Page 114 of Brick's Retribution

"Starving," Lashes admits. "This kid is going to eat me out of house and home."

As the women chat about pregnancy symptoms and doctor appointments, I let my mind drift to all that's changed in a month.

Valeria made it safely to Texas, reunited with her husband.

She sent a letter last week—a photo of them together, her smile radiant even though she’s going through so much.

They're starting over in Waco, where he's got steady construction work and she's found a job at a tailor shop.

The sisters are thriving with Boulder and Kelsey.

Just yesterday, the adoption papers came through, making it official.

Itzel still doesn't speak much, but last week she called Kelsey "Mama" for the first time.

Boulder actually teared up when he told us.

And Mei—she's thrown herself into university life with a vengeance, determined not to let her captors steal her future.

She comes by the club on weekends for self-defense training, learning to protect herself.

"Earth to Brick," Imani says, waving a spatula at me. "You want eggs or not?"

"Sorry, just thinking about everything."

"Speaking of everything," Lashes says, "when does Roxy's daughter arrive?"

"Today," I confirm. "Nova’s flying in this afternoon, starts her semester next week at nursing school."

Imani plates up some eggs and toast. "And she's rooming with Mei?"

"That's the plan. Safer for both of them to have roommates, and the apartment's big enough."

"Smart," Lashes approves. "Mei needs friends her own age. People who aren't connected to... everything that happened."

We eat breakfast together, a strange little family.

Afterward, I head out to the garage where I find Doom working on his bike.

"Nova’s flight gets in at three," I tell him. "You still good to help her get settled?"

He grunts, which I take as a yes.

Doom's not much for words, but he's been different lately—quieter than usual, if that's possible.

"It’s been a while since I’ve seen Nova," he mentions, not looking up from his bike.

"Yeah, you know her? Heard she’s Roxy's kid. Smart as hell. Decided she wanted to be a nurse after everything that went down over the years."

"Yeah, I started prospecting up in Montana. Crazy how time flies. How old is she now?"

"Twenty-four, I think. Why?"

"No reason," he says, but there's something in his tone that makes me look closer.

Before I can push, Rooster appears. "Brick. Got a minute?"

I follow him to a quiet corner of the garage.

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