Page 10 of Goose’s Wren (Wolfsbane Ridge MC #10)

Butcher (Road Captain)

T he scent of smoked ribs 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.”

We stand there in silence for a long moment, just two old warriors watching a field full of love, laughter, and leather vests. There’s peace today but it’s the kind that sits on top of a loaded gun.

I take another swig of my beer.

Yeah. Let 'em come.

We’ll be ready.

I take a long pull from my beer, then glance back toward the far edge of the yard where the prospects are setting up a second table under the trees. All six of 'em. They’re laughing, giving each other shit like usual but they’re watching, too. Always watching. Waiting for their turn.

“Hard to believe it’s been two years,” I say, nodding toward the group. “Think Prez is gonna patch any of ’em in soon?”

Blade follows my gaze, his face unreadable for a second. Then he exhales through his nose and gives a small shrug.

“He did mention it last week,” he says. “We’ve been watching real close this last six months. They’ve put in the hours, done the dirt. They’ve bled for us. All six have stood tall.”

I nod slowly. “Slick, Bones, Cutter, Tex, Pyro, and Roach. They’re solid. Don’t mouth off. Do what they’re told. Watch each other’s backs.”

“Tex took a knife for Timber,” Blade says. “Didn’t even hesitate.”

“I saw that,” I mutter, jaw tight. “Not many men would have stepped in the way like that. Especially not for someone who still calls you a prospect.”

Blade nods. “They’ve earned it. All six.”

I glance back at the younger guys, kids, really, compared to me. Hell, I’ve got boots older than Slick. But they’ve put in the work, and they haven’t broken.

“You remember your patch night?” I ask, almost absently.

Blade grins. “How could I forget? Blood made me puke from nerves. Kept tellin’ me they were gonna beat my ass before I got it. I half believed him.”

I chuckle. “They told me I was gettin’ kicked out. That they’d had enough of my ‘loud mouth and ugly mug.’ I was halfway through tellin’ ’em to go to hell when Timber tossed me the cut.”

We both laugh for a second, quiet and low. Then Blade gets serious again.

“We’re gonna vote next week,” he says. “Prez wants every officer's opinion. Probably announce it at church after that.”

I nod slowly, eyes still on the group. Cutter notices me watching and straightens up a little. The others glance our way too. They’ve learned the rules. When to talk. When to shut up.

“I hope they’re ready,” I say. “Because after the shit with Tim and that suit with the goons? We’re gonna need every set of loyal hands we can get. Club needs to be airtight.”

Blade nods. “They’ll be ready. And they’ll be ours.”

I drain the rest of my beer, then grin faintly.

“Guess I better start remembering birthdays and buy some damn cigars. Looks like we’re about to have six more brothers.”

I pop the cap off another beer and take a long swig, the burn rolling down smooth as Blade keeps talking beside me. But then my attention shifts. Something cuts through the laughter.

A woman I’ve never seen before walks into the yard. She’s not flashy. But she carries herself like she belongs, shoulders squared, head high, eyes scanning the crowd like she’s been here before.

She heads straight toward Pyro, one of the prospects. He sees her and his whole face lights up with something damn near like pride. Pulls her into a tight hug before they start talking close and quiet. Family stuff no doubt.

“Who’s that?” I ask Blade, nodding toward the pair.

Blade glances over and nods like he already knew I’d ask. “That’s Pyro’s sister. Her name’s Brenna.”

Brenna. I roll the name around in my mind for no reason I want to admit just yet.

“She looks a little older than Pyro,” I say.

Blade nods. “She is. Mid-thirties, I think. Her husband served overseas. Army. Died about five years back. She’s been raising their little boy on her own since. Kid’s about Hawk and Luna’s age.”

Hawk and Luna, Timber and Mina’s kids, are running through the grass nearby and laughing like the world has no monsters in it.

I think about a woman raising a kid on her own. About what it costs to hold everything together after losing someone.

Then I look back at her. And it’s like she feels it. My gaze. Her head lifts slightly, the corners of her mouth still turned up in that half smile she’s giving Pyro. But then her eyes shift and land right on me.

And just like that, the world tilts a little.

It’s not like in the movies. No slow motion, no music swelling but it hits. Something electric. Some current that buzzes under my skin and makes the noise of the barbecue fade into the background.

She doesn’t look away. Not for a solid few seconds. Not until the edges of her smile pull tight like maybe she doesn’t know what to do with whatever’s passing between us either.

Then she turns, says something to Pyro and walks back the way she came.

I watch her go, jaw tight, trying to make sense of the strange knot in my chest.

It’s been a long damn time since a woman turned my head. Hell, I’d convinced myself that part of me was just burned out, used up on one-night stands and old regrets.

I’ve lived most of my life in this club, watched brothers fall in love, settle down, have kids. Always figured I just wasn’t built for that kind of thing.

But now?

Now I’m wondering what it might feel like to let someone in. To want to.

I don’t say anything to Blade, just finish my beer and glance once more at the spot where she disappeared around the clubhouse.

I’ve got no idea what just happened.

But I’ve got a feeling I’ll be seeing her again.

––––––––

The End...For Now...