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“Matthew.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

“What are you doing here? And who’s this?” He points to Sam.

Her eyes cut to me and I can see the guilt on her face. “Um…I’ve decided to move back.” I watch her throat bob as she swallows. “And this is my son, Sam.” He turns to my brothers and waves.

Sin’s lips go tight as his jaw ticks. He turns towards me. “It seems that you’ve been keeping secrets from me, brother.” He stalks off without another word.

“Just let him be. He’ll get over it,” Cut tells me but continues to look at Tessa. Dyke and Brass take the silence as an opportunity to leave. They each pat Cut on the shoulder as they head towards their bikes, and only moments later I hear to the roar of four bikes, so I know that Lick has gone too.

“Where’ve you been, Tessa? I didn’t expect to see you around here again,” Cut asks.

“I’ve been in L.A., and I didn’t expect to ever come back here.”

“Listen, Cut–”

“No, Hawk. I’m not listening to you right now. I’m the one talking.” His gaze falls to Sam who’s studying Cut. When he brings his eyes back to Tessa, I see understanding. “I know, what running from demons is like, Tessa.” His gaze between the two of us. “I hope you stick around for a while. Sin will get over whatever stick is up to his ass. I’m sure it has to do with the shit he doesn’t know. It’s up to you to tell him and get him to understand. We didn’t only have one sister, Tessa. Blood or not, you were just as much our sister as she was. When we lost Sienna that day, we lost you too. Sin isn’t always so forgiving but give him time.”

Tessa wipes another round of tears from her eyes. “Thank you, Cut.” He nods, and turns towards his bike, leaving the three of us alone.

“Can you show me where Sienna is?”

I nod and adjust my hold on Sam. “She’s this way.” We walk a few rows back until I find the stone with the angel keeping watch. I’ve never come to Sienna’s grave, not since the funeral.

Tessa falls to her knees and then places her hands on the grass. Her body shakes as her hands turn to fists against the earth. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I’m sorry for what happened to you. I’m sorry for not being strong enough and for running. But no more, I’m not running anymore.”

She leans down and places a kiss on the grass then rests her cheek, closing her eyes. After a short time, she lifts herself to her feet and wipes the grass from her hands and clothes. She takes a few steps towards Sam and me, running her hand down his back.

“Tessa, why are you here?” I ask.

“I need a favor.”

Tessa

I grip the steering wheel as I follow Hawk towards Bianca’s house. Hawk doesn’t know this yet, but Sam and I will be staying with Bianca for the time being. That’s what was decided when I called her yesterday. I didn’t have many other options.

Almost eight years ago, I woke up in a hospital. My only option was to leave Las Cruses and start a new life. Three days ago, I woke up in a hospital, knowing my only option was to leave Los Angeles and head home.

Croy sat at my bedside while I slept for three days straight. He called Sarah and Martha and told them what happened. Croy arranged for Sam to be cared for while I lay unconscious in the hospital. It was Croy who told me he would see me through this. He would be by my side the entire way, and he would be there for Sam when I was too weak to do it. But it wasn’t Croy who I saw, it was Hawk, and that’s when I knew I had to face my demons and go back to where everything started…

My eyes flutter against the harshness of the lights. The feel of a cold cloth glides along my forehead. “Hawk.” My voice is like sandpaper.

“Tessa?”

I flinch at the voice because I know it’s not Hawk’s. It’s Croy. Continuing to blink, Croy comes into focus.

“Did you say something?” He sits back with the washcloth still in his hand.

“I thought you were Hawk.” I try to clear my throat, so he hands me a cup of water. The liquid helps my throat. “I don’t know why I thought that.” I give him a small smile, but he seems annoyed.

“No, Tessa, I’ve been here the entire time. Not Hawk, me. I’ve put my life on hold making sure that your son was cared for while his mother lain unconscious in the hospital. Not Hawk, me.”

“I didn’t know, Croy. I’m sorry.”

He humbles something about Hawk listening to him under his breath.

“What did you say?”

He brings his hardened glare to me. “I said that he listened like a good boy when he came to the club before he left town. I told him that this wasn’t his place. That him being in your life wasn’t good for either you or Sam.” He sits up. “How can he think you would be better back in a town where the father of your son raped you?” His eyes narrow, “Yeah, I’ve known, Tessa. It’s only been obvious. What kind of a man would think you’d be able to live always looking over his shoulder? You know what kind? The selfish kind.”