Page 17 of Ruthless Possession
"Little Morgan," Liam says, appearing beside me. He pulls me into a hug that lifts me off my feet. "You look good, sweetheart."
"Couldn't be better," I tell him, laughing through tears.
The door to the back room slams open with a bang, and suddenly the space fills with even more bodies. More noise, more joy.
"Trent? Matt?" Greyson's voice cuts through the chaos as he shoves his way forward, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Holy shit!" Before he can finish, I'm engulfed in a wave of bodies. Greyson, the tallest, grabs me by the shoulders, squeezing me in a hug hard enough to pop my spine.
"They surprised me too," I tell him, breathless as he sets me down.
Caiden appears, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around us. He nods at me, then pulls both Trenton and Matthew into simultaneous bro hugs. "Good to see you home."
Harlan and Cole push through the crowd together, matching grins splitting their faces. "When did you guys get back?" Cole demands, his voice rising above the celebrations.
"Last night," Matthew answers, his arm sliding around my waist. "Couldn't stay away any longer."
Zach steps forward, his eyes narrowing slightly as he takes in the three of us together. "So it's true then? You're out for good?"
Trenton nods once. "Honorable discharges. Paperwork's done."
A roar goes up from the younger men. I scan their faces, boys I knew, now all sharp features and broad shoulders. They carry their fathers' legacies in the set of their jaws and the confidence in their eyes. They aren't boys anymore.
"You look good, Morgan," Harlan says, his voice warm with affection. "Really good."
"Taking care of herself while you two were gone," Cole adds, punching Trenton's shoulder lightly. "Unlike these idiots who kept trying to get themselves killed."
The banter flows, a familiar current pulling them all along. I watch them, a laugh catching in my throat. It's like listening to a song I haven't heard in years but still knowing every word. Six years, and not a single note is out of place.
"Remember when you three used to sneak out to the quarry?" Greyson asks, grinning. "Dad nearly skinned you alive when he found out."
Trenton's lips quirk. "Worth it."
"Was it?" Matthew counters with a laugh. "Torch didn't let you ride for a month."
"Totally worth it," Trenton insists, his hand finding mine.
I squeeze back, the emotion making my chest tight. The faces are the same, but the years have carved new lines into them, leaving echoes of their fathers in the corners of their eyes. It's our shared history staring back at me.
"We've missed this," I admit, gesturing at all of them. "All of you."
"Not as much as we've missed you," Zach says, surprising me with the sincerity in his voice. "The club wasn't the same without you three together."
The older generation watches from a distance, letting the second generation have their moment. I catch Kyle's eye over Greyson's shoulder, and he nods once. Approval, acceptance, family.
They bicker good-naturedly, the dynamic between them unchanged despite the years. I watch them go, these men who are more family than friends, and feel the tightness I've carried all week quietly leave my chest.
The low rumble of conversation quickly swells. Someone cranks up the music, and the air thickens with the smell of spilled beer and old stories despite the early hour. Butch finds me, pressing my favorite brand into my hand with a familiar wink.
"I thought you two had another three weeks," Greyson says, arm around Matthew's shoulders. "What changed?"
"Wait," Techy says, eyes narrowing. "Does your old man know?"
Trenton shakes his head. "No one knew except Morgan."
I feel a sudden surge of emotion as I watch the realization spread through the room. These men, these dangerous, loyal men, are genuinely happy to have their brothers home.
Trenton and Matthew exchange a look. Without a word, they move toward the wall of shadow boxes.
"Let me," Greyson says, reaching for the framed patches.
