Page 62 of Wings
"Then he knew about the location change." Duke's expression darkened. "Either they're watching more carefully than we thought, or—"
"Or someone's talking," Thor finished.
Silence descended, heavy with implication. A leak meant someone inside was feeding information to the Serpents. The thought made my skin crawl.
"What else did you notice?" Duke focused on me again. "Anything unusual about his position, his behavior?"
I closed my eyes, pulling up the memory with the clarity that fear brings. "He wasn't trying to hide. The bike was in plain sight, almost like . . ." I paused, working through the logic. "Like he wanted us to know he was watching."
"Intimidation." Gabe's jaw tightened. "Letting us know they're aware of our operations."
"Which means this wasn't random surveillance," Duke concluded. "This was a message."
They continued discussing implications, but included me in the conversation. When Thor asked about hospital security, they listened to my assessment. When Duke questioned whether other staff might have noticed my supply gathering, they took my analysis seriously.
I wasn't decoration or liability. I was an asset, contributing intelligence that mattered.
"We'll need to change protocols," Duke decided eventually. "New locations, varied times. Can't have them mapping our patterns."
"I can help with that," I offered, then caught myself. Old habits, waiting for permission to contribute.
But Duke just nodded. "Good. You know the hospital rhythms better than anyone. Work with Gabe on alternatives."
Work with Gabe. Not have Gabe handle it, not stay out of it for my own safety. Partnership.
"The Serpents are escalating," Thor observed, cracking his knuckles in a way that promised violence. "First approaching our people, now surveillance. They're testing boundaries."
"Let them test. It’s what they do." Duke's smile was all predator. "We'll be ready." He looked at me again, expression thoughtful. "You did good, Kiara. Spotting the threat, reporting immediately. That's exactly what we needed."
The praise from the club president himself should have felt overwhelming. Instead, it felt right. Like puzzle pieces clicking into place, like finding where I fit in this dangerous world I'd chosen.
"Thank you," I managed, voice steady despite the emotion churning underneath.
"Don't need to thank me. You've more than earned your place here." Duke's attention shifted to Gabe. "Take her home. She looks dead on her feet. We'll implement new protocols starting tomorrow."
Gabe stood, and I followed, but Thor's voice stopped us at the door.
"Kiara?" The big man's scarred face was serious. "That thing with Connor at the restaurant. Anyone gives you trouble like that again, you tell us immediately. Don't care if it seems small. We protect our own."
Our own. The words followed me out of the office, warming places that had been cold for years. I belonged here. Not as someone's girl, not as a liability to be managed, but as part of the family.
Gabe's hand found mine as we walked back to his truck, fingers interlacing with familiar ease.
"You were perfect in there," he said quietly. "Calm, clear, professional. Duke was impressed."
"I was terrified," I admitted.
"Didn't show." He opened my door again, but caught my waist before I could climb in. "You know what this means, right? Duke including you like that?"
I looked up at him, reading the pride and possession in those hazel eyes. "It means I'm really part of this. Part of the club."
"Part of everything," he corrected, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "My partner in all of it."
Partner. The word lodged behind my ribs next to all the others he'd given me. Baby girl. Good girl. Brave. Each one rewriting years of programming that said I was too much trouble, too dramatic, too everything except what I actually was.
Valued. Trusted. His.
“Now, how about a drink?”
