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"Got a point?"

The grin slips off his face I hate it when he goes dead serious It usually o down "God could have flattened Jacob, but he didn’t God knew that Jacob was stubborn, was prideful, so he let the poor bastard wear himself out before God does what he does--prove to Jacob he’s nothing cos "I was thinking you look like I expected Jacob would have after he realized he was fighting so it’s going to take you to figure it out that you don’t have to be fighting alone"

Souy Especially when he ured," he says "Is sheher"

"That fucking sucks"

It does Sucks enough I don’t need to respond

Wind blows across the field and the cold air causes the hair on lad she does Maybe she’ll take it with her Maybe it will help her repen asks "Fro exhausted "Breanna doesn’t want o to the club with her proble her into it, she drew the line"

"Where you at on this line?" he asks

I shove my hands intooff the deck floor "If I cross it, I lose her Iher away, but she’ll walk if I go to the club for help"

"Hate to say this, but the way you sent her away, you alreadymy soul I know the choice has been o strikes deep "I love her Enough that I’ll do anything to keep her safe"

The graying wood of the porch creaks under Pigpen’s weight as he crosses it to join me "Sounds like the decision yourherself to protect you"

My heart stalls out, but Pigpen’s not done torturing me yet "Also sounds like the decision the board and your dadhow she died a secret froly that demon is inside you when it comes to her I knohen I see it because that warpedthe truth, you would have gone into Louisville guns blazing by the ti a war that this club can’t win, costing lives we couldn’t save"

My head swims like I was involved in a head-on collision "So he let her die and moved on? He just accepted it? The Riot wins because the Terror eak?"

"The Terror is strong because we don’t act like the Riot" Pigpen spits like he’s a viper showing his fangs full of venorew up in their clubhouse I understand you because I auys reatching people rew up Riot?"

Pigpen flicks my questions aith a shake of his head "Another conversation for another day Point is I’er ruh me like a thunderhead about to hit land "They killed o? That justice shouldn’t be served?"

"I’ve killed people before, Razor, and that shitit changes everything and it doesn’t just change you It’s an avalanche to everyone around What your father did, lying to you about how she died, it ht, but he did it because he loves youbecause he wanted to keep you and the people he cared about safe

"What your father did--it wasn’t weak, and he sure as hell didn’t accept it, but that’s his story to tell, not , kid You are the product of your parents, a product of this club, and you’ve been denying us fornext to now, the one wrestling with God--you’re beginning to understand what it means to make a sacrifice for the one you love Question is, can you forgive us for loving you the sapen and I both snap our heads to catchhe was there and what he heard, I don’t know But I think of how he sat with ht I came home and he stood proud next tofor his son to return hoet ray My father loved ards to ile peace to tarring clubs He also did what he could tolie to esture with my chin and he’s hesitant as he strides toward us Like he’s ready forhim in conversation "What do you need?"

TheI have with Breanna away, but I’ her up to make sure she’s safe because, sometimes, that’s what love requires