I murmured it against her lips, between ragged kisses, a vow, “You’re mine. Always.”
We stayed locked together.
Whatever hell waited outside. Whatever war was coming. None of it mattered.
Because right then, I was exactly where I was meant to be.
Chapter 46
Lucy
“I’m scared too,” I whispered, the words barely leaving my lips. We lay tangled on the bed, bodies still buzzing from the intensity we’d shared.
His lips found mine before I could second-guess myself. It wasn’t rough or desperate, it was steady, a quiet promise that I wasn’t alone.
My hands threaded through his hair, pulling him closer as if I could hold on long enough to keep the world at bay. There was fire in his touch, but beneath it was a gentleness that made me wonder if we could be more than the chaos that had drawn us together.
For the first time, I didn’t have to be the strong one. I could be myself with him, and that terrified me more than anything.
I stayed pressed against him, listening to the rhythm of his breathing, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. Part of me wanted to pull away, to remind myself that trusting him and wanting him came with risks, but my body refused. I leaned into him, craving the warmth, the reassurance.
I traced my fingers along the lines of his chest, learning the map of him—the scars that spoke of battles no one else couldsee, the muscle memory of a fighter, the subtle tremor when he exhaled too fast. He was fierce, yes, but beneath that fire was a man who could hold a fragile space for someone else, and that someone, I realised with a quiet jolt, was me.
“You’re not just some mission,” I whispered. “Not a plan to get answers.”
He brushed his thumb across my cheek, eyes searching mine, soft and raw. “You’re...everything,” he said, and the word carried a weight that made my chest ache.
The noise of the clubhouse outside, the faint shuffle of boots, murmurs from the bar room, faded to nothing. The chaos we fought every day couldn’t reach us here. In this moment, it was only him, only me, only the pull between us that refused to let go.
“I’m falling for you, too.” I admitted, voice barely above a whisper, “and that scares me.”
His lips brushed mine again. “I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured. “You’re not alone.”
Chapter 47
Reaper
Holding her like that, close enough to hear her breath and feel the rise and fall of her chest, I felt the edges of my control slipping. I wanted to protect her, keep her safe from everything that had already broken us both. The harder I tried to keep her at arm’s length, the more she burrowed under my skin.
I both hated and loved that she was falling for me, scared because I wasn’t the hero she deserved. Caleb’s ghost lingered in the back of my mind, a reminder of what I hadn’t saved, of what I’d lost. Of the promises I’d made to him and hadn’t kept.
I wanted to tell her everything, the guilt, the fear, the way my chest tightened when she looked at me, but the words stayed locked. Instead, I held her.
Damn it, Lucy. You are the only thing I can’t walk away from.
The clubhouse was heavy with quiet urgency. Brothers circled the table, eyes sharp, ready for orders. Riot leaned against the door, arms crossed, while Keno sat calm, scanning every face. A few of the others exchanged glances, subtle smirks or raised eyebrows, but said nothing. They knew enough to keep their mouths shut.
I turned to Lucy. She straightened in her chair, chin high, but I caught the flicker of tension in her hands, the slight tremor as she gripped the table’s edge. I slid my fingers over her knee under the table. A silent promise: I’ve got you. She met my gaze and held it, lips pressing together in a way that made my chest tighten.
I cleared my throat. “We’re past talkin’ defence and small hits. The Fangs took Lucy, killed Caleb and Boxer, Diesel too. They think they can walk into our territory and make us look weak. They’re wrong.”
Her eyes blazed, tempered with caution, but she was ready. She gave me a quick, almost imperceptible nod. We’re in this together.
“We’re going on offense. Full throttle.”
I laid out the plan: gather intel, take their supplies, starve them out. Every step planned thoroughly. I kept glancing at her, noting the way her fingers tapped lightly on the table, the subtle way she mirrored my posture. I let my hand brush hers again, lingering a beat longer.
“While the main crew tears down the compound,” I continued, “a smaller team goes in quiet. Me, Keno, Riot, and Link.”
