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"When are you telling her you're in love with her?" Canvas asks.

"I'm not—" I stop. Because that's a lie. I am in love with her. Fell stupid fast just like every other brother in this club. "Eventually."

"Better be soon," Brick rumbles. "Before she figures it out herself and gets scared."

Angel and Razor approach from the garage, still wiping grease off their hands. They must've been working on the bikes when we arrived.

"Well, well, well." Angel grins widely. "Look who finally decided to join the rest of us in this adventure."

"What adventure?" I ask warily.

"In falling fast for a woman and completely losing your mind." Razor's dry tone makes it clear he's enjoying this. "Welcome to the club, Priest. Membership: literally every patched member and prospect in this place."

"It wasn’t that fast."

"My point," Razor continues, "is that every single one of us thought we were different. Thought we were being rational. Thought we had it under control." He gestures toward where Paige is coloring with the kids. "And then we met them and realized we were fucked."

"Beautifully fucked," Canvas adds, joining the conversation. "But still fucked."

"I didn't lose control…" I start.

"You spent the night in a motel with a woman you barely know," Wraith points out. "Fucked her. Fell in love with her. And brought her straight to the clubhouse the next morning to meet the entire club. If that's not losing control, I don't know what is."

"He's got a point," Judge says, walking over with Phoenix. "You did all that in about twelve hours. That's actually impressive, even by our standards."

Phoenix is trying not to smile. "For what it's worth, you handled it better than Brick did."

"Hey," Brick protests from where he's standing with Rosie. "I didn't knock anyone out in a parking lot."

"Cole was hitting Paige," I interrupt. "So, I knocked him out. What was I supposed to do? Ask him nicely to stop?"

"No," Phoenix says seriously. "You did exactly what you should've done. Protected her. Got her somewhere safe. And brought her here so we could help." He pauses. "The falling in love part just happened to come with the territory."

"I didn't say I was in love with her," I mutter again.

Every single man in the group gives me the exact same look. The one that says *bullshit*.

"Fine," I admit. "Maybe I am."

"Maybe?" Angel laughs. "Brother, you're looking at her like she's the only person in the room. You've got it bad."

"Worse than bad," Razor adds. "You've got it permanent."

"Is that a problem?" I ask. Not defensive. Just genuinely curious what they think.

"Problem?" Diesel shakes his head. "That's the whole point. Finding someone who makes you lose control. Someone worth fighting for. Someone who makes all this—" He gestures around the clubhouse. "Mean something more than just brotherhood."

"It's about family," Judge says. "Building something that lasts. Something worth protecting."

Echo, who's been silent until now with Theo in his arms, nods. "It's about choosing someone and being chosen back. Everything else is just details."

Saint appears with Riley tucked under his arm. "It's about finding your person and not letting go. Even when it's messy. Even when it doesn't make sense."

"Especially when it doesn't make sense," Canvas adds.

I look around at my brothers. At the women they've claimed and the families they've built. At the kids coloring on the floor and the old ladies who've become sisters. At this chaotic, beautiful mess we've created together.

Then I look at Paige again. She's laughing at something Luna said. Her whole face lights up. That dimple appears.