Chapter 71: The New Foundation
The morning after they finished rebuilding, Maya woke to the smell of fresh paint and sawdust.
She lay in bed for a moment, listening to the sounds of the house coming to life. The birds were singing. The coffee was brewing. Somewhere downstairs, Knox was moving around, his footsteps soft on the new floors. She smiled. This was what they'd fought for. This was what they'd rebuilt. Not just the bar, but the life that lived inside it. She thought about the night Cole had come, the fear that had gripped her heart, the violence that had erupted. She thought about the way her family had stood together, united against the darkness. She thought about the way they'd refused to let it break them. She thought about the way they'd rebuilt, piece by piece, stronger tha
