Page 65 of Rook
She reached for his hand, hesitant, unsure, and he let her take it.
Their fingers laced together.
Warm. Familiar. Dangerous.
He leaned in, brushing his lips against her forehead, soft, reverent, almost a prayer.
The door slammed open.
“Breakfast!” Havoc shouted. “Stone says…”
Rook sat up so fast Avery nearly rolled off the bed.
Havoc froze in the doorway, eyes going wide. “Oh. Ohhh. My bad.”
Rook’s glare could’ve melted steel. “Get. Out.”
Havoc backed up with both hands raised. “Yep. Leaving. Gone. Didn’t see anything. Didn’t hear anything. I’m blind and deaf now.”
The door shut. Rook muttered, “I’m gonna kill him.”
Avery laughed, soft, warm, the sound easing the tension in his shoulders.
“Come on,” she said,touching his arm. “Let’s go eat.”
He didn’t want to move, didn’t want to let her go, didn’t want the moment to end. But she smiled at him — really smiled — and he couldn’t say no to that.
Chapter 20
Avery
The clubhouse was buzzing with morning energy: laughter, clattering dishes, the smell of bacon and coffee filling the air. Long tables were pushed together family-style, members crowded around them, talking over each other.
It felt like a home Avery had never seen before.
Stone waved them over. “Food’s hot. Sit.”
Rook pulled out a chair for Avery before taking the one beside her. Grim, Ledger, and Havoc were already digging in.
Avery looked around, taking it all in: the camaraderie, the warmth, the way everyone treated each other like brothers.
She leaned closer to Rook. “This is… nice.”
He smirked. “Don’t let them hear you say that. They’ll get soft.”
Havoc pointed a fork at them. “We heard that.”
Grim grunted. “We’re not soft.”
Stone added, “Speak for yourself. I’m delightful.”
Avery laughed, and Rook’s eyes softened, like something loosened in his chest.
Avery was still smiling when Havoc leaned forward, eyes narrowing at Rook like he’d spotted something suspicious.
“So,” Havoc said slowly, “Rook… you gonna tell us why you’re sitting there all relaxed and smiley this morning? Because that’s new.”
Rook shot him a flat look. “I’m not smiling.”
