She considers the question seriously. “I’ve spent my whole life following orders from people who didn’t care if I lived or died. At least this time, I’m fighting alongside people who actually give adamn.”
“And Ink? You notice he’s been hovering around you like a protective mountain?”
A faint smile crosses her face. “I noticed. It’s… nice. Strange, but nice. I’ve never had someone worry about me just because they wanted to.”
“He’s a good man. They all are.”
“I’m starting to see that.” She pauses, looking around the now-empty chapel. “Is this what family feels like? All this… caring and worrying and planning and fighting together?”
“This isexactlywhat family feels like,” I confirm. “Messy, complicated, and worth dying for.”
“Then I guess I’ve never had family before.”
“You do now, Cassandra. You do now.”
She smiles brightly as we head downstairs. I can’t help but think about how much has changed in just a few days. Cassandra went from enemy to ally to something approaching a sister. Our understanding of Javier’s threat has evolved from personal vendetta to existential crisis. And somewhere in Vegas, my little sister is probably having adventures she’ll never tell me about with a man who’s supposed to keep her safe.
But here, in this clubhouse full of leather-clad warriors, motor oil, and the kind of loyalty that transcends blood, I know we have something Javier will never understand.
We have each other.
And sometimes, that’s enough to ignite a change in the world.
Even if we have to burn the old one down first.
Alpha appears at my side as we reach the main floor. “Penny for your thoughts, Little Lamb.”
“Just thinking about how complicated life gets when you start caring about people.”
“Worth it, though.”
“Yeah,” I agree, watching Cassandra and Ink engage inwhat appears to be a debate about optimal sniper positions. “Definitely worth it.”
He hesitates for a moment, then pulls me to a complete stop, looking in my eyes. “Haven?”
“Yeah?” I reply, furrowing my brows.
“When this is all over, when we’ve dealt with Javier and his shadow government and whatever other fucking nightmares are waiting in the wings…” he hesitates again.
So, I finish his sentence for him. “We’re getting married. Somewhere far away from all this chaos.”
He chuckles, pulling me to him. “I was going to say we’re taking a very long vacation, maybe on a sandy beach somewhere, so I can see you in a skimpy bikini, but… I prefer your version.”
I lean into him, feeling the solid warmth of his presence. “Good. Because I’ve had enough of postponed weddings and interrupted honeymoons for one lifetime.”
“Deal. But first…”
“First, we save the day.Again.”
“Pretty much.”
As I look around the clubhouse, at Navy organizing supplies, at Loki coordinating with other chapters, at the brothers preparing for war while trying to maintain a semblance of normal life, I’m struck by how much these people have become myeverything.
We’re about to face something bigger and more dangerous than anything we’ve encountered before.
But we’re not facing it alone.
Because at Defiance, you’re never alone.
