Page 32 of Finn's Future

“Maybe fifth.”

Before he could reply, another voice cut in.

“Kid finally here?”

A tall dark man with glasses and a beer in hand approached us with another dark-haired brother beside him.

“Kate,” Finn said, jerking his chin towards the one with glasses. “That’s Link. Other asshole’s Spider.”

Spider looked deeply unimpressed. “Nice introduction.”

“You earned it.” Link chuckled.

Spider ignored them both completely, peering down at Noah. “Well,” he announced seriously, “he’s definitely ugly enough to belong to this club.”

I blinked, about to comment when Noah sneezed directly at him. Link barked out a laugh, and I had to cover my mouth to hide my smile.

“Kid’s got good instincts.” Finn scoffed.

Spider looked horrified. “Did he just sneeze on me?”

“Survival of the fittest,” Finn replied.

Lucy reached over and lifted Noah from my arms before Spider could continue complaining.

“Don’t listen to them,” she cooed. “They share two brain cells between them.”

“Pretty sure Spider lost his in a fight,” Link said.

Spider flipped him off. I couldn’t help but laugh at their banter.

The yard buzzed around us while brothers moved between tables and grills. Nobody stared at me suspiciously anymore. The first time I’d walked through those gates, they’d looked at me like I might destroy everything they cared about.

Now? Their eyes tracked Noah instead. They seemed protective and a little curious.

“Kate, thanks for coming.”

I turned at the sound of Reaper’s voice.

He approached from the clubhouse porch with Riot beside him, both of them looking far more intimidating than everyone else combined.

Riot still wore his sunglasses despite the sun beginning to set. I still hadn’t figured out how that man functioned.

Reaper’s gaze moved briefly over me before settling on Noah in Lucy’s arms. His frown softened and his lips tilted up just a fraction, not dramatically, but enough to notice if you were looking carefully.

Lucy noticed too. Her entire face changed when she looked at him, a beaming smile lighting her features.

“You gonna stand there looking scary all night?” she asked him lightly. “Or are you holding your nephew?”

Several brothers immediately went quiet their eyes glued to Reaper.

Reaper sighed like he was deeply inconvenienced by the question. “Luce.”

“Oh, shut up and hold him.” She shushed and held Noah out to him.

Noah looked at Reaper, studying him for a moment before chuckling and clapping his hands. To my complete shock, Reaper actually took Noah. Carefully, like Noah might break or explode or something.

Spider stared openly. “Holy shit,” he muttered.