Chapter 18
Sophia
Sophia woke to the low hum of voices somewhere down the hall and the faint smell of coffee drifting under the door. For a moment, she didn’t move. Grim’s arm was draped over her waist, heavy and warm, his breath steady against the back of her neck. The room was dim, quiet, safe.
And she remembered everything.
The way he’d held her. The way he’d looked at her. The way he’d let her in.
Heat curled low in her stomach.
She turned slowly, careful not to wake him. His face was relaxed in sleep, the hard lines softened. She brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her chest tightening at the sight of him like this, unguarded and peaceful and hers.
He stirred, eyes blinking open. “Morning,” he murmured, voice rough.
“Morning,” she whispered back.
His gaze drifted over her face, lingering like he was memorizing her. His hand slid from her waist to her hip, his thumb brushing a slow, warm line that made her breath catch.
He didn’t pull away. Neither did she.
But the voices outside grew louder, laughter and clattering dishes and someone yelling at a prospect to stop half-assing the mop.
Grim sighed. “They’re up.”
“Sounds like it,” she said, smiling.
He brushed his thumb along her hip again, a small, absent gesture that made her heart flutter.
“You hungry?”
“Starving.”
They got dressed, but even that felt different. His eyes kept drifting to her. Her fingers brushed his arm more than necessary. When he opened the door for her, his hand lingered at the small of her back, warm and steady.
The clubhouse felt different in daylight, less chaotic and more lived in. Music played softly from the common room. Someone was frying bacon. A couple of prospects were sweeping up red Solo cups from the night before.
Rook spotted them first.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a knowing smirk tugging at his mouth. “Morning, Sophia.”
She flushed. Grim’s hand slid to her lower back, subtle but unmistakable.
Fish walked by next, carrying a box of parts. He paused, gave Sophia a small nod, quiet and respectful and curious. “Good to see you again.”
“You too,” she said.
Ledger appeared behind him, sipping coffee from a chipped mug. “Grim actually brought someone back twice. Apocalypse confirmed.”
Grim muttered something that sounded like a threat, but Ledger only grinned and wandered off.
Before they reached the kitchen, a burst of bright energy collided with them.
Lacey.
“Oh my God, Sophia!” she squealed, pulling her into a hug. “You’re here! I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon!”
Sophia blinked, startled but smiling. Grim’s hand slid to her waist, steadying her.
Lacey pulled back, hands on Sophia’s shoulders. “You look adorable. And well-rested. And Grim looks like he slept for the first time in ten years.”
Grim groaned. “Lacey.”
She ignored him completely. “Come on, I made pancakes.”
Sophia laughed. “Sounds great.”
Lacey looped her arm through Sophia’s and dragged her toward the kitchen. Grim followed, close enough that she could feel his presence at her back, warm and protective and constant.
Lacey tugged her into the kitchen, and Sophia nearly collided with a woman she hadn’t seen before.
She was average height, dark-haired, with soft brown eyes and a quiet steadiness that reminded Sophia of nurses who’d been in the field for years. A faint curve pressed against the fabric of her shirt, small and early and unmistakable.
Rook was standing behind her, one hand resting lightly at the small of her back, protective in a way that softened every hard line of his face.
The woman smiled warmly. “You must be Sophia. I’m Avery.”
Sophia returned the smile. “Hi. It’s really nice to meet you.”
Avery’s gaze swept over her gently, assessing without judgment. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Rook snorted. “From Lacey.”
“From everyone,” Avery corrected, elbowing him lightly. Then, to Sophia, “I’m glad you’re here. Breakfast gets chaotic, but it’s the best way to meet everyone.”
Lacey beamed. “Avery made the cinnamon rolls. And she’s glowing today.”
Avery rolled her eyes, cheeks warming. “I’m pregnant, Lacey. I’m not a lightbulb.”
Rook’s hand slid to her hip, thumb brushing her side. “You’re glowing.”
Avery swatted at him, but she was smiling. “Sit, Sophia. Eat. If Grim lets you breathe long enough.”
Grim muttered something under his breath that made Rook smirk.
Sophia laughed, the tension in her chest easing as she took a seat beside Lacey. Avery and Rook settled across from her, warm and welcoming.
The table was already crowded.
Fish. Ledger. Havoc, loudly arguing with a prospect. Stone, calm and steady and watching everything.
Grim took the seat beside her, close enough that their knees brushed. Every time someone walked by, he subtly shifted, positioning himself between her and the room without making it obvious.
Lacey leaned in, whispering loudly, “He’s been like this all morning. Hovering. It’s adorable.”
Sophia felt her cheeks warm. Grim’s hand brushed her thigh under the table, not possessive, just grounding.
As they ate, the guys drifted in and out of conversation.
Rook asked about her job. Havoc cracked jokes that made her snort into her coffee.
Fish listened more than he spoke, but when he did speak, it was thoughtful.
Havoc tried to convince her he was the club’s “most responsible member,” which made everyone choke.
Stone watched her with quiet approval, like he was measuring how she fit into the room.
At one point, Grim leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear. “You okay?”
She shivered. “Yeah.”
His hand slid to the back of her chair, fingers brushing her shoulder. He didn’t even seem aware he was doing it.
Later, Sophia glanced around the room, the patched leather and the laughter and the easy camaraderie, and something clicked.
“Can I ask something?” she said.
Stone looked up. “Shoot.”
She hesitated. “Do you guys have a medical room? Or supplies? I mean, with what you do, and the shop, and the range… I just figured you’d need something like that.”
The table went quiet.
Not tense — thoughtful.
Stone leaned back. “It’s something we’ve talked about. Haven’t really planned out.”
Ledger tapped his mug. “We could. Budget’s got more wiggle room now. Auto shop’s been pulling in steady revenue.”
Havoc pointed at himself proudly. “You’re welcome.”
Ledger didn’t look at him. “You blew up a toaster last week.”
“That was unrelated.”
“Funds are there. The range should increase revenue even more, especially once Grim and Rook open the new paintball field.”
Grim’s hand brushed Sophia’s knee again, subtle and warm and protective.
Fish nodded. “A medical room would help. We patch people up in the garage or kitchen. Not ideal.”
Sophia stared. “The kitchen?”
Rook shrugged. “Tile floor’s easy to clean.”
Sophia blinked. “That’s… horrifying.”
Stone’s mouth twitched. “We’ll talk about it. Seriously.”
Sophia felt warmth spread through her chest. She hadn’t meant to spark anything; she’d just asked a question, but the way they considered it made her feel… included.
The day passed in a blur of small moments, Sophia learning names, laughing with the guys, watching Grim and Fish run drills at the range, listening to Havoc tell wildly exaggerated stories, hearing Ledger mutter about budgets, and seeing Stone quietly observe everything.
And through it all, Grim stayed close.
His hand brushing hers. His arm around her waist. His eyes finding her across the room. His body angling toward hers like he couldn’t help it.
In the late afternoon, Sophia sat on the back steps, watching the sun dip low. Grim found her, sitting beside her, thigh brushing hers.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
She nodded. “I like it here.”
He let out a slow breath, something easing in his shoulders. “They like you.”
“Even Havoc?” she teased.
Grim huffed. “Especially Havoc. He’s already planning to adopt you.”
Sophia laughed, leaning her head against his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. His thumb brushed slow circles on her arm, warm and intimate.
They sat like that for a long time, watching the sky shift from gold to pink to deepening blue.
Eventually, Sophia sighed. “I work tomorrow night.”
Grim’s jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded. “I’ll take you.”
She looked up at him. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” he said, voice low.
She smiled. “Okay.”
He brushed a thumb along her cheek, his expression softening. “Stay with me tonight?”
“Yes.”
And as the last light faded, Sophia realized something she hadn’t let herself think before:
She wasn’t just stepping into Grim’s world.
She was becoming part of it.