Page 62 of Shadow Strike
“About damn time,” Lucy said, and the table erupted.
Claire clapped.Garrett rose to shake CB’s hand.Vivi had her phone out, snapping pictures.Ian patted Wade on the shoulder, and the older man smiled.
Pete caught her eye from across the table and raised his glass in a silent toast.
When the chaos settled, CB pulled her aside, away from the congratulations and the happy tears.
“You okay?”he asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“I’m better than okay.”She looked down at the ring on her finger, still not quite believing it was real.“I’m terrified.And excited.And completely sure.”
“That’s a lot.”
“I know.”She laughed, a little unsteady.“I can’t control the future.I have no idea what’s coming next—the show, the bar, us.But guess what?I’m okay with that.”
CB cupped her face in his hands.“You know why?”
“Because I have you.”
“Because you have all of us.”He kissed her forehead.“You built this, Regan.This family, this community, these people who love you.You don’t have to face anything alone.”
She rose on her toes and kissed him properly, not caring that everyone was probably watching.
When she pulled back, the first families were starting to arrive for the youth dinner.Kids in their best clothes, parents with cautious hope in their eyes, volunteers ready to serve a meal that would cost them nothing but would give them everything.
This was what the Outlaws had become.This was what she and CB had helped build.
Regan took a deep breath, ready to step back into the chaos.There were tables to set, guests to welcome, and a dinner to serve.
But first, she grabbed a marker from behind the bar and slipped into the kitchen.The bulletin board hung in its usual spot, the list of rules pinned in the center.
She added one more line at the bottom.
Rule 11: Say yes to forever.
When she turned around, CB was leaning in the doorway, watching her with a grin.
“Good rule,” he said.
She crossed to him and took his hand.“I learned from the best.”
Together, they walked back into the bar, into the noise and the laughter and the beautiful mess of the life they’d chosen.
Whatever came next, they’d face it together.
That was enough.That was everything.
