The girls jerk their heads back, their eyes wide like there is no way I should know anything about him. “How do you know about Marcus?”
Before I can respond, the sound of boots on the clubhouse floor announces the arrival of the brothers. They file in looking tired but satisfied, and I realize they must have been out on some kind of business.
“Ladies,” Nitro greets warmly, immediately gravitating toward where we’re working. “How’s the toy operation going?”
“Almost done with the wrapping,” Millie reports proudly. “Elizabeth’s been a huge help.”
I smile at the compliment, feeling more included than I probably should. These people have a way of making you feel like family, even when you’re supposed to be observing from the outside.
“Where’s Sin?” Ro asks casually, but I catch the pointed look she gives me.
“Had to handle something,” Nitro replies vaguely. “He’ll be back later.”
Of course, he will, just in time for me to leave.
As the brothers grab beers and settle around the communal tables for what appears to be an early dinner, I find myselfnaturally drawn into their circle. The invitation isn’t spoken. Ghost simply pulls out a chair next to him and nods toward it, while Bear slides a plate of what looks like Millie’s homemade lasagna in front of the empty spot.
“So…” Ghost says, pulling the ever-present toothpick from his mouth and pointing it at me. “What’d you think of yesterday’s field trip? Not exactly what you were expecting from a bunch of criminals, huh?”
I take a bite of the lasagna, it’s incredible, and consider my words carefully. “Honestly? I’m still processing it. Watching Nitro and Ro play classical music like they’ve been doing it professionally for years was a little… confusing.”
“Nitro could’ve been the next James Galway,” Bear interjects with obvious pride. “That’s what his teacher said anyway.”
“James Galway?” I ask.
“Famous flute player,” Ghost explains. “Irish guy. Point is, our VP hadrealtalent. Still does.”
These men continue to surprise me at every turn. Every preconceived notion I had gets shattered daily.
“But he chose family instead,” I say, the understanding of what this club means to each and every one of them really sinking in now.
“Damn right he did,” Ghost replies, and there’s something fierce in his voice. “That’s what we do here. Family first. Always.”
The word‘family’hits differently now than it did when I first arrived. I’m starting to understand that for these people, it’s not just a word.
It’severything.
Koa looks up from where he’s been demolishing a plate of lasagna that’s roughly the size of my head. “Hey Elizabeth, you ever been to Hawaii?”
“No, never had the chance. Why?”
His face lights up like I’ve just asked him about his favorite subject. “Man, you gotta go sometime. Most beautiful place on earth. The beaches, the mountains, the culture…” He gestures expansively with his fork full of lasagna. “That’s where my mother taught me the hula. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old gods, the way the islands were formed.”
“That’s why you were teaching Mrs. Patterson yesterday?”
“She asked about it after I mentioned coming from there. Woman’s got more energy than half the guys in this room.” He chuckles. “Plus, she said her granddaughter was doing a report on Hawaiian culture for school. Figured I could help.”
Of course he did.
Because that’s what these people do—they help.
“Koa’s being modest,” Deek pipes up from across the table, wiping his hands on a napkin. “Dude was actually a professional dancer before he joined Defiance in Oahu. Had this whole performance troupe, did shows for tourists and everything.”
“Shut up, Deek,” Koa grumbles, but he’s smiling.
“I’m serious! Tell her about the time you performed for that movie star. What was his name? The guy from those action movies?”
Koa waves him off. “Different life, brother.”
