"She needs it. Her purpose, her identity. Yeah, I'm supporting it. Even though it scares the shit out of me.”
Miguel nods slowly. "She's always been like that. Needing to save people. After our parents died, she tried to save everyone—injured birds, stray dogs, me when I was drowning in grief. Can't change who she is."
"Wouldn't want to."
"Then you're smarter than I gave you credit for." He flicks ash into the dirt. "Abuela wants to host your wedding here. Did Izzy tell you?"
I nearly choke on smoke. "What wedding?"
"You haven't asked yet?" Miguel looks genuinely surprised. "Huh. Thought that would've happened by now."
"We've been slightly busy with the whole 'keeping a tiny human alive' thing."
"Fair. But think about it. She deserves that. The commitment, the celebration, the family moment. Not just baby mama status."
"She's more than—"
"I know. But does she know you know?" Miguel drops the cigarette, crushes it under his boot. "Just think about it. Abuela's already planning it in her head. Might as well make it official."
He heads back inside, leaving me with thoughts I wasn't ready to have.
Marriage.Not just living together, co-parenting, surviving day to day.
Actual commitment.
Legal, formal, forever.
The idea should terrify me. Six months ago, I was an Iron Talons President with no attachments, no vulnerabilities, nothing to lose.
Now I've got everything to lose.
And somehow, that makes me want to lock it down permanently.
Marry Lena. Make it official. Show Santiago what commitment looks like.
Build something that can't be undone by club politics or enemy retaliation or Ghost's bitter revenge.
The door opens. Lena appears, Santiago asleep in her arms.
"You okay?" she asks.
"Yeah. Just thinking."
"About?"
"The future. Us. Everything."
She moves closer, leans against me carefully so as not to wake Santiago. "Heavy thoughts for after pozole."
"Miguel suggested something."
"Oh no. What?"
"That Abuela wants to host our wedding here."
Lena goes very still. "Our wedding."
"Yeah."
