Page 33 of A New Era

“Where have you been?” I ask him.

“I took Zara home.”

I nod. Broaching the events of last night, I say, “Whatever’s going on between you and Zara, I can’t keep telling you to keep her away from the club. I can’t have her causing trouble, especially when we’re gonna be making big moves.”

He nods but the tightening in the corner of his eyes and the tenseness in his jaw contradicts his nod. He says, “I get there’s history between you but I’m at a place where I don’t think I can walk away from her.”

I get how he’s feeling. “Fine, but to be clear, I’m not the only brother she has a history with. You okay with the fact she’s pretty much slid down every dick around here?”

He shrugs. “We’ve all got a past and I’m no virgin myself. Been with most of her friends.”

“If you really have a future with her, perhaps you should think about returning to Mercy. No one knows her there, you could start whatever you’re starting fresh.”

He starts to panic. “This is my home now. I can’t go back.”

“Look, the future of the club is my only concern and I need to believe every brother is completely focused on the same goal. Not having personal shit getting in the way.”

“I can guarantee Zara won’t get in the way. The club comes first, always.”

“Brother, you have my loyalty and I have your back every single day, but I need to see it returned. You get one chance, she gets in the way, I’ll bounce your ass back to Mercy without hesitation.”

I don’t like giving ultimatums, not really having to do it before now. The brothers and their old ladies are not club business unless the club is dragged in. Perhaps it’s my history with Zara and how it’s affecting my old lady but it’s not just Grim she could make trouble with and that’s too many factors for me.

I make my way to my house and drag my ass up the stairs. Holly is curled up in the middle of the bed and I undress and climb in beside her.

“I tried waiting up for you,” she murmurs sleepily.

Pressing my lips to her hair, I tell her, “I keep telling you not to do that. If you’re tired, always sleep.”

“I know but I can’t help it. I can’t sleep knowing you’re not here. Deal with it.”

I smile into the darkness. I’ll deal with it as she says. I hold her tighter and inhale her soapy scent.

“Are you okay?”

“I am now.”

I saw what my mom was going on about. No matter what I face during the day, Holly is what grounds me come the night.

Kissing her shoulder, I whisper, “Sleep now. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Wake me before you leave in the morning.”

“I will.”

Tomorrow I’ll update the brothers, but for tonight I will go to sleep.

* * *

I meet up with JJ outside the garages. He’s cleaning his bike with his son. Gunner has a rag of his own and clumsily wipes at the back wheel spokes.

“You good?” he asks looking up at me.

“Yeah. I met with Luca in the night. Call in the brothers.”

“Will do. Let me just take Guns back to Harper.”

Scooping my nephew up into my arms, I say, “Round the guys up, I’ll take him back to his mom.”

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