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Leaning back in my chair, I stare at the fire between us, then the ranch around us. “You’re right, I’ve never fully fit in anywhere else. And maybe I don’t fit in here yet either, but it feels like we’re building something. I don’t know what that is yet or how it’s going to look even a year from now, but there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to see it through. Besides, this place is growing on me.”

“I think Harloe is growing on you.” East grins, and I shoot him a glare even though he’s not wrong. “Did Aiden tell you he caught a rattler by the bikes today?”

“What the fuck?” My gaze slides to where our bikes are lined up beside the garage, and the guys burst out laughing.

Harloe swears she never told them how I feel about snakes, but they figured it out, and I’ll never live that shit down.

“It’s gone now,” Aiden says, chuckling. “Don’t let it scare you off.”

“Nothing scares me off, not even snakes.” I shake my head. “It’s already decided anyway. I called Steel a little while ago and told him I’m staying.”

“Does that mean what I think it does?” Lawson’s eyebrow lifts.

I reach into my pocket and pull out a stack of patches. They arrived yesterday in the mail with a note from Steel saying it was my choice who they went to, but to let him know once they were assigned.

My thumb brushes over the patch at the top of the stack. One word. A title I never saw myself having, and now, I can’t picture walking away from it. This club needs me. This town needs me. My brothers here need me.

President.

“I’m going to see this through.” I tap my thumb on the patch. “The clubhouse, the tattoo parlor, the ranch. This place is going to be something that won’t look like anything else, but it’ll be something we can be proud of. A place of its own. And I’m going to protect that with everything I have.”

I set my new patch aside, then hold up the other three.

“I know this is different from what you signed up for, but this clubhouse is your home if you want it to be. These patches are yours… or not. It’s up to you. But I sure as hell wouldn’t be angry if you stuck around.”

“You know you’re not getting rid of me.” East stretches his arms out like he’s getting comfortable. “I’m starting to like this place. And now that I’ve got somewhere to tat, I’m golden.”

I chuckle, shaking my head.

Aiden leans forward next, his expression tighter. “I’ve spent a long time trying to carve out my place where my path was already decided. Think it’s time I do something on my own. I’m here with you, brother. Just tell me what you need.”

I nod, glancing at Lawson, who’s quiet. “I know you’ve got more on the line than the rest of us with Max involved. And I know you were hoping for something quieter by coming to Texas. That you wanted to build something better for your son.”

“I was. I am. But that’s what we’re doing here, right? Creating something different.” Lawson looks up, nodding once. “I’m with you. Let’s do what’s right for this town.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” I hand him his patch first. “If you’re good with it, I’d like you to make sure we stand by that mission.”

He takes the vice president patch, swallowing hard. “Until I’m six feet under.”

I nod, handing Aiden the enforcer patch next, and then East the one that says Road Captain.

“The roles with these ranks might look a little different here from what they were back home. But I thought we could figure it out as we go. We can decide if we want to close ranks at the four of us or eventually grow it. It’s up to us, and we have our work cut out. Steel signed the land over to our chapter, which means the first thing we need to do is pay Vegas back for our territory. We should be able to do it through the payroll we’re going to get from helping other chapters with product transportation, but we’ll be stretched thin while we get things up and running. The tattoo parlor will help, along with any other roots we can set down locally. We’ve got quite a bit of work ahead.”

The guys nod, understanding. We all come from established clubs with roots and generational backing. This is brand new, which means it’s up to us to turn it into something.

I glance at East. “For now, a lot of this is going to fall on you with reopening Vicious Ink and shipment coordination for Vegas and Santa Fe.”

He doesn’t crack a joke. His expression is dead serious. “Won’t let you down, Prez.”

Prez.

It’s what I am now. The successes and failures of Ironside Ridge rest on my shoulders. These men’s lives are in my hands. Everything that happens from here on out is on me. Steel didn’t sugarcoat that reality when he talked me through it earlier, and I appreciate it. If anyone understands the pressure of this role, it’s him, and he wanted to make sure I was ready.

I’m not leaving this place. Not this town, not my brothers, and not my girl. Even if it’s a long road ahead.

My phone rings, and my heart jumps to my throat when Harloe’s name flashes on the screen.

“Let me guess.” Aiden chuckles.