Page 120 of Kings Against the World

I laugh, hands on my hips. “Relax. Pizza and beer are on the way. Just don’t break my treadmill. Deal?”

Ozzie strides in behind them, hauling my nightstand over one shoulder like it weighs nothing. He pauses just long enough to dip his head and steal a quick kiss. My heart stutters inresponse, warmth spreading through me at the easy affection. A few months ago, I never would have imagined this—any of it.

The family-like community I’ve found myself in. The man who can’t seem to get enough of me (and vice versa). The seemingly limitless and hopeful future laid out before me.

I watch as the men of the Steel Kings MC set down my things and then head back downstairs to grab the rest, and I know this is the right decision for me.

Washington, D.C. had become a dead end, suffocating me until I couldn’t breathe and didn’t even realize it at first. I was numb, some robot on autopilot who didn’t let myself feel anything. I had no existence outside of my role as a federal agent and told myself that if I fixated on taking down Boone, I would magically heal from old wounds.

It took the botched ending to my undercover operation in Vegas to make me see that it wasn’t that simple. Boone was finally off the streets, yet I felt emptier and more numbed than ever. I woke up to the fact that I couldn’t escape into fixating on my parents’ mess either. If I had stayed any longer, my well-being and sanity would be compromised. They’d suck the blood out of me like vampires ’til there was nothing left.

For once, I’m going to focus on myself. I’m going to do what makes me happy and enjoy myself along the way. If that means quitting my job and exploring a new direction in life, then that’s the road I’m taking.

Pulsboro was never part of the plan, but standing here now, watching these men unload my life into a space that already feels more like home than anywhere else has in years, I know I made the right call.

The memory of the phone call with Duchovny flickers through my mind, and I can’t help but smirk as I replay it.

“Strauss,” he’d said over the phone, his version of a hello. “Your leave of absence has been lifted. The board expects you back in D.C. immediately.”

I leaned against the counter of Ozzie’s kitchen, where I’d been staying at the time, staring out the window at the ravine. “Thanks, but no thanks.”

A beat of silence passed before he snapped with irritation. “What do you mean, ‘no thanks’? You’re a federal agent. Get your ass back to D.C., Strauss. I expect you on the first redeye available.”

I took a deep breath, feeling lighter than I had in years. “About that, boss. Effective immediately, I’m resigning. Don’t worry, I’ll type up an email to make it official. I’ll make sure to CC everyone on the board.”

“This isn’t a joke, Strauss. You’ve had enough vacation,” Duchovny barked. “If you do this, you should know, you will never be welcomed back.”

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t ever want that,” I’d said, then ended the call before his temper could truly implode.

I don’t regret the decision to resign. I’ve done all I can do as an FBI agent. It’s time I explore other avenues.

“Alright, that’s the last of it,” Mace says, wiping at his brow as he and Big Eddie set down the final stack of boxes. He eyes me, smirking. “Welcome home, Federal Agent.”

I laugh with a roll of my eyes. “Not anymore. Haven’t you heard? Resigned, officially, as of today. The date on the email.”

“You think you’re going to miss it?”

“Not one bit.”

The rest of the guys laugh as Ozzie joins my side and pulls me toward him. He cracks a joke about how I’ll have my hands full as the new weapons specialist for the club.

Silver offered me the job not long after I was discharged from the hospital. He said I could start whenever I felt well enoughto and that I would be an asset for the club. I would be in charge of running the armory, ensuring the club has an arsenal of weaponry at its disposal. The work was right up my alley and a proposition I gladly accepted.

Now that I’m finally healed and up and active again, I start next week.

“Knock, knock! Pizza delivery!”

We turn our heads to the propped open front door to find Sydney and Korine clutching a case of beer and some pizza boxes between them. Tito steps forward to steal the case from Sydney while Moses and Cash take the boxes of pizza from Korine and peel away the first slices for themselves.

Sydney grins surveying the stack of boxes filling up my living room. “I see the Steel Kings Moving Company already took care of business.”

“Perk of being a biker’s old lady,” Korine laughs. “They handle all stuff like this.”

“That includes flat tires,” Sydney adds.

Korine wedges herself between Cash and Tito at the kitchen counter and helps herself to a slice of pepperoni pizza. “I can change my own tires. But it’s real convenient having Blake to fix other things around the house.”

“I’m glad I provide some use,” Cash answers, his blue eyes glittering as he looks at his girlfriend. They share a sweet peck on the lips that makes Tito tell them to take their PDA to the motel down the block.

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