He pins me to the bed, shifting so he's over me. "Think you're funny don't you?"

I'm laughing too hard to answer.

The length of his body presses against mine.

Then I'm not laughing anymore. His fingers slide into my hair; a gentle massaging touch I wouldn't have thought he'd be capable of. "Thank you for confiding in me."

"Thank you for not laughing."

He draws back, blue eyes searching my face. "You're my girl. I wouldn't laugh."

Every awful thing ever said about me when I was a kid-ugly, disfigured, damaged, whore-is replaced by two other words. My girl. I adore them, yet I'm so afraid they won't last.

For once I wake up with Trin still curled up next to me.

Last night fuckin' floored me for many reasons.

If it's possible, I love her even more.

I roll out of bed as gently as possible and get ready to meet the guys in the war room for church. Grudgingly I grab the crutches and make my way down the hall. Fucking doctor keeping me at non-weight-bearing status is gettin' old quick.

By the look on his face and the way Rock's practically vibrating out of his skin, something's going down. If I had to guess, I'd say he wants to take a vote on Hope gettin' a property patch.

Good. I could use some entertainment this morning.

He studies me with concern as I drop into my chair. "You feelin' all right?"

"Yeah. Fuckin' cast is bullshit."

"Slowin' your game?" Z asks from across the table. As if I can't reach over and punch his pretty-boy face.

"Brother's got no game. Trinity's been carrying his balls around in her back pocket for weeks," Dex snarks.

Well, look who reached down and found a sense of humor. I laugh because it's funny and true. Girl has my balls, heart and everything in between. Getting tired of pretending otherwise.

Sparky twitches through the entire meeting. Brother can't stand being away from his plants for too long. He's got a crop close to harvest. I'd say that's why he's stressed but honestly, he's like this through every stage the plants go through.

Strip club's doing well. Z and Dex found someone to replace Inga. I can't imagine that was too difficult. There seems to be no shortage of hot, bitchy blondes willing to shed their clothes for cash.

Got a run out to the Devil Demons that's normally mine comin' up. Obviously, I can't go.

"Told ya, take my fuckin' cut."

My offer is met with the usual hostility from my brothers.

"There's an exception in the by-laws for injuries, you fuckhead, so stop offering," Z bitches at me.

It's true. I still feel like a piece of shit for not carrying my weight. Flipping Z off only makes me feel a fraction better.

Rock calls the meeting to a close, but asks the officers to hang back. That's not unusual. He wastes no time getting down to business.

"I want to give Hope a property patch."

Boom! There it is.

Been waitin' a grip now for this to go down.

As always, Z needs it spelled out for him. "You asking for our votes, prez?"

"Yes."

Rock stares everyone down, his steely gaze locking on me last. Just daring me to vote no.

Inside I'm laughing my ass off and gonna enjoy the hell out of messing with him. Outside, I'm indifferent.

"You lay it out for her?" I ask.

"Yes."

Bullshit. "Everything?"

Through clenched teeth, he spits out, "Not quite."

What the fuck you waiting for?

He reads the question loud and clear. "She knows enough. I trust her. You heard her the night of the party. It ain't gonna rattle her."

Yeah, I guess. Still think she should know what she's marrying herself to.

Teller-asskisser that he is-raises his hand like the obnoxious know-it-all I always wanted to punch in grade school. "She's been real good to Heidi. Trinity too. She's got love for the club. Prez is happy. She gets my vote." Big shock there. Teller is a mini-Rock. He ain't ever gonna challenge the prez on anything.

My teeth grind together when he mentions Trinity's name. I understand why. Still don't fuckin' like it.

Murphy has liked Hope from day one. He's extra sweet on her since she seems to have taken Heidi under her wing. I definitely respect that. But Murph's another one who'll never challenge Rock. "She's a classy girl. Doesn't give anyone grief. She was ready to rip those cops' heads off after Heidi's party. Abso-fucking-lutely."

Now Z's more interesting because he will challenge Rock if he needs to. But he's also guzzled quite a bit of the Hope Koolaid. "She keeps her shit locked down. Took that bullshit the club girls heaped on her with class. Treats Trinity with respect. Never cops an attitude in public, even though I know she gives prez hell when they're alone. Fuck yes."

All good observations.

Rock chuckles and glances down at the table before turning to me. Fucker's actually happy for the first time in years. Maybe for the first time since I've known him. It seems absurd but somehow they fit together. He seems to be figuring out how to balance between her world and ours.

Doesn't mean I won't enjoy fucking with him a bit.

Sitting back, I narrow my eyes and stare him down. "You trust her?"

"You know I do."

"You trust her with your life? Our lives?" I point at every brother at the table. I know Rock's thought this through. He wouldn't have brought it to the table otherwise. But I have to ask.

"Yes, she'd never spill club business." I agree. As clueless as she is, I've never seen her run her mouth. "How much club business you gonna let her in on?" This is important and I wish to fuck he'd straighten this out before he patches her.

"She understands but said she doesn't want details in case she ever ends up having to represent one of us in court."

Didn't see that one coming. I should have though. I've actually seen her in the courtroom and she's a fierce little thing. "Okay. You got my yes."

The relief on Rock's face is so obvious, I almost feel bad for messing with him.

Almost.

Now that Wrath knows what I've been up to, it's nice to be able to work during the day. While the guys are locked up in the war room for church, I finish one project and send it off.

Church rarely lasts longer than an hour, so I hustle down to the kitchen. To my surprise, Birch already has breakfast started. I grab a cup of coffee, a piece of toast, and try not to freak out about him messing around in my kitchen.

Rowdy voices come from the dining room, prompting me to grab a pot of coffee and head out. But I'm surprised to find only Ravage, Dex, Bricks and Stash sitting around one of the tables.

"Where's everyone else?"

"Rock, kept 'em behind," Dex explains with no other details. Fuck, I hope nothing's wrong.

"Sparky head back downstairs?"

Rav rolls his eyes at me. "What do you think?"

I run back in the kitchen and make up a plate for Sparky, then run it downstairs to him. He barely notices and mumbles a thank you on my way out.

Wrath's definitely wound up when he busts into the dining room. As soon as he sees me, his demeanor changes. He jerks his head toward the hallway.

"What's up?" I ask when we're alone.

"Just wanted to see you. Alone."

"Everything okay?"

Z, Murphy and Teller walk up together but stop when they see us. "Where's Rock?" I ask.

"Halfway to slam-central station by now," Murphy answers with a snicker.

Z glances at him sideways. "What's the matter with you?"

Wrath finally steers me into my room. "Aren't you hungry?" I ask.

"Yeah. But not for food."

"Handling club business with the guys got you worked up?"

"No. Thinking about you got me worked up."

"You were thinking about me in church?"

"I think about you all the time."

Shit. I don't know what to do with that. My cheeks burn and I have to look away. "Me too."

When I turn back to face him, he's wearing such a serious expression, I wonder what the hell went down in church. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah. I'm thinking it's time we stop screwing around and announce our relationship." He runs his finger over my cheek. "I want everyone to know you're my girl."

"Wyatt-"

"You realize I don't need your permission?"

Now that pisses me off. "If that's the way you want to go, why tell me at all? Just embrace your inner caveman, like you're dying to do. Maybe you'd like to drag me in there by my hair to really drive it home to everyone."

"You make me fuckin' nuts. You know that? I'm trying so fuckin' hard-"

I catch his hand and hold it until he looks at me. "I know you are. I'm sorry. Don't you think everyone sort of suspects it anyway?"

"I don't care. I want to announce it. I want everyone to hear me say you're my ol' lady."

The enormity of it strikes me in the chest and I stagger over to my desk to sit down.

"Soon okay? Can we stick to the original plan? I thought things were going well?"

"They are." He glances at the door and back at me.

I know better than to ask what went down in church, but it's really bugging me. "What happened in church?" I blurt out.

His face locks down hard and cold. "Club business. You know better."

Yeah, I do.

"I'm gonna go down to the dining room," he says. "You comin'?"

"No. I ate. I've got some stuff to do."

The disappointment on his face shreds me, but he nods and leaves.

I need something. I'm so damn wound up now. Why am I doing this to him? To us? He's been true to his word. Haven't seen him blink in the direction of any of the girls.

I haven't thought about anyone else. Even when he pisses me off.

Thinking about all this has me jumping out of my skin. I change and walk across the hall to see if burning off some energy will help my brain calm down.

I'm still so fuckin' scared if this doesn't work, I'll find myself homeless. Right? That's my reason?

The familiar swirl of insecurity spins through me but I keep pushing. Maybe if I pound the treadmill hard enough, I can outrun all the bad memories threatening to crush me. Wyatt's a risk I want to take. I should take. But I've chosen safety and security over everything else my entire life. And here I am doing it again.

Z senses I'm pissed as soon as I sit down.