Page 73 of Doc's Decision

"Hey, you okay? I mean, besides the obvious crimson tide situation." I nudge her foot with mine. "How's Seraphina doing?"

Zoe sighs heavily, her shoulders slumping. "She's...I don't know, holding up as best she can, I guess. But fuck, Mandy, she's hurting so bad. I've never seen her like this."

My heart clenches.

I can only imagine the grief and rage Sera must be drowning in right now.

Her mother quite literally had her tortured, her skin ripped from her body, her tattoos carved out like she’s a fucking pumpkin.

"I'm not surprised. Something like that, it breaks a person." I reach over and squeeze Zoe's hand. "She's lucky to have you, you know. Don't underestimate how much your support means. In time, I know she’ll make it through this."

"I'm trying my best to be there for her, I just...I feel so damn helpless sometimes." She looks down, blinking back tears."She barely leaves the trailer. I don't think she'll be around the clubhouse much until she starts to feel even a little better."

"Maybe we could go visit her in a few days, if she's up for it? Not to smother her or anything, just to remind her she's got people in her corner."

Zoe nods slowly. "Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll text her later and see what she thinks."

We sit in heavy silence for a moment, the crushing unfairness of it all filling the space between us.

This life gives so much, but god, it can rip your fucking heart out too.

I finally take a breath, injecting some forced lightness into my tone. "Well, in the meantime, is there anything fun on the agenda for tonight? I could use a distraction from...everything."

Zoe straightens up, mustering a smile. "Actually, yes. Spark’s taking me out to that fancy new steakhouse downtown. Says I deserve a nice night after all the shit that's gone down."

"Ooh la la!" I grin, waggling my eyebrows. "Sounds like you're in for some wining, dining, and sixty-nineing tonight!"

She barks out a surprised laugh, her eyes regaining a bit of their usual sparkle. "Here's hoping! God knows we could both use some stress relief."

"You can say that again." I clink my mug against hers. "To blowing off steam and riding dick like a pony!"

We break into a fight of laughter, the heaviness lifting for a precious moment.

Our world may be chaotic and treacherous...but at least we have each other to lean on through the storms.

We keep chatting about a variety of other things until I shift the conversation to something a bit more serious. “So, how do you not get psyched out about all the dangers that come with the club life?”

Zoe takes a thoughtful sip of her coffee before answering.

"Girl, it ain't easy," she admits with a solemn nod. "Sometimes it feels like the whole world is just waiting to pounce on us. I was born into this life, though, so I didn’t have much of a choice."

She sets her mug down, turning to fully face me.

Her eyes are somber but determined. "But the way I see it, danger is part of life. Doesn't matter if you're in a club or not. You can't live in fear of the what-ifs."

She shrugs a little, gesturing broadly around us at the clubhouse. "And besides, being a part of this... It's worth any risk. These people are my family. This place is my home. I'd fight tooth and nail for it, and I know each and every one of them would do the same for me."

Zoe's words echo in my head, seeping into my heart.

Her raw honesty strikes something deep within me.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you love something enough, the danger doesn't seem so scary anymore," Zoe says, holding my gaze steadily. "You lean on each other, trust each other to watch your back. That's what makes this club so damn special."

I nod slowly, her words sinking in.

It's true.

Despite the treacherous world around us, I've never felt safer than when I'm with Doc and the rest of the Reapers Rejects MC.

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