"And you're okay with that?"
I think about Flint's voice on the phone. The cage threat. The way he talked about me like I was property.
"Yes," I say firmly. "Flint needs to die. For what he threatened. For what his brother did to me years ago. For all of it."
Siren's smile is approving. "Good. That's the right answer. Because you know how violent this life can be. Fuck, you grew up in it. These men? They're violent. And if you're going to be Shadow's ol’ lady, you need to accept that part of him."
"I do. I have."
"Then wear his name with pride." Siren nods toward my ribs. "Show everyone you chose this. Chose him."
I pull up my shirt slightly, showing the edge of the bandage.
Siren grins. "Can I see?"
I peel back the bandage carefully. The tattoo is still red, still healing, but the letters are clear.
SHADOW.
In rough, cattle-brand style below the Shotgun Saints insignia—the cattle skull with curved horns, crossed shotguns behind it forming an X, "MC" in bold letters below, and "SHOTGUN SAINTS" arched above in Western-style lettering.
"Perfect," Siren says. "Very Texas. Very possessive. I like it." She lifts her own shirt, shows me her ribs.
Same placement. Different style.
Property of Shiver.
"We match," I say, and something about that makes me feel less alone.
"Ol’ lady solidarity." Siren replaces her shirt and goes back to cooking. "Shadow's obsessed with you. Shiver said he's never seen a man that gone over a woman."
My face heats. "Is that... normal?"
Siren laughs, genuine amusement. "Normal? No. But this isn't a normal life, Grace. These men don't love like regular guys. They love hard, they claim hard, they protect hard. It's intense. Sometimes scary. But also..." She smiles, something soft in her expression. "...kind of amazing."
"Scary how?"
"Like, Shiver once broke a guy's jaw for looking at me too long at a bar. Spent two weeks in county for it. Didn't regret it for a second." She shrugs like it's nothing. "That's MC love. Possessive, violent, all-consuming. You either accept it or you run."
"I'm not running."
"Good. Because Shadow would chase you. And honestly? That man catching you would be..." Siren's grin turns wicked. "...intense."
I think about Shadow's hands on me.
His voice in my ear. Mine.
The way he looks at me like I'm the only thing in the world that matters.
"Yeah," I whisper. "It would be."
We work in silence for a while, the smell of bacon filling the kitchen.
Other ol’ ladies drift in—Sakura with her warm smile, a woman named Raven who doesn't say much but helps with the toast.
Making breakfast for dozens of men who are about to ride into one hell of a fight later today.
This is my life now, and I proudly chose it.
