“I certainly will,” I replied with a smile.

“I just want a hot dog . . . and some cake and ice cream.”

“Ah, just the sweets, huh?” Bishop asked.

“Yep.”

“No cake until you’ve eaten a good dinner, Willow,” Beth instructed.

When Willow began to pout, Bishop leaned back to whisper in her ear, “Don’t worry, rug rat. I’ll hook you up with some cake and ice cream.”

She giggled. “Thanks, Uncle B!”

As Bishop and Willow started ahead of us to make a beeline for the food table, Beth grunted next to me. “Willow’s uncles love to spoil her.”

I laughed. “I can see that.”

“And it’s not just them. Most of the men in the club and even their wives are complete pushovers when it comes to her. By the way they act, you would think she’s the only little girl running around.”

“It doesn’t seem to be going to her head. She seems like such a sweet child.”

“She is. In spite of all the spoiling, she is still well-mannered. Sometimes I think the spoiling doesn’t affect her because of the hard start she had in life.”

I knew all about Willow’s “hard start” from reading her file. Her former life with a drug-addicted mother had been hard to read about, especially the part where her mother had been murdered in front of Willow by the now-deceased leader of the Nordic Knights.

Bishop brought me out of my thoughts. He had put Willow down, and now he beckoned us with his hand. “I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I started before you two.”

Beth gave him a sly smile. “My, you must really be someone special, Samantha, if Bishop is letting us go first. Usually, he’s elbowing people out of the way to eat.”

I couldn’t help laughing, especially when Bishop scowled at his mother. “Well, if it is a side he’s showing just for me, I guess I’ll appreciate it.”

“Women,” Bishop grumbled before thrusting a plate into my hands.

THIRTEEN

BISHOP

I had to admit it felt pretty fucking surreal sitting next to Samantha surrounded by my family. Even though we were only eating hamburgers and hot dogs and drinking cheap beer, it felt significant. Of course, I couldn’t help thinking that the last time she had been here at the compound, it had been with Marley, and now she was here with me.

As my date. Well, sort of.

No matter how many times I repeated that in my mind, I couldn’t seem to wrap my head around it. Sure, there were still too many gray areas between us to think of this as a date. I had even said as much to Sam on the phone. But deep down, I couldn’t help feeling as though we had finally turned a corner in whatever it was that we were doing. I wanted more with her, and I was willing to wait as long as I had to. As though maybe if enough time went by, I wouldn’t feel so bad about her being Marley’s girlfriend.

Even though my brothers had given me shit about Samantha, I was glad I had talked to them. It was good to know I had their blessing. From the way she was getting along with Mama Beth and Alexandra and Annabel, I knew she would get their stamp of approval as well. Although in the end, I wouldn’t have let their opinion change my mind about her.

The screech of a microphone sounded, followed by Kim’s ear-splitting whistle. I turned around to see Breakneck was taking the stage with his guitar. Immediately, it felt as if I’d been punched in the chest by the memories flickering through my mind.

“Are you okay?” Sam asked.

With a nod, I replied, “Just kinda overwhelmed at the moment. Breakneck hasn’t sung or played the guitar at a party since my dad died.”

Sam gave me a sympathetic look. “Oh. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad to see him back up there. We used to have some crazy times singing along with him.”

“I would’ve liked to see that.”

I chuckled. “No. You probably wouldn’t have. None of us Malloy boys can really sing. We just think we can when we’ve had too much alcohol.”

Throwing her head back with a laugh, Samantha said, “I think the same thing happens to me. I pity anyone within a mile radius of me at a karaoke bar. I never would have stepped foot in one if Gavin hadn’t liked them. I used to tell him the things he could get me to do for love.”

My brow furrowed in confusion. “Who’s Gavin?”

Samantha’s face flushed. “Oh, just an old boyfriend.”

The mention of Samantha’s old loves had my fists clenching at my sides and I wanted to punch the wall. I hated that just the mention of an old boyfriend could turn me into a raging idiot. Samantha’s past was none of my business, and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have to discuss mine with her.

Breakneck’s tapping on the mic interrupted me. “Evening, everybody. I wanted to come up here and do a song for Rev’s birthday. It’s been a while since I’ve done this song. Haven’t done it since I lost two of the best friends I’ve ever had, Preacher Man and Case. But I think it’s time to bring this one out of retirement, since it was both men’s favorite song.” The crowd erupted into whistles and clapping, which caused Breakneck to grin. “Before I get started, I’m going to ask Deacon, Rev, and Bishop to come up here and help me like they used to.”

While Deacon shot off the bench, Rev furiously shook his head back and forth. “Oh, hell no,” he said.

“Oh, go on, honey,” Annabel urged beside him.

Rev opened his mouth to argue, but Deacon interrupted him by grabbing his arm and dragging him up off his seat. “Come on, B. Help me get his ass up there.”