My throat went tight. “You mean that?”
He pulled back just enough to see my face. His eyes locked with mine. No hesitation.
“I love you, Amanda.”
The words hit like a blow to the chest. Not the kind that knocks the air out of me. But the kind that makes everything start working again.
I blinked fast, but the tears still spilled.
“I love you too.”
His jaw flexed. He leaned forward and kissed me again. It was gentle this time. Not rushed. Not desperate. Justhome.
We stayed like that for a long time.
Tangled up. Bare. Breathing each other in.
When I finally spoke, my voice was hoarse.
“Let’s go home.”
He nodded, brushing my hair back. “Yeah, baby. Let’s go home.”
29
AMANDA
The bell rang once.
I felt it in my chest before the sound fully carried through the compound.
MC church.
I hadn’t planned to be here.
Not tonight. Not after everything. I’d assumed this meeting was for the men. Damage reports, intel, strategy, the quiet, lethal things they did behind closed doors.
I was sitting on the edge of Wrecker’s bed when the bell sounded, Smoke’s head heavy in my lap, my fingers absently scratching behind his ears.
But then I thought about Sunshine. About Scout. About the elevator. And I suddenly didn’t want to sit on the sidelines anymore.
Wrecker looked at me like he was about to say something.
I stood up first.
“I’m going,” I said. “I need to,” I said gently. Not defensive. Not afraid. Just certain. “I don’t want to be talked about like I’m not in the room.”
Something shifted in his expression. Not concern.
Pride.
He nodded once. “I’m with you.”
“I know,” I said. “But this is mine.”
The main room was already filling when we walked in. The long table sat at the center, scarred wood worn smooth by years of elbows, fists, blood, and vows. Men took their seats in familiar order. Cap at the head. Ghost to his right. Brutus posted near the wall, arms crossed. Ranger hovering near Scout like he didn’t trust gravity not to betray him.
Scout sat stiffly in his chair, bruised but upright. Alive.
