The kitchen is warm and bright, filled with the sounds of forks scraping against plates and casual conversation.
“I brought my geometry grade up to a B-plus,” Tabby announces between crunchy bites of bacon. “Mrs. Bailey said if I keep it up, I might make not have to do summer school.”
“That’s my girl.” I reach over and squeeze her shoulder. “Proud of you, Peanut.”
She beams, and I swear she sits a little taller.
Jack isn’t about to be outdone. “I’m gonna join the junior basketball league this summer,” he says, stabbing a piece of pancake with his fork. “Tryouts are in May. I’ve been practicing my free throws.”
“Yeah?” I raise an eyebrow. “Maybe we can shoot some more hoops later. Work on your form.”
His eyes light up. “Really? That’d be awesome!”
“You’ll just have to keep in mind I’ve got the cane, so go easy on me.”
“Like at the arcade? Dad, you won!”
Tabby suddenly gasps, turning around her phone. “Oh my god, Solana, look! Someone posted a TikTok of your performance last night. It already has, like, eight thousand views!”
“Wait, really?” Solana takes the phone, her brow furrowing as she scrolls through. “Wow…”
“And look at the comments!” Tabby says, leaning over her shoulder. “Everyone’s saying how good you were. Like, actual compliments. That almost never happens on TikTok.”
Solana’s dark brown eyes shine as she reads the comments, her lips parting in surprise. Then a slow, disbelieving smile spreads across her pretty face, and she looks up at me like she can’t believe it’s real.
I wink at her. “Told you. Star material.”
She can’t bring herself to answer as she ducks her head and smiles more privately, like the rest of us can’t see it.
I lean back in my chair, letting the moment wash over me. My kids are happy and healthy. Tabby’s doing much better in school. Jack’s done with softball and now excited about basketball. And Solana—she’s my girlfriend who I couldn’t be crazier about.
It’s more than any man could ever ask for. More than a man like me probably deserves. I’ve done things. Killed people. Made choices that would keep most folks up at night.
But somehow, despite all of it, I’ve ended up here.
Truly blessed.
My phone buzzes against my thigh.
I pull it out and glance at the screen. Tito’s texted me about club business. There’s always something. Always another fire to put out or another problem to solve.
But for once, I don’t jump to answer it.
I slide the phone back into my pocket and reach for my coffee instead, letting my gaze drift over the people around this table. Tabby’s showing Solana something else on her phone. Jack’s sneaking a couple extra pieces of bacon. Solana’s laughing as she nods along to whatever she’s being shown.
The club can wait.
Right now, I’d rather savor this.
“…and that’s the latest on the armory. We’ve restocked the ammo supply, and Zoe’s secured more explosives we could use in case of emergencies. Anybody else fucks with us, they’re about to be blown the fuck up!”
Ozzie finishes his briefing in true dramatic Ozzie fashion, then settles back into his chair.
Tito stands up, clearing his throat. “Next matter of business—the Peña cartel and the fractured business relationship.”
A ripple of tension moves through the room. The Peñas have been a thorn in our side for months, and that wound is still fresh after how Tom interfered and made things worse.
Mace leans back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. “We’ve got my father to thank for that. He’s the one who stirred up shit with them in the first place.”
