Page 121 of Wells

"Believe it, brother."

Rhodes leans forward.

"Are you dying or something? I never thought I'd see the day that Wells Stone didn't have a cigarette in his mouth."

I turn the cigarette between my fingers, feeling the paper, and the crunch of the tobacco inside. Even though the cravings to smoke are done, I still like to hold one in my fingers.

"I stopped reaching for one every time I sat down to work. It took a while, but I think I'm finally over the hump."

Reeves crosses his arms.

"Wonders never cease."

I don't say the rest. I don't tell them about the first week, when my hands shook so badly I couldn't type or about the breathing exercises that replaced the burn in my lungs. I don't tell them about all the other changes, how I'm trying to be healthier, get out more, put myself in the sunlight at least a few hours a day.

Cera runs under this moment like a current I can't name. But I don't pull her into this room. She doesn't belong to them. She belongs to the part of me that's still trying to figure out how to be different.

Keller watches me for another beat, then nods.

"Good for you, bro. I'm proud of you."

The room settles again.

Cain leans forward, elbows on the table.

"So what happens now? We just go back to running the business like none of this happened?"

Ridge answers.

"We run the business. We keep the family together, and we move forward, just like Dad would have wanted."

Reeves's voice is flat.

"And if Vin shows up?"

"He won't," I say. "I can assure you he wants to stay as far away from us as possible."

"But if he does?"

I meet his gaze.

"Then we finish it."

Keller stands, smoothing his jacket.

"I need a drink."

Cain laughs, short and sharp.

"Yeah. That sounds about right."

Reeves doesn't move yet. He's still looking at Ridge, then at me.

"Don't leave me out on shit like this. It's my job. But thank you for handling it. Vin is lucky I didn't know."

Ridge doesn't answer.

"That's precisely why we decided not to tell you. Trust me, Ridge had the same instinct you have. This way is better. We keep our hands clean, avoid another body connected to us, and business carries on."