“Just a sec,” she shouted back, and I saw Loni visibly relax. Then Mel walked into the living room, wrapped tight in a bathrobe. Her feet had been rinsed off, but the rest of her was still covered in red. It was even matted into her hair. I winced—we probably should’ve at least moved to a cleaner part of the tarp.

“Hi,” she said, offering a feeble smile. Reese sighed heavily, then looked at Izzy.

“Let’s go get some ice cream. I think Mommy and Daddy need a little more time.”

Mel nodded, and I thought she blushed. Hard to tell, given the situation. “That’s probably a good idea.”

“Yup, we definitely need ice cream. Maybe a nice breakfast mimosa,” London announced. “We’ll be back in an hour. That should give you two enough time to get cleaned up. I want to . . . never see anything like this again.”

Then she turned and walked out the door, Izzy gaping at us over her shoulder. Reese sighed again.

“Have fun, kids,” he said, following her.

Mel giggled again, and I shook my head. They were gonna crucify me out at the clubhouse for this one.

Guess I should just be glad he hadn’t started snapping pictures.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

OCTOBER

MELANIE

“You look adorable,” Duck said, kneeling down next to Isabella. She was dressed up like a princess, of course, and the little purse she carried was already stuffed full of candy.

We were out at the Armory for their annual family Halloween party. Later it would turn into their annual grown-up Halloween party, and I had a feeling the costumes would be getting significantly skimpier. For now, though, we were surrounded by crowds of cute kids going slowly insane as they ate their weight in processed sugar.

“I’m a biker princess,” Izzy said proudly. “Just like on my wall. Daddy helped me paint it.”

“Well, here you go, princess,” Duck said, pulling a dollar out of his pocket and handing it to her. He glanced at me and shrugged. “Uncle Duck didn’t remember to buy candy.”

“There doesn’t appear to be a shortage,” I said dryly, looking around the courtyard. The air was crisp, but it was one of those perfect October afternoons—sunny, with the smell of fall filling the air. Rows of tables were full of food, and they’d already started the bonfire. I couldn’t help but notice there were a disproportionate number of little bikers wearing their own MC cuts. Painter came up behind me, sliding a hand around my waist as he kissed the back of my neck.

“You hittin’ on my girl?” he asked Duck. The old man shrugged.

“Maybe,” he replied. “But I can’t decide which one. Mel’s pretty, but this little princess of yours will probably be even prettier once she grows up.”

“If you wait for me, I’ll marry you,” Izzy told him gravely. “But only if you let me bring my unicorns to live at your house. And I’m having an operation later this week, so you should bring me Popsicles, too. Daddy said I can have as many as I want.”

Duck shot me a glance. Tonsils, I mouthed. He pretended to consider her offer, then nodded.

“We got a deal,” he said, offering her his hand for a shake. “I’ll start buildin’ you a unicorn stable right away.”

“Hey, Melanie!” London shouted. I looked up to find her waving at me from the food tables. She was in her element, bossing everyone around as she got the meal ready. “Can you give me a hand? I need someone to cut the pies.”

“Sure,” I yelled back, then looked down at Izzy. “You keep an eye on Daddy for me, okay? Make sure he makes good choices.”

Painter nipped the back of my neck. Smacking him, I headed over to London, who handed me a knife.

“Is this for Painter or the pie?” I asked.

“I haven’t forgiven him yet. Could go either way,” she said, winking. “Cut each one into eight pieces, except the big ones from Costco. We can get twelve out of those.”

I started in on the pies, noting that one of them was huckleberry—I wonder who’d brought that? I needed to make friends with them ASAP.

“Can you hand me that towel?” someone asked. I looked up to find a girl with skin just a little darker than mine and a head full of springy black ringlets. “I wanted to wipe off this casserole dish.”

“Sure,” I said, smiling at her. “I’m Melanie—what’s your name?”

“Deanna. I’m new around here, just moved to town.”

“Oh,” I replied, wondering if she was with someone in the club.

“Mel, can you help me grab the veggie trays?” Loni asked. Giving Deanna a quick wave, I followed Loni through the back door and into the kitchen, where she made a beeline for one of the fridges. Pulling out three big veggie trays, she handed them to me and then grabbed a cardboard box off the counter, loading it with packages of hot dogs.

“We’ve got sticks so the kids can roast their own,” she said.

“That’s a lot of hot dogs just for the kids.”

She laughed.

“Yeah, well once the kids start, the guys will follow. Usually I hate hot dogs, but even I enjoy one roasted over an open fire every once in a while.”

“So who’s Deanna?” I asked. “I just met her outside—never seen her around before.”

“New club whore,” Loni said bluntly. “She seems friendly enough—Reese said she showed up a few weeks back. Duck gave her a place to stay.”

I raised my brows.

“Her and Duck?”

She nodded. “Apparently.”

“Wow, good for him.”

•   •   •

An hour later, Izzy had crawled into my lap and was starting to yawn.

“You ready to take her home?” Painter asked. I nodded.

“I think so. It’s been a long day. Are you staying at the party?” More people had been arriving steadily, some I knew and more I didn’t. Among them were far too many girls wearing “costumes” the size of postage stamps.

“I’ll come home with you guys,” he replied, and I smiled. Melanie: one. Halloween tramps: zero.

“Fucking hell!” someone shouted. I looked up to see a group of men gathering around something near the bonfire. “Call nine one one!”

Painter and I shared a look, then I thrust Izzy at him. She squawked in protest, but I ignored her as I ran toward the fire, pushing forcefully through the crowd of men.

Duck was on the ground, eyes closed.

“What happened?” I snapped, kneeling down next to him, feeling for a pulse. Nothing. No breathing, either.

“He said his chest hurt,” Reese said. “We were getting him a chair, and then he fell.”

“Reese, call nine one one,” I ordered. They all paused, and I realized they weren’t used to a woman giving their president orders. Rolling Duck onto his back, I looked up at the circle of men and snarled, “I’m a fucking ER nurse, and that means right now I’m in charge. Call nine one one, and someone get Painter. I need my keychain. Do you have a defibrillator?”

“No,” Horse said bluntly. “Never occurred to us.”

Of course not.

Rising to my knees, I traced my fingers over Duck’s chest, finding the bottom of his breastbone. Centering the heel of my left hand just above it, I braced my right on top of my left and pushed down using all my weight.

His sternum cracked loudly. I felt the crunch of his ribs as I started chest compressions. One. Two. Three—all the way up to thirty, and fast, too.

“Where’s my keychain?” I yelled, looking around. Painter dropped down next to me, handing it over. I found the little pouch I always kept attached to it, and pulled out a lightweight pocket CPR mask, slapping it over Duck’s mouth to protect myself from any diseases he might have. Then I gave him two powerful breaths, watching for his chest to rise and fall.

Time to start compressions again. I looked at Painter.