The clubhouse felt like a cage that night, the low hum of voices, the distant clinking of pool balls, the restless shifting of boots on worn floors.
I sat on the couch, the weight of the silence pressing in as the brothers roared out into the night. Prospect Finn sat beside me, quieter than usual, eyes scanning the room, knee bouncing. Maria was there too, her presence steady, a quiet anchor in the chaos. She had her hands folded in her lap, watching us with that calm, measured gaze that always seemed to see more than anyone else did.
Finn wasn’t a kid anymore. Not to me. He was brave, more than I’d expected. Maybe even more than he knew himself.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said softly, breaking the silence.
Finn glanced over, surprised by the softness in my voice. “Me too. Feels like we’re all holding our breath.”
I nodded. “Jay’s leading them into hell. I hope my intel’s enough to save them.”
He shifted closer, a protective edge in his stance. “They’re going to bring ‘em down. They have to.”
I let out a shaky breath, staring at the dusty window where the night swallowed the last echoes of the club’s ride-out.
“I’m scared,” I admitted. “For Jay. For all of them. But mostly, I’m scared of losing him.”
Finn didn’t say anything. He gave me a look that said he understood more than words ever could. Maria reached over, resting a hand lightly on my shoulder, a small gesture that grounded me in the quiet. She knew what it was like being the one left behind when your man rode into danger.
We sat together in the quiet, three unlikely allies caught in the storm, waiting for the thunder to break. The weight of the silence wasn’t just heavy, it felt crushing. I pulled my knees closer, trying to shrink away from the knot of fear twisting in my chest. Finn shifted beside me, breaking the quiet with a small chuckle.
“You know,” he said, nudging my shoulder lightly, “Caleb would’ve liked me.”
I blinked, surprised by the sudden lightness. “Yeah? Why’s that?”
Finn grinned, the first real smile I’d seen from him in days. “Because I’m not only a prospect, I’m the guy who’ll watch your back when things go sideways. Like a little brother you never asked for.”
I couldn’t help but smile a little. It was ridiculous, but in that hell storm, the idea of Finn being a little brother somehow made the chaos feel a bit more manageable. Maria’s eyes softened at the exchange, and she gave a small nod, approving the connection without a word.
“You’re a good kid, Finn,” I said quietly. “Caleb would’ve been proud.”
He looked down, fiddling with the zipper on his jacket. “I want to make sure you’re okay, Lucy. You’re stronger than you think, but even strong people need someone to lean on.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thanks, Finn. I needed that.” Maria squeezed my other hand, a silent promise that none of us were truly alone.
Finn shifted again, his voice softer now. “I know it’s hard losing Caleb, everything that’s happened. I keep thinking about how different things could’ve been if I’d met him earlier. Maybe I could’ve done more.”
I looked at him, really looked, and saw the raw honesty behind his eyes. “Caleb made his choices, Finn. But you? You’ve got a chance to be better, to help us finish what he started.”
He nodded, but I could tell the guilt still weighed on him. “It’s just... sometimes I feel like I’m barely holding on, you know? Like I’m in over my head.”
I reached out and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. Maria rested a hand lightly on his shoulder in shared reassurance.
“You’re stronger than you think, too, and you’re not alone. We’ve all got scars from this war and each other.”
He smiled, a flicker of hope breaking through. “Thanks, Lucy. You’re not so bad yourself.”
I laughed quietly, the sound fragile but real. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all week.”
Finn grinned, like he was proud of the win. “Well, don’t get used to it. I’m here to keep you on your toes.”
“I swear, if you keep making those terrible jokes, I’m going to have to put in a good word with Jay to get you booted,” I teased, watching him grin like it was a challenge.
“Bring it on, Lucy. You know Pres likes me,” he shot back, elbows on his knees, his grin contagious.
His words caught me off guard. There was something earnest in the way he said it, something hopeful. I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I think he does.”
I looked at him, feeling a flicker of warmth deep in my chest. Maria squeezed my hand gently, a quiet solidarity in the storm.
