Page 60 of Shadow Strike
Pete was orchestrating a small army of volunteers in the kitchen, his voice carrying through the pass-through window as he directed the mashing of potatoes and the basting of turkeys.Six of them, to be exact.Enough to feed the thirty-plus at-risk youth and their families who would be arriving in a few hours.
But first—the private lunch.
Lucy emerged from the kitchen carrying a platter of deviled eggs, her cheeks flushed from the heat.She set it in the center of a long table they’d placed near the front windows and stepped back to admire the spread.
“Not bad for a dive bar,” she said.
“Mom.It’s not a dive bar.”
“It was when your father bought it.”Lucy smiled, the kind of smile that said she was thinking about Henry, about the life they’d built here together.The Thanksgivings they’d shared.“He’d be proud of what you’ve done with it, sweetheart.”
Regan’s throat tightened.“I hope so.”
The front door swung open, and cold air rushed in.CB walked in with Wade on his arm.The older man moved slowly but steadily, his cane tapping against the wooden floor.His left side still gave him trouble, but the new physical therapy was helping, and the spark in his eyes had returned over the past few months.
Behind them came Jimmy and his son Collin, the newly elected president of the Canon Outlaws.Collin was younger than Regan had expected—early thirties, with a quiet intensity that reminded her of CB.He’d won the election by a comfortable margin, backed by the advisory board CB had helped establish.Every major decision now required board approval.No more unchecked power.No more Ryders.
“Happy Thanksgiving,” CB said, crossing to her and pressing a kiss to her temple.“You look stressed.”
“I’m not stressed.I’m focused.”
“Uh-huh.”He squeezed her hand.“Rule 8, original version?”
She sighed.“Fine.I’m a little stressed.A lot is riding on today.”
“And it’s going to be great.”He nodded toward the kitchen.“Pete’s got the food handled.The volunteers know their jobs.All you have to do is enjoy the meal and let other people help.”
She wanted to argue.The instinct was still there—the need to control every detail, to make sure nothing slipped through the cracks.But CB had spent the past few months gently, persistently reminding her that she didn’t have to carry everything alone.That accepting help wasn’t a weakness.That sometimes the bravest thing she could do was let go.
He’d even added it to their list.Rule 10: Say yes to help and opportunities.
The door opened again, and Claire and Garrett walked in, followed by Vivi and her husband Ian.Claire carried a bottle of wine; Garrett had two white bakery boxes.Vivi was laughing at something Ian had said, her hand tucked into the crook of his elbow.
“Sorry, we’re late,” Claire said.“Someone couldn’t decide between pecan and pumpkin.”
“So I bought both,” Garrett added, setting the boxes on the bar.“Problem solved.”
Regan hugged them each in turn, struck as always by how natural it felt to have these people in her life now.Mack, CB’s team leader, and his wife, Alyssa, had gone to her parents for the holiday, and Sebastian—she’d finally gotten his real name out of him—had said he’d be by later to help with the youth dinner.
Five months ago, Claire had been a stranger, taking Regan’s statement in a cramped office.Now she, and the others, were family—the kind you chose rather than inherited.
They settled around the long table, passing dishes and filling plates.Wade sat at one end, CB at the other, with Regan beside him.Lucy had ended up next to Pete, and Regan didn’t miss the way her mother’s cheeks pinked when he refilled her wine glass.The two of them were good together.
Desi had lain down between their chairs, the dog having accepted Pete as part of the family, too.
The conversation flowed easily.Collin updated everyone on the Outlaws’ latest initiative—a Christmas Day ride to support Sal Hutchins, the farmer who ran the stand up the road from the bar.Sal had suffered a stroke in October, leaving his family scrambling to keep the farm running while he recovered.
“We’ve got forty riders confirmed so far,” Collin said.“CB’s been coordinating everything.Could be double that by Christmas.”
“And I’ve been working on the marketing,” Regan added.“Social media, local news, the podcast.We’re trying to get the word out as wide as possible.”
“The podcast.”Vivi leaned forward, her eyes bright with interest.“I heard you’ve had some exciting developments on that front.”
Regan felt CB’s hand find her knee under the table.This was still new territory for her—talking about the opportunities that had started pouring in after her mini-series on the Outlaws went viral.It was part of the reason for Rule 10.
“Actually, a few,” she admitted.“I’ve been interviewed for some true-crime shows.And there’s a network that’s been in touch about...well, about creating my own show.”
Lucy set down her fork.“Regan.You didn’t tell me that.”
