Page 56 of Grim

She squeezed his fingers, a silent answer.

“Okay,” he murmured. “Then stay close to me.”

“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”

Something in him eased. Something else tightened.

He placed his hand on the small of her back, protective and guiding and claiming without meaning to, and led her toward the doors.

The moment they stepped inside, the energy shifted.

Heads turned. Conversations paused. People noticed.

But this time, the attention wasn’t just on Sophia, it was on Brick.

He was propped on a barstool, bandaged but grinning, a beer in hand while Havoc clapped him on the back hard enough to make the kid wince.

“Look who finally decided to stop hogging hospital beds,” Rook called out.

Brick flipped him off good-naturedly.

Sophia’s eyes widened slightly. “He looks… okay.”

“He’s tougher than he looks,” Grim said.

Switchblade and Ghost spotted Grim first. They straightened instinctively, nodding in respect.

“Good to have you back, brother,” Switchblade said to Brick, then turned to Grim. “You bringing her around more often?”

Grim gave him a look that said watch it, but Switchblade only smirked, the kind of smirk only a younger vet could get away with.

“Relax,” Switchblade said quietly. “She’s good for you.”

Grim didn’t respond, but something in his chest tightened. Switchblade had served too, younger and greener but sharp. Loyal. The kind of kid Grim would’ve taken under his wing if life had gone differently.

Ghost elbowed Switchblade. “Told you he’d bring her tonight.”

Switchblade shrugged. “Man’s allowed to be happy.”

Grim shot him a glare that only made the kid grin wider.

Sophia leaned in. “They like teasing you.”

“They should like breathing more,” Grim muttered.

She laughed softly, and damn if that didn’t make the whole room feel less hostile.

Grim kept Sophia close, his hand steady on her back, guiding her through the crowd like she was something precious he wasn’t letting anyone touch.

He introduced her to a few members. They nodded respectfully, eyes flicking between her and Grim with something like approval or curiosity. Maybe both.

Then the sweetbutts approached.

Three of them. Pretty. Flirty. Moving like they owned the floor. Grim felt Sophia stiffen beside him, and he subtly shifted, angling his body closer to hers.

The blonde looked Sophia up and down, lips glossy, smile too bright. “So you’re the girl Grim’s been glued to lately.”

Sophia smiled politely. “I guess so.”