Page 48 of Hammer

For the first time since we’d arrived, Levi stepped fully out from behind Chase.“What kind of system?”

“Multi-layered.Camera feeds with facial recognition, passive network monitoring to detect unauthorized devices, predictive algorithms for potential threats.”Atlas shrugged as if this was all perfectly ordinary.“Standard stuff.”

“Standard?”Levi repeated, clearly impressed despite himself.“That’s government-level security.”

Atlas’s mouth curved in a slight smile.“Government wishes they had our setup.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched Levi lean forward, genuinely interested.Atlas opened his laptop, angling the screen so Levi could see, pointing out something on the display.My youngest son moved closer, his usual hesitation temporarily forgotten in the face of technological fascination.

“You designed all this?”Levi asked, his voice carrying an unfamiliar note of admiration.

“With my dad,” Atlas confirmed.“But this section here is all mine.”He tapped the screen.“It’s specifically scanning for any digital traces of Piston or Devil’s Minions activity within a hundred-mile radius.”

Chase’s head snapped up at the mention of his father’s name, his body tensing again.

“Relax,” Atlas said, noticing Chase’s reaction.“It’s just a precaution.Hammer asked us to set up alerts if anyone from your dad’s club starts nosing around digitally.Bank transactions, phone records, social media -- the system flags anything suspicious.”

“Basically, if your dad so much as Googles your mom’s name, we’ll know about it,” Theo added, leaning against the pool table.“Nobody gets past Wire, Lavender, and Atlas when they’re on the case.”

Some of the tension drained from Chase’s frame, though his eyes remained wary.“Thanks,” he said simply.

Theo grinned, clearly taking this as a breakthrough.“Hey, you guys want to see my dad’s garage?I’ve been helping rebuild this sick Panhead from the sixties.Original paint job and everything.”

“Your Panhead’s a piece of junk,” Atlas commented dryly.

“It’s a work in progress,” Theo corrected, unbothered by the criticism.“So, you in?”

Chase and Levi exchanged a look.To my surprise, it was Levi who nodded first.

“Yeah, I’d like to see it,” he said.

“I’ll come too,” Chase added, still playing the protector but now with a hint of genuine interest.

“Awesome!”Theo pushed off from the pool table.“And after, I can show you where the Prospects have been training.I’m gonna prospect as soon as I’m eighteen.My dad’s teaching me everything I need to know.”

“Which one is your dad?”Chase asked, curiosity finally overcoming caution.

“Sarge,” Theo confirmed proudly.“Been patched in for like twenty years.”

“And your mom?”Levi asked quietly.

Theo’s expression softened slightly.“She’s not around.But my aunt Katya’s awesome.She’s not technically my mom, but she’s like my mom, you know?I call her Mom, anyway.”

Chase nodded, something like understanding passing between them.“Yeah, I get that.”

I sipped my beer, watching this exchange from my position by the bar, warmth spreading through my chest that had nothing to do with alcohol.

“Your boys are connecting,” Ridley observed, following my gaze.“It’s good.They need friends their own age who understand this life.”

The boys moved toward the door, Theo leading the way with boundless energy, Atlas following at a more measured pace, laptop tucked back under his arm.Just before stepping outside, Chase turned, his eyes finding mine across the room.He lifted his chin slightly in question.I nodded, giving permission, and the ghost of a genuine smile crossed his face.

“Go,” I whispered, though he couldn’t hear me.“Be kids for once.”

As they disappeared through the door, Levi actually laughed at something Theo said -- a clear, bright sound I’d almost forgotten existed.The sound pierced my heart, drawing tears I quickly blinked away.

Ridley squeezed my arm gently.“They’re going to be okay, honey.We’ll all make sure of it.”

The noise of the party pressed in on me like a physical weight, each laugh and conversation adding to the pressure behind my eyes.I slipped out the door onto the clubhouse porch, the cooler night air a welcome relief as I drew in a deep breath.Stars punctured the dark canvas above.I leaned against the wooden railing, letting the distant rumble of motorcycles and the chirp of crickets wash over me, a gentler soundtrack than the one I’d left inside.

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