"Mia sent these. I don't know about you, but I need a coffee after the long night I had," Razor said. "Hey Pop."

Dad shook his head. "No thanks. Just makes me p.i.s.s more." Razor placed a cup on the table next to the bed.

"I'll drink it then," Razor grinned.

The old man coughed before raising a hand and gesturing for the boys to sit. I gratefully accepted the steaming cup of coffee from Ryder and took a few sips as he sat down next to me.

Mia was thoughtful like that and I adored that she'd take care of me and the boys with small gestures like this. She said it was her way to show her grat.i.tude for saving her life, and the boys really appreciated it. Razor had commented that he never realized how much he missed out of life by not having a sister and was glad he had one now.

Malone cleared his throat. All eyes were on him. "The doctor came around late yesterday." He paused for a long moment, clearly mulling his thoughts through his head before he spoke. His voice was low yet even. "I don't have more than a month. Two at the most."

f.u.c.k. The news. .h.i.t me like a ton of bricks. Death was unavoidable-but two months? f.u.c.k. Both Ryder and Razor gaped at him like I was.

He held up a hand, a small smile twisting the corners of his mouth. "Before you start crying, I want something from you."

"Anything, Old Man, just name it," Razor blurted out.

"Yeah, me too. You've been my father since I came to the club. Anything."

Malone sucked in a long breath before he spoke. "I appreciate that more than you will know. But be careful what you promise, cause I'm gonna hold you to it."

"For you, anything Malone. I'm with Razor and Ryder. We love you even though you can be a tough old man most of the time." I tried to keep the dread out of my voice. Losing my old man so soon was going to be tough on all of us.

"I know. But it's my job to be tough. And sometimes I think I haven't been tough enough. Look at Daemon-epic fail as a parent with that boy." It sounded as if he was talking to himself rather than to us.

"So what do you want us to do for you, Pop?" Razor asked.

In spite of the pain he wore on his face, my father's eyes were still bright and alert. "Two things. One." He held up a finger as another round of coughs left him nearly breathless. He leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes while he took a few sucks of oxygen from the mask dangling next to his head. Three pairs of worried eyes watched as we waited for him to recover, not one of us making a sound.

Malone slowly opened his eyes and let his gaze travel from one to the other. Finally his eyes rested on me. "First . . . you all gotta quit smoking. Look what it's doing to me. You don't want to die like this. Promise me," he demanded in a gruff voice.

We all nodded, understanding where he was coming from.

"And two. Daemon." Malone's face dropped and sadness flitted through his eyes.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. This was going to be a more difficult promise to make, I could just sense it before Malone said more.

"I managed to get Daemon out of the Mexican jail. Took me a few bribes and knowing the right people."

It was our turn to each suck in a breath. I never expected to see my twin again. Since we'd left Daemon behind, he'd been in prison for killing the Don and his men. Stronger evidence could not be found than his gun with matching bullets in the men's skulls.

The cops had found Daemon first, dehydrated and close to death. They locked him up in a cell with two other bikers who'd been caught smuggling drugs that week. The bikers were from our rival gang, the LA Demons, and since it was two of them against one, Daemon would suffer all their hatred for the Scorpio Stingers.

Pedro's family wanted Daemon dead. According to the cops he was safer in jail than out. Unless someone sold him out. There was always that possibility too.

I couldn't imagine that the conditions were very pleasant in an overcrowded prison with so many people wanting him dead, yet I didn't feel an inch of remorse for leaving him behind.

"I'm busy snuffing, boys. In a few weeks you get to bury me and you, Cobra, will be pres. I don't have long. But before I go, I want Daemon to come home."

What? f.u.c.k.

"Are you f.u.c.king serious?" Razor voiced my thoughts out loud. "He sold us out and was going to f.u.c.king kill us. I never want to see that p.r.i.c.k in my life again."

"It's not that simple. Lately I've had dreams I can't ignore . . . about your mother asking me to forgive Daemon." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "Your brother is still our blood. He is still my child, regardless of what he's done. I need to make peace with him before I go."

Razor got up from his chair and paced the room. "Pop, you know Daemon won't ever change. What you are asking-"

"I know what I'm asking. But you promised me anything. It's my dying wish."

"Anything but this," I said. "Daemon is better off in a prison cell. Don't ask us to bring him here. Life has been so much better with him gone. For everyone. I don't know if I can look at his face again and not want to strangle him."

"Do it for me." He held up the photo he'd been staring at earlier and pointed to the smiling woman's face. "And your mother. Please."

Malone had never begged for anything. Not once.

"If that's what you really want," Ryder said. "I'll take a few of the brothers and go get him."

"Thanks Ryder, I knew I could count on you, son." He smiled at Ryder, his eyes glistening with tears.

Ryder shook his head. "Don't thank me, Malone. I think bringing Daemon back is the biggest mistake you could ever make. But if it's your dying wish-"

"It is. One day when you have kids you'll understand. I know Daemon is rotten to the core. I know bringing him back places his and your lives in danger. Yet, I can't die in peace until I've seen him."

f.u.c.k. How could I possibly refuse a man I loved his last request?

It was wrong. Daemon would ruin everything. f.u.c.k with our lives as he always had. I took a step closer to the bed and wrapped my hand over my father's.

"Yeah, we'll do it," I said. "Because we love you, Malone."

Chapter 29 - Cobra.

I'd always believed that Malone would be around to hand over the gavel himself when I got sworn in to be president.

It didn't happen like that at all. Malone died a month after we'd brought Demon back to the states. Because I'd respected my father's last wish, I tried to make peace with my twin as much as I could, but found that we stayed out of one another's way as much as possible.

Prison life must have been grueling, because Demon kept more to himself, preferring to stay in his room rather than spending time with the boys. Suited us all just fine. We really didn't want him there and the less I saw of him, the better.

I'd seen the way his gaze always followed Mia whenever she was around. It riled me to my f.u.c.king bones, making me feel sick as he watched her with an evil grin on his face. On more than one occasion I'd warned him to stay away from her and I had the boys keep an eye on her whenever I was away.

Malone had spent a lot of time talking to Demon in the weeks before he'd slipped away one night. He'd been in so much pain that even his meds couldn't relieve him of it.

Hammer had brought it to my attention that Demon was using heavily. Any drugs he could lay his hands on. The f.u.c.king worthless piece of s.h.i.t had descended into the bottomless pit of no return.

It killed me when Malone made me promise to always keep his room at the club available to Demon after his death, allowing my twin to stay there whenever he wanted too.

Only after three months of mourning, did I a.s.sume the role of president of the Scorpio Stingers MC. My uncle had come from another chapter in the Midwest and ran the club while I struggled with my loss.

It was Mia and Ryder that helped me cope most. They supported my decisions and allowed me time to mourn.

The day I became president was low key. I didn't want a big fuss. Only the closest friends and family witnessed it as I was sworn in. Just the way I wanted it.

Life went on, the club taking over most of my time, and Mia every moment I wasn't busy with club work.

I was always on edge, always waiting for Demon to f.u.c.k up. It wore me down.

Then it happened.

Two years after we'd buried Malone, I found Daemon stoned out of his f.u.c.king mind, Jenna dead in his bed, blood dripping off her body. The brothers cleaned up the mess and I opened a trust fund for Jenna's mother to help her support her other kids since she no longer had Jenna's income or help with babysitting the younger kids. If only the woman would stop breeding, but it wasn't her fault her eldest daughter was dead.

I threw Demon out like the sc.u.m he was. He deserved a terrible death, yet I let him live. I couldn't forget my promise to Malone, but I banned Demon from the club regardless. It was best for everyone.

I was rid of the f.u.c.ker. I never wanted to see him again as long as I lived.

If only I knew it was far from over.

Chapter 30 - Ryder.

The Present "When Demon sent a message saying he's got Jamie and that he's keeping him because . . ." Cobra hesitated for a moment as he searched my face. His voice broke as he continued, "Because . . . Jamie is his kid, I didn't want to believe it."

I shook my head. "f.u.c.k no," I breathed. "It's impossible."

Not Mia.

Never.

Mia wouldn't do it. She'd never cheat on her husband. She f.u.c.king adored him. I'd never seen a couple that were more in love than those two. After everything they'd been through they were more devoted to one another with each pa.s.sing year. The young Alessandra had become known as Mia to the Scorpio Stingers, and she'd been immediately accepted and adored by everyone. She was like a sister to me. I loved and trusted her as if she were my own blood.

After we survived the ordeal and finally got back to Long Beach, knowing none of us could ever return to Mexico, she'd made her peace and planned her life with Cobra. Days later, Cobra had announced that he was getting married to Mia and within a week of getting back, they were hitched. They'd hardly been separated since, except for Cobra's stints in hospital, which was sheer torture for Mia. And now, after Jamie's kidnapping, of course, while Cobra lived at the compound and refused to go home. Stubborn a.s.shole.

It was just a temporary glitch. The love between them was still as strong as ever. They couldn't hide it if they tried. In spite of the pain and suffering they were both experiencing, the love they felt for one another still shone in their eyes.

Daemon is lying.

Mia would rather die than be with another man. For Jamie to be Daemon's son, it would mean . . . no. Impossible.

Cobra scrubbed a hand over his face. Suddenly my friend looked ten years older. Tired and defeated. Deep lines were etched into his forehead and his skin was ashen.

The calm voice he spoke with scared me more than his angry voice. "f.u.c.k Ryder, the thought of Demon f.u.c.king my woman-it tears me apart."

"Cobra, it's a mistake, brother. Mia would never-"

The big man lost control. "Demon f.u.c.king raped her," he yelled. "She never told me. She never told me . . ." His voice sounded hollow, but his eyes were filled with rage. "Until a week ago, I had no idea. No f.u.c.king idea."

"Jesus Christ," I bellowed. This time it felt as if I'd been sucker punched. I'd kill the motherf.u.c.ker with my bare f.u.c.king hands. I would, as soon as I found him. Daemon Malone was as good as dead.

If any man touched or harmed Jade, I'd rip his f.u.c.king b.a.l.l.s out. Mia was no different-she was my sister before I'd found my blood sibling, Eva. No man would violate my family and get away with it.

"She never told you?" I repeated Cobra's words, unable to understand why she wouldn't want revenge for such a brutal crime against her.

Cobra shook his head. Tears from his bloodshot eyes streamed down his face unchecked. Seeing the big man cry like a baby twisted my gut.

"And Jamie . . . f.u.c.k. He can't be Demon's." My throat was thick as I swallowed the lump that had lodged itself there. I loved that boy as if he were my own. A man like Daemon couldn't have fathered him. It just wasn't possible that sweet, shy Jamie was Daemon's sp.a.w.n.

"He can." A raw sob came from my friend's throat.

"How do you know? It doesn't mean just because he . . . he-" I couldn't say it.

"f.u.c.ked her? Say it, Ryder. Demon f.u.c.ked Mia. My wife."

"How did it happen? How is it even f.u.c.king possible?" I yelled, incredulous.

"It is possible. It f.u.c.king happened." His voice boomed through the small s.p.a.ce. "One night after a party at the club, we stayed over instead of driving home. I'd had way too much to drink and we'd argued about it. I left the room to get some air . . . slamming the door with frustration. I got on my bike and went for a long ride." He paused to scrub a hand over his face. "That's when everything f.u.c.ked up. And I am to blame. If I hadn't left . . . if I'd stayed and handled it like a f.u.c.king man . . ."

The despair in his voice matched the misery in his expression. Dropping his gaze to the floor, he looked so f.u.c.king helpless and lost. I studied his face for a long moment. The ends of his mouth were turned down, an upside-down smile of sadness. Worry etched his forehead and burrowed into deep wrinkles around his eyes. When had the lush stubble on his chin turned gray? Stunned, I gaped at my friend who'd become an old man virtually overnight.

"What do you mean?" Discomfort settled in my stomach as I waited for his answer.

Sometimes we were harder on ourselves than anyone else could ever be. I'd done it myself, and I knew what deep regret looked and felt like. My heart went out to my friend.

Jumping up as if the chair were on fire, Cobra paced the room, his eyes wild and his lips pursed. His inner turmoil was eating him alive. "Mia . . . my wife . . . the woman I swore to love and protect . . ." he said in a bitter tone as he came to stand in front of me and met my eyes. "Hours later, she cried herself to sleep in my absence."

Yeah, it sucked that she'd fallen asleep like that, but it still didn't explain what it had to do with Daemon or Jamie. My heartbeat picked up its pace, as I waited with bated breath to hear more.

Cobra crossed his muscled arms over his chest. His eyes were bugging out of his head. Anguish was written all over his face. "Daemon . . . Demon had overheard everything. He'd been watching. Waiting." A raw sound tore from his throat.

"Waiting?" I exhaled hard through my nostrils.

"Waiting for me to f.u.c.k up." Cobra beat his chest with his fist. A bitter yet hollow laugh sounded. "I gave him exactly what he wanted. A chance to be alone with Mia. The f.u.c.ker slipped into our bedroom. Mia was half asleep . . . thinking I'd returned." His skin paled and his hands started trembling.

f.u.c.k.

This was so much worse than I'd imagined.