Chibs pulled the Dyna into the school parking lot, killing the engine as the late-afternoon quiet settled around him. He wasn’t usually the one sent for school runs, but Jax had called in a favor, and Chibs never said no to the boy—or his father. He stepped inside the building, boots echoing against the polished floors as he scanned the hallway lined with backpacks, artwork, and reminders of a world far gentler than the one he lived in.

Abel spotted him first, barreling down the hall with a grin that made Chibs soften immediately. “Uncle Chibs!” the kid yelled, throwing his arms around his waist. Chibs ruffled his hair, murmuring a warm, “Good to see ye too, lad,” before lifting his gaze—and stopping. Standing a few steps behind Abel was someone he didn’t recognize. Their posture was relaxed, warm, and the smile they offered him was the kind that made a man straighten up without thinking.