Page 103 of Fly's Path

“I’m not hiding it from him.” Wow, that made me sound guilty. “I’m not hiding anything.”

“I know a woman hiding something when I see her. And whatever it is you’re hiding behind that pretty smile and those big eyes keeps you up at night. People don’t sleep as hard as youdid on their first date unless they haven’t slept in a long time and finally found a safe place to rest their heads. Fly gave you a safe space then, and he’ll do it again. But he’s going to lose his mind if he finds it out from someone else and not out of your mouth.”

“How can you say things like that to a total stranger?”

“You aren’t a stranger.”

“Excuse me. This is the first time we’ve said more than two words in passing to each other. And I’m pretty sure we didn’t even say two words before this.”

“Doesn’t make you a stranger. And I’m pretty sure you won’t stay a stranger long.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re an odd man?”

Integer chuckles. “All the time. I joined Children of Chaos to feel normal, and it was the best decision I ever made.”

“Most people don’t say that about joining a gang.”

“That’s because we’re a motorcycle club and not a gang.”

I’ve heard that before. “Why would a motorcycle club make you feel normal? There’s nothing wrong with being different.”

“Because I have people I can trust. Brothers who have my back regardless of what might happen. The brotherhood is like that. We aren’t just people who pay dues. These are men I trust my life with, and you can too.”

That means…“You were alone.”

He nods. “Foster kid in a group home for most of my life. Then I went to college, got a good job, and thought everything would be okay.”

“But you were still alone.” Always alone in a sea of people.

“Tried the marriage thing briefly. But the problem was with me. I was looking for her to fill a hole inside of me instead of looking to fill her life with love.”

“No one can fix your life except for you.”

“Figured that out, but I will tell you, my brother can fix your problems. Give him your trust.”

‘No one would ever want trash like you. You better pretend real good, little girl, to be better than you are, or people will see the trash inside of you.’ Grammie’s words ring out as clear as the first day she said them. The day my mother left us. Then again, the day my brother left me.

The only one you can rely on is yourself.

“You aren’t going to tell him.”

“No. And I wish you wouldn’t.”

“Can’t do that, Sheridan. Fly is my brother. I would die to protect him, and that protection extends to his woman.”

“I won’t be that for long,” I mutter the words under my breath.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.” Integer’s focus turns back to the heavy traffic.

Noise will help. Music will distract. I need a run. Is it too late to go for one tonight?

***

Integer stops the SUV in front of Dahlia’s house.

“Thank you for the ride home.”

Integer unbuckles his belt and hops out.