She's either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish. Maybe both.
"She's offered an alliance," I continue. "Her property, her medical skills, in exchange for our help rebuilding the house and keeping the Eagles away."
"We don't need her permission to keep the Eagles off that property," Tank points out. "We'd do that anyway, for strategic reasons."
"But we do need her cooperation," Steel says thoughtfully. "Having a legitimate reason to be there, to modify the house, to maintain a presence… That's valuable. Especially with Sheriff Tom watching us closer lately."
He's right. Tom's been looking for an excuse to cause problems for the club, but he won't risk moving against us without solid evidence of illegal activity. Having a legitimate business relationship with Luna, helping renovate her property, gives us the perfect cover for maintaining a presence there.
"I like her," Beast says simply. "She's got balls."
"She patched King up without flinching," Rage adds. "Didn't even blink when Tank tried to intimidate her. That counts for something in my book."
One by one, they weigh in. Steel and Torch support the alliance idea. Rookie and Shadow seem cautiously optimistic. Chaos thinks we should just buy her out and be done with it. But it's Tank's opinion I'm waiting for, and he doesn't offer it until everyone else has spoken.
"I don't like involving civilians," he says finally. "Especially not in what's coming. Vulture's not playing around. This is going to get ugly, fast."
"Agreed," I say. "So what's your vote?"
We've been friends long enough that he can read the subtle signs others miss. The tension in my jaw, the way my right hand keeps curling into a fist under the table, the fact that I'm advocating for this woman at all.
"I think you've already made up your mind," he says finally. "And I think you know I'm going to back your play, even if I don't agree with it. But be careful, brother. She's a complication we don't need right now."
"Noted." I look around the table. "Anyone else have concerns they want on record?"
Silence. Even Chaos, who's usually quick with an objection, keeps his mouth shut.
"Then it's settled. The Hartwell property is under Savage Riders protection. Luna is an ally, not a charity case. We help her rebuild, she provides medical assistance when needed." I stand, signaling the end of this portion of the meeting. "Now, let's talk about how we respond to the Eagle's move. We can't let this stand without a message of our own."
For the next hour, we plan our countermove. Nothing too dramatic. We're not ready for all-out war yet, and neither are they. But something to make it clear that attacks in our territory will be answered swiftly and decisively.
We settle on a targeted approach: identify the Iron Eagles' supply line, disrupt it enough to send a message but not enough to force an immediate escalation. Surgical, controlled, effective.
"Steel, I want you and Shadow to identify their main suppliers," I delegate. "Torch, Beast, prepare options for disruption. Rage, you and Rookie handle surveillance. I want eyes on every Eagle prospect who entered our territory today."
"What about the girl?" Tank asks. "Someone needs to bring her up to speed."
"I'll handle Luna," I say, ignoring the look Tank gives me. "She deserves to know exactly what she's getting into."
The meeting breaks up shortly after that, with each member heading off to tackle their assigned tasks. Tank hangs back, waiting until we're alone before speaking.
"You want to tell me what's really going on with you and Emma's granddaughter?" he asks, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp.
"Nothing's going on," I shoot back. "She's a potential asset who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Bullshit." Tank crosses his arms. "I've known you too long, brother. You're never this invested in a civilian unless there's something you're not saying."
He's right, of course. Tank's been my right hand since before the club existed, since we were just two broken soldiers trying to find our place in a world that didn't want or understand us. He knows all my tells, all my weaknesses, all the ways I lie to myself about what I want and why I want it.
"There's something about her," I admit finally. "Something familiar. Like I've known her before, in another life."
"You believe in that shit now? Reincarnation?" Tank's skepticism is expected, but there's no mockery in it.
"I believe in recognizing something worth fighting for when I see it." I run a hand through my hair, frustrated by my inability to articulate something I don't fully understand myself. "Luna's got steel in her spine. Reminds me of Emma, but fiercer."
"You barely know her."
"I know enough," I counter.
