’s rather recent breast cancer diagnosis wasn’t exactly a happy one. When Wraith had found out, I thought the man was going to explode.

“Yeah, actually. Wraith says the treatments are working. They’re expecting a full recovery.”

Kasen’s face lit up. “That’s amazing news! Usually Akira keeps me up to date, but now that she’s pregnant and married to Logan, we don’t get to meet as often. We met not too long before we came to the beach, but I’m afraid I didn’t think to ask about Rin. I feel awful, looking back. How could I have been so selfish as to only think about my own problems when she’s going through so much? I’m sure she’s relieved she’ll have her mom around a long time, but I was a shitty friend.”

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah, it is good news. The whole club’s been pulling for her. But for the record, I doubt she thinks of you as a bad friend. You needed someone and she was there for you. I’m sure you’ve been there for her plenty of times.”

“You’re right. I have been. That’s what family does,” Kasen said softly.

The words hit me harder than I expected. Family. The club was my family now, had been for years. But sitting here with Kasen, I realized I wanted more.

She must have sensed the shift in my mood. Her grip on my hand tightened. “What happens when we go back?”

I turned to face her, seeing the worry in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“My dad,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s not going to be happy about… us.”

I cupped her face in my hands, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Listen to me. I don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks, including your old man. I’ve got you, you hear me? No matter what.”

She nodded, but I could still see the doubt lingering. I leaned in, pressing my forehead to hers. “I mean it. Anyone tries to come between us, they’ll have to go through me first. For what it’s worth, I’m fully prepared to take whatever beating your dad gives me. I need you to not interfere when it happens.”

The tension in her shoulders eased slightly. “You’re insane. You know that right? He’s called Tank for a reason.”

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