Law’s mouth twitched faintly as he speared another pancake. “Yeah. But not tonight.”
“Envious?” Boston teased, kicking Rip lightly under the table.
Rip didn’t look down. “Of what?”
“The chaos,” Boston said with a snicker. “Obviously. What were you thinking?”
“Gutter’s crowded,” Ocean cut in.
Boston laughed. “Some people thrive there.”
“Some people get shot,” Rip replied, eyes narrowing as he reached for another fry.
Boston grinned, batting his hand away. “Semantics.”
Syx snorted. “You’re going to be the reason my paperwork doubles.”
“Worth it,” Boston said.
Aspen finally looked up from his waffles. “He’s not wrong.”
Rip exhaled through his nose, gaze never leaving the room—or Boston. “You’re all a problem.”
Law tipped his mug in a silent toast, washing down bacon. “Team effort.”
Sage laughed—soft, unguarded—and the sound caught and held Law’s attention.
The table erupted again—Memphis and Boston sniping, Syx deadpanning something that earned a laugh, Ocean leaning in to add fuel. Noise rose, attention pulled outward. Just enough.
Law didn’t move away. But the moment opened anyway.
Sage’s phone buzzed again on the table. He didn’t reach for it.
Law’s eyes flicked down, then back up. He kept his voice low. “Not going to answer that?”
“Nope.”
“An ex?” Law guessed lightly.
The color drained from Sage’s face—not all at once, just enough that Law saw it. Felt it.
The fear hit him sharp and unwelcome, like a hand closing around his ribs.
Law leaned in a fraction, voice dropping further. “What is it?”
Sage shook his head once, small and controlled. “Nothing important.”
Law held his gaze, searching, then backed off just enough to give him air. He wasn’t buying it, but he wouldn’t press. “Whatever it is,” he said quietly, “you know I’ve got your back.”
Sage swallowed hard, then nodded. “I know.”
The noise at the table swelled again—laughter breaking over them—but the space between Law and Sage stayed charged, alert.
“What are we going to do about him?” Sage asked, angling his chin toward Boston.
Law exhaled once. “There’s no containing him. We’ll let Rip handle it.”
Sage’s mouth curved. “Yeah.” Then it faded. “Have we heard from Vale?”
