I nod, relief mixing with lingering concern. "And the club? Why are they helping me? I'm not a member."
"You're my brother," Dice says simply. "That makes you family to them. Besides, the Outlaw Order looks after its own, and I've been a prospect for eight months now. I've earned some loyalty."
Pride swells in me. Dice has found his place, a brotherhood that values him. It's all I've ever wanted for him, somewhere to belong.
"How long until they patch you in?" I ask.
"Few more months, maybe. Depends." He shrugs, but I can see how much it means to him. "It's good, James. These guys. They're solid. They've got my back. They've got your back too."
"I've noticed," I say, gesturing to the room around us. "Not every MC would risk harboring fugitives."
"Speaking of fugitives," Dice says, his tone shifting, "Rebecca's in a tough spot. She could've walked away at any point, but she didn't. She chose to help you. That's rare, man. Special."
"I know," I say quietly. "I told her to go, to save herself. She refused."
"She's got a good heart. And she clearly cares about you." He hesitates, then adds, "You struck gold there, brother. Don't waste it."
The thought of Rebecca—brave, principled Rebecca—throwing away her career, her freedom, her future for me is both wonderful and terrible. She deserves so much better than being dragged into my mess.
"What happens now?" I ask, changing the subject slightly. "I can't stay here forever. And she can't either."
"We're working on it," Dice assures me. "Reaper's got connections. We'll figure something out. For now, just focus on healing up."
I nod, then notice something in Dice's expression—a subtle tension, like he's holding something back.
"What aren't you telling me?" I ask.
He shifts in his chair, almost uncomfortable. "There's one other thing you should know." He takes a deep breath. "It's about me and Maddie."
"Maddie?" I repeat, confused. "What about her? Is she okay?"
"She's fine," he says quickly. "Better than fine, actually. We're...together."
I stare at him, certain I've misheard. "Together? As in...?"
"As in together," he confirms, a mix of defiance and uncertainty in his eyes. "It happened a few days ago, when she got to town to wait for your release. Neither of us planned it. It just...happened."
I continue staring, processing this unexpected development. Maddie—my wild, fiercely independent best friend. And Dice—my equally independent, commitment-phobic little brother. Together.
"You're surprised," Dice says, watching my face.
"Surprised doesn't begin to cover it," I admit. "You two are the last people I'd expect to pair up. You both hate feeling vulnerable. You both value your independence more than anything."
"I know," he says, running a hand through his hair again. "It doesn't make sense on paper. But..." he trails off, searching for words. "She gets me, James. In a way no one else ever has. And I get her too."
The genuine emotion in his voice catches me off guard. I've never heard Dice talk about a woman like this before.
"Are you happy?" I ask finally.
A smile breaks across his face, transforming him. "Yeah. Really happy."
"Then I'm happy for you," I say sincerely. "Both of you. Though if you hurt her, I'll have to kick your ass. And if she hurts you, well... I'll probably still have to kick your ass because there's no way I'm taking on Maddie."
He laughs, the tension leaving his body. "Fair enough."
"Does she know you told me?"
"Yeah, we talked about it. She wanted to tell you herself but thought it might be better coming from me." He stands, stretching slightly. "She's around here somewhere. Probably terrorizing someone else."
