Chapter 52 Lucy
Lucy
The clubhouse felt like a cage that night, the low hum of voices, the distant clinking of pool balls, the restless shifting of boots on worn floors.
I sat on the couch, the weight of the silence pressing in as the brothers roared out into the night.
Prospect Finn sat beside me, quieter than usual, eyes scanning the room, knee bouncing.
Maria was there too, her presence steady, a quiet anchor in the chaos.
She had her hands folded in her lap, watching us with that calm, measured gaze that always seemed to see more than anyone else did.
Finn wasn’t a kid anymore. Not to me. He was brave, more than I’d expected. Maybe even more than he knew himself.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I said softly, breaking the silence.
Finn glanced over, surprised by the softness in my voice. “Me too. Feels like we’re all holding our breath.”
I nodded. “Jay’s leading them into hell. I hope my intel’s enough to save them.”
He shifted closer, a protective edge in his stance. “They’re going to bring ‘em down. They have to.”
I let out a shaky breath, staring at the dusty window where the night swallowed the last echoes of the club’s ride-out.
“I’m scared,” I admitted. “For Jay. For all of them. But mostly, I’m scared of losing him.”
Finn didn’t say anything. He gave me a look that said he understood more than words ever could. Maria reached over, resting a hand lightly on my shoulder, a small gesture that grounded me in the quiet. She knew what it was like being the one left behind when your man rode into danger.
We sat together in the quiet, three unlikely allies caught in the storm, waiting for the thunder to break.
The weight of the silence wasn’t just heavy, it felt crushing.
I pulled my knees closer, trying to shrink away from the knot of fear twisting in my chest. Finn shifted beside me, breaking the quiet with a small chuckle.
“You know,” he said, nudging my shoulder lightly, “Caleb would’ve liked me.”
I blinked, surprised by the sudden lightness. “Yeah? Why’s that?”
Finn grinned, the first real smile I’d seen from him in days. “Because I’m not only a prospect, I’m the guy who’ll watch your back when things go sideways. Like a little brother you never asked for.”
I couldn’t help but smile a little. It was ridiculous, but in that hell storm, the idea of Finn being a little brother somehow made the chaos feel a bit more manageable. Maria’s eyes softened at the exchange, and she gave a small nod, approving the connection without a word.
“You’re a good kid, Finn,” I said quietly. “Caleb would’ve been proud.”
He looked down, fiddling with the zipper on his jacket. “I want to make sure you’re okay, Lucy. You’re stronger than you think, but even strong people need someone to lean on.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thanks, Finn. I needed that.” Maria squeezed my other hand, a silent promise that none of us were truly alone.
Finn shifted again, his voice softer now. “I know it’s hard losing Caleb, everything that’s happened. I keep thinking about how different things could’ve been if I’d met him earlier. Maybe I could’ve done more.”
I looked at him, really looked, and saw the raw honesty behind his eyes. “Caleb made his choices, Finn. But you? You’ve got a chance to be better, to help us finish what he started.”
He nodded, but I could tell the guilt still weighed on him. “It’s just... sometimes I feel like I’m barely holding on, you know? Like I’m in over my head.”
I reached out and gave his arm a gentle squeeze. Maria rested a hand lightly on his shoulder in shared reassurance.
“You’re stronger than you think, too, and you’re not alone. We’ve all got scars from this war and each other.”
He smiled, a flicker of hope breaking through. “Thanks, Lucy. You’re not so bad yourself.”
I laughed quietly, the sound fragile but real. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me all week.”
Finn grinned, like he was proud of the win. “Well, don’t get used to it. I’m here to keep you on your toes.”
“I swear, if you keep making those terrible jokes, I’m going to have to put in a good word with Jay to get you booted,” I teased, watching him grin like it was a challenge.
“Bring it on, Lucy. You know Pres likes me,” he shot back, elbows on his knees, his grin contagious.
His words caught me off guard. There was something earnest in the way he said it, something hopeful. I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I think he does.”
I looked at him, feeling a flicker of warmth deep in my chest. Maria squeezed my hand gently, a quiet solidarity in the storm.
“You owe me one hell of a drink when this is all over.”
Finn grinned wide again, flashing those mischievous eyes.
“Deal. But fair warning, I’m a terrible drinker. So, if I survive, it’s gonna be a miracle and a party.”
Maria chuckled softly beside us, the tension easing enough to let a tiny bit of peace in.
It was late and quiet. The jukebox was stuck on the same half-played song as the pool balls on the table clicked too loud in the silence. Every sound made me flinch because the one I was waiting for hadn’t come home yet.
I sat at the edge of the bar, nursing a drink that did nothing to take the edge off. Finn hovered nearby, throwing out easy jokes, trying to make me laugh, but my eyes never left the door.
Every second stretched like an eternity. I told myself not to think of Caleb, but the thoughts crept in anyway. What if it was the same? What if Jay didn’t walk back through the door? What if I had to bury him too? My hands trembled around the glass.
Then, the rumble of engines was followed by the sound of heavy boots on the floorboards. The door slammed against the wall, then they poured in, bruised, bleeding, some limping, but alive.
My heart leapt into my throat. Relief and fear tangled until I couldn’t breathe.
And then I saw him, coming in last.
Our eyes locked across the room. He offered me a small, tired smile, but it was enough to break me wide open.
He looked rough, with a cut on his cheek and a bruise blooming on his jaw.
His knuckles were split, the blood drying dark across his skin.
He looked like hell but my kind of hell, the kind you survived. He was here, and he was breathing.
Before anyone could stop me, I pushed through the crowd. My chest ached, like I’d been holding my breath for hours, days maybe. And then I was in front of him, lunging, wrapping my arms around his neck, and pulling him down into me.
The kiss was fierce, claiming, desperate. The world faded away, leaving only us. Whistles and catcalls erupted behind me, along with Riot’s dry laugh, Maria’s sharp whistle, and someone shouting, “About damn time!”
But none of it mattered.
He was mine.
He tasted like smoke and blood, and beneath it all was something I hadn’t felt since Caleb was alive. Home. Relief hit me like a wave, drowning me and washing away all the fear, all the doubt.
When we broke apart, he didn’t let me go. His hand stayed warm against the back of my neck, and his eyes held mine, fierce and tender all at once.
“Missed you,” he murmured.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I promised.
Finn clapped me on the shoulder, grinning wide. “That’s my girl.”
I barely noticed. Surrounded by the battered but unbroken club, I knew we were ready for whatever came next. But for now, it was just him, just us, and I would make sure he never doubted it again.