Page 38 of Falcon’s Forever

“That’s critical,” Maya says solemnly. “It’s for morale.”

Sarah leans against the counter. "She's got a point."

I write snacks in the margin because arguing with the three of them at this hour isn't worth the energy, and Maya beams like she's won something.

We sit at the table and go through the rest properly. Yesterday the idea of lockdown zones was something Frankie and I talked out on our own, because every woman handles fear differently. This morning the women have opinions about their own safety, which is exactly how it should work. Emily wants the downstairs office kept clear, no windows, and the desk moved for anyone who needs to lie down. Lena hates enclosed spaces and wants somewhere near the back door where she can see an exit. Sarah suggests duplicate medical kits in both spaces. Maya wants chargers, for phones and tablets, because if we're locked down for six hours nobody wants to sit around thinking about why.

Sarah's the one who brings up names. Who's outside, which brothers are on the fence, whether it's Zip or Ice Pick or somebody none of us have met yet. Emily adds photos, she’s a little embarrassed about asking for pictures of bikers until Maya threatens to make a calendar joke and I shut that down before it starts.

The list keeps growing and I like that it does. For years somebody else decided everything, what I ate, when I slept, whether I was allowed to speak. Choice feels almost embarrassingly small until you've lived without it.

The security phone buzzes.

Security Phone:

Morning security briefing at women's house 10:00. Vulture, Falcon, Sterling, and Knox. Anyone who wants to attend is welcome. Purpose: review security preferences and lockdown plan.

I read it aloud. Maya raises her hand immediately. "I'm coming. I've emergency chocolate to defend."

Emily looks less certain, staring into her mug for a few seconds before she nods. "I want to."

Sarah gives her a small smile. "I'll sit with you."

Something warm moves through my chest. They're deciding this for themselves. Nobody's deciding it for them, including me.

At quarter to ten the house is busier than usual without tipping into chaos. We move the larger table into the living room because more women want to be there than I expected. Some sit on the sofas, others closer to the walls or the doorway, and nobody comments on where anyone chooses to sit.

Three firm knocks at ten exactly.

Maya looks at me. "Trainable."

I bite back a smile. "Behave."

"I am," she says nonchalantly.

I open the door myself. Vulture stands on the porch with Falcon, Sterling, and Knox behind him.

"Good to come in?" he asks.

"Yes." I appreciate that he asked instead of just walking through.

He steps inside first and immediately moves to one side, so he isn't blocking the doorway. The others follow. Falcon comes in last, but he's not the last one I notice, I notice him first and make myself look at everyone else. He's got shadows under his eyes but he's clean, sober, and fully present in a way I haven't seen much of since I came back.

His gaze finds mine briefly, there’s no smile, no moment carved out just for the two of us, and that's exactly right, because this isn't about us.

Vulture looks around the room. "Morning." A few women answer, some don't, and he doesn't seem bothered by it either way. "This isn't Church."

Maya mutters, "Good start," and I turn my head. She gives me an innocent look. I'm fairly sure Vulture heard, because the corner of his mouth twitches.

"No patches outrank anyone in this room today." That gets everyone's attention. "We're here because Cara pointed out something we should've understood sooner. We built security around what works for us and assumed it'd work for you. That was our mistake."

Emily glances at me. I keep my expression neutral.

"So today you tell us what needs to change."

A woman near the window raises her hand slightly. Vulture looks toward her. "You don't need to raise your hand."

She drops it fast. "Sorry."