Page 19 of Gray’s Surrender

“Bring the two men who came to my house.”

Judge’s eyes lift. Bishop asks, “Why?”

“I want to see their faces before I decide this is done.”

“They’ll be there.”

“Ten.”

I end the call. Kane takes his phone from his pocket. “Cash, confirm who owns every vehicle Bishop has used. Judge, rotate the gate watch. Make it visible.” He looks at me last.

“You stand at the landing alone. Bishop needs to see what he bought.”

“Okay.”

“You follow my word when we close.”

The correction from last night sits between us. He’s trusting me at the center of the trap after I failed to trust him with the approach.

“I will.”

Kane holds my gaze, then nods.

Church ends.

Cash brings Meg’s car through the gates near noon.

He parks beside the clubhouse and removes a small duffel, her laptop bag and a canvas tote packed with school folders.

“Got what she asked for,” he says. “Tank checked the rental first. Nothing touched.”

Meg comes out of the clubhouse wearing jeans, a soft white shirt and the bruise Perdition put across her face. The sight still strips every useful thought from me. She checks the duffel, then the laptop.

“Anything missing?” Cash asks.

“No. Thank you.”

He nods toward the school tote. “Teacher work during a lockdown. That’s grim.”

“Orientation is in nine days. Perdition doesn’t get to ruin that too.”

Cash looks at me. “She’s scarier than Tank.”

“Always has been.”

Meg gives me a look, but her mouth softens.

“Need anything else from the rental?” I ask.

“No. I’m all good for now, thanks.”

Cash takes the hint and heads toward the clubhouse. Brothers move through the common room beyond the open door. Judge is on the phone near the bar. Colt and Wilder check the gate schedule. Nobody pretends not to see us. I touch the uninjured side of Meg’s face and kiss her.

Carefully at first, until she grips my shirt and opens her mouth, turning careful into a promise. I keep one hand at her waist and the other away from the sore shoulder. When I lift my head, the common room is quieter. Judge looks at the ceiling. Cash has found something fascinating behind the bar. But Tank is still on the north road, and he’s going to hear about this. I’ve already decided it’s inevitable.

“That was subtle,” Meg says.

“Wasn’t meant to be.”