Page 10 of Butcher's Honor

Blood still pumps hot through my veins, anger barely contained. If Tommy hadn't been in the house...

"Would you like to come in?" Ruby's soft voice breaks through my violent thoughts. "We need to start a new batch of cookies since the others burned."

I turn to find her standing in the doorway, Tommy clutching her leg but smiling up at me. The kid's resilience amazes me.

"Nah, we should—" I start, but Tommy cuts me off.

"Please, Mr. Joey? You can help put the chocolate chips on top. It's the most important part!"

Wrath and Crow exchange amused glances as they return from their task.

"Yeah, Mr. Joey," Crow teases, emphasizing my newfound title. "Chocolate chips are very important."

I shoot him a warning glare, but Ruby's already opening the door wider.

"Please? It's the least I can do after... everything."

"Boss will understand if you're a little late," Wrath adds with a shit-eating grin. "Especially given the circumstances."

Tommy runs out and grabs my hand, his tiny fingers barely wrapping around three of mine. "I'll show you how to do it right!"

"Fine," I grunt, ignoring my brothers' poorly concealed laughter. "But make it quick."

"Actually," Crow says, backing away, "Wrath and I should go handle our other... appointment." He winks at me. "You've got this covered, Butcher. Take all the time you need."

"Never seen the big bad wolf so domesticated," Wrath stage-whispers to Crow. "Think she's got him under a spell?"

"I can still shoot you both," I remind them pleasantly.

They laugh, mounting their bikes.

"Have fun baking, brother," Crow calls out. "Don't forget the chocolate chips!"

I flip them off behind Tommy's back as they ride away, their laughter carrying on the wind. Bastards won't let me live this down for months.

Inside, Ruby's already pulling out fresh ingredients. The kitchen still smells like burnt cookies and lingering fear, but her hands are steady now as she measures flour.

"You really don't have to stay," she says softly. "I know you must have important things to do."

"Nothing that can't wait." I lean against the counter, watching her work. "Besides, I was promised cookies."

Tommy drags a chair to the counter, climbing up to help.

"Mommy makes the best cookies. Even better than Mrs. Rose next door."

"That so? Better than my mother?" I raise an eyebrow at Ruby, catching her slight blush.

"Tommy's biased," she says, cracking eggs into a bowl. "And very loyal."

"Good trait to have." I watch her cream butter and sugar, her movements precise and practiced. "You bake a lot?"

"It calms me down. After..." She glances at Tommy, who's happily sorting chocolate chips by size. "After bad days."

I understand what she's not saying. "Had a lot of those?"

"Too many." She adds vanilla extract, the sweet smell filling the kitchen. "But maybe fewer now."

Our eyes meet, and something electric passes between us. She looks away first, focusing on her mixing bowl.

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