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The club girls started laughing and giggling. The rest of us just watched them. Emily was the only one who’d experienced a piercing. I’d have to look and see if they made fake ones. Maybe I could talk Grizz into trying one time. He was usually up for at least one round of something new.

“Sugar, we all knew you had enormous balls, but that just proved it.” Each club girl nodded their head at Emily, showing respect.

“The first time I took a piercing, it burned so bad. I screamed, literally thinking it was going to rip me in half. He pulled out, and I don’t know what gave him the impression I wanted more, because when he tried again, I kicked him in the stomach.

” Cinnamon flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“I remember seeing the piercing the first time, but I don’t remember what it felt like.” Emily tucked her knees up to her chest.

“Never…again,” my aunt whispered, taking the attention off of Emily. The three of us were family, and we’d claimed Emily as one of ours. When it became too personal for one, someone usually tried to take the heat off of them. It was only natural for the Old Lady Alliance.

“The best way to get over a man is to get under another one. Thunder’s a willing participant.” Pink Hair pointed at my aunt.

“Friends…only.” My aunt shook her head, unwilling to see what was clearly in front of her face.

The rest of our eyes circled around the room, until we all said, “Uh huh.” The laughter was so loud, we didn’t hear the vault door opening.

“So, this is what you ladies have been doing?” Sabre asked.

We had passed the time as best we could, but one look at Sabre’s face and our good humor evaporated.

He looked like he had aged a few years, and while he still maintained a small smile, his eyes were dull.

Grace stood with JR in her arms, walking toward Sabre in the doorway.

She would have normally handed him the baby, but this time, she didn’t.

Instead, she hugged Sabre, bringing him into their fold.

He sighed, dropping his nose into her hair.

“It’s over,” he said.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him the cartel might have been, but the fallout had just started.

I stood with Pumpkin in my arms, heading towards the front of the vault.

Grizz was standing behind Sabre, and my eyes didn’t leave his.

I had to wait my turn, and while I wanted to tell my sister and Sabre to move, I refrained.

Whatever had happened had stained their souls, and I knew, from experience, the only way to heal would be comfort.

I could wait a few more seconds until they shifted out of the doorway.

I scanned Grizz from head to toe, and while he looked alright physically, I could clearly see the mental anguish.

I doubted if he would tell me what had happened, but I didn’t have to be a genius to know the cartel was dead.

It must have been messy because Grizz’s hair was down, and he wouldn’t put it back up until it was dry.

The other women stood behind me, and when I moved forward, they took off running.

My aunt was the only one who didn’t, and when Emily saw her shifting her feet, she stopped.

Reaching underneath my aunt’s arm, Emily guided her out of the dungeon.

I didn’t blame them. My man was right here, and I didn’t have anywhere else I wanted to be.

“Hi,” I whispered, hugging him. I had no clue what he needed, but I wouldn’t run. He hugged me back, making sure Pumpkin was alright between us.

“Hi,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”

“Are you alright?” I asked, not letting him go.

“I will be.” He leaned against the wall, holding us tighter to his chest. I said nothing, trying to infuse more comfort and energy into our connection. “Everyone left. Do you want to head upstairs?”

I hadn’t noticed we were the only people standing in front of the open vault door. Someone had neatly stacked our supplies in the middle of the room, but no one had cared to put them away. “I want what you want.” I wouldn’t leave Grizz in his time of turmoil, especially when he had never left me.

***

“Why are they pretending? They’re fooling themselves if they think everything is normal,” I asked Grizz, entering from the corner of the main room that butted against the kitchen.

If I hadn’t known better, I would have thought this was a typical night in the clubhouse.

Brothers surrounded the pool table, and it would only be a matter of time before they had a knockout tournament.

A couple of brothers, including Chef, were throwing darts, while Pebbles sat next to them.

“Normalcy helps them forget,” he said, stopping directly behind me. Heading towards an empty couch, I made sure he was comfortable before taking my spot next to him.

“Do you want anything? Beer? Anything?” I asked. I wasn’t trying to be a mother hen, but I wanted to take care of Grizz because that was what you did for the people you loved.

“Stop.” He threw his arm around me, pulling me close. “I’m alright. Give me a couple of days though before you psychoanalyze me.”

“Psycho? Yes.” I was hoping he would laugh, but all I got was a small tilt at the corner of his upper lip.

He reached for Pumpkin, settling her against the crook of his arm and the arm of the couch. “Tell your mother we’re fine. She needs to stop hovering.”

I pinched his side. “Fuck me for caring.”

He laughed. “There’s my wife.” He leaned so that our heads were close together. “I’m fine, but I know you’re still secretly worried. Why don’t you roam around, and I’ll stay with Pumpkin? It’ll set your mind at ease.”

“You sure?” If he needed me, I would stay right here.

“Yeah, but I’ll take that beer when you grab a chance.” He smiled, and this time, I believed him.

Roaming around, I checked in with each person I came across, asking if I could get them anything.

The first couple of people told me they were fine, but I wanted to ask them who they thought they were lying to.

I didn’t, and eventually, I went to the bar and asked the prospect for bottles of beer.

No one would pass up a refill, and it made checking in much easier.

I was on my third beer pass when I sidled up to Dead. He was sitting at the end of the bar, texting, but when he saw me, he flipped his phone over. “I don’t care right now. Take the last one,” I said, handing him my last bottle.

“You care. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be roaming around the room, dishing out beer.” He took a swig, tipping the bottle in my direction.

“It’s easier to get people to tell you if they need something when you hand them a drink. Are you alright?” I shrugged, playing this conversation off like it wasn’t a big deal.

“I’ve survived worse, girlie pop, but I’m probably going to end up staring at the animal channel tomorrow.” He took another swig of the beer, as the prospect manning the bar dropped six more in front of me.

“Good. I have work to do, and the animal channel drowns out the incessant chatter,” I teased, leaning in closer. “I would hug you, but I know you don’t like to be touched. Let’s just say I would lose it if you weren’t alright.” His chuckle followed me as I floated around some more.

Once I’d touched base with everyone in the room, I sat next to Grizz again, nursing my beer.

He tried to thank me, but I cut him off.

I hadn’t done it for gratitude or recognition.

It was hard to explain, and I didn’t bother trying.

Maybe one day, I would have the words, but Grizz seemed to understand.

I had chosen the Iron Shield as a part of my family.

***

Grizz

I sat on the front porch steps, staring out into the yard. After they had completed the cleanup and the vault had been opened, no one had wanted to leave the main room. It had become overwhelming for me, and I’d told Meredith where I was heading. I needed to clear my head, and she’d understood.

The front door opened behind me, but I didn’t turn around to check who it was.

“How do you feel? Since it’s over,” Sabre asked, as he sat next to me on the stairs.

“I’m relieved.” I paused. “It might not be over if Manuel rears his ugly head, but for now, I’m going to enjoy the calm.”

“It’s well earned.” He chuckled. “I’m getting married. You’re already married. We have children. My parents would have loved every minute, teasing the fuck out of us.”

“Did I ever tell you your father sat me down for a chat?” He wasn’t the only one who’d been remembering the past of late.

“No. You’re holding out.”

“It was right after my father disappeared.” A look passed between us.

“I don’t remember all of it, but he told me that if I wanted to be a good man, I needed to pay attention to my father’s flaws.

” Taking a deep breath, I went back to staring out into the yard.

“I didn’t understand what he meant until now. ”

Sabre made a noise, letting me know he was still listening but also letting me gather my thoughts.

“I’m my father’s son. He was a known womanizer, and for years, I thought I could avoid his flaws if I didn’t commit. I walked into the bar, saw her on the dance floor, and instantly wanted to be her groom. I honestly thought it would be over if I just got one taste.”

He laughed, shoving me in the shoulder as a smile crept on my lips.

“I haven’t looked at another woman and actually seen them since, and when I realized I wasn’t seeing them, it scared me. Maybe that’s why I tried to control the situation, but I’m lost in her world, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

“I get it. JR and I have already talked. His mother is the most important person in my world, and he’s going to hate every minute.” We laughed at the thought. “I didn’t help you get the vote. The brothers saw your relationship, and they made their own assumptions.”

“Want to get drunk?” I smirked at him.

“I hid a couple of bottles of good whiskey in my office.”