Page 139 of Blue

“We told them we were coming to support you,” Jazzy said.

Levi stepped closer. “We won’t stay if you’re not comfortable with us being here.”

Tears swam in my eyes. “I want you here.”

Levi rushed into my arms and held me tight. “I’m so proud of you.”

I laughed as I cried. “I’m such a crybaby.”

“Eat a cookie. Just try it. It’ll make you feel good.”

I turned to Ryatt, ready to lay into him with a snappy comeback, but stopped. Something was wrong. I touched his arm.

He stared over my shoulder. A slight tremor quivered in his lips, and his neck flexed with a swallow. I turned to see what had his attention.

“Ryatt, these are my friends. Jazzy and Rogue. And Levi and Romeo—”

“Michael?” The one word was barely a whisper but caused an immediate reaction in Romeo. He brushed past me, grabbed onto Ryatt, and they embraced in a way I’d never seen Romeo hug anyone.

Silence settled around us. Blue pressed in close behind me, wrapping an arm around me. He reachedfor Levi with his other hand, lacing his fingers with hers. She stepped closer to us, leaning on Blue because we didn’t know what was happening. But it was intense. No one spoke.

Romeo’s eyes closed as Ryatt clung to him. When they parted, they both smiled.

“Fucking. Fuck.” Ryatt ran his fingers through his hair. “Fuck.”

Romeo laughed, his joker smile stretching wide across his pretty boy face. “Yeah. Fuck.”

Ryatt grinned at me. “This guy was the only good part of growing up in foster care.” He directed his gaze back to Romeo. “One day, I woke up, and you were gone.”

“I got pulled from that house of hell. Seven foster kids, and she hated every one of us. How long were you there?”

“Too long. But it doesn’t matter now. Fuck, Mike, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” Ryatt hugged Romeo again. When they parted, he tugged on the corner of Romeo’s cut. “Heller Raiders.”

Romeo introduced Ryatt to Levi. “We have a baby girl. She’s home with my mom.”

Ryatt lifted a brow.

“Yeah, dude. It took a while, but I got a good life now. And my mom is the only one who still calls me Michael.”

“I suppose you ride a Harley?”

Romeo’s brows pinched. “Is there anything else?”

“A bike with balls. Harleys are for old men and doctors.”

“Fuck you.” They both laughed.

Ansel walked to the podium at the front of the room.

“The meeting is about to start,” Ryatt said. “Find me after. We need to catch up.”

Romeo pulled me into a hug. “I’m proud of you.” He pressed a kiss to my head.

Jazzy squeezed my hand, and Rogue gave me one of his snarly smiles.

“I love you, peanut.” Sully filled a napkin with cookies, then he scurried after Jazzy.

Blue stayed with me, and we joined Brad, Ryatt, and Georgia. Over the weeks, we’d become creatures of habit, all sitting together in the corner. There was comfort in routine.

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