Kya slides into the seat closest to Emma. “So. Christmas in July got weird yesterday.”
“That’s one way to put it,” Emma says.
“How are you handling it? The Summit thing?” Kya’s voice drops lower. “I know last time?—”
“I’m OK.” Emma reaches over and squeezes Kya’s hand. “Really. This feels different. Last time, it was a shock I didn’t see coming. I was alone and terrified, and I didn’t understand why it was happening. But this time, I know what we’re up against, and I’m surrounded by people who can actually do something about it.”
“Damn right we can,” Tank says from across the table. “Those Summit fuckers are about to learn what happens when you mess with Stoneheart after we very kindly sent them packing.”
“Language,” Andi says automatically, even though her kids aren’t in the room.
“Sorry. Those Summit jerks are about to learn?—”
“Better.”
The door opens and Josie walks in, hair and makeup done, perfectly pressed slacks and a blazer despite it being just after seven in the morning. Stone’s at her side immediately, taking her bag, pulling out a chair for her.
“Coffee?” he asks.
“Please.”
I catch Emma’s eye and she’s trying not to smile. Everyone’s trying not to smile, actually. Stone and Josie are not subtle.
“All right,” Stone says once Josie’s settled with coffee and a plate. “Let’s talk business. Church in fifteen minutes. Officers and anyone working this problem.”
He looks at me when he says it, and I nod. I’m working this problem.
Ginger immediately appears at Emma’s side. “We’ve got her. Don’t worry.”
“Yeah,” Maggie adds. “Girl-breakfast time. We’ll paint nails, talk shit, the usual.”
“You know what?” Emma smiles. “That sounds kinda fun.”
“It’s settled then.” Maggie pats her head like she’s a child and Emma laughs.
I lean down and kiss Emma’s temple. “You good for a while?”
“I’m great. Go do your thing.”
“OK. Don’t leave her alone,” I say, looking between Ginger and Maggie. “She’s a wily one. Will try and do some funky ballet spin on her good foot if you look away too long.”
Emma rolls her eyes at me, but there’s that spark of amusement in them that makes my chest tighten. “I’m not that bad,” she mutters, though we both know she is—always pushing limits, even with a busted ankle.
Ginger snorts. “Says the girl who snuck out of the clubhouse when she had pneumonia just so she could hop a train to the city and do a flash mob with her friends.”
“That was totally worth it,” Emma says.
But Maggie just swivels her fingers back and forth. “We’ve got eyes on you, ballerina.”
Inside the chapel, Stone takes his seat at the head of the table, immediately serious. Tank, Hawk, Mack, Cash, and Axel fill inaround him. Josie sits to Stone’s right with a stack of file folders. I take the empty chair next to Axel.
“All right,” Stone starts. “Let’s recap where we are. Eighteen months ago, Summit Development tried to muscle into Stoneheart. We pushed back. Got in their way, and they escalated. So did we. Hard. They’ve been quiet since we rained hell on them, and we thought—hoped—they were done. But clearly they’re not.”
“They’re just being smarter about it this time,” Tank says. “More subtle.”
“Exactly.” Stone looks at me. “Bones, tell us what you found.”
I pull out my laptop, open it to the files I compiled overnight. “Carolina Properties Group started buying houses in the east-side neighborhood three months ago. On paper, they look legitimate—registered business, clean contracts, everything above board. But when you dig deeper?—”
