To feel secure, wanted, and loved. To be safe.

I know I can give her all of that. And more.

She shakes her head and sighs. "You guys would find some other chick to help out."

"Is that what you think? You're replaceable? Fuck without you we'd probably starve to death for one thing." She chuckles and looks away. "We'd definitely be rolling around in our own filth." She laughs a little harder.

"But-" I struggle to come up with the right words. "Even when I've been mad at you, I've needed you in my life, Trin."

The admission seems to startle her, but then her face softens. "I always feel better when you're around," she says.

Hell, that's practically an I love you from Trinity. "Even when I'm a jerk?"

"Yeah, then I just fantasize about slitting your throat."

I throw my head back and laugh. "Remind me to chuck my pocketknife." Her mouth quirks. "Okay, will you be more comfortable if we don't go public right now?"

She doesn't even hesitate. "Yes."

"Until the cast comes off?" I ask, because, fuck that's months away.

She nods. "And you're sure you want to be with me?"

"I've never been surer of anything in my life, babe." I run my hand over my head, wincing when I brush over the bandage. "Fuck, that's a long time. Four months?"

Her eyes well up. "I'm sorry. Maybe-"

I press a finger to her lips. "If that's what you need, then that's what we'll do. But in here, together. We're doing this for real." I poke my finger at the door. "Any of them-" Fuck, I hate this. "You shut them down, and if they give you shit, send them to me."

"People are going to wonder."

"No one will have the balls to stick their nose in our business. They'll just assume I'm being my regular asshole self."

"That's not fair. I'm sorry." She slides to the floor and grabs for my belt.

"What are you doing?"

She flutters her lashes at me and her lips curve into a smile that I think she intended to be sexy, but it's more sad. "You really have to ask?"

My hand closes over hers and I pull her away. In my shorts, my dick's cursing me out. "No. Not like this."

Her bottom lip juts out. "What? Why?"

"You think I'm mad at you, and that's not what's going on here."

Her smile disappears.

I jerk my chin at the bathroom door. "Go change. I'm exhausted and I bet you are too."

She balances on my good leg and pushes up off the floor. "I'm sorry I'm so fucked up."

"Babe, we're all fucked up in one way or another. One day you'll tell me what your reason is."

Stunned honey eyes stare back at me. What? She thought I wasn't going to want to know every piece of her eventually? "Be surprised all you want, Angel Face. But I intend to be your man in every single way."

Z's the first one at the dining room table the next morning, which is unusual. Still pissed about last night, I grunt at him instead of an actual greeting.

Trinity hurries past me into the kitchen and once again, I'm irritated that my girl's serving everyone breakfast.

Except she's not my girl-yet. I'm trying hard to honor her request, but it's annoying the shit out of me.

By the way Z keeps staring, I'm waiting for him to say something.

"Sorry about last night, bro."

Surprised, I raise an eyebrow at him.

He shrugs. "I wanna see you two work your shit out."

"It ain't me, brother."

Z cocks his head, but doesn't seem surprised. "I nevernot until she told me a couple weeks ago and then it all clickedif I'd known you two had something back thenI never-"

Fuck me. "Yeah, I know."

"You gonna claim her or not?"

Z must think this cast is gonna stop me from beating his ass. "She's not ready."

He gives me a So what? shrug.

"No. There are some things she needs me to tell her to do, and others" Yeah, Trinity's been tough to figure out, but I'm learning. Slowly. "Besides, I ain't claimin' an ol' lady who doesn't want me to be her ol' man."

Z nods, and I realize he understands. "She worried about the club?"

My shoulders lift. "I guess. She had a fucked up childhood."

He looks away for a second. "Yeah, I always kinda figured."

My hands clench into fists because I can only guess what made him say that. Fuck.

Murphy swaggers in, and I'm overwhelmed with the urge to punch him. Don't know why. Instead of sitting, he curls his hands over the back of one of the chairs and leans over. "Where's Trin at?"

"Why?" I growl at him.

"Need a blowjob," he says with a cocky smirk.

Never hit a brother.

Fuck that shit.

Unless he's earned it.

That comment's definitely grounds for a beating. Cast doesn't slow me down a bit as I jump out of my chair, reach across the table and wrap my fingers around his neck. Z's up so fast his chair clatters to the floor. He slaps his hand over my arm. "Let him go," he says to me with complete calm.

Just one more squeeze and I release the little fuck.

"Seriously, bro?" he asks Murphy.

Murphy leans over and coughs. "Fucking hell." He lifts his wary gaze to me before standing up straight. "What the fuck? I thought you were just staying in her room-"

"Let it fucking go, and watch your mouth, asshole," Z advises as both of us sit back down.

Murph's got no sense of self-preservation, because he pulls out a chair and drops into it. He runs his hand over his neck, but won't meet my eyes. "Sorry. Fuckin' irritated from seeing Heidi and Axel all over each other last night."

Z cocks his head. "When was she up here?"

He shrugs. "She came up to surprise him. T ended up chasing her home."

I feel for him, but I'm still fuckin' pissed. "From now on, find someone else to work out your Heidi-frustrations."

Murphy doesn't get to respond because Rock and Hope join our tense group. He casts a suspicious glance at each of us before pulling out a chair for Hope. Sweet and oblivious as always, she smiles at everyone, as if we're not a crew of degenerate fuckwits.

Teller joins us next.

"Thought you were home?" Murphy asks.

"Nah, came back after I dropped Heidi off."

Murphy grunts and looks away.

Hope's gaze keeps darting between Z and me. As if she's worried we're gonna kill each other. If only she knew. Murphy's more likely to get the fuck beaten out of him at the moment.

Trinity brings mugs out for everyone, then coffee. Hope chews on her lip as she watches Trinity move around the table.

"Trinity?" she calls.

"You need something, Hope?"

Curious about what she's up to, I wait for Hope's answer.

"Don't you ever eat breakfast?"

"Sure, in the kitchen while I'm getting everyone else's stuff together."

"Oh, no wonder you stay so skinny," Hope answers with a grin.

"Look who's talking," Trin jokes back.

Hope's gaze flicks over each one of us. "Well, I'm kind of on testosterone overload. Would you mind eating breakfast out here today?"

"Sure, I'll be right back."

Hope jumps up and follows Trinity into the kitchen. Girl is persistent, which is good because otherwise Trin will dawdle and find excuses not to return.

I lift my chin at Rock. "What's your woman up to?"

One side of his mouth kicks up and he shrugs. "You heard her. We're boring."

The girls are gone for a while, making it impossible to pay attention to the conversation at the table.

Hope returns first, hands Rock his breakfast and kisses his cheek like it's the most normal thing in the world. Trinity sets plates in front of Z and me, then hesitates. Hope's not going to be deterred though, she taps the chair next to her.

Murphy apparently still needs his ass kicked. "Hey," he mumbles.

Teller turns and scowls at him.

"Birch is coming," Hope explains to the little bitch.

Still shocked at the way this morning's turning out, I must be staring at Hope. She glances up and pink stains her cheeks. "How do you feel today?" she asks.

"Hung over. Sore. But happy to be home." Happy as fuck to have finally weaseled my way into Trinity's room too. Even if she slapped a bunch of conditions on our arrangement.

"I think everyone is relieved you're home," she says with a chuckle. Her attention turns to Trinity, who hasn't moved. Hope picks up the milk and shoves it at her. "Sorry, didn't mean to hog up the milk, Trin."

It's enough to pull Trinity out of whatever's bothering her. "Thanks, Hope," she mutters.

Thanks is inadequate. She's done more for my girl in five minutes than I've been able to do in five weeks.

"Sucks we're gonna miss the run with Sway's guys down to Virginia," Z says. "Last big run before we're all trapped in cages for winter."

Like I don't feel bad enough about all the shit going on. "Fucking go," I grumble at him.

"No fucking way. We all go, or no one goes," Murphy shoots back. As if loyalty is going to stop me from kicking his ass today.

"We'll do up a big one at the start of the next season for you," Teller adds.

They turn to discussing what upgrades they plan to work on over the winter. It just depresses me because I probably won't be ready to ride at the beginning of the next season. And I sure as fuck ain't in any condition to work out in the garage all winter long.

"Don't you ever get tired of all the boy talk?" Hope whispers, loud enough for all of us to hear.

Nervous laughter tumbles out of Trinity. "Not really."

"What do you like to do, Trin?" Hope asks.

She shrugs. "This place keeps me busy. I can't wait for next spring. The guys are going to put in a garden so I can grow some veggies and stuff here."

Hell yeah. She got so excited about farmers markets and feeding me all that healthy crap during my training. Can't wait to help her out with that, plus it will keep her busy. "We'll get the prospects started on that early, so it's ready for you," I say.