“Yeah, that’s what I’m fuckin’ saying. We saved you. Pulled you from whatever twisted shit was goin’ down there. You don’t deserve to be hauled up in more twisted shit. Your sister can handle it. You can’t.”

“And why is that?” I yell, making his eyes go wide with shock. “Because I’m so fragile? Because I’m just little broken Pippa? Is that it, Maddox? You think I can’t look after myself? You think I’m going to let someone push me around and be some . . . some . . . fucking pushover?”

“Pippa,” Santana whispers, her eyes wide.

“No, Tana,” I say, turning to her. “I’m tired of it. I get it, okay? I’m fragile, I’m quiet, but I am not incapable of living. If I want Tyke, I’ll have Tyke. This life doesn’t scare me—not after what I’ve endured. You don’t get to choose for me anymore. I’m not a little girl.”

Tears burst to her eyes and she whispers, “I never said you were.”

“No, but you’re standing by like the rest of them,” I say, waving a hand around the room. “And letting them tell me what to do, because you don’t honestly believe I’ll ever be normal again. And maybe I won’t be, but it’s still my life. It’s still my choice.”

She studies me and her eyes look pained. That kills me, but before I can say anymore Tyke steps forward, getting in Maddox’s face.

“You don’t get to come in here and speak to her like she’s five, Maddox.”

“Back down,” Maddox growls.

“No. She’s my lady and I won’t be backin’ down anytime soon.”

“You’ve done enough to piss me off in the last few days, Tyke. Don’t add to it.”

Tyke snorts. “I did nothin’ you haven’t already done yourself.”

Maddox’s jaw tightens and Krypt steps forward, putting a hand on his arm. “Not now.”

I stare at the two of them, and know I have to step in or a fight is going to break out. I take a hesitant step in between them and look up at Maddox. He tears his eyes from Tyke and looks down at me. I place a hand on his massive chest and his jaw tics. “I know you care about me.” I look around the room. “I know you all care about me. But I need to take my own life in my hands now, and I need to create my own path. You don’t get to choose who I love, or who I marry, or where I live, or what it is I do. I love you all for caring, but you need to step back.”

Maddox stares at me for long moments, then he looks up at Tyke.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that she has a valid point, I’d put you on your ass. You hurt her, Tyke, I’ll gut you.”

I turn to Tyke in time to see him nod. I step back and look to Santana, who is crying. I walk over and wrap my arms around her. “You’ll always be my sister, you’ll always fight for me, but Tana, you have to let me go.”

“Oh Pippi,” she says, wrapping her arms around me. “It’ll never be easy to let you go.”

“No, but you deserve the freedom as much as I do.”

She holds me tight and we stand like that for a long moment. Then I hear a soft voice break through the silence. “Ah, sorry to interrupt.”

Everyone turns to see Belle standing at the door, holding Immy’s hand. She stares at the bikers with big eyes, and when she notices me, she gives me a look that’s asking if she needs to ring the police. I smile. “Hey, Belle. I didn’t exactly want you to meet them like this, but I want you to meet my family. The Joker’s Wrath MC.”

Belle’s eyes go huge as she takes in the men.

“Everyone,” I continue, “this is my new housemate, Belle, and her daughter, Immy.”

There’s a chorus of hellos, and Belle lamely waves before walking over to me. Immy charges over to Maddox, unafraid, and looks up at him. “Is your bike the red one?”

He smiles and kneels down in front of her. “Nope, the blue one. Do you like bikes?”

She nods.

“Have you ever been on one?”

“No,” she says. “I don’t have a daddy to take me.”

I look up to see Belle’s face drop. She looks away and my heart breaks for her.

“Come on, Immy,” she says. “Let’s go and get you showered.”

Immy smiles at Maddox, before running towards her mother. Belle looks to me and I walk over, touching her arm. “Are you okay?”

She nods. “Yeah, I’m great. I won’t get in your way while your, ah, family are here.”

“Listen, I might be away for a few days, but you’re more than welcome to come and go as you please.”

“Where are you going?” she asks.

“Just away with them all.”

She nods, not looking at all suspicious. “Okay, well make sure you fill me in on all this before you go.” She grins.

I hug her and when she’s gone, I walk quickly towards Maddox. “Is she safe here?”

He nods, watching her go. “No one knows you’re part of the club—at least, I don’t think they do. If they do, they know what you look like. They won’t mistake her for you. I would highly doubt the people we are having problems with know where you live or even that you mean something to Tyke. She’s safe, but I’ll put a watch on the house anyway, just to be sure.”

“I thought we were all going into lockdown?”

Maddox grins. “A watch isn’t necessarily a biker, honey.”