Page 42 of My Single Dad Biker

"You teach his kid?"

"I do."

"Good. Means you already know what you're getting into."

She laughs at that and I watch Tate's grin widen. Cain approaches next. Doesn't say anything at first, just looks at Katherine with that assessment he brings to everything. Then he nods.

"Cain."

"Katherine."

"You're the one from the parking lot. Wednesday."

"Yes."

"That's why you're here?"

I step in before she can answer. "She's here because she's mine. Anyone who touches her answers to the club."

The room has gone completely quiet. Every brother is listening now. Clint's expression doesn't change but I see the acknowledgment in his eyes.

"Understood," Clint says. "Welcome to Vigil protection, Katherine."

"Thank you."

The other brothers introduce themselves one by one over the next ten minutes. Some are warm. Some are reserved. All of them are respectful. Katherine handles each one with that warmth and directness she probably uses with difficult parents.

Church is brief. Clint runs through Marrow updates. Sully spotted in home territory, still recovering. Crane has been quiet which means he's planning. Stay alert.

After church breaks, Katherine and I stand near the bar. Clint appears at my side.

"She's good," he says quietly.

"Yeah."

"You're serious."

"Completely."

"Good. We'll cover her."

He walks away and I watch Katherine talk to Cain near the corner. Whatever he's saying is making her smile. I watch his expression shift. Cain doesn't smile often but he's close.

Tate comes over. "She's fitting in."

"Yeah."

"Marrow's going to notice."

"That's the point. Let them know touching her means going through all of us."

We stay another hour. Katherine meets everyone, holds her own, and by the time we leave every brother in the room knows she matters.

I drive her home and walk her to her door. We stand on her porch in the October night.

"That went well," she says.

"Told you."