Page 50 of Dagger

“Morning,” I reply, taking a grateful sip of my coffee.

She glances at Dagger, who’s leaning against the truck, then turns back to me. “When did he show up?” she asks, her voice casual but curious.

“About an hour ago,” I say, shrugging. “Brought breakfast.”

Sophie raises an eyebrow and gives me a knowing look before smirking. “Well, this is going to be interesting,” she murmurs, her gaze bouncing between Hawk and Dagger.

Tank claps Dagger on the back as he joins him near the truck, while Hawk hangs back, his eyes flicking between Dagger and me. There’s a tension in the air, subtle but unmistakable, and I do my best to pretend it isn’t there.

The two of them exchange a curt nod, then get to work hauling the big pieces of furniture while Sophie and I stay in the she-shed, sorting through the last of the smaller items and putting them into boxes.

“I’m proud of you,” Sophie says softly, nudging me with her elbow.

“For what?” I ask, glancing at her.

“For standing your ground. For making a fresh start. You’re doing this your way, and that’s brave.”

Her words make my throat tighten, and I give her a small smile. “Thanks, Soph.”

By the time the U-Haul is loaded, I’m exhausted just from standing around and supervising. Tank and Sophie climb into Tank’s truck, chatting easily, while Hawk lingers for a moment, his gaze softening as he looks at me.

“Let me know if you need anything,” he says, his voice low.

“I will,” I promise. He steps closer, pressing a gentle kiss to my cheek before walking off toward his bike.

I catch the flash of jealousy in Dagger’s eyes as he watches Hawk, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. Without a word, he turns and slams the U-Haul’s back door shut, then looks at me.

“You ready?” he asks, his tone even but his expression unreadable.

“As I’ll ever be,” I say, climbing into the passenger seat of the truck.

The drive to the new house is quiet, but the sound of Tank’s truck following close behind is comforting. When we pull up, the sight of the little house makes my chest swell with a mix of pride and nerves. It’s mine—a fresh start for me and the baby.

Tank parks behind the U-Haul, and he and Sophie climb out, both of them stretching after the short ride. Sophie flashes me a bright smile as she walks up to the porch.

“Still loving it?” she asks, nodding toward the house.

I grin, resting a hand on my stomach. “Yeah. It feels... right, you know?”

Dagger slams the U-Haul door shut and walks around to the back, yanking open the tailgate. “Alright,” he says, glancing at Tank. “Let’s get this done.”

Tank shakes his head. “Let’s move some shit.”

Dagger and Tank start hauling boxes from the U-Haul into the house, working in a steady rhythm. Dagger doesn’t say much, but his focus is sharp, his muscles flexing with each load he carries inside.

Sophie watches them for a moment before nudging me. “Alright, mama, let’s get to work. Show me where you want things.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re way too excited about this.”

“I live for organizing,” she says with a wink, grabbing one of the smaller boxes and heading inside.

We start in the kitchen, unpacking plates, glasses, and utensils. Sophie moves quickly, handing me items as I direct her to the cabinets.

“So,” she says after a while, glancing at me. “How’s it feel? Your own place.”

I pause, holding a mug in my hand, and look around the space. “It feels good,” I say softly. “Like I can finally breathe, you know?”

She smiles, reaching over to squeeze my arm. “You deserve this, Chloe.”

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