Page 25 of Gray’s Surrender

“King would be ashamed of what you made his club. You are nothing like your father, you know that?”

Kane’s face doesn’t change. “Good.” He ends the call and hands Bishop the phone.

“Take your men and the truck. You leave the cargo. Next Perdition patch through Ransom comes as an enemy and will be treated accordingly.”

Bishop looks at the crates, the cash and every gun aimed around him. Then he helps the injured men into the cab. The truck leaves empty while Kingdom Come holds the landing. Kane watches the taillights disappear before looking at me. “Still wondering which way this club is headed?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I look at the road Perdition thought I would sell. “They picked me because they thought I was the weak link.”

“They won’t make that mistake twice.” Kane turns toward the seized cargo. “Load it.”

When I swing onto my bike, Tank strikes my shoulder with the back of his hand. He sees what I’m prepared to do to the man who hurt his sister.

Still brothers. I start the engine and ride back toward the compound behind my president and with my best friend.

CHAPTER 6

MEG

The compound sounds wrong without the bikes.

Most of Kingdom Come rode out after nine. Colt and Wilder remain on the gates, with a handful of brothers covering the rear road and fence line, but inside the clubhouse the silence has weight. I put Ruby to bed in one of the guest rooms myself. I told her only that her daddy had some work to do and would be back late.

“Will he come see me when he gets home?” she asked.

“Even if you’re asleep.”

She accepted that and curled onto her side with the stuffed red panda tucked beneath her chin. I stayed until her breathing deepened. Tessa is sitting with her now, close enough that Ruby won’t wake alone.

I pour myself coffee from the pot behind the bar but leave it untouched. My classroom tote sits on the stool beside me. The blue lanyard spills over one side, my keys resting against the scarred wood. I sort through orientation papers I can’t seem to concentrate on and try not to check the time again for the tenth time. The bag belongs to the life I was building before Gray kissed me. The bruises don’t change that. But neither does Perdition.

Outside, a motorcycle passes the windows as the gate watch changes. Nobody offers me a promise about the men on the road. Kingdom Come doesn’t make promises it can’t guarantee. I wait anyway and hope for the best. At eleven forty, engines rise beyond the trees and every person inside the clubhouse hears them.

The gates roll open. Headlights cut through the yard in a staggered line, not triumphant and not rushed. Kane enters first. Judge rides beside him. Gray and Tank come through close enough that their bikes almost share one shadow.

My lungs work again as Gray parks near the garage and removes his helmet. Blood darkens one knuckle. His mouth is bruised from Tank’s punch earlier. Otherwise, he’s whole and I can’t help but thank the universe. Tank kills his engine beside him. Gray and Tank unload the first crate together, moving with the same hard rhythm they’ve carried into fights for years. Gray sees me beneath the clubhouse light. He gives Tank his end of the crate and walks across the yard until I meet him halfway.

His hands close around my waist and I touch his face, check the bruise and taste river air when his mouth comes down on mine. The kiss isn’t careful. It’s relief with teeth. I feel the night in him, the violence he held in check and the certainty he brought back. His cut is cool beneath my hands. The patch presses against my wrist while he draws me closer without touching the sore side. Somebody carries the crate past us while Cash says, “There are rooms with doors, if either of you remembers.”

Gray doesn’t lift his head. “Keep walking,” he says before continuing his slow, deep kiss. I smile against his mouth.

When we separate, he rests his forehead against mine. “You all right?”

“I’m better now.”

“Ruby?”

“Asleep. Safe.”

He closes his eyes for one second.

“Is it finished?” I ask.

“Immediate problem is.”