Page 169 of Bone’s Choice

Women came through sometimes, sure, but that wasn’t the same thing. They weren’t part of anything. They didn’t matter.

Hazel did.

I hadn’t figured out exactly what the fuck that meant yet.

Maybe I didn’t need to.

We were Hazel and Bone. That was what she’d said.

I’d liked it then. Still fucking did.

“I like having you here.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Really?”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

She smiled. “I wasn’t going to.”

“You were.”

“Maybe.”

I slid my hand around the back of her neck. “You can be here.”

Her smile faded slightly. “When?”

“As long as I’m here.”

She studied me. I knew what that meant. She wasn’t stupid.

I couldn’t have Hazel wandering around the clubhouse whenever she wanted. Not with what we did here. Not with shit going on with Owen. Not with Eli and whoever the fuck had put a dead man inside one of our coffins.

There were things she couldn’t see.

Things she couldn’t know. Not yet.

Maybe not ever, but that didn’t mean I needed her standing outside every part of my life.

“If I’m here,” I said, “you’re good.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“No walking down here by yourself.”

Her lips twitched. “Bossy.”

“Serious.”

“Fine.”

“And if Ma tries dragging you down here again without telling me—”

“I should tackle her?”

I stared at her.

Hazel smiled.