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Silas cringed and Brinley laughed. “Someone is just like his daddy.”

Trevan pulled me a little closer. Intensity boiled off his big body as he swam in the energy.

In the old pain that had made him believe that who he was and what he did made him unworthy. The same as Silas had felt.

But these men.

They might have thought themselves ugly, but their sacrifice was beautiful.

I knew Trevan had begun to see it.

A renewed hope.

Faith that there was something greater they could give.

And I knew Trevan would be giving that to me for the rest of his days, the same as I would be giving it to him.

TREVAN

Music blared from the speakers, and the lights of the clubhouse bar were dimmed so low you’d trip over your own feet if it weren’t for the strobes that cut through the darkness every few seconds. In time with the beat, a rhythm that could easily sweep you away.

I took a sip of my whiskey as I looked over the thrumming toil of Crows in the middle of the dance floor who were celebrating our latest raid.

I was slouched back on a chair as I watched.

Silas was beside me, the president watching over his flock, though I could tell he was itching to get out of there every bit as intensely as me.

Thirsting for a whole different type of celebration.

But just because the only thing I wanted to do was get lost in my fiancée right then didn’t mean I wasn’t still invested in what Crimson Crows did.

Maybe more so than I’d been before. Seeing it all in a new light. Through Elena’s beautiful eyes.

My brutality an offering for the good.

The truth that we stepped into places where the authorities couldn’t tread. Did the work in the shadows so the innocent would have the chance to stand in the light.

God knew, I’d be standing in all of Elena’s for the rest of my days.

It blew my mind, the way she forgave. The way she looked at people. It still left me unsettled that Penny was living here on the compound. Under Regan’s watch and protection, and also receiving medical support.

But Elena trusted her, so I had to trust her, too.

A flashfire of that beauty suddenly blasted into the bar, and both Silas and I looked to the left toward the double doors right as they swung open.

Energy crashed through the commotion as Brinley and Elena stepped through.

Two of them holding hands and giggling under their breaths. Thick as thieves. The sweetest sisters.

I fucking loved that Elena had it now. That she was surrounded by those who supported her with everything they had.

Silas stirred at my side.

“Down, boy,” I taunted.

He scoffed. “Like you just didn’t damn near come out of your skin at the sight of my sister.”

I chuckled a rough sound. “Not gonna lie. After the day we had, she’s the only thing I want to see.”