Page 100 of Oathbreaker

Extending the proverbial olive branch.

I hesitate before bumping mine against it.

He’s as solid and loyal as they come, but he can be the most stubborn man alive if you get on his bad side.

“You planning to work?” Atlas asks, ignoring us.

“Eventually. I’m good short-term. I want to take some time to heal both physically and mentally, focus on whatever Briar needs, and get to know my daughter.”

“And then?” Dash asks, his expression inscrutable.

“I don’t know. Why? You have a suggestion?”

He shrugs. “I can always use someone with your skill set at my company.”

“I don’t even know what your company is exactly,” I admit. “But when the time is right, we can definitely talk about it.”

“When’s the last time you played hockey?” Banks asks me.

I can’t help it—I burst out laughing.

“As cold as it is in Siberia, they do not have an ice rink at the prison.”

“We could get you suited up when you’re ready,” Atlas says. “We rent the ice and try to play once or twice a month.”

“That sounds great.”

I lean back, looking around at the faces of the four men who mean so much to me. Most of my thoughts in prison were about Briar but not all of them. I also held on to memories of the good times we had. College hockey. Parties. Holidays spent with the family we created for ourselves.

Those were the things I clung to when I was sure I wouldn’t survive much longer.

My brothers.

The woman I loved.

Family.

And now I’m getting a second chance with all of it.

One I don’t intend to blow.

“You looked way too serious just now,” Dash says under his breath.

“Just taking it all in. Appreciating it.”

He nods. “Good. Because you won’t get another second chance.”

“I won’t need one.”

“Whatever you two are whispering about,” Royal says, “knock it off. Since when do we have secrets?”

“No secrets,” I say with a grin. “Just finding a new normal.”

“I think we need beer,” Atlas says, getting to his feet.

“Multiple beers,” I call after him as he heads into the house.

“It’s really good to have you back,” Dash says.