Page 74 of Atlas

He’s a bit of a loner, but I always thought it was because he’s so busy with tech and it’s a world unto itself. He has to be apart when he’s doing his work because he needs his phones, cameras, and computers. Ever since I prospected and patched in with the club, he’s been busy enough that he rarely goes out to Patterson’s with the guys or attends social events for more than a few minutes.

Maybe that’s intentional.

“I’m going to go see if I can get those cameras back up, and if not, I brought a bunch of new ones to install. I wasn’t sure how badly the old ones were damaged or if it was just the central power that was cut. Either way, we’ll have the power company come right out to connect you back up if that’s the issue. Uh, ma’am.”

At least that gives Agatha a little bit of color back in her face and some punch back in her punchiness. “The ma’aming isn’t necessary, but thank you for your hard work. All of you. It’s appreciated.”

Wizard nods and trails off towards the living room, probably to confer with Tyrant and Raiden about the security situation.

I wrap my arm around Willa’s shoulders, and she clutches Agatha’s hand tight. We just about run right into Bullet and Lynette as we open the front door.

He steps back, but Lynette throws herself at Willa, her hands hovering around her face, and dropping to her shoulders, then clenching her hands tightly in one of hers while she uses her free arm to wrangle Agatha in.

“We’re okay,” Willa whispers over and over again, but I can tell she’s trying to convince herself and Agatha as well. She keeps saying it until her voice finds some strength and she can look Lynette in the eye and mean it. “We’re okay, Lynette. Really.”

A little cry tears out of Lynette and she throws herself against her sister, wrapping her up so tight that Willa is pretty much crushed into her with the height difference.

After the hug goes on, Lynette can’t help but look Willa over like a mother does to her toddler who just fell down on the sidewalk. She’s not really checking for scrapes and bruises, but that’s what it appears. I know that Lynette is looking deeper, trying to gauge just whatokayreally means.

Willa pulls back and lets Lynette hug Agatha. We share a private look, and I dip my head in acknowledgement. Willa threads her hand through mine and gravitates into my side, leaving one hand protectively on Agatha’s arm.

Bullet brackets Lynette’s shoulders protectively. She might have been an ice queen in the past, but now she wears her emotion freely and it’s plain to us how rattled she is. She looks up at Bullet, her face softening with love at his silent support. The crazy thing is watching how his scarred face shifts and suffuses with strong emotion.

Yeah. That’s what love does to people.

There’s never been a point where that’s freaked me out. I was never running from it, just from myself and my own truths and worthiness.

“We have something we want to tell you.” Willa’s voice never wavers despite her obvious emotion. There’s so much of it in her expression that it would be impossible to separate out just one thing. Willa doesn’t do one feeling at a time. She does it all, all at once, to her fullest capability.

It’s extraordinary.

She’s extraordinary.

“We’re… Atlas and I… we’ve made the decision that we’d like to date. That is… we… umm… didn’t decide it lightly or right now. It’s been a work in process….” After struggling to find theright words, she gives up on diplomacy. “Ahh, shit, that’s not me. All of that is true, but what I’m really trying to say is that I love him. I love him so freaking much and I hope that’s okay. Even if it’s not, it’s not going to change my mind about him, but I’d try and give you a respectful amount of time to come to terms with it.”

I wait for the crashing and the crushing, the bomb to drop and take Bullet and Lynette’s faces with it. For the hardening and the steeling, the shuttering off and closing down. The stern looks from Bullet and the doubtful reproach from Lynette.

“I love her,” I add, unable to keep a sappy grin from spreading over my face. “As my best friend and as my partner and the joy of my soul.” That’s still not enough. “I don’t just love her. I’m in love with her.”

Lynette shifts so she and Bullet can exchange another look. Whatever they’re silently communicating, it happens fast.

Lynette folds her hands in front of her while Bullet runs his down her arms. “We know,” she says. She’s not furious. She’s not disappointed. She’s not reproachful or cautious. She looks… happy.

Willa’s mouth actually goes slack as she studies her sister and then flicks her eyes to Bullet’s face like she didn’t hear her correctly.

“You know? No. You always thought we were fooling around, but love?”

Lynette reaches for Willa’s hand and brings it up to her heart. “You’re the sister of my heart,Wills. I know you used to think that I was trying to run your life, and you were right about me being too pushy, even though I only wanted what was bestfor you. I still do, and I meant what I said about giving you the freedom to make your own decisions. I also know you. I know you as well as know yourself. I love you so much and that’s never going to change. I believed you when you said that you and Atlas were just friends, but I could clearly see how much you adored him and how that turned into something deeper. You look at him the way I look at Bullet.”

“So you’re not going to attempt to crush Atlas or pound him into oblivion for setting his hands on me?” Willa directs that at Bullet.

He does give me a hard, cold stare down, but then his eyes crinkle at the corners and I know that he approves. “He’s my club brother. There are rules about beating the shit out of each other, but even if there wasn’t, it’s not gonna happen. I know that he’ll treat you right and anyone can see he’s crazy about you.”

“We’re happy forbothof you,” Lynette says, stressing theboth. “We’re overjoyed to have you as our family not just through the club, but because you’re together.”

“You’re not going to threaten that he should treat me right or you’ll break every bone in his body?” This time, it’s unclear who Willa’s asking.

Bullet and Lynette both shake their heads.

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