I had doubts about reopening.Hell, we all did.But the truth was, Anchor wasn’t wrong.Not this time, and not ever when it came to keeping the club alive.
Security upgrades had wiped out more funds than we planned for.Cameras, motion sensors, new locks, reinforced doors, thermal tech at the treeline—none of that came cheap, and doing it all at once?Even worse.We weren’t broke, but we were damn close to the “watch the bank account like it’s a fucking hawk” stage.
We needed money flowing again.
The haunted house was our biggest moneymaker.The boat tours too.The merch.The food stands.
Without all of it running?We didn’t last another season.
“I’ll stick with them,” I said.“Nobody gets out of my sight.”
Shay’s shoulders loosened a fraction, and I knew it was because she trusted the person doing it.
Me.
That hit harder than I wanted it to.
Anchor placed a hand on Pearl’s cheek and kissed her gently.“Listen to whatever Prime says.”
Pearl rolled her eyes.“Yeah, yeah.I know.”
“I mean it,” he replied and leaned in until their foreheads touched.
The room fell still, giving them privacy without really trying.
Pearl whispered, “Okay.”
Anchor stepped back, and in the same motion, Push walked through the front door, gear slung over his shoulder and an “I’m ready to work” look on his face.
“Let’s go,” Anchor said.
Push nodded and followed him out.
Pearl hopped off her stool the second they were gone.
“Alright, come on,” she said, grabbing Shay’s arm with surprising enthusiasm.“Let’s go see what crazy things Bernice squirreled away in her cabin.And trust me, she had plenty.That woman kept the weirdest shit.”
Shay smiled.“I’m ready.”
Pearl tugged Shay off the stool.
Lost was up instantly, following them like a silent shadow.His face didn’t change.Didn’t soften or sharpen.He was simply… aware.His eyes scanned the windows, the door, the corners of the room.
Good.
We needed that.
I swallowed the last of my coffee, set the mug down, and pushed myself off the stool.
“Time to go,” I muttered under my breath as I followed them toward the door.
We stepped outside together, the morning air crisp and cool against my skin.The sun didn’t do much to warm it.Shay wrapped her arms around herself for a second until she felt my presence beside her.
Her shoulders relaxed.
Her breathing steadied.
And that cracked something in my chest.
