Page 29 of Canvas’ Muse

"But we're going to survive this. And we're going to win. Together." Phoenix looks at each of us in turn. "I founded this club because the Vipers became everything a club shouldn't be. I built the Iron Phoenix to be their opposite: a club that protects instead of destroys."

He pauses, letting the words sink in.

"It's time to stop playing defense. Tomorrow, we start attacking. Echo's been doing reconnaissance, and we've got leads on their lookout in Millhaven. We find him, we send a message. A permanent one." Phoenix's expression hardens. "They think they can come at us, hurt our people, destroy our property, and we'll just take it because they outnumber us. They're wrong."

"Damn right they're wrong," Brick says, his voice like gravel.

"But tonight?" Phoenix's expression softens slightly. "Tonight we rest. We celebrate. Canvas found his woman—" He nods at Eden and me. "Against all odds and terrible timing, but he found her. And that's worth celebrating. So, we eat, we drink, we take time to remember why we fight."

"We fight for family," Judge says, his arm around Nora.

"We fight for the people we love," I add, squeezing Eden's hand.

"We fight because it's right," Phoenix finishes. "Tomorrow, we lock in. Tonight, we live. And never forget… From ash, we rise!"

The room erupts in agreement. Beers are cracked open, music gets turned on low, and Diesel and Ranger start bringing food out from the kitchen.

Eden leans into me. "Your president is intense."

"That's why we follow him." I kiss her temple, not caring who sees. "He's the best man I know."

Ivy appears with two bowls of chili that Diesel did, after a few weeks of me teaching him, and hands them to us. "Eat. Both of you. You need your strength." She winks at Eden. "Especially after that workout."

"Oh my god," Eden mutters, but she's smiling.

We eat, and the chili is as good as everyone claims. Spicy, rich, with my special whiskey sauce that makes it something special. Eden makes appreciative noises with every bite, and I have to stop myself from getting hard again just watching her eat.

"This is incredible," she tells Diesel, who beams with pride.

“Don’t thank me. Thank the man next to you. This is his recipe. I’m just his apprentice. But if you really want to know… The secret's in the whiskey," he says, like he's sharing classified information,

"And the fact that you have to brown the meat first instead of just dumping it in raw," Saint adds. "That's the real secret."

"Shut up. You don't know shit about cooking."

"I'm a medic. I know about proper food safety and preparation."

They bicker back and forth, and it's so normal, so family, that I feel Eden relax beside me. This is what I wanted to show her. Not just the danger and the war, but this… The brotherhood, the loyalty, the way we take care of each other.

"They're all insane," Eden whispers to me.

"Completely," I agree. "But they're my brothers. And now they're yours too."

She looks at me, those blue eyes searching. "Am I? Part of this now?"

"Do you want to be?"

"Yes." She glances around the room, at Ivy laughing with Phoenix, at little Grace signing something to Judge who signs back fluently, at the rest of the club eating and drinking and being alive. "I think I've been part of this since you covered me in that studio."

"Yeah." I pull her closer. "You have been."

Ranger approaches, beer in hand. "Eden. Good to officially meet you when Canvas isn't bleeding out."

"Likewise." She shakes his hand. "Thanks for the backup at the studio."

"That's what we do. We protect our own." He glances at me. "She's good, Canvas. Don't fuck it up."

"I won't," I promise, and I mean it with everything in me.