Page 47 of Hammer

“Second thing,” Ridley continued, “is that wearing an old lady patch means something here.You don’t have to earn respect by being the loudest or toughest.You already have it because Hammer chose you.”

“That simple?”I asked skeptically.I noticed she had on a property cut.Even though I was technically Hammer’s old lady, I didn’t have one yet.Had he even requested one?

“That simple,” she confirmed.“Doesn’t mean they won’t test you -- especially the Prospects.But one word from you, and Hammer will shut that down quick.”

If only he were showing that kind of interest at home.I pushed the thought away, focusing instead on the tangible sense of camaraderie surrounding me.For the first time since meeting Piston, I felt myself truly relaxing in a crowd.There was no need to watch for signs of Piston’s mood darkening, no need to position myself for a quick exit if things got ugly.The vigilance that had become second nature began to ease, replaced by something that felt dangerously like hope.

“Look at your boys,” Ridley said, nodding toward the back of the room.

Chase and Levi stood with a red-haired teenager who gestured animatedly as he spoke.Levi was actually smiling -- a genuine smile that reached his eyes -- while Chase’s defensive posture had softened slightly, his shoulders no longer braced for impact.

“They’ll fit in just fine,” Ridley assured me, watching my face.“This place is good for broken things, Amelia.Helps them mend.”

I wondered if she included me among those broken things.If she did, she wasn’t wrong.But standing there, surrounded by women who’d carved out respect in a world dominated by leather and testosterone, I felt the first stirrings of something I hadn’t experienced in years -- the sense that I might belong somewhere after all.

I watched my sons from across the room, noting how they instinctively positioned themselves -- Chase slightly in front of Levi, his body angled to block potential threats, Levi’s shoulders hunched as if trying to make himself invisible.Even in this seemingly safe environment, they fell into their protective patterns, honed from years of living with Piston’s unpredictable rage.The red-haired boy talking to them didn’t seem to notice their tension, his animated gestures and bright smile at odds with my sons’ guarded expressions.

“Those are Sarge’s boys over there with your sons,” Ridley explained, following my gaze.“Theo’s been going on about motorcycles since he could talk.”

Theo stood about Chase’s height, his dark red hair perpetually tousled as if he’d just removed a helmet.His blue eyes shone with enthusiasm as he gestured toward something outside the window, clearly trying to engage my stoic sons in conversation.They hadn’t mentioned having classes with anyone at the club.Of course, I didn’t know for certain which ones were the same ages as Chase and Levi, if any were.Chase nodded occasionally, his posture rigid, one hand casually positioned so he could grab Levi if they needed to make a quick exit.

“And the quiet one?”I asked, noticing a lankier boy approaching with a laptop tucked under his arm.He looked familiar.Wait.Wasn’t he the kid who’d married us using his computer?

“That’s Atlas,” Ridley said.Yeah, I definitely remembered him.But he was dressed differently today and I hadn’t been able to place him right away.“Wire and Lavender’s son.Smartest kid in the compound.Probably the state.”

Atlas moved with a deliberate grace, his hair falling across thoughtful eyes as he joined the small group.Unlike Theo’s exuberant energy, Atlas carried a calm confidence, setting his laptop on a nearby table before offering a simple nod to my sons.

“Let me get you another drink,” Ridley offered.“Then you can tell me how you’re settling in with that stubborn man of yours.”

I reluctantly let her guide me toward the bar, though I kept my boys in my peripheral vision.Old habits died hard.

Across the room, Theo was gesturing excitedly, pointing at something on his phone screen.“That’s my dad’s Harley-Davidson Road King,” I heard him say as we passed nearby.“Custom exhaust, blacked-out chrome.Thing sounds like a monster when it fires up.”

Chase nodded politely, his expression neutral.“Cool.”

“You ride yet?”Theo asked, undeterred by Chase’s minimal response.

“No,” Chase answered, shifting his weight slightly to maintain his protective position in front of Levi.

Atlas settled against the pool table, observing the interaction with quiet interest.“Hammer mentioned you were working at the garage,” he said to Chase, his voice lower and more measured than Theo’s enthusiastic chatter.

Chase’s eyebrows lifted slightly, surprised to be the subject of conversation.“Just helping out.Learning some basics.”

“Dad says he’s good,” Theo jumped in.“Says you’ve got a natural feel for engines.”

A flicker of pride crossed Chase’s face before he could suppress it.“Just following instructions.”

I accepted the beer Ridley handed me, but my focus remained on the boys.Something was shifting in their posture -- just slightly, but enough for a mother who’d spent years reading their body language to notice.Chase’s shoulders had lowered a fraction.Levi had edged out slightly from behind his brother’s protective stance.

“You into computers?”Atlas asked Levi, nodding toward the laptop he’d set down.

Levi’s eyes lit up, though his voice remained cautious.“Yeah.I do some coding.”

“What languages?”

“Python, mostly.Some JavaScript.”

Atlas nodded approvingly.“Solid choices.I’m working on a security system for the compound.Could use another pair of eyes if you’re interested.”

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