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Chapter 1

"We'll complete the last of the finishes in the next few days, and then it'll be ready for the final walk-through."

I scanned the space around me, satisfied with how my new house had turned out. "Thanks," I murmured to Don, the owner of the company who'd built two homes for me, including the one a club brother bought from me since he'd needed it more than I did.

The house was big, too big for just me. But when I'd decided to build, I knew I wanted the place where I would hopefully raise my family one day. Not that it was very likely when I hadn't been interested in a woman in more years than I wanted to admit.

Although, I hadn't really made an effort either. During my career as a professional hockey player, I'd solely focused on my job. Then after my injury, I'd put all my energy into recovery.

I'd played the majority of my career for the Tennessee Trojans and had grown to love the state. So when I was forced into retirement, it made sense to put down roots there. Besides, moving back to Michigan, where I'd been raised, had been out of the question. I loved my parents, but they drove my brother and me batshit crazy with their eccentric ways. They were "free spirits" and were very open with…just about everything.

My mother made a lot of her decisions based on the cycles of the moon, and my father believed he was living his third life, having been rejected twice so far. But they had chosen not to force their lifestyle on their kids and hadn't flaunted their beliefs or open relationship, which Nathan and I both appreciated. So we'd had a relatively normal childhood, but they'd moved into a "community house" after we left home.

While trying to decide exactly where to settle and what to do with my life—since real estate investment didn't take up much of my time—I connected with a friend I'd grown close with after meeting him my first month with the Trojans. Wrecker was an officer in the Iron Rogues Motorcycle Club. Since I'd been riding since high school, he'd convinced me to prospect for the club. After so many years of being in a tight circle with my team, I liked the idea of being part of a brotherhood.

The Iron Rogues had given me a purpose. A family. It hadn't taken me long to earn my patch, then to work my way into an enforcer position.

Although I'd enjoyed living the last couple of years in the clubhouse, as several of my brothers had found their old ladies and were starting families, I began to hope I'd find my own woman eventually. And since my other business was real estate, I knew that building a house was a good investment anyway.

However, just as I'd finished, Whiskey had become a parent overnight when his sister died and left his niece in his care. Then he met Ellery, and he needed a place to live immediately. I wasn't in a rush, so I sold him the house and searched for a new place to start over.

Now, the new place was just about done, and while I was happy with the result, it also reminded me that I didn't have anyone to share it with. I mentally sighed, wondering when I'd grown a pussy, and refocused on Don.

"We can walk the grounds now, though," he said as he looked over some papers on a clipboard.

"Sounds good."

We walked through the family room to the glass doors and out to an amazing deck that led down to a sparkling pool. I'd insisted that a child-proof fence surround it, but the wrought-iron structure was open enough to enjoy the view behind the house. It sat on over twenty acres of gorgeous Tennessee land. The area I would live in had been cleared, but otherwise, the plot was mostly wooded and even had a stream running through it.

"This really is a spectacular piece of land," Don commented as we descended the steps of the deck. "I have to say, I was relieved when you managed to convince the owner to sell you the land."

"The judge really made it happen," I explained. "Decided that the zoning could go either way, so he was fine with me choosing to make it residential rather than commercial."

There had been a few bids on the parcel, one of them being a commercial developer intent on turning it into a strip mall. I'd hated the thought of this beautiful, serene land being destroyed to make way for more retail.

And I'd known it would feel like home the second I saw it.

"My foreman mentioned that Keith is still pissed as hell." Don rolled his eyes.

The developer, Keith Franks, was shady as fuck and acted like a petulant child when he didn't get his way. The owner of the space hadn't wanted to sell to him. However, it had been rezoned as commercial recently, so he wasn't positive he could accept my bid. Keith had taken it to a judge, who'd ruled in my favor since one side of the land butted up to the beginning of a residentially zoned area that went on for several miles, while the other side was only twenty minutes from a growing downtown.

I shrugged. "He's being petty. Still trying to get another judge to overturn the ruling."

"You'd think he'd give up now that your house is built."

"He's a cocky son of a bitch who believes money will get him whatever he wants. It's annoying. Doubt he'll take it any further, though. He's not stupid enough to take on the Iron Rogues."

Don nodded, then changed the subject back to the house and pointed out some adjustments they'd made from the notes I'd had the last time we walked the property. He was an honest guy with a stellar reputation. Having seen what he did with the house Whiskey now owned and this new place, I was glad I'd given him the jobs.

"Everything looks great," I told him an hour later as we shook hands on the front step.

"I'll call you when the last details are complete."

I lifted my chin in acknowledgment before turning and heading down the front walkway to the driveway where I'd parked my motorcycle.

My phone rang as I swung my leg over the seat, so I left the engine off and fished my cell out of my pocket. The logo for the New York hockey team, the Navigators, flashed on my screen with my brother's phone number.

"What's up, little brother?" I answered.

"How's the house?" Nathan asked in lieu of a greeting.

"Almost done. It'll be ready when you come to town."

"That's the other reason I called," he informed me. "I need to know how many tickets you want for the game."

My brother and I had both become pro hockey players, but he was still in the sport and played as the starting center for New York. They'd be coming down to Tennessee to play my old team soon, and I definitely wasn't going to miss the game.

"Vince offered me a box," I said with a snicker, referring to the owner of the Tennessee Trojans, who'd remained a friend.

"Fuck that," Nathan snapped. "You don't play for those pansies anymore, and you're gonna be there to root for your brother. I'll make sure you have a box in the Navigators section."

I snorted a laugh. Nobody would ever call my brother gullible or a pushover, but I could always get him riled. And he'd taken the bait.

He sighed. "Why do I always fall for your shit?"

"One of the perks of being the big brother," I teased.

"Bullshit."

"Prove it. Stop being so easy to manipulate."

"You know I'd have gotten you a box if you'd asked," Nathan muttered.

"Yeah," I agreed. "But it's more fun this way."

Nathan grumbled something under his breath, and I laughed again.

We said our goodbyes, and I put my phone back in my pocket, then grabbed the helmet that had been hanging on my handlebars.

A lot of bikers didn't bother with protective gear, which wasn't the smartest choice in the first place, but it was the lifestyle. However, after playing hockey for the majority of my life, I'd had more than enough broken or shattered bones, torn muscles, and head injuries. So I chose to protect my head from any more trauma.

The engine roared to life, and I flipped up the kickstand before walking the bike back down the driveway. When I reached the road, I took off and left all thoughts behind me as I enjoyed the wind rippling past my body. It was late March, and the weather was growing warm, so the breeze felt good.

Approaching a sharp curve ahead, I eased the brake to slow down. I decelerated for a moment, but then the grip lost its tension, telling me that I no longer had control of the brake. I was just rounding the curve, and with the slight decline of the road, my speed increased and sent my hog careening out of control.

I went flying through the air and landed hard on the ground before I blacked out.

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