I glance into the clubhouse at Willa, who is standing in the center of the room, frozen. She grew up around guns, like I did. There’s no shortage on the ranch. But nothing like this.
Willa’s focus is on Mayhem, motionless in his chair on the patio. All color has drained from her cheeks, her expression hollow.
“Can I have a second?” I angle my chin at Willa, and Steel follows my line of sight.
“Yeah.” He slaps my shoulder. “We need to get the girls out of here. Church in thirty. I want everyone there.”
I nod, pulling out my phone to shoot off a text. Around me, everyone’s phones ping. Church is often reserved for ranked members. Tonight, that won’t be the case. What happened is a matter for the entire club. And Steel won’t stop until he gets to the bottom of it.
I leave Legacy and Steel on the patio to head inside to check on Willa. She’s still frozen when I reach for her hand. My fingers lace through hers, and she jumps.
“Sorry.” She rubs the heel of her hand on her chest. “You scared me.”
“You all right?” I scan her, grabbing her face and forcing her eyes to me when she tries to look away.
She nods, pressing her lips in a firm line as her eyes gloss over. She’s watching me, but she’s somewhere else in her mind, and I have a feeling I know where that is.
“Talk to me, princess.” I brush my thumb over the apple of her cheek.
“I just—you could have died.” A tear slips free.
I catch it with my thumb. “You were worried about me?”
“Of course I was.”
The warmth that fills my chest burns me up from the inside out. My stomach meets my throat.
What happened tonight was nothing special except that it happened at our clubhouse. But as far as shoot-outs go, I’ve been in the line of fire more times than I can count. No one worries about me or wonders if I’ll make it out the other side. If I take a bullet or a blade, it’s stitched up, and I walk away. Living on the brink of death is a part of being in this life.
But as Willa blinks back tears, I suddenly see what’s been changing around the club lately. My brothers have been increasing security and leaning into our legal businesses. Especially Steel and Legacy, who have kids to worry about.
This is what it’s like to have someone sitting around wondering if you’ll come home in one piece—if you’ll come home at all.
I’ve never cared much about my mortality or who I am outside of being a part of this club. But staring into Willa’s eyes has me questioning everything.
“I’m all right, see.” I pat my chest. “No bullets.”
She nods, glancing at the patio again.
“Eyes on me, Willa.” Her gaze snaps to mine. “Nothing happened to me. I’m all right. Now I want you to go with Luna for a little bit while I take care of things with the guys. I’ll come and get you when I’m done.”
Luna stops at our side, and Willa flinches because she didn’t see her walking up. But I did. She’s been helping around the room, picking up and checking on everyone. When she spotted me talking to Willa, she paused.
Unlike Willa, Luna and Aimee come from this world. It’s why they’re walking around calmly tonight, immediately jumping into action, and helping where they can. It pisses me off that they’ve been through so much that they’re desensitized to this. They shouldn’t have to be.
“I’ll come get you soon.” I lean in, pressing my lips to Willa’s forehead. She smells like wildflowers blooming on the ranch in springtime. “Promise.”
She nods.
“I’m heading to Reagan’s house to check on her and Tempe. Are you up for a little trip?” Luna smiles, clearly trying to bury her own worries for Willa’s sake.
“Yes, I’m good.” Willa forces a smile and looks up at me a final time before turning to leave. “See you soon.”
My entire life, I’ve only thought of myself and my brothers. But as Willa walks away, part of me goes with her. The heart I forgot I have.
Soul turns the corner, his hands clenched at his sides. “You’re not going to fucking believe this. Feds.”
“Where?”
