Page 104 of The Fates We Tame

“She normally does a lot better,” Niro says.

“Thank fuck,” Clutch says.

Ari goes next, and she’s clearly squeamish about holding the gun, but with the encouragement of the other women, she picks it up and fires a bullet off into the woods.

“What kind of stance is that, frog boy?” Saint asks Halo.

“The kind of stance that fired the bullet that killed my half-brother. She can miss every single shot from today on, because she hit when it mattered.” Halo looks to me. “Ari doesn’t know that. Decided she’d been through enough and didn’t want his death on her conscience.”

“Would have made the same call,” I say as Ari misses her other two shots.

“She’s fucking cute holding that gun though,” Halo says. “Might take her to the range so I can witness it up close.”

Finally, it’s Sophia’s turn. I barely have time to lean forward before she hits all three cans without breaking a sweat.

Catalina looks at Sophia and says something, then throws her arm over her shoulder. I don’t need to hear the words to know Catalina is suggesting she’s found someone like her.

I glance at Niro, who winks like we have the special ones. A part of me thinks he’s right. I married Sophia before I really knew anything about her because I knew I could protect her. I know what’s currently in Sophia’s heart. What she doesn’t see is that in coming into herself, she has the potential to be formidable.

And, honestly, I love it.

In hindsight, having a woman like Ari or Briar or Iris might have been more than I was really ready for.

Catalina goes next and expectedly hits all three. Niro whoops loudly.

“Split pot,” Vex declares, then divides the bills between me and Niro.

“Told you I should have just set fire to that twenty,” Clutch grumbles.

King laughs. “I’m gonna tell my sister you said that.”

“So, in summary, during a crisis, we should all hide behind Cat and Soph,” Niro says, folding his cash.

I shove my cash in my pocket, knowing full well I intend to give it to Soph. After all, she earned it. “I’ll drink to that.”

“Let’s get ready to ride,” Halo says.

One by one, people leave the kitchen, Vex takes his laptop back into his tech cupboard. But King continues to stare at the spot where the laptop had been.

“I saw the way you looked at Sophia,” King says, without looking up at me.

“Saw the way you smiled when your sister whispered something to your old lady. So?”

“She really means that much to you?”

“She does.”

King nods. “I never gave much thought to what it would look like when we’d all settle down. But I remember when Mom was still here, and she and the other old ladies would hang out and do shit together. Made life easier for the men.”

“Made it easier for them to cheat.” I look around the kitchen. “I haven’t seen many club girls of late.”

King shakes his head. “There are some. But the ones who wanted the top patches are gone.”

“Penny,” I say, pulling the name out of the deepest recesses of my mind.

“Wondered if you might ask about her. I told her to stay the fuck away.”

“Why?”