Page 49 of Sabre’s Guard

She catches my gaze in the mirror and turns around slowly. “Thank you, Sabre, for choosing me. Just so you know, I truly am proud to be yours.”

I pull her against me and kiss her. Her fingers hook into my belt loops, and my hand tightens on the leather at her back. The kiss gets hot fast. I force myself to step away because we’ve got plans for today.

When she turns back around to admire the way my property cut looks on her gorgeous body, I feel like a man sorting his fuckin’ life out one glorious piece at a time today.

***

The first brother spots Linsey’s cut before we make it three steps inside the clubhouse. Talon releases a loud, admiring whistle. Then every head in the room turns our way, and all the brothers are congratulating us. Brothers pound me on the back and offer compliments that are crude enough to make Linsey laugh.

Siege leaves his stool and takes both of Linsey’s hands. “The Legion takes care of its own,” he tells her. His voice is serious enough to quiet the people closest to us. “As of today, that includes you and your boy.”

Linsey squeezes his hands. “Thank you, Siege. We’re both proud to be associated with your club.”

The old ladies close around Linsey with Talon’s old lady, Kelly, leading the way. They liked her before today. But now she’s one of them. Within ten minutes, she’s added to their group chat and Kelly shows her where the old ladies hide the expensive wine and chocolate. She laughs as they pull her deeper into their midst.

Linsey spent a decade hiding from her family. Now an entire room full of loud bikers and their families welcomes her into their fold. She’s got a newfound family, one she can count on.

Late in the afternoon, Zen finds me standing beside the coolers and hands me a beer. “You got anything for me today, brother?” I ask.

“I found that rental car we suspect was used by Dylan was here on Thursday afternoon,” he says. “I caught sight of it on the gas station security footage.”

“I thought he was meeting with his parole officer on Friday afternoon.”

“If you’re wondering how he could be in two places at once, so am I,” Zen mutters.

“There’s been no new activity in Montana. I checked Dylan’s visitor logs from the jail as well as his phone records again. He hasn’t had many visitors or calls and all of them were from his family.”

“Do you think he somehow found her on his own?” Zen asks.

I shrug. “I believe Dylan’s in custody, the two houses are secure and my family is having the best day they’ve had in a long time.” I take a drink of my beer. “We’ll keep workin’ at it though.”

Zen taps his bottle against mine.

“That’s a helluva healthy way to look at it.”

The campout at the end of the day is Noah’s idea. He and Siege’s son, Tommy, got talking while we were at the clubhouse, and Linsey and I agreed.

By sunset, my backyard looks like a military base. I pulled out all my old camping gear, so they have sleeping bags that are rated for temperatures this part of California will never experience. They have two lanterns, three flashlights, extra batteries, and a cooler full of drinks and snacks.

Linsey stands on the porch while I straighten a sleeping bag inside the tent. She looks worried so I try and put her mind at rest. “It’s a sleepover, babe. They’re camping in our fenced backyard.”

”I know. It’s just after everything I don’t like it when he’s out of my sight. Even if he’s just in the backyard.” She lets out a sigh. “He’s growing up. Maybe that’s what it is.” She gives a sniff and wipes her eyes. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’ve been getting so emotional lately.”

I laugh, because my old lady ain’t wrong about that. I caught her sobbing at an advert for puppy food the other day.

The boys finally settle inside the tent with flashlights, comic books, and a plan to remain awake until sunrise. Cameras cover the entire yard, and I can see the glow of their lantern from the kitchen window. That allows me to keep an eye on them without standing over them every five minutes.

Noah comes inside at nine forty.

He tries to look casual while requesting another blanket and two bottles of water. Then he glances towards the living room to make sure his mother can’t hear.

“We heard something near the side fence.”

I pull up the security cameras on my phone. “Let’s check.”

We watch the recording together. My next-door neighbor’s cat is walking along the top of the fence, drops into our yard, and knocks over an empty flowerpot.

“Visual confirmed,” Noah says as his shoulders relax. “It was the cat.”