Page 5 of Last Mile

“You have such a way with words.”

“Thank you.”

“Besides, I think it’s about more than . . .” She swallowed hard.

“Boning, as you say.”

“In the end, it all comes down to boning.”

“To you, maybe, but there is more to a relationship than just that.”

I winked at her. “Let’s agree to disagree on that one.”

“Fine with me.” She opened up the suturing kit, and I braced myself to have my broken skin stitched back together. “So tell me something.”

“What?” I asked.

“Why do you do something illegal like this that could bring heat on the club?”

When I gave her my best I don’t know shit about what you’re talking about look, she rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Bishop, I’m not an idiot. I know you’re not fighting just to unload some steam, and I know there’s big money on these fights. And before you accuse Rev of always running his mouth to his old lady, he didn’t tell me anything. I figured it out all on my own.”

I chuckled as I shifted on the table. Both Deacon and Rev had picked strong, hardheaded women. The best kind of old ladies werethe ones who just looked the other way, didn’t ask questions, and kept their mouths shut. At the same time, you needed some strong- willed bitches to keep the other women in line, especially when it came to the president’s wife. Annabel had been through enough to make her strong as steel, and with time, I knew she would become a woman all the others in the club would look up to as their leader’s wife.

“You’re right. I don’t do it for shits and giggles. I do it for the prize money.” I cursed under my breath as the needle pierced my skin.

“Do I dare ask what you’re doing with all your winnings?”

I clenched my jaw through the pricking pain of the needle.

“Although it’s a legit way to earn a living, I don’t always want to be a mechanic.”

Annabel’s hand stilled in her sewing. “What else is it that you want to do?” she questioned softly.

For a moment, I thought about blowing her off. I hadn’t shared my long-term goal with anyone, really. Maybe Deacon and Rev had an idea from my weekend pursuits of buying broken- down bikes and refurbishing them, but it wasn’t something I had actually come right out and said.

At my hesitation, Annabel continued stitching. “Oh. It’s something you shouldn’t tell me because it’s illegal.”

“Hell no. It’s nothing like that.” I drew in a deep breath. “I want to own a bike shop someday. I love rebuilding old bikes and restoring them.”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.”

“You do?”

Annabel nodded. “Of course I do. I think you can do anything you put your mind to, B.”

If felt pretty fucking fabulous having her support. “Thanks. It means a lot.”

As she finished stitching my eyebrow, she flashed me a smile. “You’re welcome.”

Rev appeared in the doorway then. “Putting Humpty Dumpty back together?” he asked with a grin.

Annabel laughed. “Yes. I just finished up.”

“Good. Because he has some company waiting on him.”

When Rev waggled his eyebrows, Annabel groaned. “I don’t think I even want to know.” She tossed the last of her supplies back into her bag. “I would recommend for the next twenty- four hours that you take some ibuprofen—” When I started to protest that I wasn’t a pussy who needed anything for the pain, she held up her hand.

“For the inflammation.”