Chapter Eighty-Nine
The shift in the compound was subtle at first, but by the end of the week, it was undeniable.
The lingering side-eyes from the lower-ranked members had faded, replaced by the quiet, implicit acceptance that comes when a decision is sealed under an officer's cut. Stone’s declaration at the bar hadn't just cleared my name—it had drawn a hard, permanent boundary line around me. I wasn't an outsider hiding in the shadows of the residential hall anymore. I was part of the landscape.
I spent the afternoon down in the workshop, sitting on an overturned wooden crate while Jake worked on his bike.
The sharp smell of gasoline, fresh engine oil, and metal shavings filled the drafty bay. Sunlight streamed through the high, dirt-smudged windows, casting long, golden beams over t
