18. Evie
18
EVIE
Thursdays are usually quiet in our house. The brothers have their weekly club meeting, the girls are winding down from school, and I get to catch up on all the little things that slip through the cracks when you’re juggling a job, two kids, and three men.
But tonight, something’s different. Rose shows up with enough Chinese takeout to feed an army and an expression I’ve never seen on her face before. She’s practically floating as she sets out containers on the kitchen table.
“Okay, what’s going on?” I study her while distributing plates. “You’re…glowing.”
That’s when I hear it—a sound so unexpected I almost drop the chopsticks. Rose, my fierce friend and perpetual skeptic, actually giggles.
“You did not just giggle.” I stare at Rose in disbelief, the Chinese takeout forgotten between us. “You. The woman who once threatened to castrate a man for calling you sweetheart in a meeting.”
“I don’t giggle.” But her cheeks flush as she picks at her lo mein. “Draven just…said something funny over the phone when we were talking.”
“Draven said something funny?” I can’t help teasing. In the months I’ve known him, Draven’s been many things—competent, protective, awesome father—but never particularly humorous.
“He can be…” She struggles for words, which is another first. “Charming. When he wants to be.”
Upstairs, I hear Violet’s theatrical storytelling voice mixing with Daisy’s giggles.
“So.” I lean forward. “Tell me everything. When is the long-awaited coffee date going to happen?”
“It’s not a date.” But her smile says otherwise. “Tomorrow morning.”
“Just coffee?” I raise an eyebrow. “Is that before or after you check his background for the third time?”
She throws a fortune cookie at me. “I only ran it twice, thank you very much. And he’s clean. Military service, honorable discharge, not even a parking ticket.”
“Of course you checked.” Some things never change. Like how Rose protects the people she loves—sometimes from themselves.
She sobers slightly. “Speaking of checking things. The latest transfers cleared.”
Just like that, we’re back to business. Rose pulls out her tablet, showing me complicated flowcharts of how Luca’s money is moving through various accounts.
“The new bike shop I set up in South California is perfect,” she explains. “Small enough to not draw attention, big enough to justify the cash flow. Another month, and we’ll have the last batch cleaned.”
I try to focus on the numbers, but my mind keeps drifting to that night last week, to three pairs of hands finding refuge on my skin.
“Evie.” Rose’s voice brings me back. “Are you listening? This is important.”
“I know, I know.” I force myself to concentrate—not that I can help it. “How much is left?”
“About two million.” She shows me more charts. “Once it’s clean, we’ll need to decide what to do with it. Property investments maybe, or?—”
The distinctive rumble of motorcycles cuts her off. Three bikes pulling into the driveway.
My heart jumps as I watch them through the window. Rick leads, as always, with Chase and Zane flanking him. They move like one unit.
“You’re staring at them too hard.” Rose’s voice holds amusement.
“Can you blame me?”
They’re beautiful together—leather and denim and easy grace as they dismount. Chase says something that makes Zane laugh while Rick shakes his head, and his fond exasperation is clear even from here.
“I still can’t believe this is my life sometimes,” I admit quietly.
“Having three gorgeous men worship you?” Rose teases. “Yeah, must be rough.”
“Not just that.” However, the memory of that night heats my blood. “All of it. The girls being happy. Having a home. Friends. Family.”
“You deserve it.” She reaches across the table, squeezing my hand. “After everything Luca put you through…”
“We both do.” I squeeze back. “Which is why you should give Draven a chance. Stop analyzing and just…feel.”
Her expression softens. “He loves his son to bits, and it kills him that he can’t always be available to pick him up from school, but he knows his hard work will pay off someday.”
“He’s a smart man. Has he mentioned what happened to Owen’s mother?”
“Said she ran off immediately, before Owen started to talk. She wanted to live in a big city, and Wolf Pike was too small for her to thrive in her acting career.”
“Oh, poor Owen. Having your mother run off on you like that is insane.”
She stares into her tea like it holds answers. “He makes me want things I shouldn’t. Normal things. Dating and family dinners and…”
“And?”
“And I caught myself looking at houses in Wolf Pike yesterday.” She laughs shakily. “Me. Looking at real estate listings like some kind of…”
“Normal person?” I finish gently.
Before she can respond, the front door opens. My men file in, bringing the scent of leather and wind with them.
“Ladies.” Rick’s voice holds warmth. If Rose weren’t here, they’d have each left a kiss on my cheeks. They don’t know I’ve already told Rose that I fucked all three of my bosses and that we’re all kinda in the relationship. I’ll fill them in, but we still have to keep pretending in front of everyone else in Wolf Pike.
“Successful run?” Rose asks.
“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Rick replies.
The girls thunder downstairs then, launching themselves at the brothers.
“Uncle Draven’s taking us riding!” Violet announces, perched on Zane’s hip.
Rose’s breath catches slightly at Draven’s name. I hide my smile.
“Is he now?” Zane raises an eyebrow at me.
“Mini bikes,” I clarify. “In the empty lot behind his garage. Very supervised.”
“Speaking of Draven.” Rick’s tone turns knowing as he looks at Rose. “He mentioned seeing you tomorrow.”
She stands abruptly. “I should go. Early morning and all.”
I walk her to the door while the brothers entertain the girls with stories from their ride. At the threshold, she pauses.
“I’m happy for you,” she says softly. “Terrified, but happy.”
“Same to you.” I hug her tight. “Let yourself have this, Rose. The money’s almost clean, and Luca’s trail is cold. We’re safe.”
Her smile turns wistful. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s time to stop running.”
After she leaves, I stand in the doorway watching my new family. Chase is sketching while Violet “helps,” probably adding flames to everything. Zane’s teaching Daisy some complicated handshake he learned on the road.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Rick comes up behind me, arms sliding around my waist.
I wriggle myself out of his grip. “Be discreet. The girls are here.”
He groans, but not before planting a kiss on my neck.
Through the window, I catch a glimpse of Rose sitting in her car, smiling at her phone. She’s probably texting Draven.
“Think she’ll let herself be happy?” I ask.
“If she’s half as brave as you.” Rick’s words rumble through me. “Takes courage to choose love.”
Violet’s voice carries from the living room. She tells Daisy about all the bikes she’ll ride when she’s bigger. My daughter, who used to flinch at loud noises, dreams of engines and speed now.
Since coming to Wolf Pike, we’ve all changed and grown into versions of ourselves we never expected to be.