Page 40 of Goose's Wren

Butcher (Road Captain)

The scent of smokedribs and grilled chicken fills the air, mixing with the sounds of laughter and the occasional bark of one of Ringo’s damn dogs chasing after a stick.

It's one of those golden afternoons where the world feels still, like maybe for once, we can all pretend there’s no blood under our boots and no ghosts in the shadows.

I lean against the back fence, a cold beer in one hand and a plate of food in the other, though I haven’t touched a bite.I’m too busy watching everyone else.

Goose and Wren are sitting together at one of the picnic tables, and I can’t help but smile around the neck of my beer bottle as I lift it for a drink.

Those two...hell, they’ve come a long way.

Back in the day, Goose was all tangled up over Sparrow, blind as shit to the quiet little shadow that trailed behind her.

Wren always kept her head down, but anyone with eyes could see the way she watched him.Like he hung the moon.I used to think she'd grow out of it.

Guess she never did.

But Goose?He sure as hell grew into it.He’s different now.Softer around her, like she’s the only thing that can reach the parts of him he kept locked away for years.

They’re laughing now, heads bent close, and it hits me just how far they've come.What they went through.What she survived.

And damn, does it make the beer taste a little sweeter.

I scan the yard and see everyone paired off.Timber and Mina laughing with Bella and Blade.Torque’s got Jesse in his lap, flicking at her ear while she fake glares at him.

Even Snake and Andi are here, sharing some complicated tech story that only they could give a damn about.

And then there’s me.

Oldest mother fucker in the MC.Mid forties and never been married.Never even came close.

Used to think that made me lucky.

Now?

Hell...maybe I missed out.

“Thought I smelled brooding,” Blade says, sidling up beside me and offering a fresh beer.I swap him bottles with a nod, then clink necks.

“Not brooding,” I say.“Just observing.”

Blade laughs.“That’s what old guys say when they’re brooding.”

I grunt, because he’s not wrong.“You think Prez believes that prick who showed up for Wren was part of the same shit we’ve been hearing about around town?”

Blade’s smile fades, just a little.He glances toward the back of the yard where Timber is talking to Blood and Bear, his face unreadable.

“He’s thinking about it,” Blade says.“Hasn’t said it out loud, but I can see the wheels turning.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, watching Goose tug Wren closer like she’s gravity and he’s done trying to fight it.“Something tells me that wasn’t a one off.That kind of business doesn’t knock on your door by accident.”

Blade nods slowly.“Tim might’ve been the entry point.But the pipeline’s still open.And I don’t think they’re done sniffing around White Summer.”

My grip tightens on the beer bottle.“We got families now.Wives.Kids.They come for us, we’re ready.But they come for them...”

Blade’s jaw ticks.“Then they burn.”

I nod.“Damn right they do.”

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