“My name is Joseph Montez. I don’t like onions raw or cooked. I like to dance and watch my woman get herself off. And I will love you until I’m six feet under. I never lied to you about anything regarding you”—I pointed at her—“and me.”
“I just thought you liked to be called Track.”
“You were the only woman who got the real me, including my goddamn birth name!”
“I’m sorry.” She stood with her hands rolled into fists. “But how am I supposed to know what was real or not. My mother just came back from the dead!”
“Because I’m telling you now, it was all real for me.” I charged toward her and smashed my lips to hers. I kissed her deeply like my life depended on it.
Because it fucking did. I’d die without Brynne.
We went at each other and hope sparked in my heart.
“I love you, Bonita. I love so fucking much. I’m not going anywhere.” I dragged my tongue across hers.
“I don’t know, Joseph. I’m scared.”
“I know, baby. Just don’t say we’re over. Don’t cut me out of your life.” I cradled her face in my hands. “Give us a chance, Brynne. We can go slow. We can start fucking over if that’s what you want but give us a chance. For you. For me. For our baby.”
“Okay. But on my terms.”
“Anything you say.” I kissed her again.
A familiar ringtone made us freeze.
“No, it can’t be.” Brynne rushed to her duffle and pulled out the ringing flip phone. She dropped it.
I picked it up and put it on speaker. “Who’s this?”
“Well, hello.”
The blood drained out of Brynne’s face. I pulled her toward me and held her tightly.
“What do you want, Dorian?”
“It’s good you know who I am, Track. I wanted to let you know I still need my girl.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you, you son of a bitch.” Who the fuck did this prick think he was?
“Then I’ll need to cause a lot of problems for you, your club, and Tina. The only way to stop my retaliation is to give me Brynne.”
“Never. You give it your best shot, asshole.”
Brynne shook her head.
“I thought you might say that. The first wave of problems is coming.”
I heard sirens.
Shouting followed from downstairs.
“Do you want to know what’s coming?” Dorian asked. “Warrants for murder. Have you spoken to Gina lately, Brynne?”
Brynne’s eyes went wide and she ran to the window. I saw red lights.
“You son of a bitch. We didn’t kill Gina.”
“Doesn’t matter. My reach is far and wide.”
“Goddamn it!”
“One more thing,” Dorian said sarcastically. “How’s your brother? Might want to check on him. I’ll be in touch with details later…”