this stage of his life after going through so much shit.
“Baby, I love you too,” he said just as there was a knock on his office door.
“Gave you two as long as I could, but they’re wanting the prez to make a speech.” Scott’s voice came through the door.
“Two minutes.”
“He doing okay?” Brooke asked with a furrow to her brow. She’d taken the guys under her wing as she did with her rescue dog. They became her pups, men to care for and love.
As he zipped up his jeans, he shook his head. “Not sure, baby. Seems like his fuse grows shorter by the day. Planning to talk to his sister and Rocket about him tomorrow.” Scott had become unpredictable and volatile, starting fights and drinking like a fucking fish.
With a smile, Brooke stretched up on her tip toes. “Then we’ll worry about it tomorrow. Time for you to go talk to your men.” She kissed him. “I’m so proud of you.”
Had anyone ever said those simple words to him?
Not likely. Damn, they made him feel like the king of the world.
He held his hand out for Brooke. “Let’s go. Stay right at my side, okay?”
Beaming, she nodded. “Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Hand in hand, they walked out into the partially renovated clubhouse. In a few short months the work would be completed, and he’d have a home for his family. Men slapped him on the back and women kissed both his and Brooke’s cheeks as they wormed their way to the temporary bar.
A loud whistle ripped through the room, ending the chatter. All eyes of both the Tennessee and Florida chapters of the Hell’s Handlers MC focused on him. This was where he belonged. Where he’d wanted to be his entire life. He’d been here before but was too young and stupid to realize the many mistakes he’d made. Now, older, wiser, and harder, he was ready to resume his role as president of a motorcycle club. Having Brooke at his side made this moment a million times sweeter. He squeezed her hand as he smiled down at her.
“Listen up,” he boomed through the crowd. “Wanna start off by thanking Copper and every one of you who welcomed me into your home in Tennessee. And I wanna thank you for trusting me to expand your family down to Florida. I promise to do right by all of you. As for the new patches of the Florida chapter, congrats. Can’t fucking wait to see what trouble we can get into together.”
All around the farmhouse, men and women cheered and hollered.
Curly lifted his hand to quiet them once again. “I don’t want to drag this out, so that’s all I’m gonna say. Keep drinking, have fun, and get laid!”
The music kicked up along with whoops and cheers as the crowd went back to drinking and dancing.
He glanced down at the remarkable woman at his side. “Took me forty-six years and multiple trips through hell, but I’m finally where I’m supposed to be.”
Moisture shone in Brooke’s eyes. She cupped his face between her soft hands. “Same for me, baby. And the next time we have to go through hell, we’ll handle it together. Side by side. Hand in hand.”
He kissed her, letting the world fall away as his new family celebrated life all around them.
After living so many years in misery, Curly would never forget the perfection of this moment.
Keep reading for a preview of First Comes Loathe by Lilly Atlas.
FIRST COMES LOATHE PREVIEW
“SCARLETT, HEY SCARLETT. You gotta get up!” A voice whisper-yelled into the darkness as a hand shook her shoulder, making her brain rattle around painfully in her skull.
Michaela blinked, then groaned. “Fuck, stop!” Even after all these years of going by her stage name, her mind reacted with confusion to being called Scarlett first thing in the morning. The stage name had been her talent agent’s idea after a series of crushing rejections early on. A name change and colored contacts, professional hair bleaching, shedding twenty pounds, and speech training to rid herself of the southern accent. He claimed the stage name gave her an allure of mystery.
Or some bullshit like that.
Sprawled on her stomach, Michaela lifted her head. “Becca?” she croaked. God, her throat felt dry as the freakin’ Sahara. “Why are you here? Why am I on my couch?”
“Because you needed to be up about twenty minutes ago,” her personal assistant whispered.
“The fuck?” she asked. “Why?”
“God, Scarlett, you’re really out of it this morning. Today is the