“Everywhere but the bedroom, sweetheart.”
Inside the clubhouse, I can hear muffled voices. Then laughter—a lot of it.
“That’s either very good or very bad,” Kya observes.
“With this club? Could be both.”
Ginger checks her watch. “The banner’s going to fall if they don’t hurry up. I rigged it with fishing line and prayer.”
The doors swing open.
Steel emerges first, looking dazed, his cut now sporting full colors instead of the prospect patch. The brothers behind him are grinning, slapping his back, clearly having given him hell in there while Maggie officially sewed on his patch.
“SURPRISE!” Ginger yanks a cord.
The banner unfurls—WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, FAIRY FLOSS—just as the confetti cannons explode.
Steel gets a face full of glitter.
“Who—” He’s sputtering, trying to look dignified while covered in sparkles. “Who approved this?”
“I did,” Stone chuckles, raising his beer in toast.
Ginger shoves a bottle into Steel’s hand. “You’re getting a party. Shut up and enjoy it.”
Isabel watches from the edge of the crowd, Lily on her hip. When Steel catches her eye, he lifts his beer in a small salute, taking a deep drink.
She doesn’t smile, but she nods.
I catch Brick watching them from across the yard, his jaw tight. .
“That’s going to be interesting,” Stone murmurs.
“You mean the ‘who’s got the bigger dick energy’ those two are throwing off? Yeah, you’re telling me.”
The party kicks into high gear—food, drinks, music, dancing. Duck gives an impromptu speech about community and gratitude that has Ginger crying. Steel gets passed around for congratulations and kisses until he’s pink-faced and overwhelmed.
And through it all, Stone never strays far from my side.
Until suddenly, he’s gone.
I look around, confused, and find him standing by the bar, whistling for attention.
The music cuts, and everyone turns.
“One more piece of business tonight,” Stone says. His voice carries across the suddenly silent yard.
My heart stutters.What is he?—
“Josie. Get over here.”
The crowd parts. I walk toward him on legs that don’t feel entirely steady.
He’s holding a fold of leather. A vest. And on the back?—
PROPERTY OF STONE
The room erupts. Cheers, whistles, and Ginger starts crying again.
