21. Zane
21
ZANE
Jamie’s backyard looks different now than when Tank was alive. The huge grill where he used to hold court sits quietly, replaced by several smaller setups scattered around. But some things haven’t changed—the way members’ bikes line the driveway, the smell of smoke and meat in the air, children’s laughter mixing with rough biker voices.
I lean against the deck railing, beer in hand, watching my new family blend into club life. Violet and Daisy are already in a conversation with the other kids.
“They fit right in.” Jamie waddles over, one hand supporting her very pregnant belly. “Tank would have loved this.”
“Yeah?” I help her settle into a chair. “The great Tank approving of three brothers sharing one woman?”
Her laugh still holds traces of grief but mostly joy now. “Please. That man knew about unconventional love before any of us. Why do you think he arranged our marriage?”
She has a point. Tank’s arranged marriage to Jamie shocked everyone until we saw how perfectly they matched, how she brought order to his chaos, and how he gave her freedom to be herself.
“Miss him today?” I ask quietly.
“Every day.” She watches the kids play. “But he’d be proud. Of all of us.”
Across the yard, Evie’s deep in conversation with some of our old ladies. She looks comfortable and natural, like she’s always belonged here. When she catches me watching, her smile makes my heart skip.
“She’s good for you boys.” Jamie’s always been too perceptive. “All of you.”
“Think it shows?”
“Please.” She snorts. “You three have been walking on sunshine since she moved in. Even Rick’s stopped brooding so much.”
Before I can respond, a fresh wave of bikes roars up. Teller’s crew pulls in, fashionably late as usual.
The energy shifts immediately. Piper launches herself at our girls, already best friends despite the age gap. Ayla follows more sedately, but her eyes light up when she spots Evie.
“About time,” Jamie calls to them. “Was beginning to think you’d forgotten where we live.”
“Never.” Teller kisses her cheek. “Just had to convince this one we didn’t need to bring three different salads.”
Ayla swats his arm. “Some of us care about nutrition.”
“Some of us care about meat,” Clay counters, already heading for the grill.
“Speaking of care.” Jamie beckons Evie over. “Come sit, honey. Let me tell you how I survived these testosterone-fueled gatherings when I was new.”
I expect Evie to hesitate, but she settles beside Jamie like they’re old friends. Within minutes, they’re deep in conversation, heads bent together while Jamie gestures expressively.
“Quite a sight, isn’t it?” Ayla joins me at the railing. “Our little family growing.”
“Your idea of family’s a bit unconventional.”
Her smile turns knowing. “Says the man sharing a woman with his brothers.”
Point taken. I watch Teller with Clay and Kip—their easy synchronization is born from years of loving the same woman. They make it look simple.
“It gets easier,” Ayla says softly. “The sharing. The balance. You just have to trust each other.”
“We do.” And we do. That’s never been our problem.
“Then the rest falls into place.” She squeezes my arm before heading to rescue Clay from whatever he’s doing to that grill.
The afternoon unfolds in waves of laughter, food, and family. Owen joins the girls’ game, which now involves elaborate rules about safe zones and dragon territories. Evie and Jamie talk for hours, their conversation occasionally drawing in other old ladies who offer their own advice.
I catch snippets as I move around. Jamie tells stories about Tank’s early days, Ayla shares tips about scheduling with multiple partners, and other women contribute their own wisdom.
“You should have seen Tank’s face,” Jamie’s saying as I pass, “when I told him I was keeping his books. Thought the big bad biker would faint.”
“Rick was the same way,” Evie laughs. “Still tries to hide the ‘complicated’ numbers from me.”
“Men.” Jamie rolls her eyes. “Think they’re protecting us by keeping secrets.”
Something flickers across Evie’s face at that, but she covers it quickly.
Later, Ayla pulls her aside for what looks like an intense discussion. They end up by the old oak tree, sharing whispers and giggles and the occasional burst of laughter.
“They’ll be good for each other,” Teller says, appearing beside me. “Ayla needed another woman who understands.”
“About sharing men?”
“About keeping secrets to protect the family.”
I think about Death’s Head’s photos, about the tension we’re trying to hide from Evie. About the shadows I sometimes catch in her eyes.
The party shifts as the evening approaches. More members arrive, bringing fresh energy and louder music. Our girls start yawning, worn out from playing with Piper and Owen.
“Ready to head home?” I ask when Evie joins me.
She leans into my side, watching Jamie hold court from her chair while various women fuss over her. “It’s nice here. Seeing how everyone fits together.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmm.” She traces patterns on my chest. “Jamie’s been telling me stories. About Tank, about the club. About how love doesn’t always follow normal rules.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“She said…” Evie hesitates. “She said sometimes the hardest part isn’t the sharing. It’s trusting that what you build together is stronger than whatever’s trying to break it.”
The wisdom in those words settles something in my chest. “Smart woman, Jamie.”
“She also said if you three ever hurt me, she knows where to hide bodies.”
I laugh, pulling her closer. “Noted.”
Across the yard, Teller’s crew is packing up. They move in perfect sync—Clay gathers the kids while Kip helps Ayla with leftovers. Years of practice make everything smooth.
“We could have that,” Evie says softly. “That ease. That trust.”
“We do.”
She studies my face. “Then why do I feel like we’re all still keeping secrets?”
Before I can answer, Violet runs up, demanding cuddles. The moment breaks, but her words linger.
Later, driving home with sleeping girls in the back seat, I watch Evie follow my brothers’ bikes. She rides with the same confidence she shows in everything—motherhood, love, and navigating our complicated world.
Jamie’s right. Tank would have loved this. Would have seen how perfectly Evie fits into our life, our club, our family.
The night air smells of summer—smoke and grass. Rick and Chase lead us home, Evie following on her bike. Behind me, our daughters dream in the safety of their car seats.
Yeah, Tank would definitely approve.
Even if he’d laugh his ass off at three brothers sharing one heart.