I woke up with a stretch, the early morning sunlight filtering through the windows. My body ached a little from the last few days of settling in, but the fresh air was doing wonders. I threw on my oversized T-shirt and slid into my favorite pair of underwear—comfort over anything. I needed to feel good, if just for a little while.

I shuffled into the kitchen, already pulling out eggs and bread for toast. The radio was still on from yesterday, but I cranked the volume, letting the music blast through the house as I hummed along. I danced around, moving in time with the beat, flipping the eggs and feeling more free than I had in days.

It was the kind of morning that felt like a small, stolen moment of joy.

I froze for a second, the music still blasting around me, and a thought crept in—Everest. For just a moment, my eyes flickered over to my phone on the counter, still powered off. The screen glinted under the light, as if it were mocking me, daring me to turn it back on. I couldn't. Not yet. Not with all the mess of everything swirling around in my head. I pushed the thought away, almost like I could physically shove it down, and let the music wash over me again.

I took a deep breath and cranked the volume even higher, hoping it would drown out the tightness in my chest. My toast popped up just in time, and I reached for it, taking a big bite. The warm, slightly crispy bread calmed me for just a moment.

But just as I was spinning around the kitchen, a voice cut through the music, rich and teasing.

"Well, what do we have here?"

I froze, mid-spin, my heart skipping a beat. The voice was so familiar... but there was no way.

••••••••••••••••••••••

EVERESTS POV:

I stood by the baggage claim, arms crossed, foot tapping against the polished airport floor. I wasn't sure why I even bothered being on time. Mary Ann was never on time. She always made an entrance—her way of reminding everyone that the world revolved around her schedule.

Sure enough, fifteen minutes past the time her flight was supposed to land, I spotted her strutting toward me, designer sunglasses perched on her head, heels clicking like she was walking a damn runway instead of an airport. Her suitcase trailed behind her, a bright red thing that screamed look at me.

"Well, well," she drawled, her lips curling into a smirk as she took me in. "Look who's decided to finally call his dear mother after, what, months?"

I clenched my jaw, already feeling the irritation creep in. "Mary Ann," I said flatly, ignoring the dig. "Let's go."

"Not even a hug? What kind of son are you?" she teased, tossing her hair over her shoulder like she was still twenty-five.

I grabbed her suitcase and turned toward the exit without answering. I didn't have the patience for her games today.

"Still the strong, silent type, huh?" She followed beside me, her heels clicking louder now that we were on the pavement. "You didn't call me all the way down here for a friendly visit. So, what's going on?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as we reached my bike. I tossed her suitcase into the back of the car I borrowed from Austin, knowing she wouldn't ride on the back of my bike, no matter how much I'd enjoy the look on her face.

"I need a favor," I muttered, my voice low, hoping to keep her from asking too many damn questions.

Her perfectly manicured brows shot up. "A favor? From me? This ought to be good."

"Don't make a big deal out of it," I snapped, already regretting this. "I just... I need you to go check on someone for me."

Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the wheels turning. Mary Ann wasn't stupid—far from it. She always knew when I was hiding something.

"Who?" Her tone was all curiosity now, the cockiness momentarily replaced by intrigue.

I exhaled, the weight of what I was about to say settling heavy on my chest. "Avery."

Her head tilted, lips pursed. "Avery..." Her voice trailed off, and then her eyes lit up with recognition. "That Avery?"

"Yeah," I muttered, jaw tight.

"Yeah," I muttered, jaw tight.

"And what do you need me to do with that one?" she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Huh, did ya get her pregnant or somethin'?"

I stayed silent, jaw clenched so tight I thought my teeth might crack.

For once, Mary Ann was quiet.

But not for long.

"That poor girl." She shook her head, clicking her tongue like she pitied Avery. "I told her to get out while she could."

I felt my blood start to simmer. Every word out of her mouth was like poking a damn bear.

"So, why did you need me?" she asked, crossing her arms and giving me that smug look that drove me insane. "Thought you and your brother hated me. Now you come running to Mom when you knock someone up."

I gritted my teeth so hard I swore I heard them grind. "It's complicated."

"When is it not with you?" She smirked, but this time, her tone was softer. Like she was already figuring out she'd pushed too far. "Alright, so what do you need from me? Babysit the girl until you pull your head out of your ass?"

"Just... go to Clearwater," I said, ignoring her jab. "Check on her. I can't leave right now. There's too much heat. Max is sniffing around, asking questions about Avery, and if I go after her now, it's only going to make things worse."

Mary Ann's playful attitude disappeared in an instant. Her eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"Maddox Marsh?" she asked, her voice dropping.

I let out a long sigh, fishing a cigarette out of my pocket. I lit it, taking a slow drag to calm my nerves.

"Devil's Bloods stirring up trouble again?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

I nodded. "Yeah. It's getting bad."

"Shit," she muttered under her breath, her expression hardening. The humor was completely gone now, replaced by something colder. She might be a pain in the ass, but she wasn't blind to how dangerous this was.

"Alright. I'll go."

Relief flooded me, but I didn't let it show. "Thanks," I murmured, keeping my eyes on the horizon.

"Don't thank me yet," she quipped, sliding into the passenger seat like she owned the damn thing. "I'm doing this for Avery, not you."

I couldn't argue with that.

As I started the engine, the weight in my chest didn't feel any lighter. If anything, it felt heavier. Because now, all I could think about was Avery—and the mess I'd dragged her into.

"Your brother know I'm here?" she asked, breaking the silence.

I shook my head, keeping my eyes on the road. "No."

"Good." She let out a low chuckle, but there was no real humor in it. "I don't think I'm his favorite right now."

"Join the club," I muttered.

She pulled out her phone, already acting like this was just another errand on her list. "I'll text ya when I'm there." And with that I watched her jump in my drink and drive in the opposite direction.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

AVERYS POV:

"Mary Ann!?"

The name slipped out before I could stop myself, my voice barely above a whisper. I blinked, trying to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. But no, there she was. Standing in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame like she had all the time in the world. Her signature smirk was firmly in place, her eyes raking over me with a mixture of surprise and amusement.

"Wow," she drawled, crossing her arms. "You're huge."

I instinctively tugged at the hem of my oversized t-shirt, suddenly feeling self-conscious. The fabric barely brushed the tops of my thighs, and I was acutely aware of how exposed I was standing there in just that and my underwear. My face flushed as I shifted on my feet, trying to process what the hell she was doing here.

"What... what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice more defensive than I intended.

"Everest," she said casually, as if that explained everything. She pushed off the doorframe and sauntered into the house like she owned the place. "Had me fly all the way from California to check up on you." Her lips curled into a smirk. "Said shit's hitting the fan back home."

My stomach twisted. Everest.

I hadn't touched my phone in days, purposely keeping it shut off and out of sight to give myself a break from everything. But now, knowing he'd sent her... it felt like a punch to the gut.

"Wait," I said, shaking my head. "You came all the way here because of Everest?"

"Yep," she replied, popping the 'p' as she plopped herself down on the couch like she owned the damn place. "And let me tell you..." Her eyes dragged over me again, her expression softening slightly as she took in my swollen belly. "I told you to run, sweetheart."

My stomach flipped.

"Run as far and as fast as you could away from this life." Her eyes narrowed, her voice lowering just enough to make me shift uncomfortably. "And now?" She gave a humorless chuckle. "Now you're trapped."

My throat tightened, her words hitting me square in the chest.

"Trapped?" I echoed softly, my arms instinctively wrapping around my belly.

Her eyes met mine, and for a second, I saw something—pity, maybe?—flicker in her gaze before she masked it with that damn cocky attitude again.

"Yeah, trapped." She leaned back, arms resting on the back of the couch. "You think just because you ran to this little beach house that it's going to keep you safe? That this"—she motioned vaguely toward my belly—"isn't going to tie you to Everest forever?"

My jaw clenched, and I looked away, trying to swallow the knot forming in my throat. I knew what I'd gotten myself into, but hearing her say it out loud? It made everything feel so much more... real.

"Why did he send you?" I finally asked, my voice quieter now, more unsure.

Mary Ann's smirk softened, just a bit. "Because I know what it's like to be caught up in this mess," she said simply. "And because, whether you like it or not, he's still trying to protect you... even if he's a damn idiot about it."

I didn't know what to say. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of everything, but all I could feel was the weight pressing down on me.

"Look," she said after a moment, her tone softer now. "I'm not here to lecture you. I'm here to make sure you're okay." Her eyes met mine again, and this time, the cocky mask was gone. "So... are you?"

I swallowed hard, forcing a nod. But even as I did, I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince her... or myself. "Good, glad to hear it. Now can ya show me my room—I'm jet legged." She says, dropping her suitcases on the ground.

The afternoon sun had shifted lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue across the beach as the waves lazily rolled onto the shore. I stood by the sliding glass door, arms wrapped around myself as I stared out at the horizon. The house had been quiet for the last couple of hours, giving me a much-needed break from Mary Ann's sharp tongue and piercing commentary.

But even in the silence, her words echoed in my head.

"Now you're trapped."

I let out a slow breath, pressing my forehead against the cool glass. I knew what she meant—what she was really trying to say. And no matter how much I wanted to pretend otherwise, she wasn't wrong. This life, Everest, the club... it had a way of pulling you under, suffocating you until there was no way out. And now? Now I was carrying a permanent tie to that world, whether I liked it or not.

I heard footsteps behind me, and I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Still brooding?" Mary Ann's voice was lighter now, less biting than it had been earlier.

"Just... thinking." I straightened, forcing a small smile as I glanced back at her. She was leaning against the kitchen island, arms crossed, watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"Dangerous pastime," she muttered, but there was a hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Yeah, well..." I shrugged, trying to shake the heaviness from my chest. "Hard to avoid when I've got so much time on my hands."

Mary Ann's gaze drifted to my belly, her expression softening again. "How far along are you now?"

"Almost seven months," I murmured, resting a hand on my bump instinctively. The babies had been more active lately, little kicks and flutters reminding me constantly that they were there. That they were real.

Mary Ann popped the cork off a wine bottle, settling into her chair on the deck as she propped her feet up on the table. "I was never that big with either of my boys," she said, her tone casual, but her eyes flicked toward my stomach with a hint of curiosity. "And that's including my two youngest back in Cali. You must've been a big baby."

I forced a weak smile, shifting uncomfortably in my chair. My fingers traced slow, absent-minded circles over the curve of my belly. I kept my gaze on the horizon, avoiding her eyes. She didn't know. No one did—except my aunt. I hadn't told anyone that I was carrying twins. I wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Yeah, maybe," I mumbled, keeping my tone light as I brushed off the comment. But the weight of that secret pressed heavier on me with every passing day.

Mary Ann took a long sip of her wine, her eyes drifting out toward the water. "You've been hiding out pretty well," she said after a moment, her voice softer now. "This place... it's quiet."

"Yeah," I whispered, my eyes following the waves rolling lazily onto the shore. "It is."

"Too quiet," she murmured, almost to herself. But I caught it.

Time slipped by, the afternoon fading into early evening.

Mary Ann had gone inside to make herself another drink, leaving me alone on the deck with nothing but the sound of the waves and my own thoughts. I stared out at the horizon, the sky painted in shades of orange and pink as the sun began to set.

I should've felt at peace. But I didn't.

The weight in my chest grew heavier as I thought about Everest—about everything I'd left behind. I hated how often my mind wandered back to him, even when I tried so hard to push him out. But I couldn't stop wondering if he was okay... if he was looking for me. If he even wanted to find me.

"You know," Mary Ann's voice broke through my thoughts, her tone softer than usual. "I was in the same boat as you when I got pregnant with Everest. Just a stupid sixteen-year-old girl falling for the hot biker dude."

She laughed to herself, the sound laced with a bitter nostalgia. "He promised me the world, and I believed him," she continued, swirling the wine in her glass. "Next thing I know, I'm having my second kid, and he's president of the club." She shrugged, taking a long drag from her cigarette with her free hand.

I glanced at her, curiosity gnawing at me. I'd never heard her talk about this—about Everest's dad or what it was really like back then.

"Why did you leave after Lincoln died?" I asked, figuring now was as good a time as any to ask.

Mary Ann's expression shifted, her jaw tightening as her gaze drifted toward the horizon. She let out a long, slow sigh, leaning back in her chair and setting the wine bottle down beside her.

"I was in love with him," she said quietly, her voice carrying a weight I hadn't heard before. "It was always just him that I wanted. I loved my boys, I really did. But when he was gone..." She trailed off, her eyes distant, lost in a memory. "When he was gone, I felt like I had nothing left. Not even a piece of him. And the only reason I was staying was because of him, not the boys."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I couldn't imagine feeling that lost, that empty. But I wasn't sure I had to imagine it—I was starting to feel that way myself.

Mary Ann took another sip of her wine, her expression softening as she spoke again.

"I took it as a sign," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "A sign from God telling me it was time to get away. To start fresh. To have the life I'd always wanted." She smiled then, but it was a sad smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "So, I packed up, went on the road... kept moving until I finally landed in California. Found myself an accountant."

That caught me off guard. My head snapped toward her, eyes wide. "An accountant?" I repeated, blinking.

Mary Ann smirked, clearly amused by my surprise. "Yeah, I know," she chuckled, shaking her head. "Not exactly the type you'd expect me to end up with, huh?"

"Not even close," I admitted with a laugh, but as I studied her, I realized something. "But... you wanted stability."

Her smile faltered, her eyes softening as she nodded. "Yeah," she murmured, her gaze dropping to the glass in her hand. "After everything... that's all I ever really wanted. Someone who wasn't constantly in danger. Someone who came home every night."

I understood that more than I cared to admit.

We sat there in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the space between us. "I get it," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mary Ann looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "Do you?" I nodded slowly, my hand instinctively resting on my belly again. "I didn't think I'd ever want that," I murmured. "But now... with them..." My voice trailed off as I felt a flutter beneath my palm. "I just want them to be safe."

Mary Ann's expression softened as she took another sip of her wine. "Then you better figure out what's next, sweetheart," she said gently, her eyes flicking toward my bump. "Because staying in limbo isn't gonna protect them. And it sure as hell isn't gonna protect you."

I swallowed hard, her words hitting a little too close to home. I knew she was right. But knowing and doing something about it... those were two entirely different things.

We sat there talking as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. For the first time in what felt like forever, I didn't feel so alone. And despite her sharp edges and cocky attitude, Mary Ann understood in a way no one else could.

And that... that made the weight on my chest feel just a little bit lighter.