Page 99 of Boulder's Weight

If you ask me, they have a sixth sense for this shit.

We park our bikes in our spots, the engines cutting out one by one.

Axel claps me on the shoulder as we dismount, his face split in a wild grin even though he’s got blood trickling from a cut above his eye.

"Fucking beautiful work, prospect," he says. "That takedown was textbook."

I nod, accepting the praise. "Just doing what needed to be done."

Amara approaches as we walk toward the clubhouse, her face unreadable in the dim light. "What the fuck happened?"

"Stash house is history," I tell her. "We torched it after clearing out. A good bit of Andrés's men won't be causing trouble ever again."

She nods, a slight smile curling the corner of her mouth. "Any casualties on our side?"

"Nothing serious," I assure her. "Cuts, bruises."

"Good work," she says, and those two simple words mean more to me than I'd care to admit. "All of you—church in ten minutes."

As she walks away, I scan the windows of the clubhouse, looking for one face in particular.

I spot her in the second-floor window of our room, watching.

Even from this distance, I can feel Kelsey's eyes on me, checking for injuries, making sure I'm in one piece.

Something shifts in my chest at the sight of her—a warmth that has nothing to do with the adrenaline still running through my veins.

I've never had someone waiting for me after a run before.

Never wanted it.

But now, the urge to go to her, to feel her hands on me, checking for wounds, her lips against mine, is almost overwhelming.

I can’t do that, though. I have to wait.

Inside, the main room is busy with old ladies greeting their men.

Astra even has Lyra here, a red-headed little girl that looks too much like her mother.

When she’s a teenager, she’s going to give Python literal hell.

Python kisses his wife and scoops up his little girl. "Daddy has blood," Lyra starts, and I can’t hear what Astra says to ease her worries.

Ruby and Rosa are breaking out beers for everyone, handing them off one by one.

Oakleigh kisses Razor and goes back over to the couch by the mural she painted, watching over Leo and Rex who are playing with some colorful blocks.

It’s hard to believe Axel and Zorro’s kids are nearly two.

I grab a beer from Rosa but don't drink it yet. I want to have a clear head for church.

In church, Amara sits at the head of the table, with Python and Razor flanking her.

Everyone who was on the run is here.

Axel slides into his seat, and all of the prospects stand against the wall.

Razor starts, "I know you wanted to come, but it’s good you stayed back with Dante’s men and guarded the club, Prez."

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