39. Dom

I look up at the clock on the wall. It's eleven. Thea is at school and I'm working to fix the floor on the rental. I keep looking at the spot and smiling. Damn, she's a handful and hot as hell. I shake my head. I'm still shocked the law wasn't called because of all the noise.

I take a drink of my coffee as the Rolling Stones are singing about making a grown man cry in the background. I know I should have already had the bad pieces and a couple of the surrounding ones cut out, but I seem to be lazy this morning. I can't even fully blame it on the fact that Thea wore me out last night. I mean, she did, but it was kind of a mutual thing. I can't seem to get enough of her. I have a feeling that I never will. This morning, however, I'm just being lazy. After years of stirring early to do shit for the club, it feels strange as hell not to have anything to do all day. I start work at a garage in Manchester in a couple of weeks. The pay is decent, and it will keep me busy. It's also far enough from the club that they won't be dropping by all day long trying to get my ass fired so that I will come back into the fold. I won't say they'd do that, but I wouldn't put it past their asses, either.

I drain the last bit of my coffee and put the cup down. I need to stop putting this off. The wood flooring has recently been replaced, which meant it was easy to find a match at the local surplus store. I should have it fixed before Thea gets home. I'm about to drag out my circle saw and get to work when the doorbell rings.

"Saved by the bell, I guess," I mutter. I'm hoping like hell that Dad isn't back for a repeat of the other day. I may be pissed at him, but the two of us going at it wasn't a great day. I'd rather we never repeat it—even if it had been a long time coming. I'm not really shocked when I open the door and see Breaker, Raze, and Killer standing in front of me.

"What are you motherfuckers doing here? Don't you have a club to be working for?" I laugh.

"Thea called and said you needed some help fixing your floor today, so I made an executive decision and had Rebel and some of the other guys fill in for a while."

I laugh, standing back so they can all come in. It's great seeing them, I can't deny that. Not being around my brothers is one of the hardest things I've experienced. After years of having them around, knowing they had my back, I've grieved no longer having that. I mentioned that to my woman, and I have a feeling that is the reason for her call to her brother.

Fuck, I do love that woman.

"You got beer?" Raze asks.

"In the fridge," I say with a chuckle, motioning toward the kitchen. Killer follows him and leaves Breaker beside me.

"You doin' okay, brother?" Breaker asks when we're alone.

"I'm damn good," I tell him, being completely honest.

"I thought you'd be missing our asses," he mutters.

I scratch the side of my face as I think about everything. "I do miss the club, but I'm a lucky son of a bitch having Thea with me. I start a job soon as a mechanic. I have no complaints."

"Seriously, stop rubbing it in over Thea. I know I was an idiot."

"Brother, you have no idea," I laugh, thinking if he truly knew, he'd end it all. The sad sack lost a woman who makes life worth living, and he traded her for a piece of pussy whose legs stay open more than the twenty-four-hour convenience store at the end of town.

Breaker slaps him on the back of his head. "If Thea wasn't happy, I'd have already fucked you up over that shit you pulled," he growls. I know he's lying out of his ass. He and I share a look. He never wanted his sister with Raze. Raze is a good man, he's not a one-woman man. He's hung up on Lili, but even that doesn't keep his dick in his pants. He just can't seem to say no to her, despite who else is in his life. Besides, Breaker wanted me to wake up and see what I was pissing away. I'm just fucking glad I did.

"Shit, man. That hurts," Raze grumbles, rubbing the back of his head.

"Cry me a river," Breaker snarks.

"Did you say you were going to be a mechanic?" Killer grumbles, filling the strained moment in the room. Breaker is easygoing, but he doesn't like his sister being played. If she hadn't had feelings for me, this shit could have hurt her.

"Yeah," I answer. "I could have already started, but I wanted a little more time off to spend with my woman."

"Isn't that kind of a waste for a man with your ability, Dom? You're one of the best builders the club has. We need you back, man," Killer adds, twisting the top off his beer.

"Don't start this shit. I'm good for now. Diesel has offered me a position, but Thea and I are still weighing our options. She wants to finish school and I'm content to keep going like we are for now." That's a fucking understatement. What I have now is more than I ever thought I'd have in my life. "Besides, she just moved back to Kentucky. She likes being close to her parents and her dumbass big brother. I don't want to ruin that for her."

Breaker flips me off and I smirk at him. "Everyone wants you back at the club."

"Brother—"

"Dragon refused to accept your cut, you know. He even told all of us at the last church meeting that he fucked up. He's pretty torn up about it. Dad told me that Dragon is thinking of stepping down."

My gut tightens with that news. I shake my head. "It will blow over," I assure him. Deep inside, I'm not so sure. Dad is getting tired. He has been for a while—long before this bullshit and King popped up.

"Yeah, he's a different man lately, and not in good way. Did you know he is living at the garage?" Raze asks.

"I haven't been talking to him, but I kind of figured."

"Nic kicked him out but has been stayin' with Breaker's parents."

"Women can be brutal," Killer adds. "This is why I'm not fooling with women. I'm going to stay single for the rest of my life. They're not worth the trouble."

"Before Thea, I would agree with you, but when you find a good woman, it's all worth it," I brag.

"Keep rubbing it in," Raze exhales, sighing.

I laugh, shaking my head. "I should thank you for screwing up and giving me my shot. How is Lilianna, by the way?"

He lets out a sound that is full of disgust. She moved to Oregon."

"So, it's really over now?" I question, thinking that's the best thing that could happen to him.

"Yeah. It helps that she won't live here anymore. I'll finally be able to get the bitch out of my system."

"Some women are just toxic," Breaker adds. "Dom could tell you all about that."

"That's for damn sure. Feels fucking good to be free from that. I never realized how truly miserable I was. I can't believe the shit I did or what I put up with. It's all in the past now, though. I'm where I belong. I'm going to put a ring on Thea's finger and plant my baby inside her. I'm not going to give another man a chance to move in."

"I wouldn't tell her quite like that, or you'll be singing soprano for the rest of your life," Breaker laughs.

"Point made."

"Speaking of other men. Have we heard anymore from that Deke asshole?"

"Not since Dom had a word with him. We've been monitoring him. From appearances, it seems the would-be doctor has moved on to a new target."

"Good, but if he tries anything else, it will be the last thing he does." Everyone nods in agreement. "Okay boys, if we don't get started on the flooring, it's not going to get done."

I get my saw and chisel. Killer takes them out of my hand. "Why the fuck did Flame shoot the floor?"

"She thought that was the best way to break up the fight," I answer with a shrug. We all know about the fight, but it's not something I want to talk about. The boys seem to know that. "Plus, she said she was afraid if she shot the ceiling, it"d hit an electrical wire. Woman had visions of the house catching on fire."

"I still can't believe she pulled a gun on Dragon and threatened to shoot him. That woman is full of fire. Burns my ass that my dick has been poisoned by Anna."

"How do you know she threatened to shoot my dad?" I ask, shocked because I had carefully left that part out when I told Breaker.

"Dragon's been bragging about it. My dad is so damn proud that it's all he talks about," Breaker boasts.

"Meanwhile, Breaker is just being a cocky bastard saying his sister was always the meanest of all three of them," Killer inserts.

"That's because she is. Don't tell her I said this, but she can make Skylar look normal."

I find myself laughing at the terrified look on my brother's face. "Yeah, well, she's all sweet to me."

As we get to work on the floor, I realize that time with my brothers is exactly what I needed. It's just one more thing I need to thank Thea for. That woman apparently knows me better than I know myself.

I'm a lucky bastard.