Page 32 of Raggedy Dan
“Pregnancy hormones say this is bullshit,” Ella muttered, “but the baby seems to like it.”
Riley laughed, full and loud, the kind she hadn’t let out in years.Nora and Maria joined in.For a few minutes, the clubhouse felt less like a fortress and more like a home.
***
Dan
Dan stood in the doorway of the sunroom, arms crossed, watching.
Riley was in the middle of the group, laughing at something Nora said, head thrown back, red hair catching the sunlight.Ella was reaching over to fix Riley’s form, and Riley was letting her.Trusting, easy, like she belonged right here where she was.
His chest tightened so hard he almost couldn’t breathe.
He’d never brought women around before.Not even casually.He imagined they’d have smiled politely, made small talk with the old ladies, but always kept one eye on the exit.They would never have relaxed like this.Never let the old ladies fuss over them.Would never have looked this comfortable in a building full of people who could kill without blinking.Only Riley.
Riley caught his eye across the mats.She winked, the expression slow, knowing, a little wicked, and then she simply went back to her stretch.
The realization hit him like a fist to the sternum.
He was completely fucked.
Not because she was under his protection.
Not because the Horde was still out there sniffing around.
Because she was in his clubhouse, laughing with his family, stealing bacon from his plate, tracing his scars like they were art instead of ruin.
Because she fit.
And he wanted her to keep fitting.Here.With me.Permanently.
Tinder’s voice came from the meeting room doorway.“Church, brother.Now.”
Dan nodded, but he didn’t move for another second.
He watched Riley laugh again, bright and fearless, and thought,Yeah.This is gonna hurt when it ends.
He turned and walked towards church, the sound of her laughter following him like a tether.
Or maybe it won’t end.
For the first time in so many years, he didn’t want to run.
