EVERESTS POV:

"Get off of me." I shove Bree off of me after Avery storms out of the room, rubbing my face with frustration. The anger boiling inside me makes it hard to even think straight.

"Baby..." Bree says, trying to get my attention as she picks herself up off the floor, rubbing her backside. I ignore her completely, too focused on my own mess of emotions to care.

"Don't call me that," I snap, pacing the room, trying to process everything. What the hell did I just do? I can't stop thinking about how badly I messed up with Avery. She knew better than to leave the compound—safety was always the first rule, and I thought I had that through her head. But now, it felt like every step I took was just one more screw-up after another.

The pressure of everything is getting to me. Between these damn "devil's blood" incidents popping up everywhere and my grandmother's health... it's all too much. Add my mom being here now, and it feels like my head might explode.

"You said I was gonna be your old lady one day, Sin. I can't wait forever," Bree chimes in again. Her words make me roll my eyes in annoyance. She's been on me about this forever, and no matter how many times I've told her, she doesn't get it.

"Then don't," I reply flatly, my tone cold. I walk past her, out of the office.

I walk down the hallway, heading toward the other side of the club where the kitchen and living room are. I just need a moment alone. I can't deal with the noise of the bar right now, or the chaos.

I enter the living room, ready to plop down on the couch and shut everything out, but of course, my mother is sitting there talking to Ghost. I turn to leave quietly, not wanting to deal with any of it, but my mom calls out to me.

"Everest, come over here and speak to your mother," she says. I hesitate, then go to ignore her, but Ghost walks in, his eyes narrowing at me, silently commanding me to sit down.

"What do you want now?" I mutter, sighing, barely able to hide the frustration in my voice. She watches me carefully, like she's trying to figure out just how far she can push me.

"I deserve some respect as your mother," she says, her voice firm. "You haven't seen me in how long?" She adds, like it's somehow my fault.

I scoff, grabbing a beer from the fridge, popping the cap off and taking a long swig. "And whose fault is that?" I say, amusement laced in my tone.

Before my mother can respond, Austin enters, stops in his tracks when he sees her, and turns to walk away. But Ghost stops him with a sharp whistle.

"Sit down, son," Ghost orders.

I don't understand why Ghost is trying to get us to talk to her. He's the one who raised us, not her.

"Oh, Austin, honey," my mom says sweetly, moving over to the couch and sitting next to him. She pushes his hair out of his face in that annoying, motherly way. She's always treated Austin differently from me. He looks more like Dad, and I think that's something she holds on to.

"What do you want, Mary Ann?" I ask, returning to the living room, the words slipping out more sarcastically than I mean. She gasps, shocked by my tone.

"I am your mother. You do not address me by my name," she snaps, her voice sharp. She turns to Ghost, "I thought you would've raised them with more manners, Gary. Do you see how they're talking to me?" she says, looking for validation from him. He just shrugs, like he doesn't care.

"Automatically, you think I want something," she continues. "My mother, your grandmother, is dying, and my daddy needs me." She tries to justify her presence, but it only pisses me off more.

"Yeah, sure. So what is it that you really want, Mary Ann?" I challenge, crossing my arms over my chest. I'm sick of her excuses, especially after she's been absent for years.

She leans forward, finger pointing at me, her voice rising. "Why do you think I'm here for money? Because I know that's what you're implying, Everest!"

I laugh, taking another swig of my beer. "Sin," Ghost warns me, but I can't stop. The whole situation is ridiculous.

My mother stands up now, throwing her arms in the air as if she's fed up with all of us. "Sin... Is that what they call you now? Because you're so sinful, Everest?" she mocks, and I just keep smoking, laughing at her pathetic attempts to get a rise out of me.

"And what's your name, Austin?" she continues, clearly trying to stir things up. "I'm sure it's not too far off from your brothers, as you always follow him around like a lost puppy."

I slam my beer on the table, my anger flaring. I won't let her talk to Austin like that, especially not after everything he's done for her. Even if she's been gone for years, he still calls her 'mom.' It's disgusting that she treats him this way.

"I swear, this club ruined you guys," she spits, pacing now, her voice dripping with disdain. "You could've been anything, Everest. Don't think I didn't know you went to prison. Constantly getting arrested. Just like your father was in his twenties, and I still stuck around. Do you really want to end up like him? Look how far he got. He's in the ground now."

Her words hit hard, the sting of them creeping up my spine. My ears burn with rage, and I can feel the anger building inside me. Austin, as usual, is uncomfortable but says nothing. He never goes against her, even when she doesn't deserve it.

My jaw clenches as her words echo in my head. Do you really want to end up like him? Look how far it got him—he's in the ground now.

I can feel the rage crawling beneath my skin, threatening to explode. My father may not have been perfect, but he was ten times the parent she ever was. She doesn't get to come back after years of silence and pretend she has a right to say shit about him.

"That's enough," I snap, my voice dangerously low. My eyes lock on her, but she doesn't back down.

"Or what, Everest?" she bites back, crossing her arms as if daring me to lose control. "You gonna throw me out? Go ahead. But you know damn well you'll regret it when I'm gone."

I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "Regret?" I shake my head, taking another swig of my beer. "I've had plenty of regrets, Mary Ann. But letting you walk out of my life wasn't one of them."

Her face hardens, and for a split second, I think I see a flicker of hurt in her eyes, but it's gone as fast as it appeared.

"I don't have time for this," I mutter, slamming the bottle down on the counter before turning away.

"Everest—" she starts, but I'm already walking toward the hallway, done with whatever bullshit she's trying to stir up.

"Let him go," Ghost says from behind me, his voice calm but firm. He knows when I'm at my limit. I don't look back. I just keep walking until I'm out of that damn room.

I make it to the hallway, my mind racing as I head toward my room. I need a minute to breathe, to get my head straight before I do something I'll regret. But before I can make it, I hear the familiar buzz of my phone vibrating in my pocket.

I almost ignore it, thinking it's probably one of the guys checking in about the club or more problems with the devil's blood, but something makes me stop. I fish it out of my pocket and glance at the screen.

Pops.

My heart skips a beat.

"Shit," I mutter under my breath, already knowing this can't be good. Pops doesn't call unless it's serious. I hesitate for a second before finally answering.

"Yeah?" My voice comes out rougher than I intended.

"Everest..." Pops' voice is quiet, weaker than I remember. I immediately straighten up, my stomach twisting into knots.

"What's going on?" I ask, already bracing myself.

There's a long pause, and I can hear him exhale slowly on the other end.

"It's your grandma, son," he says softly. "The doctors... they're sayin' it won't be long now. Might be time for you and Austin to come by... say your goodbyes."

For a moment, I can't breathe. My chest feels tight, and everything around me fades into the background.

"How long?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Could be a day. Could be hours." His voice cracks, and that's when it hits me just how bad things really are. "She's askin' for you boys."

I swallow hard, trying to push down the lump forming in my throat. My grandmother... she's the only stable thing I've ever had in my life. She's the one who kept me and Austin grounded when everything was falling apart.

"I'll be there," I say, my voice firm even though my heart feels like it's shattering.

"Bring Austin too," Pops adds softly.

"Yeah," I whisper, ending the call.

I stand there for a moment, the weight of it all hitting me at once. The anger, the chaos, the shit with Avery, and now... this.

I feel the walls closing in.

"Fuck," I breathe out, running a hand through my hair. I know what I have to do, but it doesn't make it any easier.

I turn around and head back toward the living room, where Austin is still sitting, looking uncomfortable as hell while Mom rambles on.

"Austin," I call out, my voice steady but carrying an edge. He looks up, sensing something's wrong immediately.

"What is it?" His brows furrow, and I can see the concern in his eyes.

I don't say anything at first, just give him a look that says we gotta go.

"Pops just called," I finally say, my voice tight. "It's Gram..."

Austin's face falls, and he doesn't need me to say anything else.

"We need to go," I tell him softly.

He nods, already standing up, his jaw clenched as he tries to keep it together.

"Where are you two going?" Mom pipes up, her voice filled with suspicion.

"Not now," I mutter, not even sparing her a glance as I lead Austin toward the door.

But as I walk out of that room, I can feel her eyes on me.

And for once, I don't give a damn.

EVEREST'S POV:

The drive to Pops' house was quiet. Neither Austin nor I said a word. What was there to say? We both knew what was waiting for us when we got there.

When we pulled up, Pops was already standing on the porch, his face etched with exhaustion and pain. He didn't have to say anything. The look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know.

"She's been askin' for you boys," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

We didn't waste any time. We walked straight through the front door and down the hall to her room. The air was thick with the smell of antiseptic and lavender—Grandma's favorite scent.

She looked smaller than I remembered, her body frail and her skin pale, but when her eyes opened and met mine, that warmth was still there.

"Everest," she murmured, her voice weak but steady. "Austin..."

We each took a side of her bed, and she smiled softly, her hand brushing gently against Austin's face before resting in mine.

We sat with her for hours, talking about nothing and everything. Stories from when we were kids, memories she cherished, things I'd almost forgotten but was grateful to hear again. Pops sat quietly in the corner, wiping his eyes when he thought we weren't looking.

But just when I thought we'd have this moment of peace, the front door swung open.

"Are you serious?" I muttered under my breath, immediately recognizing the click of heels against the hardwood floor.

Mary Ann.

Austin's jaw clenched, and I could feel the tension radiating off of him. She walked into the room, her eyes scanning over Grandma with forced concern.

"Mom," Austin said quietly, his voice strained.

"I had to be here," she whispered, her gaze flickering toward Grandma before glancing at Pops, who barely acknowledged her. "She's my mother too."

I didn't say anything. I didn't have the energy to fight with her. Not now. If Grandma wanted her here, I wasn't going to ruin these last moments.

"Sit down," Pops muttered, his voice barely audible. She hesitated but eventually found a chair in the corner, keeping her distance but still managing to invade the space.

Time passed slowly. Austin eventually stood up, muttering something about needing to use the bathroom.

That's when it happened.

Her hand squeezed mine, her frail fingers trembling slightly.

"Everest..." her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm right here, Gram," I murmured, leaning closer so I could hear her better.

Her eyes met mine, and I could see the emotion in them—the urgency.

"Go to my dresser," she whispered, her voice shaking. "The top drawer... there's a little box in there."

I frowned, my heart pounding a little harder.

"A box?" I asked softly, and she nodded weakly.

"Bring it to me," she murmured.

I didn't ask questions. I gently released her hand and stood up, walking over to the dresser against the wall. The top drawer was filled with little trinkets and keepsakes, but then I saw it—a small, velvet box, tucked away toward the back.

I pulled it out carefully and brought it back to her.

Her hand trembled as she motioned for me to open it.

Inside was a ring.

An old, delicate ring with a small diamond, worn but still beautiful. I recognized it immediately—it was the ring my grandfather had given her when they were young.

"I want you to give this to her," she whispered, her eyes glassy with emotion.

My heart stopped.

"Avery," she breathed out, her lips barely moving. "She's... she's the one, Everest. I see it in your eyes... the way you look at her. Don't let her go."

My throat tightened, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.

"Gram..." my voice was barely above a whisper.

"Promise me," she murmured, her eyes pleading with me. "Promise me you'll give this to her when the time is right."

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening as I blinked back the burning in my eyes.

"I promise," I whispered, my voice cracking as I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Her lips curved into the faintest smile, and for a moment, there was a peace in her expression that I hadn't seen in a long time.

"Good," she murmured softly, her eyes closing slowly. "That's good..."

I held her hand tightly, feeling the weight of her words settle in my chest as I sat back down beside her.

I didn't say anything. I just sat there... and held on.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••

AVERY'S POV:

"Hey, Avery," I heard Brooke say quietly, peeking her head through the door as I folded laundry on the bed.

Of course, I felt the pain of sadness. I was upset, but I'd been through too much to fall apart now. I was at the point where I just didn't care anymore. I knew Everest was projecting. This was how he coped, pushing me away when things got too hard. I understood how much stress he was under, trying to protect me while keeping everything together. But I didn't deserve to be treated the way he had. Not after everything.

"Hey..." I said softly, looking up as Brooke gave me a small, gentle smile. She closed the door behind her and walked into the room.

"I just got off the phone with Austin," she said, sitting down on the bed in front of me. I placed the folded clothes into the basket and set it on the floor, bracing myself for what was coming next.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, my brows pulling together in concern.

Brooke sighed, her expression heavy.

"Their grandmother died," she murmured softly. "Him and Everest are over at the house now... with their mom."

A sigh left my lips, and even though I had expected this, the news still hit me hard. I could feel a deeper sadness settle in my chest.

I knew Everest's grandmother well. She was one of the kindest people I had ever met. She welcomed me with open arms and treated me like family from the start. I had spent countless afternoons with her, sitting in her cozy kitchen, listening to her talk about Everest and Austin as kids, laughing as she teased them. She always made me feel like I belonged.

She had been sick for a while, and we all knew this was coming... but knowing that didn't make it hurt any less.

"Are you okay?" Brooke asked, her hand resting gently on my shoulder.

I gave her a soft smile, but it didn't quite reach my eyes. "She's been sick for a while, Brooke. They knew this was going to happen eventually. I went to see her the other day." I paused, feeling the lump rise in my throat. "Is Austin okay?"

Brooke sighed, leaning back on the bed. "He seemed pretty upset on the phone, but I know he's just trying to keep it together."

I nodded, my heart aching for both of them. Austin had always been the more emotional one. I could only imagine how he was feeling right now, trying to keep a brave face while his world crumbled around him.

"Have you heard from him?" she asked softly, her tone implying she meant Everest.

I glanced down at my phone, but there were no missed calls, no messages. Just silence.

I shook my head, the ache in my chest growing. "No," I murmured. "I haven't."

Brooke gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"You know Everest," I whispered, more to myself than to her. "He'll come to me when he's ready."

And that was the realization I had come to with him. I couldn't chase him down, couldn't force him to open up. He needed to come to me in his own time.

Even if it hurt to wait.