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continue talking to Holden at all. He decided to answer his question. “I’ve been. A few of us go every year. We sell 822 supporter merchandise to the civilians. We make tons of money. I prefer smaller rallies. A lot of the bars at Sturgis don’t want clubs to wear their colors inside their establishments. We have a national rally around the same time. We go to our meeting, then we split off and some go to Sturgis and some come back here or ride on to other rallies.”
    “You go this year?”
    “Yeah, Jasmine had never been. She wanted to experience it.”
    “Did she have fun?”
    “Yes, but what she really loved is when I took her to some of the historical sites in the area.”
    “That’s good. So she’s cool with all of this?” Holden pointed around him.
    “It’s getting easier for her. She’s not a girly-girl. She can handle herself if it comes to that.”
    “Yeah, I can’t imagine you with a high-maintenance woman. Was she one of those women, the club groupies, what are they called, Snake Swallowers?”
    Nuke shook his head.
    “What does she do for a living? Is she a stripper? Those chicks that work at Club Throttle are hot as hell.”
    “She takes care of me. That’s a full-time job in itself.” Nuke actually cracked a smile for a moment. “She’s also a nurse sometimes.”
    “What do you mean sometimes?”
    “She fills in when it’s needed at the clinic.”
    “What kind of nurse is she? Where is the clinic at?”
    “Why?” Nuke was back to being defensive.
    Holden let out a quick breath of frustration. “I’m just trying to have a conversation with you. We’re family.”
    “So you keep on reminding me.”
    Holden looked down at the ground. “Do you think it would be possible for her to look at my gunshot wound? It would be nice to get to know my sister-in-law.”
    Nuke’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Medic will make sure that you don’t have any difficulties. She’s inside. If you try anything with her, I promise you, they won’t find your body!” There was nothing but pure reality in Nuke’s words. “I mean it, Holden. You fucking disrespect my wife and my marriage in any way shape or form, I’ll fucking gut you!”
    Holden swallowed the lump in his throat. He mumbled that he understood. “I won’t, man. I swear. I wouldn’t do anything to mess with your relationship.” Holden glanced around the compound before looking back into Nuke’s deadly stare. “I don’t know how you do this biker lifestyle. I couldn’t survive in a club; it’s too intense. You guys are always so serious about everything. Hell, I could barely survive rehab.”
    “You went to rehab? For what?” A surprised look crossed Nuke’s face for an instant. If Holden would have blinked at a different moment, he would have missed it but he hadn’t. That single gesture told him all he needed to know. His protective older brother was still inside the tattooed biker standing before him.
    “I used to drink way too much, but I’ve been sober for a year now.” Holden took out his one-year sobriety coin and showed it to Nuke.
    “I’ve been there; it’s hard staying clean. You need a good support system.” Nuke said, sincerely meaning his advice.
    “I hope I can keep it up.” Holden looked at the coin and placed it back in his front pocket.
    Nuke signaled with his head for the hang-around Brock to come over again. “Keep an eye on him,” he said and pointed at Holden. As far as Nuke was concerned, his conversation with his brother was over. He’d had enough of their fake bonding time. He walked past Holden, and as his hand touched the handle of the clubhouse door, Holden stood up.
    “Nuke, wait, um can I get something to eat?”
    Nuke turned around. This was more social interaction that he cared to have today. “Take him to the kitchen. Have one of the Honeys make him some food.”
    “Thanks!” Holden called out.
    Nuke let out a guttural sound and walked into the clubhouse without even