From his position on the floor, Trey watched as Bethany and his mother left the warehouse. The door shut behind them. At Trey’s nod, Mac slipped out too.
He had a call to make.
One.
Two.
Three.
“Now!” Trey roared as he surged upward. At his call, Wolf, Flash, Doc, and Lars—who had all been on the floor playing possum too—gave their respective assailants hell.
Knowing that his precious ones were safe gave Trey the strength to push through the pain of his wounds and make Vinnie and his men pay.
He fought his way through flying fists and angry kicks to his target—
Vinnie.
“Screw this,” the drug dealer was saying and turning tail to run for the door. Once he’d realized that the Shadows wouldn’t go down easily, he wasn’t interested anymore.
“Not so fast,” Trey said, his arm going around Vinnie’s neck. “I need information from you.”
“Fuck off,” Vinnie said, clawing at Trey’s arm.
“You said that you weren’t the only one who was coming for us. Who else?”
Vinnie’s teeth sank into Trey’s arm. With a curse, he shoved the bastard away.
Straight into a concrete column.
Knocked cold, Vinnie slumped to the floor.
“Boss! We’ve got company,” Rocco yelled into the warehouse. They could just make out the sounds of sirens in the distance. Mac had done his job well.
“Let’s go,” Trey said. He knelt down and removed his phone from Vinnie’s pocket and beat feet for the door. The rest of the Shadows scattered.
Outside, Trey looked over to where Bethany’s car had been parked. It was gone, thank God.
He slung his leg over his bike and peeled away. Behind him, the rest of the Shadows fell in line.
It was over. They were going home. And now… And now…
He wasn’t sure what. There might not be a home to go back to.
Because without her, his former existence felt empty.
* * *
They pulled off the road at Ruby’s and took stock of their injuries. Minor cuts, scrapes, and bruises marred the crew, nothing too serious. Stone had reported back after dropping Sarah at the Yelverton place. The police scanner was abuzz with the news of the big bust that had taken place downtown. A large amount of meth had been taken into custody, along with Vinnie, Hampton, and most of the network of dealers.
It was a clean sweep. So why did Trey still feel so awful?
“You off to see her?”
Trey looked up at Wolf’s question. He’d been heading for the door when his second-in-command had stopped him.
“Yeah.”
Wolf nodded. “She’s a good woman.”
“Too good for me.”
“Probably. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t want you too.”
Trey cleared his throat. “I’m going to apologize for dragging her into that shit and lying to her, then I’m out of her life for good.”
Wolf hiked a brow at him and gave a cryptic smile. “Good luck with that.”
Without bothering to reply, Trey headed out the door into the late-spring night.
The weather was warm, ideal for riding his bike into the darkness, but he couldn’t enjoy it. Not really. Not with his future in such doubt.
By the time his tires touched the drive that led to the Yelvertons’ house, to her, he’d convinced himself that it was a waste of time. She’d never forgive him for leading her into that danger. And his mother, and his sister…
Trey winced as he cut the engine in their driveway.
He was exactly the kind of person he didn’t want any of them around. But he didn’t know any other way to be.
“Better get this over with,” he muttered to himself. Hefting himself off his bike, he walked quickly to the front door before he could change his mind.
Before he could knock, the door was flung open.
“Trey.” His name left his mother’s lips on a choked sob, and suddenly he was in her arms.
Too surprised to move for a moment, he swayed a little. She clung to him, desperate devotion in every shuddering breath she took.
He closed his eyes and hugged her back.
His mother. Not Mrs. Yelverton anymore. This was his mother.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered to the top of her head. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hush,” she said, wiping her eyes. “I’m just relieved you’re okay.” She ran her hands down his arms and gripped his palms. “Come in.”
Holding his mother’s hand, he walked into the living room.
And there, with a carefully blank expression on her face, stood Bethany.
His heart.
The love of his life.
She raised her arms to him, and he crossed the room at a dead run.
Cradling her close, he didn’t realize he was speaking until long moments later. “I’m sorry. I love you. I’m sorry. I love you. I’m sorry.”
Over and over, the words left his lips. He’d wanted to say so much to her, but when it came down to it, the only important things to convey were the depth of his regret and the breadth of his love for her.
“I love you too,” she whispered and then kissed him.
With all the feeling inside him, he returned the gesture. Deep, passionate, with every bit of the longing and fear he’d felt in the last few days, he kissed her.
It wasn’t enough. He could kiss her like that all day, every day, and it wouldn’t be enough.
He was desperately in love with her, and if she’d let him, he planned to spend the rest of his life trying to show her.
When she finally pulled away, she wiped at her tears.
“I love you, but there’s so much. So many things, the lies…”
“I know,” he said, the hole in his chest aching as if he’d been shot point-blank. “I know.” But then he noticed someone else in the room.
“Hey,” Sarah said, looking a little hesitant.
“Hey,” he said back, his arm around Bethany’s shoulders. There’d be time to explain himself to her. If she’d forgive him? Who knew.
“So, you’re not a wedding planner.”
Trey shook his head. “No, I’m not.”
“And you’re not a cop.”
He glanced down at Bethany guiltily before answering. “No, not a cop either.”
“So, what exactly are you?”
He swallowed hard. “Maybe we all should sit down.”
So they did, and he told them. About the Shadows and the jobs they did, the way they skirted the law. And through it all, he watched for Bethany’s reactions.
She was clearly surprised, but there was no hatred or disgust on her face. And through it all, she never let go of his hand.
He was grateful for that. Maybe there was hope.
“Wow.” Sarah sat back against the cushions of the couch once he’d finished. “That’s… Wow.”
“I’m sorry I lied to you. To you all.” Trey rubbed a thumb over the n tattooed on his knuckle.
“Trey, I have to tell you the truth.” His mother looked over at him with a slightly guilty expression. “I knew you weren’t a wedding planner.”
His mouth fell open. “What?”
She laughed a little. “It was obvious, honey. But you were so determined to pull it off that I wanted to give you the chance. And call your bluff a little. But up until about a week ago, you were really pulling it off. I’ve been impressed.”
Trey looked at the floor, the memory of his disappearing act chafing. “Yeah. Sorry about that. I hope I haven’t wrecked things.”
“Not at all.” His mother laughed. “I haven’t had this much excitement in a long time.”
“Or hopefully ever again,” Sarah muttered. She stood and walked over to her mother. “Come on, you’ve still got sticky stuff on your wrists from that tape. I’ve got some baby oil upstairs that will take it off.”
“We’ll be upstairs if you need us,” his mother said with a smile at him and Bethany, and allowed Sarah to lead her upstairs.
Alone, Trey looked at the woman beside him. “Do you think you can forgive me for being such a lying bastard?”
“I don’t know.” She looked at the back door. “Want to take a walk?”
“Sure,” he said, lacing his fingers through hers. Anything she wanted. “Let’s go.”
His mother’s backyard was a beautifully landscaped private garden, complete with a paved path and a tiny koi pond in the corner. Hand in hand, he and Bethany wandered through the late-spring blooms, the stars twinkling brightly overhead.
“Why did you do it?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Lie to you?” He took a deep, steadying breath. “Because it was easier than letting you know the truth. Because I was afraid that if I told you I was in a biker gang instead of a police squad, that you’d run away. And since you’re the best damn thing that ever happened to me, I couldn’t face that idea.”
She sank down onto the bench beside the koi pond. Behind her, a flowering dogwood’s petals rippled softly in the breeze. He sat down beside her, wishing like hell he knew what to say to make this all better.
“You hurt me,” she said, no trace of malice in her words.
He didn’t think she could have said anything that would have made him feel worse than that.
“I’d do anything to take it back,” he said honestly, squeezing her hand. “I know you’ve got no reason to forgive me. But I swear, I would do anything to make it up to you.”
She gave him a small smile, and hope leapt in his heart.
“I believe you. And I want to move forward. I’ve spent too long trying to heal old wounds. I have to give myself permission to move on. To be happy.”
A tear ran down her cheek, and Trey put his arm around her shoulders. Tucking her close to his side, he waited, silently lending her his strength.
“My father made me promise to take care of my grandmother. Before he died. And that woman has put me through hell. But now?” She looked up at Trey. “I know what to do now. My uncle’s moving her in with him. And he’ll take care of her, for the money that’ll be there after she dies if nothing else.” She gave a sad laugh. “In a way, they’re perfect for each other. And my promise to Dad will be finished. I don’t think he meant to chain me to her for life.”
“If he was anything like you,” Trey said, holding her close, “he’d have moved heaven and earth to see you happy.”
Bethany laid her head on his shoulder. “I think so. And I want to be with you. I’m choosing you. If you promise me one thing.”
“Anything.”
Her hand brushed his cheek as she turned him to face her.
“Never lie to me again. And promise you’ll never leave me. I can deal with a lot of things, like you being the head of a biker gang, but the one thing I can’t deal with is being without you.”
“I swear,” he said and bent down to kiss her. “I love you, Bethany Jernigan,” Trey murmured against her mouth.
“And I love you, Trey Harding. No matter what. I love you.”
* * *
They spent a long night at the Yelverton home, talking, laughing, apologizing, getting to know one another. It was one of the happiest nights in Trey’s memory.
The next morning, while he was with Bethany, Sarah, and his mother in the kitchen, preparing a Food Network–worthy breakfast, Trey’s cell phone buzzed.
Sarah, sitting at the counter beside him, stopped peeling mid-orange.
“Who’s that? The mafia?” She winked as if to make sure he knew she was joking.
“No, it’s the FBI. They want to hire me.” He swiped the answer-call button. “What is it, Ace?”
“Hey, Boss,” he said, sounding a little jittery. “Listen. I know you’re probably busy, and you’re going to kick my ass for asking this, but… I mean, since it’s so close, and we’ve done all this work…”
“The wedding job is back on.”
Ace’s whoop was so loud it made Sarah jump beside him.
“Really? You mean it?”
Trey laughed. “I do.” He covered the speaker and addressed his mother. “Hey, Mom, you still want the rest of the bikers to help with this wedding?”
Mom grinned. “Of course.”
“What?” Sarah squawked. Bethany giggled.
Trey moved his hand and spoke into the phone again. “Gather up the rest of the asylum, and you guys meet us here.” He rattled off the address.
For the next half hour, there was a huge amount of cooking, laughing, and a good dose of sheer panic from Sarah once she’d figured out that it was true—a biker gang was actually planning her wedding. But when the guys arrived, it was as if they had always been part of the family.
Mom cooed over Ace’s new vision board, done in more proper colors of gray and turquoise this time. Bethany and Doc worked in the kitchen, perfecting ideas for the wedding food. Wolf, Dean, and Sarah talked about the platform and archway for the end of the aisle.
And Trey? He watched them all, wondering how he’d gotten so lucky to have a family like this.
It must have been some lucky star shining that night when he’d been born.
When Doc was called to another part of the house, Trey slipped into the kitchen behind Bethany, who was looking on her phone for wedding recipes.
“Hey,” he said, wrapping his arms around her.
“Hi,” she said, looking up at him with a smile.
“Listen, I know I’ve apologized for the lying, but I wanted you to know I’m sorry again for leaving you with the venue problem. I feel really bad about that.”
“Well,” she said, turning in his arms, her cheeks pinkening suspiciously, “you actually can make up for that.”
“Really? I’ll do anything,” he said, bending down to brush her lips with his.
“You can let us use your house.”
“What?”