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"Okay. Let's do this."

An hour later…

The clubhouse is chaos when we arrive.

Phoenix texted ahead, warned everyone we were coming, and told them to behave.

They didn't listen.

The moment we walk through the door, we're surrounded.

Ivy reaches us first. Takes one look at Paige's bruised face and immediately pulls her into a gentle hug.

"You're safe now," she says firmly. "Nobody's going to hurt you here."

Eden appears next. Introduces herself as a trauma nurse and asks if Paige needs medical attention. Nora offers tea and a quiet space if she needs to decompress. Rosie just squeezes her hand and says welcome to the madness.

Hannah, Lily, Riley, June, Bree, and Daisy all introduce themselves in rapid succession. Each offering help in their own way—a place to stay, clothes to borrow, someone to talk to who's been through similar situations.

The men hang back slightly. Giving the women space to welcome one of their own.

But I see Judge assessing Paige. See Brick's jaw tighten when he notices the bruise. See the way Canvas, Echo, Ranger, Diesel, and Saint all exchange glances that say they understand exactly what happened and what needs to happen next.

Grace and Mariah appear and immediately pull Paige down to their level to show her their coloring books. Luna launches into an explanation of her favorite dinosaur. Theo babbles happily from Echo's arms.

Paige looks overwhelmed. Terrified. On the verge of tears, but she's smiling. Actually smiling as Grace hands her a purple crayon and insists she help color the princess's dress.

I watch her settle onto the floor between Grace and Mariah, taking the purple crayon with shaking hands. Luna immediately scoots closer, launching into detailed explanations about which dinosaurs lived during which periods.

Phoenix appears at my side. "She'll fit in just fine."

"Yeah," I agree. My chest feels tight watching her interact with the kids. Watching the women circle around her like a protective barrier. "She will."

"Judge and I are going to coordinate a visit to her apartment tomorrow," Phoenix says. "Brick, Diesel, and Wraith are coming too. We'll make sure Cole understands that Paige is off-limits. Permanently."

"I want to be there."

"I know. You will be." Phoenix claps my shoulder. "But today, just let her breathe. Let her see what family looks like. Let her understand she's not alone anymore."

He walks away to join Judge and the others.

I watch Paige laugh at something Mariah says. Watch Eden sit down beside her and gently examine the bruise on her cheek. Watch Ivy bring her coffee and a plate of cookies like it's the most natural thing in the world.

She looks up and finds me across the room. Our eyes meet.

She mouths *thank you*.

I shake my head. Mouth back, *nothing to thank me for*.

But she smiles anyway. That dimple appears on one side of her face. And I realize with perfect clarity that this is it. This is what I left the priesthood to find. Not just the ability to protect people, but the chance to build something real with someone who sees me, all of me, and chooses to stay anyway.

My brothers drift over. Canvas grinning, Brick nodding approval, Wraith making a joke about my creative interpretation of "helping someone."

I flip him off without heat.

"She's good for you," Diesel says seriously. "Can already tell."

"Yeah," I agree. "She is."