Page 74 of Hammer

As the door closed behind Atlas, Hammer looked over the boys’ heads, his eyes finding mine.The emotion in his gaze -- unchecked, unguarded for perhaps the first time since I’d known him -- said everything words couldn’t.We had become something neither of us had sought or expected: a real family, bound not by blood or obligation, but by choice and love and shared battles.“Williams,” Chase said suddenly, testing the name.“Chase Williams.Doesn’t sound half bad.”

Hammer released them slowly, keeping one hand on each boy’s shoulder.“It’s a good name,” he said simply.“Carried it my whole life.It’ll serve you well.”

As I watched them standing together -- Hammer flanked by my sons, all three wearing matching expressions of cautious joy -- I felt the last pieces of our fractured lives finally slide into place.We had survived Piston.Had built something stronger from the broken pieces he’d left behind.We were Williams now.All of us.And nothing would tear us apart again.

Chapter Twenty

Hammer

The phone buzzed against the nightstand, dragging me from a dreamless sleep with its insistent vibration.The dim light of early morning filtered through the curtains, casting shadows across Amelia’s sleeping form beside me.I reached for the phone with my bruised hand, wincing as my split knuckles protested the movement.Savior’s name lit up the screen.My President wouldn’t call at this hour unless it was important.Unless it was about Piston.

I slid from the bed carefully, not wanting to wake Amelia.She’d finally fallen asleep just a few hours ago, the tension of the past days etched in the lines around her eyes even in rest.She deserved whatever peace sleep could give her.

“Yeah,” I answered, my voice rough with sleep as I stepped into the hallway, pulling the bedroom door shut behind me.

“It’s done,” Savior said without preamble.“Piston’s dead.”

Four simple words.Just four words to end the nightmare that had followed Amelia and her boys across state lines.Three words that should have filled me with nothing but relief.

“How?”I asked, my bruised knuckles tightening around the phone.

“Crimson Skulls caught him trying to rally reinforcements at a truck stop just inside their territory,” Savior explained, his voice matter of fact.“Seems our plan worked better than expected.The Boneyard pushed from the south, we held the middle, and the Savage Knights blocked the west.Minions had nowhere to go but north.”

“And the Skulls were waiting,” I finished for him.

“Exactly.Their President called an hour ago.Said Piston made the mistake of mouthing off about Amelia and the boys.About you.”Savior paused, and I could almost see the grim satisfaction on his face.“Skulls’ President took personal offense to how Piston talked about family.Said he didn’t suffer fools who didn’t understand the value of blood.”

I leaned against the wall, processing the information.It was over.The threat Piston posed to my family -- and they were my family now, no matter what papers said -- was eliminated.Yet instead of pure relief, I felt a tangle of emotions I hadn’t expected.Satisfaction, yes.But also a hollow disappointment that I hadn’t been the one to end him myself.That I hadn’t gotten to look in his eyes as he realized he’d never threaten what was mine again.

“You still there?”Savior’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I replied.“Just taking it in.”

“Figured you might have wanted to handle him yourself,” Savior said, reading my mind the way only a brother could.“But it’s cleaner this way.No blowback on us.No risk to Amelia or the boys.”

He was right, of course.Piston’s death at the hands of another club, in another territory, during what could be explained as a turf dispute -- it was strategically perfect.My personal satisfaction wasn’t worth risking my family’s safety.

“What about the rest of the Minions?”I asked, practical concerns taking over.

“Scattered.Some headed back to Florida with their tails between their legs.Others holed up in Georgia.Their national President is already sending signals about a truce.Seems they’ve decided Piston’s vendetta died with him.”

“Good,” I said, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly.“Thanks for the call.”

“Figured you’d want to know right away.Give Amelia and the boys the good news.”There was a pause, then Savior added, “It’s really over, brother.You can breathe now.”

I ended the call, standing motionless in the hallway for a long moment.The house was quiet except for the soft sounds of movement from the kitchen -- dishes clinking, murmured voices.Had to be the boys, or Aura.I just didn’t know why they would be awake at this hour.

I made my way to the kitchen, pausing in the doorway to take in the scene.Aura stood at the stove, her back to me as she flipped pancakes.Chase sat at the table, hunched over a textbook Looked like he’d forgotten to do his homework, or was cramming for a test.Levi was arranging bacon on a plate, his methodical movements reminding me of how Wire organized his tech gear before a job.

It was such a normal moment.Domestic.Ordinary.Everything Piston had threatened to destroy.

Aura tensed then looked my way.Her smile faltered when she saw my expression.“Dad, what is it?”

Chase’s head snapped up, immediately alert to the shift in tone.Levi froze mid-motion, bacon forgotten as his eyes darted between Aura and me.

I stepped fully into the kitchen, feeling the weight of all three gazes.“It’s over,” I said, keeping my voice steady, measured.“Piston’s dead.”

Chase drew in a sharp breath, his knuckles whitening around his spoon.Levi’s eyes widened to perfect circles, his slight frame seeming to shrink further into itself.

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