Page 27

27: Tori

We cross the California state line like we’re goddamn conquering heroes. Ryder’s practically hanging out the window, the wind whipping through his hair, his grin so wide it might split his face in half.

“Careful, Ryder. You swallow a bug, I’m not performing CPR,” Blaze says dryly, glancing at Ryder from the rearview mirror.

Ryder scoffs dramatically, pulling himself back inside. “A bug wouldn’t dare enter this mouth uninvited. I have standards.”

“You have zero standards,” Thorne mutters from beside me, but even he’s got a quiet smile on his face. He hasn’t let go of my hand the entire drive—like if he lets me go for even a second, I’ll vanish.

Not a chance, big guy. You’re stuck with me.

I squeeze his hand reassuringly. He gives me a look that softens the hard lines of his face just enough to make my heart trip.

Okay, hormones, settle down.

Blaze shifts his attention briefly back to Gabe, who’s been suspiciously quiet in the passenger seat. “You good, Gabe?”

Gabe nods once, eyes focused on the road ahead. “Just wondering if your California guys are gonna be as friendly as you say. This isn't exactly a small crew.”

I glance in the side mirror, spotting Juan riding shotgun in the second car, with Diablo’s men filling several vehicles behind us. It's an intimidating parade of muscle and menace.

Honestly, it's a miracle we haven’t attracted half the cops in the state .

“Marcus knows we’re coming,” Blaze says simply, his grip tightening on the wheel. “We should be fine.”

“Fine is good,” Gabe says, his voice level, if skeptical. “But fine would also be a first.”

I lean forward, gesturing out towards the view like I'm some sort of stewardess. “Welcome to California, Gabe. The land of sunshine, beaches, and impending chaos.”

Ryder laughs, nodding enthusiastically. “Oh, Gabe’s gonna love it here. He already has resting ‘I hate everyone’ face down perfectly.”

Gabe just sighs. “Thanks, Ryder. Glad I fit in already.”

“Anytime, man,” Ryder beams.

We finally turn onto our familiar street, and something in my chest loosens. My muscles relax, tension melting away as the iron gates of our mansion swing open. The sprawling driveway is lined with familiar vehicles and faces.

And one not-so-expected face lounging casually on our porch steps.

I blink, certain I'm hallucinating. "Is that Keagan?"

Blaze pulls up slowly, expression caught between confusion and irritation. "You gotta be fucking kidding me."

Ryder bursts out laughing. “Keagan? Our Keagan? He’s still here?”

Thorne pinches the bridge of his nose, groaning softly. “Please, someone tell me he’s not staying in our house.”

Keagan pushes up off the steps, arms spread wide as we exit the car. "Well, if it isn't my favorite criminal empire! Miss me?"

“Define miss,” Blaze deadpans, stepping out to give him a grudging handshake.

Keagan snorts, slapping Blaze’s shoulder a little too enthusiastically. “Aw, come on, Blaze. I know you cried yourself to sleep every night without me.”

“Pretty sure I slept better,” Blaze replies, expression flat, but there’s amusement lurking behind those dark eyes .

“Denial doesn’t look good on you, buddy,” Keagan smirks, turning his attention to Ryder, who’s already grinning like an idiot.

Ryder slings an arm around Keagan’s neck, pulling him into an obnoxiously tight hug. “I missed your annoying ass! Who else am I supposed to torment when Thorne and Blaze get moody?”

“I am not moody,” Blaze protests.

“Of course not, you’re a beacon of positivity,” Keagan quips, pushing Ryder away gently. He turns toward Thorne, who just narrows his eyes suspiciously. “What, no hug, big guy?”

“Not a chance,” Thorne says dryly. “I prefer my personal space uninvaded.”

Keagan shrugs, unbothered, before his gaze finally lands on me. A warm smile tugs at his lips as he steps forward. “And there’s our fearless queen. Please tell me you’ve finally come to your senses and dumped these idiots.”

I snort, crossing my arms. “Sadly, I’ve become attached.”

“Stockholm syndrome, got it,” Keagan teases. He glances behind me, noticing Gabe leaning against the car, silent and imposing as ever. Keagan’s brows lift in curiosity. “And who’s tall, dark, and brooding back there?”

“Oh,” Ryder announces brightly, a mischievous glint lighting his eyes. “You haven’t met our new bestie yet. Keagan, meet Gabe. Gabe, meet Keagan. Try not to kill each other—we just got home.”

Gabe’s mouth twitches downward, giving Ryder a look that promises retribution later. But he pushes off the car anyway, moving forward with slow, cautious steps. He extends his hand toward Keagan. “Gabriel Morales.”

Keagan eyes Gabe’s outstretched hand skeptically before taking it, shaking briefly. “Keagan Hart. You must be the new babysitter.”

Gabe arches a brow coolly, withdrawing his hand. “If by babysitter, you mean the only adult present, then sure. ”

“Ouch,” Keagan chuckles, feigning hurt. “Snarky and serious. You and Blaze must be real fun at parties.”

Blaze shoots him a glare, clearly not appreciating the comparison.

Ryder elbows Keagan playfully, chuckling. “Careful. Gabe’s a real badass. Probably knows a dozen ways to kill you with his pinky.”

Keagan gives Gabe a skeptical glance. “He looks more like a knife-and-fork kinda guy to me. Proper. Polished.”

Gabe stares flatly. “And you look like the guy who eats cereal straight from the box.”

Keagan blinks, clearly caught off guard by Gabe’s quick comeback, before letting out a chuckle. “Actually, I use a bowl like a civilized person, but I appreciate the judgment.”

Ryder chuckles, leaning in toward me. “Is it just me, or do we have a bromance brewing already?”

“Don’t push your luck, Ryder,” Gabe warns, though I notice the faintest hint of amusement behind his guarded expression. He eyes Keagan critically. “Are you here to cause trouble, or just annoy the shit out of everyone?”

“Can’t I do both?” Keagan counters, entirely too cheerful.

Blaze sighs deeply. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“So, are you sticking around longer?” Thorne asks, clearly trying to sound indifferent but failing miserably. We all know Thorne secretly enjoys Keagan’s chaotic energy—even if he’d never admit it.

Keagan shrugs easily, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Depends. I’ve been pretty busy, actually. While you four were off playing gangster politics, Marcus and I got shit done around here. Speaking of which—”

As if on cue, Marcus emerges from the house, calmly making his way toward us, looking as cool and collected as ever. His eyes immediately find Blaze, relief flickering in his expression for just a second before he smooths it away .

“You finally decided to grace us with your presence, brother,” Marcus greets, stepping forward and clasping Blaze’s hand firmly before pulling him into a quick hug. Blaze stiffens momentarily but relaxes into it, patting Marcus on the back before pulling away.

“Glad to see you survived without me,” Blaze says softly, genuine warmth lighting his dark eyes.

Marcus’ mouth twitches. “Barely.”

Keagan rolls his eyes dramatically, nudging Marcus. “Don’t act like you didn’t love having me around, keeping you on your toes.”

Marcus sighs heavily, clearly resisting the urge to strangle Keagan. “Oh, yes. Loved every minute.”

I watch their easy exchange, my heart warming. It feels good to be back, to see Marcus and Keagan so effortlessly integrated into the family we've somehow built. But even better, there's an undeniable air of optimism here, a sense that we might finally have found our place.

Ryder interrupts my internal monologue, draping an arm around my shoulders. “So, KitKat, wanna bet on how long it’ll take before Gabe strangles Keagan?”

“I give it two days, tops,” I reply dryly.

Gabe rolls his eyes, but Keagan smirks at me, utterly unfazed. “Aw, come on, Tori. You know you missed me too.”

“Like a root canal,” I quip, almost smiling too wide.

Keagan pretends to clutch his chest, wounded. “Ouch. Harsh.”

Thorne interrupts, nudging my side softly. “If we’re done with reunions, we should let them know why there’s an army of men standing around, waiting for orders.”

We glance around simultaneously, remembering a few of Diablo’s former crew is loitering uneasily around the driveway, eyeing the house—and Marcus—with open curiosity .

Marcus tilts his head, sizing them up, then glances back at Blaze, eyes questioning. “Care to explain why it looks like you stole Diablo’s best men?”

Blaze shrugs casually, barely hiding a smirk. “Technically, they volunteered.”

Juan steps forward cautiously, his presence solid and unwavering, eyes respectfully trained on Marcus. “We’re here because we chose loyalty to Tori. Diablo no longer calls the shots. She does.”

Marcus’ gaze snaps sharply to mine, brows lifting in surprise. “Taking over the world, Tori?”

I loop my arm through Ryder’s, leaning comfortably against him. “Nah, just changing the game.”

Marcus looks amused, shaking his head subtly. “Well, if anyone could do it, I suppose it’d be you.”

Gabe clears his throat, clearly done with pleasantries. “We should probably get inside and actually plan out what comes next. As entertaining as this reunion has been, we need to discuss our future.”

Marcus nods, already turning toward the house. “Agreed. And someone get Keagan a babysitter so he doesn’t cause trouble during the grown-up meeting.”

Keagan feigns outrage. “Excuse you, I am the grown-up.”

Marcus snorts quietly. “Sure you are.”

Gabe steps past Keagan, pausing just long enough to offer a sardonic smile. “I’m guessing they keep you around for comedic relief.”

“Oh, this is fun,” Ryder whispers loudly, watching Keagan’s eyes narrow at Gabe’s back.

“Careful,” Keagan calls after him. “This ‘comedic relief’ bites.”

Gabe merely lifts his hand, dismissing Keagan without a backward glance.

I almost laugh, turning back toward Thorne, Blaze, and Ryder. "See? We're home for five minutes, and everything’s already chaos. "

“Did you expect anything else?” Blaze murmurs, nudging my shoulder affectionately.

I laugh softly, watching our makeshift family head toward the house—this mismatched group of dangerous men and dysfunctional personalities who, somehow, make perfect sense together.

Home sweet home, indeed.

We make our way inside, the familiar house wrapping around me like a warm embrace. It’s crazy how much can happen in such a short amount of time, how everything feels the same yet completely different. My stomach twists a bit, a weird mixture of nerves and excitement. I glance at Thorne, noticing how his fingers tighten around mine the closer we get to the main sitting room. He’s quiet, but then again, Thorne’s always quiet when his brain’s working overtime.

“You good?” I whisper softly, bumping my shoulder gently into his side.

His dark eyes soften slightly, the corners of his mouth tilting upward. “Yeah, Vic. Just...a lot to process.”

“You mean the army we accidentally stole from Diablo or the baby growing inside me?” I tease, trying to keep it light even though I know exactly why his expression holds that tinge of worry.

His jaw clenches subtly, eyes darkening with barely concealed anxiety. “Both. Everything.”

I reach up, cupping his cheek, forcing him to meet my eyes fully. “Hey, we got this. You’re not alone, remember? We’re all gonna figure it out together. Plus, you’re gonna read so many damn parenting books, I’ll probably go insane. You’ll be the world’s most annoyingly knowledgeable dad.”

He chuckles softly, leaning his forehead against mine for a moment. “Damn right, I will.”

Ryder bursts into the sitting room ahead of us, sprawling across one of the sofas with dramatic flair. “Ah, home sweet home! Still smells like trouble, questionable life choices, and Keagan’s body spray.”

Keagan snorts from the doorway. “Says the guy who smells like cheap cologne and regret.”

“Correction, expensive cologne and zero regrets,” Ryder fires back, grinning widely.

Blaze clears his throat loudly, drawing our attention as he moves toward the center of the room, his presence naturally commanding. “Alright, enough bickering. We need to focus.”

Marcus settles into a seat across from Blaze, posture straight, expression serious. “Agreed. You brought back Diablo’s men—what’s the plan here? We’re not equipped to handle open warfare if Diablo retaliates.”

“That won’t happen,” Gabe interjects calmly, stepping forward. “Diablo isn’t interested in retaliation, and Tori made it clear we’re done fighting his battles. They chose to come with her, and they’ll follow her lead.”

Marcus studies Gabe carefully, assessing his sincerity, then nods slowly. “Alright. Let’s assume for now that’s true. What exactly are we going to do with all these new men? We can’t exactly keep operating as gangs. That’s too much heat, especially now.”

Blaze shifts his stance, arms folded firmly across his chest, brows tight in thought. “We’ve talked about it some. If we’re truly going legit, we need something that suits our strengths. Something legal but useful.”

“I’m sorry, legit?” Keagan cuts in incredulously, looking around the room like he’s stepped into some alternate dimension. “Did I miss a memo?”

I roll my eyes at him. “Yeah, apparently you weren’t on the mailing list.”

Ryder leans in, another smart remark ready. “Maybe check your spam folder. ”

“Ha ha, hilarious.” Keagan folds his arms, leaning against the doorway with an annoyed huff. “So what exactly does ‘legit’ look like for people like us? A bakery? A coffee shop called Crime and Grind?”

Ryder’s eyes widen, finger snapping. “Wait, actually—”

“No,” Blaze interrupts firmly, glaring daggers at Ryder. “Absolutely fucking not.”

Ryder slumps back with exaggerated disappointment. “You never support my dreams.”

Blaze rubs his temple, clearly resisting the urge to strangle him, and Marcus smoothly intervenes. “How about we pick something that actually uses our skills? Something with minimal questions, good money, and perfectly legal.”

“Private security,” Gabe states simply, arms crossed, confidence radiating from every inch of him. “We have muscle, strategy, and more than enough firepower. High-profile clients always need protection, and honestly, it's not that different from what we already know how to do.”

Thorne tilts his head thoughtfully, his dark gaze considering Gabe’s suggestion. “It makes sense. We can leverage the loyalty and trust we’ve already built. The guys from Diablo’s crew won’t object—they already respect strength, and protection comes naturally.”

Blaze nods slowly, clearly seeing the logic. “I agree. It gives everyone a job, keeps them busy, and keeps us off the radar.”

Marcus looks intrigued. “We’d need licenses, permits, proper training certifications—”

“We have enough money and resources for all that,” Blaze counters smoothly. “Diablo’s crew is disciplined enough, the Niners have experience, and Iron Triad will back us. It’s actually perfect.”

Keagan holds up his hands defensively, amusement flickering in his eyes. “So, no bakery coffee shop then?”

Ryder grins wickedly. “We can discuss Crime and Grind later.”

Thorne sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “Let’s focus, please. ”

I step forward, finally breaking my silence, feeling a rush of confidence fill my chest. “Look, I know this is new and different. Legitimate isn’t exactly a word any of us have experience with. But it feels right. Especially now.” I glance briefly at Thorne, Ryder, and Blaze, gathering strength from the quiet certainty in their eyes. “We’re gonna have a family soon. I'm pregnant.”

The room goes still—like really fucking still. Gabe’s expression falters for a heartbeat, his usually steady eyes flashing with something fleeting and sad before he quickly schools it into a quiet, supportive smile.

Keagan, naturally, is the first to break the silence, brows shooting up as he looks between me and the guys. "Holy shit. You four didn't waste any time, did you? Who knew gang wars and gunfights were such an aphrodisiac?"

Marcus clears his throat, voice cautious but undeniably curious. "Congrats, Tori. But, uh—who exactly is the dad?"

Without missing a beat, Ryder smugly chimes in, leaning back with an air of confidence. "Obviously me. My swimmers are elite-level athletes."

Blaze just rolls his eyes, but I notice the slight tug at the corners of his lips. Thorne’s grip on my hand tightens subtly, and I know he's suppressing a smirk of his own.

Juan, silent until now, steps forward with quiet concern in his eyes. "A child changes things. Are you sure about this? It's not just about you four anymore."

"I know," I say softly, giving him a reassuring nod. "That's exactly why we're doing this. I don’t want our kid growing up always looking over their shoulder. I want them to have normalcy. Real, boring, beautiful fucking normalcy."

Blaze finally moves forward, gently brushing his thumb against my cheek, his expression softening into something deeply tender. "Normalcy, huh? Sounds like the best thing we’ve never had. "

Thorne exhales slowly, his voice even but quieter than usual, thoughtful. "Yeah. And we'll make damn sure our kid gets it."

Ryder leans forward, dropping the cocky facade for once, expression earnest and uncharacteristically vulnerable. "I’m not gonna lie—I'm fucking terrified of being a dad. But if we're really doing this, if we're bringing a kid into the world, I want to do it right. Safe.”

Gabe nods slowly, his voice quiet but reassuring. “You won’t be alone. This is a good path. Trust me, I’ve seen enough violence and chaos to last a lifetime. A legitimate business isn’t weakness—it’s strength. Stability.”

Marcus finally smiles softly, the first genuine expression of happiness I’ve seen on his face ever. “So, private security then?”

Keagan sighs dramatically. “Alright, fine. Private security. But if we get bored, Crime and Grind is still an option, right?”

I roll my eyes again, laughing softly. “We’ll keep it as a backup.”

A comfortable silence settles over the room, tension fading, replaced by something warmer, safer. A shared sense of hope, I realize, as I look around at the men I love, the family we’ve built from scratch.

“So, when do we start?” Thorne finally asks, breaking the silence, voice firm with determination.

Blaze shrugs, the hint of a smirk playing at his lips. “Tomorrow. Marcus and I will handle the logistics. Licensing, training programs, permits.”

“Keagan and I will handle outreach, recruitment, and client management,” Ryder adds, clearly excited. “Imagine me, respectable and business-y. It’s gonna be amazing.”

“God help us,” Thorne mutters softly, though his tone holds affection rather than true worry.

Gabe chuckles lowly. “I’ll supervise. Keep you all in check.”

I get cozy, leaning into Thorne’s side. “And I’ll make sure none of you idiots get killed.”

Blaze’s eyes soften as they settle on me. “Sounds perfect, Doll. ”

A sense of peace washes over me. This is what home feels like—safe, crazy, and imperfectly ours.

Ryder sighs dramatically, sprawling further into the couch. “Now that we’ve solved our life problems, who wants pizza?”

“Always,” Keagan answers immediately.

Gabe looks unimpressed. “Do you ever eat real food?”

Ryder waves a hand dismissively. “Pizza is real food, Gabe. Stop disrespecting my religion.”

Thorne’s arms slide around my waist from behind, pulling me close against him. His voice is soft, lips brushing my ear. “You okay?”

I tilt my head back to look up at him, smiling gently. “I’m perfect.”

His expression eases fully, relief flooding his dark eyes. “Good. Because this...this feels right.”

“It does,” I agree softly. “For the first time, I’m not scared of the future.”

He presses a soft kiss against my temple. “Me either.”

My hand settles over my stomach unconsciously, warmth spreading through me. We’re creating something better, something new. Not just for us, but for the life growing inside me—the child who’ll never know the fear, loneliness, or darkness we grew up in. The child who’ll have a real family. Real happiness.

The realization settles firmly in my chest, and I’ve never been more ready.

“Hey,” Ryder calls, drawing our attention, beaming from ear to ear. “Family movie night?”

Keagan sighs dramatically. “Just promise me it’s not another anime.”

Ryder scoffs, offended. “Anime is an art form, Keagan. You heathen.”

Blaze shakes his head slowly. “Movie night sounds good.”

I nod, leaning back into Thorne’s solid presence, letting the happiness fully settle into my bones.

Our future begins now, and honestly?

I can’t fucking wait.