Page 31 of My Protective Biker

"He's trying to prove we can't protect the town," Clint confirms. "Break our legitimacy. Make people question whether Vigil's presence is worth the danger it brings."

"Timeline?" I ask.

"Seventy-two hours, possibly less." Cain opens his laptop. "Source says Crane's moving product out of his remaining safehouses, which suggests he's expecting retaliation. He knows we'll respond and he's preparing for it."

"How many men does he have left?" This from Chuck.

"Eight confirmed loyal. Maybe three more who haven't committed either way." Cain pulls up a map. "They're consolidated at the warehouse outside county lines. Dutch is with him. Sully's recovered enough to be operational."

Discussion follows about defensive positions. Two-brother rotations near the school starting tomorrow. Eyes on The Anchor during business hours. Watch on main roads coming into Bloomfield. Anyone sees Marrow colors, they report immediately.

Clint wraps it after forty minutes. "We protect what's ours. Stay sharp."

I head back to the main room and find Carina exactly where I left her, now talking with Anna about something that has Anna actually smiling. When Carina sees me approaching she stands and comes to meet me halfway.

"How was church?" she asks.

"Standard. Marrow's planning something but we're prepared."

I pull her close and press a kiss to her forehead, aware that everyone in the room can see us. That's the point. I want it visible and clear that she's mine.

Sydney approaches with Clint, and the other women drift over until we're all gathered in a loose circle. Brothers too, forming up around us.

Clint looks at me, raises an eyebrow. I nod.

"Everyone," Clint says, voice carrying across the room. "Roan's claiming Carina. She's Vigil family now. Anyone has a problem with that, say so."

Silence. No one speaks up.

"Good." Clint looks at Carina. "You're under our protection. Anyone comes at you, they answer to all of us."

"Thank you," Carina says.

The brothers start drifting back to their conversations and the women close in around Carina, welcoming her properly now that it's official. I watch her handle it with the same steady calm she brings to everything, and I think about how different this is from anything I expected three days ago.

Zoe appears at my elbow. "You claimed her in front of everyone."

"I did."

"Good. I like her." She glances across the room to where Dean is talking with Axel. "She makes you happy. You deserve that."

"You doing okay? With everything?"

"Yeah." She's quiet for a moment. "It was scary. But I'm okay. And I'm glad you have someone now. You've been alone long enough."

She heads back toward where Anna and Katherine are standing and I watch her go, processing the fact that my daughter is growing up faster than I'm ready for.

Around nine-thirty I catch Carina's eye and tilt my head toward the door. She says her goodbyes to the women and we head out to the truck.

The ride home is quiet. She has her hand on my thigh and I'm driving one-handed because my other hand is covering hers. No words necessary. Just comfortable silence.

At the house Zoe is in the living room with Hamlet on her lap, the cat purring loud enough to hear from the doorway.

"He's doing really well," she says when we walk in. "Hasn't messed with the splint at all and he's eating like he's making up for lost time."

Carina sits down next to her and examines the splint. "Looks good. Another week and we can probably take it off."

"You guys hungry?" I ask.