“I finally broke through all the bodies to get this guy onto the beach, and the lifeguards took over while I started searching the water for my sister again. This time, I got the scare of my life. When I finally found her helping another surfer, I saw a fin swimming around them. At first, I couldn’t tell if the guy was missing a limb, but I could see he was gushing blood everywhere, and as the shark moved around them, its circle got smaller and smaller. It felt like someone had taken that one moment out of a movie and inserted it into my real life.” Her body shudders. “You hear people say they were frozen in one spot. Well, I was rooted to the sand. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t scream. All I could do was stand there in shock, scared for my sister’s life.” Her arms move from around her body, and one hand swipes at the lone tear escaping her left eye.

“She didn’t let that fin deter her, not one little bit. She kept on kicking that surfer in as that shark circled. Every time it was to her side and then behind her, she would kick. When it was in front of her, she would stop and watch, waiting for it to pass before kicking again. It was like she was playing a game with it. A game of smarts, if you will, and it was almost as if the shark was trying to figure her out. To this day, it was the most terrifying experience I have ever had. It continued back and forth like that until she was on shore. Someone even videoed it. You can probably still find it online. Anyways, she got him up to the sand and collapsed to catch her breath. She was covered in blood from head to toe, and the paramedics checked her body to make sure she wasn’t injured.” She stops and looks around at everyone.

“I guess the point that I’m trying to make with this story is this. Even then, she risked her life for others, and when Winter told me what probably went down when she died, it doesn’t shock me in the least. Lana has always been the self-sacrificing type, and she went down exactly how she was supposed to. Defending others, because she always said, “What makes their life more important than mine?” Even though I’m so heartbroken she isn’t here anymore, I know there wasn’t a better way for her to be taken from me, from us. She went out in a selfless battle, defending the people she cared about.”

Tears cascade down my face when she stops talking. I think I understand Lana a lot better from hearing this one story, and my heart hurts knowing she was always that selfless. That kind. That real.

“Thank you, Akela.” Pyro stands and leaves the room without even bothering to put his plate in the sink. That is how I know Akela’s story hurt him very deeply. No one ever fails to clean up after themselves when my grandmother cooks. I grab his plate and take it over to the sink with mine, before slipping back upstairs and crying like the human her story reminded me that I was.

***

Chapter Twelve

Shadow

This morning at breakfast was the first time I’ve ever seen my brothers quiet all at once. The story Lana’s sister told was life changing. It made me think I should never take life for granted, and others are as important as I am. I’ve never been that big of an asshole, but I can honestly say, I wouldn’t have taken a bullet for someone I care about, much less a stranger. If Lana could swim in shark infested waters and risk her life to save a stranger’s, why the hell can’t I take a bullet for a loved one or maybe a woman or child?

Even though she’s gone, her legacy affects those of us still here, and that means she lives on in us. It’s made me realize I haven’t done one single thing to fucking make my presence in the world worth anything yet. Do I deserve to be breathing, and do I take life for granted?

I scrub my face as I wait for our Prez to smack the gavel down. I’m sure he’s going to tell me that it’s time to set a meeting with Alec now that the Chinese are dealt with.

“Y’all know why we’re here.” He sits and smacks the gavel down on the table. “Now, let’s get this shit over with. My wife is a fuckin’ mess from that story earlier.”

Pyro makes a sound that isn’t quite human.

Fuck!

“Shadow, here is how I want this to play out. Go to your dude’s club, do your thing, and act natural. When you’re finished with your routine, be all casual and shit, and say my Prez wants a meetin’ with you. If he asks why, shrug your shoulders,” Prez orders.

“Easy enough.”

“Set the meeting for the day after tomorrow, at two, at Club Sated. It won’t be open, so we’ll have control over everything, without bringing it back here to the compound.” He adds.

“Done.”

Prez looks down and then back up at us. “Winter is talkin’ with Akela. She isn’t to leave this compound without at least two patched members or two prospects. She’s asked me if she could stay awhile. What the fuck was I supposed to say? No? We delivered a hard blow to her, and I ain’t that fuckin’ cold.”

No one questions his decision to let her stay here. Why would we? He’s the Prez. This is our club, but it is his club.

“Patch up, because my gut tells me we’ve had way too easy of a ride lately. Meetin’ adjourned.” The gavel smacks down hard against the wooden plank.

I hate how his last line replays over and over again in my head. More drama, more shit. Sometimes I wonder if this life is worth all of the crap we have to do so we can wear this fucking patch.

***

When I get to Euphoria, I stand along the wall and case my surroundings, looking at Alec’s every move. This isn’t outside of my normal behavior. He calls it paranoia, but really, it’s me paying attention. Everyone should pay fucking attention. If they did, half the shit that happens to them, wouldn’t.