I didn't need to pretend I was fine. I could simply sit there, quiet and present, while the people I loved tried to figure out what came next. And when Filip finally looked over at me again, I reached across the small space between us. He took my hand without interrupting the discussion. His thumb brushed gently over my knuckles. Neither of us said a word. We didn't need to. For the moment, that was enough. The clubhouse had never felt so crowded and so empty at the same time. Everyone was there. Clay. Jax. Bobby. Tig. Happy. Juice. Kozik. The prospects moved around the edges of the room, quieter than usual, while the rest of the club continued discussing arrangements and trying to figure out what little time they had left. They were all going to prison. Every member who had been there during the church attack. Everyone except Filip, Piney, and Opie. The prospects weren't going either. But knowing that didn't make the room feel any less suffocating. I sat in the corner, listening to the conversation without really hearing it. My fingers kept twisting together in my lap, and every time somebody mentioned the transport, my stomach tightened. I couldn't do this. I couldn't sit here and watch them talk about prison like they were planning a weekend trip. I couldn't look at Juice and imagine him behind bars. I couldn't look at Jax and think about Tara waiting for him. And I especially couldn't look at Filip and remember that, somehow, he was going to be left behind while the rest of his family disappeared. A hand settled on my shoulder. I looked up at Chibs. "Come here, lass," he softly said. "I'm fine," I said quietly. His eyebrow rose. "Didn't ask if ye were," he said. Before I could argue, he took my hand and gently pulled me to my feet. "Chibs—" I said and got interupted. "Outside. Now." Chibs told me. I stared at him. "Are you kidnapping your own wife?" I asked with a smile on my face. "Aye," he replied with a grin. "Romantic," I said with a slight tilt of my head. "Thought so." I shook my head. Despite everything, a small laugh escaped me. He led me through the clubhouse and out into the yard, where the late-afternoon sun fell across the parked bikes. The air was cooler outside. I took a deep breath. Then another. Chibs stood beside me, his hand resting against my back. "Ye've been sittin' in there for hours," he told me. "I'm allowed to sit," I told him as we walked. "Aye," he said with a nod. "And I'm allowed to be quiet," I told him. "Aye," he said. "And I'm allowed to be emotionally unavailable when surrounded by a room full of emotionally constipated bikers," I told him, stopping halfway there. That earned a faint smile. "Never said ye weren't," he told me, stopping next to me. I looked at him. "Then what's this about?" I asked. His expression softened. "Because I know ye, Riley," he softly told me. My smile faded. "And I know ye're tryin' to hold it together for everyone else," he added, squeezing my hand. He brushed a strand of hair away from my face. "Ye don't have to do that." he kept his hand on my cheek. I swallowed. "I don't know how to do this," I said, almost to tears. His thumb moved gently across my cheek. "Neither do they," he replied, lowering his hand. For a moment, I couldn't speak. Then I nodded. "Okay," I said quietly. He kissed my forehead. "Good lass," he said with a smile. I leaned against him, closing my eyes for a few seconds. When I finally pulled back, he offered me his hand. "Come on," he gently said. "Where?" I asked. "Back inside," he replied. I looked at the clubhouse door. My stomach twisted. Chibs squeezed my fingers. "Ye need to say goodbye," he quietly said. I nodded. Because he was right. I needed to say goodbye. Even if it broke my heart. When we walked back inside, the conversation had quieted. Jax stood beside the table, speaking with Clay. Bobby was gathering the papers, while Tig and Kozik stood near the bar. Happy leaned against the wall, and Juice sat on the edge of a chair, staring at the floor. The prospects were gathered near the back, looking uncomfortable and unsure of what to do with themselves. They knew the club was about to lose most of its members for a while. But they weren't going to prison. They would remain behind to keep things running as best they could. I glanced at Chibs. He gave me a small nod. So I took a breath and walked toward the others. "Well," I said, forcing a smile. "This is officially the worst clubhouse meeting I've ever attended," I added with a little shake of my head. Tig looked up. "Really? Worse than the one where Bobby tried to explain his tax situation?" he asked. Bobby frowned. "That was a perfectly reasonable discussion," he told Tig. "It lasted three hours," Tig replied. "Because nobody understood the paperwork!" Bobby grumbled. Kozik shook his head. "Still don't," he grumbled. A few of them laughed. It wasn't much. But it was something. I turned to Bobby, releasing Chibs's hand. He opened his arms without a word. I stepped into them and hugged him tightly. "Who's going to stop Tig from burning the kitchen down?" I asked him quietly. Bobby chuckled. "Probably no one," he replied. "Terrifying." I looked at Bobby. "Ye'll survive," he said softly. I looked up at him. "You better come back in one piece, Bobby," I told him, and he raised his hand, softly running the back of his hand down my cheek. His smile became gentler. "I'll do my best, sweetheart," he replied. I hugged him again before letting go. Then came Happy. He looked down at me as I approached. "Don't," he quickly said.