If I remember correctly, apart from the compound itself, Palm Springs alone has three other chapters for the Shadows. And I’m pretty sure they even expanded into another state.
So people were always running in and out of the place.
But back then, it was mostly just the men.
Random bikers would stop by during the day to hang out or talk about whatever it is they talk about in the war room. Riley and I would spend most of our time at my house, talking for hours.
It was nice.
I became great friends with her. We were already a family in a way, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.
But words can’t explain the feeling I have now as I look around the compound tonight.
Sure, there are some faces I don’t know very well… and some I don’t know at all.
But the ones I do know?
They make me smile.
Bubby, Riley, and Asher.
Bones and Sunny.
Max, Lila, Bree, and Micah.
Skip and Eli.
Foster, Crusher, Cody, Maverick, Twins One and Two… and even Patch.
The only person missing from my little family is my other big brother, Sammy.
Bubby says he’s going to guilt Sammy into visiting soon.
I hope so…I miss him.
The sun has already set, and I’m sitting in a chair beside the massive bonfire Bones built for us.
Across the flames, Bubby is teaching Asher how to roast a marshmallow until it’s a perfect light brown.
Skip shakes his head dramatically.
“Your dad is a lunatic,” he tells the boy. “You roast the marshmallow until it’s as black as Bones’ soul.”
My brother glares at him, but Skip ignores it, steals Asher, and carries him to the other side of the fire.
Turning my head, I watch Patch say something that makes Sunny laugh.
Bones immediately looks offended. Not at what was said, but at the fact that another male made his woman laugh.
The sight makes me smile.
Then my eyes drift to my old house.
To the roof.
The exact spot where Big T used to sit during guard duty.
Where he was shot and killed.
