Page 24 of My Wild Biker

"Already on it."

"Good." Clint's eyes flick briefly to Isla, then back to me. "And anyone bringing family to church for the first time, I want a word after."

Family. The word lands heavier than it should.

Church breaks up around eleven-thirty. The women drift back to the bar area where someone's brought pastries. Brothers cluster in groups talking shop. Clint gestures me toward his office and I follow.

Inside he closes the door and leans against his desk, arms crossed. "You bringing her here means something."

"You already said that."

"I'm saying it again so you understand. She's Vigil family now. Under club protection. That's not casual, Chuck. That's permanent until you say otherwise."

"I understand."

"Do you? Because in twenty-five years you've never brought a woman to church. Not once. And now you bring someone you've known three days?" He watches me steady. "So I'm asking. This serious or are you working through something?"

The question is fair. I take a second to find honest words. "I don't know yet. But I know I wanted her here. Wanted her to see this, understand it, meet everyone. Wanted her safe if things with Marrow escalate."

"She leaving Sunday?"

"That's the plan."

"And then what?"

"Don't know. We're figuring it out."

Clint studies me for a long moment. "This about filling that hole or is this about her specifically?"

"Both probably." I meet his eyes. "But mostly her."

He nods slowly. "Alright. Just know what you're doing. For her sake and yours." He pushes off the desk. "And Chuck? If this is real, don't let Sunday be the end of it. We've lost enough brothers to being alone. Don't be the next one."

We head back out and Isla's laughing at something Sydney said. When she sees me she smiles and it does something to my chest I'm not ready to examine.

Around noon people start drifting out. Isla and I stay, talking with Katherine and Tate about nothing important. Easy conversation. Comfortable. Like she fits here.

Around one we leave. Back at her rental I help her finish packing her suitcases even though Sunday is tomorrow and she doesn't actually need to pack yet. It gives us something to do with our hands while we talk about nothing and everything.

"So that's church," she says, folding a shirt. "Not what I expected."

"What'd you expect?"

"I don't know. Something more intimidating? But it was just... family. People who care about each other."

"That's what it is. Club first, always, but we take care of our own."

She's quiet for a moment. "Sydney said if I need anything while I'm in Bloomfield, all I have to do is ask. Katherine said the same thing. That's because you brought me to church?"

"Yeah. You're under protection now. Anyone threatens you, the club handles it."

"That's intense."

"That's the club."

She sits on the bed surrounded by half-packed clothes. "Chuck, what are we doing? Really? Because I leave tomorrow and we're acting like we have all the time in the world."

I sit next to her, close enough our thighs touch. "Honestly? I don't know. But I know I'm not ready for you to leave yet."