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“Who is this– Sweetheart that you and your brother are trying to kill each other over?”

I had to fight not to smile. “Kennedy Kohl.”

I swear, all the muscles in her face seemed to fail at once. I pecked her on the cheek and she actually flinched.

“Gotta go. Love you, Ma.” I bailed before I even heard a response.

There was a meeting tonight and I wanted to see if my brother was going to show up to it, or if he was about to ruin his life.

I gnawed my lip, that knot in my stomach doubling as I thought of Kennedy alone with him. I didn’t want her to be hurt. As much as I hated knowing any of it, I was convinced the only way I could hope to keep her safe, was to know every last detail.

I had to stay one step ahead of them and I could only do that by convincing them that I was more willing than they were.

That was the only way.

I was cooked no matter what happened.

I accepted that fact and killed the engine before making my way toward the tavern door.

We gathered in a sizable room just off Forty’s office. The table was nearly full when I entered, and much to my surprise, my brother was already present.

Present, and bleeding, from the looks of his jeans.

I raised my brow in silent question, but he only scoffed and looked away.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I took my seat. My worry proved to be for nothing, however, the meeting went as usual. We voted on which charity run we would do in the fall and agreed to keep doing business with the guys from St. Louis.

It was over in thirty minutes, after which the music was turned back on, and the tavern began to fill with people.

“What the fuck is this?” I mumbled at my uncle, Preach, as we ventured toward the crowd.

“It’s Bullet Boy’s birthday. His ol’ lady wanted to throw a surprise party, or something.” Preach shrugged, a peaceful smile coming over him as he surveyed the room and eventually announced. “Good crowd.”

“Yeah,” I mumbled, my attention anchoring on Roach and Forty in the corner. “What the hell?”

Preach gave a deep, appreciative laugh, “Can you blame him? Everything else in this room is beyond saturated. Kind of like swimming in a DNA lab.”

I shook my head and noticed the pool table had opened up again.

“You want a game?” I asked, swatting at his upper arm.

He glanced toward the table and nodded, “Nephew, if you got money to put on that table, I’m happy to take it from you. Just let me know any day you want a lesson, hear?”

I side-eyed the shit-talking fool, and snorted. Any other day, I’d have given him hell and spat the banter right back. Tonight was different.

“Where is she?” I mumbled as we made our way over.

“Hmm?”

“Kennedy.” I said it under my breath, not wanting the room to be in our business.

Preach stopped in his tracks, his face lightly scrunching, “Oh, not you too.”

“What do you mean? Me, too?” I laughed.

“Fuck me.” Preach sighed, “Come on, maybe if I take it easy on ya, you’ll have time to get some sense about ya, or something.”

“We can’t all have your endless wisdom. That type of shit only comes with being around since the model T was born. Like you’ve been.”