“Can I ask you something personal?” I asked. My mind had been spinning since my conversation with Jack.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “If I say no?”
“I’ll probably ask anyway.”
That got a smile.
“When you check in at places like this... with all this shit you get into,” I said, “who do you list as your emergency contact?”
She didn’t answer right away. Just kept walking until we hit the vending machines. She leaned against one, arms crossed.
“Ava,” she said finally. “Always Ava.”
“Of course.”
There was a long beat.
“You could list me,” I said. Not flippant. Not joking. Just… honest.
She blinked. “What?”
“If you ever needed someone. If she couldn’t answer. You could list me. I could be that person for you, too. I have your back.”
Remi stared at me like she was trying to read the fine print in a contract I hadn’t offered out loud. Then she said, softly, “I’ll think about it.”
She pushed off the machine, nodded once, and headed toward the exit.
I turned the corner into the south hallway and nearly ran into Cole Dawson.
“Chief,” he said, giving me a once-over like he wasn’t sure I was real.
“Hammer,” I said. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
He looked around and swallowed hard, “Please call me Cole. My sister just got in. Wren. She’s gonna be working here. Helping while she figures out her next move.”
I raised an eyebrow. “She a doc?”
“Med school and residency just wrapped. Trauma specialty. Tough as hell.”
I took the President of one of the most feared MCs in the state. Hewasn't as cocky as he had once been. He looked like he wanted to go down swinging... but for different reasons than I had ever seen from him before.
“You look different,” I said after a beat. “Softer.”
Cole snorted. “Don’t say that too loud. Might ruin my rep.”
I waited.
He sighed, ran a hand through his mess of dirty blonde hair. “Sometimes something happens that makes you reevaluate your whole damn life. I’ve done a lot of damage. I’m trying to build something now. Something that gives back.”
“The ranch?” I had heard whispers, but I didn't believe them.
He nodded. “Wren and I are starting small. A mix of a rehab facility and a safe haven. For those who need a place. For anyone who needs a second shot. No MC ties, not like before. No bullshit. Just people trying to unlearn the damage.”
I nodded. “You ever want help... I know some people.”
Cole’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve changed, too.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Used to think the law was enough. That following the rules would make things right. But now… after everything?”
