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Chapter Text

Bangkok, Thailand

March, 2021

The engine roared as Nicole Haught gripped the steering wheel tightly. Bangkok’s neon drenched streets blurred past, but it was all irrelevant. The only thing that mattered was the 50 kilos of gold in the hidden floor compartment, and the car closing in fast behind her.

“Too damn heavy,” she muttered. 

She felt the extra weight slowing the SUV’s acceleration. The suspension groaned with every turn. The gold wasn't just valuable. It was a problem.

“Hold tight.” 

Xavier Dolls, in the passenger seat, checked the side mirror. “They’re gaining.” 

“You gonna puke, Dolls?” Nicole grinned, though her grip on the wheel was bone crushing.

“Twenty bucks he loses it,” Eliza Shapiro called from the backseat. 

“Not betting on a sure thing, E,” Nicole yanked the wheel into a sharp corner. 

Dolls puffed out his cheeks, eyes squeezed shut as he gripped the door. “I can hear you!”

The car behind them didn’t lose speed. 

Eliza’s fingers tensed over the grip of her Glock 19. Her gaze trailed toward the hidden compartment under their feet. The $8 million in gold wasn’t just cargo, it was a death sentence. And the people behind them weren’t just thieves.

They were cleanup men. 

The rival gang had already lost one shipment to the Nedley clan. They weren’t going to lose another.

A hard left sent Nicole’s tires screaming as she veered into a narrow street. The SUV’s frame creaked under the load. She wished she had her own car. It was lighter, faster and more stable. But they needed the SUV to haul that amount of gold. 

Bangkok traffic was pure chaos. Motorbikes swerved out of the way, vendors yelled, and neon lights buzzed and sputtered against the rain slicked pavements. 

But the chase didn’t slow. 

“E,” Dolls called out. 

She saw it. 

One of the men in the chasing car was climbing out the window, steadying himself on the roof with his gun raised.

“Fuck,” she cursed under her breath.

Nicole’s foot slammed on the gas. The SUV lurched forward. The gold shifted beneath them.

Gunfire cracked.

The first shot shattered their back windshield and rained glass over Eliza’s lap. The second punched through the headrest, missing her by an inch.

Dolls ducked. “Nope!”

Nicole threw the SUV into another sharp turn, nearly bottoming out from the weight. The rival car was too close, too steady.

“Next turn, E,” Dolls called. He already knew what came next.

Nicole aimed for the bridge.

As they tore onto the narrow structure, the other car followed. But Eliza had her shot.

She leaned out, both hands steady on the gun, and fired.

The first round hit the grille. The second took out a headlight. The third exploded the front left tire. 

The rival car jerked sideways, tires screeching, metal sparking as it slammed into the railing. The SUV shook from the shockwave, but Nicole didn’t slow down.

The last thing she saw in the mirror was the car teetering, balancing on the edge, before it went over.

Nicole exhaled. 

“Clean getaway,” Dolls glanced back. 

Nicole flexed her grip on the wheel. The gold was still there. That was all that mattered.

Dolls dialed a number. A pause. “Clear, sir.”

Another pause. Then he nodded. “Copy.”

“Bay 12,” he said, ending the call and glancing at Nicole. “He wants to see you as soon as we get there.”

Nicole groaned. Because of course he did.

The three of them, along with their crew, worked swiftly to unload the gold into a reinforced storage container in Bay 12 of their warehouse. The last bar clanked into place just as Randy Nedley arrived, flanked by a few of his men. Watching, waiting.

“Nicole,” Nedley greeted. “Any problems?” 

“All good, sir,” Nicole wiped her hands on her jeans. “Had a tail, but we lost them.” 

Nedley nodded. “Word’s going around the circuit that the Earps are back in town.”

Nicole masked her surprise and kept her posture relaxed, but her mind was already racing. The Earps? Last she heard, they were raising hell in Zambia, cutting into smuggling routes for Congolese gold. And now they were back?

“Are you coming home for supper?” Nedley’s voice softened. “Chrissy misses you.”

Nicole sighed, then nodded. “Yeah. I’ll be there in an hour.”

As Nedley and his men turned to leave, Nicole’s focus shifted to Dolls and Eliza.

“The Earps?”

Eliza shook her head. “We’ll dig.” 

“I want everything.”  

~~~

Nicole, Dolls, and Eliza cruised down a narrow street in the city, deep in conversation. The chatter was casual. It was a stark and intentional contrast to the tension that still remained from the night before. 

But Nicole thrived on nights like that. She loved the adrenaline, the rush of it all. It was a necessity to her. The closer she came to death, the more alive she felt. She hadn’t propelled her father’s crew to the top of the gold trafficking circuit by sitting in boardrooms and poring over logistics. She did it in five years with guts, strategy, and a relentless drive forged in the streets.

“You checked the manifest for this afternoon’s meeting, Dolls?” Nicole asked. 

Before Dolls could answer, Eliza shrieked from the backseat. “Nicole!” 

Nicole barely had time to register Eliza’s sharp gasp before movement flashed in her periphery. A figure darted across the road right in front of her car. 

“Fuck!” She slammed on the brakes, but not fast enough. 

Time stretched in that awful, breathless way it did before impact. The car shuddered as the brakes fought against its momentum. Nicole’s pulse slammed in her ears. 

For a split second, she thought … hoped , the person would clear the path in time.

The car made a small thud as it bumped into the person, and they crumpled to the ground.

Nicole’s stomach plummeted. Without a second thought, she threw the car into park and rushed out. Dolls and Eliza were quick to follow. They stood back, kept their eyes open to their surroundings. 

Knelt in front of the figure now sprawled on the road, Nicole froze. The woman she’d hit was ... stunning . Even in the moment of concern, Nicole couldn't help but notice how striking she was. Brown, wavy hair, sharp features, and a depth to her hazel eyes that caught Nicole off guard.

“Shit,” Nicole muttered under her breath. She extended her hand to the woman. “I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”

The woman blinked up at her, clearly disoriented, but she accepted Nicole’s hand. Nicole helped her to a nearby bench, still apologising. “I didn’t see you. My fault entirely.”

The woman shook her head. Her expression softened into a smile. “I’m fine. You didn’t hit me that hard.”

Nicole found herself staring. There was something magnetic about the woman. 

After a brief, uncomfortable silence, the woman cleared her throat.

Nicole blinked. “You sure?” her voice came out softer than she’d intended. 

The woman brushed off her clothes. “I’m sure.”

Eliza closed in on them. “We should go.” 

Nicole exhaled and pulled herself upright. “I’m really sorry again. Can I … Can I make it up to you?” 

The woman gave her a faint smile. “Your very serious friend is waiting for you.”

“She can wait,” Nicole’s gaze was still locked on the woman’s eyes. “Tomorrow. I’ll come back, same time. Will you be here?” 

The woman’s smile widened. “Maybe.” 

Nicole nodded slowly. Eliza moved closer. 

With another glance at the woman, Nicole slid into the car. As she did, she looked into the rearview mirror. The woman was watching her car drive off with a soft smile on her lips.

“What the fuck was that?” Eliza snapped. 

Nicole was still on cloud nine. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d met someone who had immediately caught her attention like that. Even with Eliza giving her grief, she couldn’t care less.

“I didn’t ask her name,” Nicole muttered, distracted. 

“Her name ?” Eliza echoed in disbelief. “For fuck’s sake, Nicole. We’re about to close one of the biggest deals of our lives, and you’re thinking about some random girl?”

“Leave it,” Dolls cut in. “You know her. She’ll get the deal done. What she does on her own time is her business.”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Eliza crossed her arms. 

“You’ve got a bad feeling about everything,” Nicole commented. “Clear my schedule for a couple of hours tomorrow morning. I’m gonna go see about a girl.” 

*

10 am couldn’t come fast enough. It felt like time was moving backward. Nicole couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this nervous about a woman, and she didn’t even know her name.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the woman all day yesterday. Despite sitting through several meetings, doing a site inspection, and checking stock at one of Nedley’s bays, her mind kept drifting back to that woman. What was it about her that had such a strong hold on Nicole? She couldn’t explain it. She’d never been this ... affected before.

Nicole checked herself in the mirror one last time.

“Casual enough,” she muttered to herself. 

She had on a pair of blue jeans, grey suede Derby shoes, a dark grey t-shirt, and a matching jean jacket. She hooked a pair of sunglasses into the front of her t-shirt, grabbed her phone and keys, and practically skipped to her car.

She’d told Dolls and Eliza to stay behind. But she knew they’d be lurking somewhere. They never let her go anywhere alone or stay unprotected. 

Arriving at the spot where she’d met the woman the day before, Nicole parked and walked over to the same bench where she’d helped her sit.

But the woman wasn’t there.

Nicole decided to wait. She leaned against the bench, stretching her arms out to rest on its back. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing herself a rare moment of calm.

Nicole was so focused on her breaths that she barely heard the clearing of a throat in front of her. Slowly, she blinked her eyes open.

“There you are,” Nicole whispered, not even realizing she’d spoken aloud.

“Here I am,” the woman smiled. 

It took a moment for Nicole to notice the crutch the woman was holding.

She shot up from the bench. “Are you okay? Did I do this?”

Nicole guided the woman to the bench and sat beside her.

“It’s just a small bruise. Nothing serious. The doctor said I should keep weight off the leg for a couple of days,” the woman explained.

“Fuck,” Nicole cursed. “I’m so sorry. Can I help in any way?”

“You want to help?” the woman looked at her with a playful gleam in her eyes. 

“Anything,” Nicole said. “Just tell me.”

“You can cover my medical bills,” the woman deadpanned. 

Nicole paused. “What?”

“My medical bills,” the woman repeated matter-of-factly. “Doctor’s fees, medicine, crutches. You know how these things add up.” 

Nicole stared for half a beat before a slow smile crept onto her face. “Okay.” She reached for her phone.

“No, no, don’t shoot me!” the woman raised her hands defensively.  

“What?” Nicole frowned. She showed her phone to the woman. “It’s just my phone. Why would you think I was going to shoot you?” 

“I thought you were angry,” the woman scrunched her nose. “I saw your bodyguards yesterday. Guns sticking out of their hips. You must be some big shot, huh? I’m surprised they let you come out here on your own.” 

“They’re my friends,” Nicole smiled. “So, um, if you give me your number-”

“My number?” the woman raised an eyebrow. 

“To save in my phone,” Nicole held up her device. “So I can use my phone to call your phone. Then you can save my number on your phone. So you’ll know it’s me calling from my phone, and you’ll answer your phone. For when those medical bills come in. So I can pay for them? You know, for-” 

“Thanks for the explanation,” the woman grinned. 

“So?” Nicole looked at her expectantly. 

“So?” the woman feigned innocence. 

Nicole sighed. “Will you at least tell me your name?”

“Waverly … Waverly Gibson.”

“Waverly …” Nicole savoured the way the name felt on her tongue. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” 

Waverly lowered her gaze. A hint of pink crept up her neck as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m Nicole,” Nicole extended her hand. “Nicole Haught.” 

Waverly took it in a gentle shake. 

“Have you been in Bangkok long, Waverly?” Nicole asked. 

“No,” Waverly replied. “My family moved here a few months ago. For business. And you?”

“Similar,” Nicole nodded. “Are you involved in the business?” 

“Oh, no,” Waverly shook her head. “I have no business sense at all. I like to sketch. I have a little booth just up the street.” 

“An artist,” Nicole’s eyes lit up. “Will you show me some of your sketches?” 

“I’d love to,” Waverly smiled. 

Nicole extended her hand to help Waverly up from the bench. They walked slowly. Nicole stayed by her side as Waverly limped along with the aid of her crutches. Nicole couldn’t help but feel guilty for putting her in this situation.

They reached a small booth, nestled among several other art displays on the sidewalk.

“Here,” Waverly gestured toward the display. 

Nicole’s gaze swept over the pieces on display. There weren’t many, but each one was exquisite. Landscapes of seas, mountains, and serene scenery. One piece caught her eye, a sketch of a stormy sea with waves crashing against jagged rocks, the dark clouds overhead rendered in such detail that it almost felt like you could hear the wind. They didn’t feel like just pictures, rather emotions captured in moments. 

Nicole couldn’t help but be drawn to them. 

“You drew all of these?” she whispered. 

“Yes,” Waverly replied, equally as softly. 

“You’re really talented,” Nicole said. 

Waverly smiled. “I need to go. I’m meeting a friend for an early lunch.” 

“Oh,” Nicole’s face fell. She was hoping to spend a little more time with Waverly. “Can I drop you off?” 

“No, it’s okay,” Waverly waved her off. “I’ll take the tram.” 

“Sure?” Nicole asked. “At least let me walk you to the stop.” 

Waverly hesitated for a moment before relenting. “Alright.”

Nicole took Waverly’s bag off her shoulder and casually slung it over hers as they walked side by side.

“Your art should be in a gallery, Waverly,” Nicole remarked. 

“They are, actually,” Waverly replied. “Uptown. Siam Horizon Gallery.” 

“Mm,” Nicole hummed. “I’ll be sure to check it out sometime.” 

“Amidst your busy schedule?” Waverly nudged Nicole’s arm playfully.

“I’ll always make time for beautiful art,” Nicole smirked. “And a beautiful woman.” 

Waverly had to look away, suddenly very interested in the patterns on her skirt. She was unsure of how to respond to such overt flirtation. 

Nicole watched her reaction with a sense of amusement. “Are you shy?”

“Not shy,” Waverly countered quickly. “Just … unprepared.”

“For what?”

“For you,” Waverly admitted before she could stop herself.

Nicole’s smirk deepened, but before she could respond, Waverly cleared her throat, desperate to redirect the conversation. “Um, you haven’t told me what exactly it is you do.”

Nicole hesitated just a second too long. “Import-export. Boring stuff, really.”

Waverly studied her. “Didn’t take you for the corporate type.”

“Oh?” Nicole leaned in slightly. “What do you take me for?”

Waverly grinned. “You look more like a … Muay Thai fighter. I thought maybe you ran illegal underground fight clubs.”

Nicole chuckled. “That does sound more exciting.”

“Sexier, too,” Waverly muttered under her breath. 

Nicole’s grin turned downright wicked. “What was that?” 

“Nothing,” Waverly blurted, shaking her head a little too quickly.

The tram arrived before she could embarrass herself further. Nicole helped Waverly into the vehicle and handed her bag back to her.

Waverly peeked out the tram door and called out, “081 222 1907.”

Nicole’s eyes widened. 

The tram began to move. 

Nicole quickly grabbed her phone and started typing. “190 ... what?”

“7!” Waverly grinned.  

“7,” Nicole repeated. “I like 7.” 

Waverly gave her a tiny wave as the tram pulled away.

Nicole waved back with a wide smile on her face. 

~~~

The next few days blurred into a relentless cycle of meetings, logistics, and inspections as Nicole locked in preparations for their next deal. Nedley had been unusually hands on, calling constantly for updates. She could hear the tension in his voice. This new seller was a wildcard, and one wrong move could cost them everything.

And now, they had the Earps to worry about, too.

The deal was set. Forty eight hours.

Nicole had planned every detail, accounted for every risk . Now, all that stood between her and a whopping $25 million in gold was two days, and the certainty that someone, somewhere, was already planning to take it from her.

And yet, through it all, her mind kept slipping back to Waverly. Was she waiting for a call? Expecting Nicole to show up on that street again? The thought nagged at her. 

She decided to take a brief moment for herself. Pouring a glass of whiskey over ice, she sank into her favourite chair and pulled out her phone. She tapped on Waverly’s name in her contacts. 

“Hello?” Waverly’s sweet voice came through the phone.

“Hi,” Nicole greeted. “It’s Nicole.” 

“Took you long enough,” Waverly teased. “You know that whole thing where you’re supposed to make a girl wait for your call to get her interested? Totally overrated.”

A pause. “ Are you interested?” 

Another beat of silence on the other end. “Why did you call?” Waverly’s voice softened.

“I wanted to talk with you,” Nicole replied simply. “Wanted to hear your voice again.”

“Why?” Waverly pressed. 

Nicole smirked. “Do I need a reason?”

Waverly’s voice softened. “Maybe you just like making me wait.”

Nicole’s voice dropped a notch. “Were you waiting?”

“If I knew this was your number, maybe I’d have made you wait instead,” Waverly retorted with a playful edge.

“When I see something I like, I don’t want to wait,” Nicole whispered.  

Waverly gasped, then she quickly cleared her throat. “You’ve been busy?”

“Yeah,” Nicole sighed. “There’s a big deal coming up in a couple of days. But enough about that. How’s your leg?”

“Good. I’m off the crutch now,” Waverly’s voice was light. 

“Did the medical bills come?” Nicole teased. 

“I might have another way you can repay me,” Waverly replied slyly.

Nicole went silent for a moment. 

“No! You pervert!” Waverly laughed. “Can you meet me at the bench tomorrow morning?”

Nicole chuckled. “I’ll be there.” 

*

Nicole waited on the bench for Waverly. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Dolls and Eliza parked nearby, watching her like a couple of amateurs. She shook her head.

“I really thought they were better at being covert,” she muttered to herself.

“Hi, Nicole,” Waverly’s bright voice cut through her grumbling. 

“Hey,” Nicole beamed. “How are you?”

Waverly smirked. “In the whole twelve hours since we last spoke? Pretty good.”

“Comedian,” Nicole shook her head. 

“I’m just a little bummed I can’t get back to my morning yoga yet,” Waverly pouted. “A few more days, the doctor said.” 

“Yoga?” Nicole’s eyes moved to the pout on Waverly’s lips, then back to her eyes. 

“Mhm,” Waverly nodded. She caught Nicole’s eye movement, but didn’t say anything. 

Nicole exhaled sharply. “Fuck.” 

Waverly frowned. “What?”

Nicole’s eyes glazed over. “Do you wear one of those tight little yoga pants?”

Waverly swatted Nicole’s arm. “Perv! I’m calling HR!” 

“Don’t tease me, Waverly,” Nicole’s voice was low and teasing. “I need details. Maybe even a demonstration.”

Waverly rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at her lips. “Are you done?”

“Not even close,” Nicole sighed dramatically. “But, you called me here for something.” 

“Right,” Waverly said, suddenly serious. She sat beside Nicole. “There’s this group of guys. Big, tough ones. They keep bothering me. They’re crude, and they make passes at me. I know I shouldn’t drag you into this, but … I thought maybe your bodyguards could help. Just this once?” She glanced around. “They didn’t come with you?”

“Where are these guys?” Nicole asked. 

Waverly huffed. “Nicole, there’s more than one of them. And they’re huge .” She gestured dramatically. “You can’t just march in there alone.”

Nicole’s smile was easy, unbothered. “Show me.”

“No,” Waverly said firmly. “Come back tomorrow. With your bodyguards.”

Nicole tilted her head. “Waverly …” Her voice dropped to something almost playful. “Where are they?”

Before Waverly could respond, as if on cue, four bulky men sauntered over. 

“White girl,” one of them sneered. “Show me painting.”

Another chuckled. “We pay with kiss. Come.”

The third reached out toward Waverly’s arm.

Before he could make contact, Nicole caught his wrist in a vice grip and twisted it effortlessly. The man yelped. His body was forced to turn and drop to his knees in front of her. She was still seated on the bench. She lifted a boot and drove it into his back, sending him sprawling face first into the dirt.

Waverly tensed, about to jump up, but Nicole placed a gentle hand on her arm. She shook her head slightly, a small smirk played on her lips, silently telling Waverly to stay put.

From the corner of her eye, Nicole spotted Dolls and Eliza moving in. Good. She was thankful that they decided to tail her.

One of the men lunged.

“Ah ah ah,” Nicole tutted. She shifted her jacket aside just enough to reveal the gun at her hip. 

The man froze mid swing. 

Nicole barely had to glance at Dolls and Eliza before they followed suit. They pulled their jackets back to show their own weapons.

One of the men scoffed. “You not shoot. Mạn pĕnk lāng wạn s̄æk .” (1)  

Nicole smiled. “Try me.” 

The four men considered her, then glanced over at Eliza and Dolls again, who had inched closer.

Then, all at once, they scrambled backward.

Waverly shot up, emboldened. “What’s the matter, huh? No paintings? No kisses? I’ll show you a painting! Come on! Come on!”

The men turned and bolted.

“That’s right! Run! Don’t you dare come back!” Waverly hollered after them.

Nicole grinned. “You really showed them.”

“See if they ever dare show their faces here again,” Waverly flipped her hair dramatically.

“They’re terrified of you now,” Nicole teased. 

Waverly sank back onto the bench beside her. “I thought you said you weren’t a Muay Thai fighter? Those were some pretty cool moves.” 

Nicole smirked. “I also never said I didn’t know Muay Thai.”

“Oh,” Waverly’s gaze drifted. “Do you wear those hand wraps? The ones with grime and blood on the knuckles?”

Nicole’s grin turned downright sinful. “Hand fetish, huh? Who’s the pervert now?” 

Waverly snapped out of her mini trance and glared at Nicole. “Shut up!” 

Nicole chuckled, clearly enjoying herself.

Waverly paused for a short moment before clearing her throat, “Listen, if you have a little more time, can I buy you a cup of coffee? As a thank you for helping me out.” 

Nicole flashed a grin. “Lead the way.” 

They settled into a cozy corner of a small coffee shop along the street. Nicole waited at the table while Waverly ordered their drinks and returned with two steaming cups.

Nicole took a sip of her black coffee and nodded in approval. “Mm, it’s good. This is a nice place.”

“Yeah, I come here for my caffeine fix every day,” Waverly glanced around fondly. 

“So …” Nicole prompted. 

“So?” Waverly smiled. 

“My debt is repaid in full?” Nicole smirked. 

“Consider us even,” Waverly nodded. 

“Much obliged,” Nicole gave a playful bow. 

Waverly giggled. “How long have you lived here?” 

“Going on five years now,” Nicole replied. “My dad moved here to expand the business and brought my sister and me along.” 

Waverly tilted her head. “And what exactly is the business? You’ve got bodyguards, you know Muay Thai, and you carry a gun like it’s just another accessory. That’s not exactly a normal import-export job.”

Nicole smirked over her cup. “Depends on what you’re importing.” 

Waverly raised an eyebrow. “That’s not an answer.” 

Nicole chuckled. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

Waverly stuck her tongue out playfully at Nicole. “Fine. Keep your secrets.” She studied Nicole for a moment, then switched gears. “I hope I’m not overstepping, but … your mom?”

Nicole let out a small breath, as if weighing how much to say. “My biological parents died when I was barely two. I was adopted not long after. But my adoptive mom passed away a few years later, so it’s just been the three of us. My dad, my sister, and me.”

She smiled a little wistfully. “Not that he ever treated me any differently than Chrissy. I keep telling her he loves me more.”

“I’m sorry, Nicole,” Waverly said softly. “It sounds like you have an amazing family, though.” 

“I do. I’m very lucky,” Nicole admitted. “What about you?”

“My mom left when I was three. I don’t know where she is now. My dad died when I was six. It’s just been my two older sisters and me since then.”

“I’m sorry.” Nicole’s voice was sincere. “Just goes to show how much we shape our own futures, huh?” 

“I guess,” Waverly murmured. “Are you running your dad’s business now?”

Nicole nodded. “Yeah. Just carrying on the trade.” 

“You don’t sound thrilled about it.”

“I like it, don’t get me wrong. The actual business part, I love. But everything else? The endless meetings, site checks, logistics, paperwork, clients breathing down my neck? It wears a person down.”

“I get that,” Waverly nodded. “So, what do you do … besides Muay Thai … for yourself, Nicole Haught? What makes your soul happy?”

Nicole chuckled. “You won’t laugh?” 

Waverly raised a hand in oath and crossed a finger over her heart with the other.

“Cars,” Nicole admitted, a little shy. “I love working on them, tinkering, modifying, pushing them to their limits. And then I love driving them. Fast.”

Waverly smirked. “And knocking into people?”

Nicole rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “Just the pretty ones.”

~~~

It had been a week.

A week since Nicole had last seen Waverly. A week buried under work, calls, and negotiations that left no room for anything, or anyone else. But in the rare quiet moments between the chaos, her mind drifted back to hazel green eyes, teasing smiles, and wavy brown hair. 

She hadn’t reached out. Not once.

Would Waverly have wanted her to? Would she have been waiting?

Then, yesterday she received a text message from Waverly. 

Come to the gallery tomorrow night. My work’s being showcased.

It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t a request. But Nicole had read it more than once. She’d imagined what Waverly’s voice would have sounded like saying the words, what her eyes would have looked like. Would she have been wearing one of her pretty smiles? 

And now, here she was.

There were a lot of people in the gallery. Examining the artwork, sipping champagne, having conversations. Everyone was dressed to the nines. Nicole wove her way through the space, relieved she had decided to throw on a formal-ish jacket over her button up shirt and dark jeans.

Then, she saw her. 

Waverly stood near one of the larger pieces, talking to an older couple. Her hair was swept up, exposing the curve of her neck, and a sheer green evening dress draped elegantly over her. She looked different tonight. Poised in a way Nicole hadn’t seen before. Confident, yet somehow softer. She looked in her element.

Nicole hung back, watching as Waverly laughed lightly at something, her hands moving as she spoke. Then, as if sensing her, Waverly’s gaze shifted across the room and landed on her.

For a moment, she just looked. Then, the corners of her lips curled into a small smile. 

Nicole let herself believe it was meant for her. That familiar pull stirred in her chest. The one Waverly always sparked, whether she was inches away or miles apart.

She moved toward her. To be close. To be with her.

“Nicole …” Waverly’s voice was warm as she excused herself from the couple and stepped closer. “I’m glad you’re here.” 

Nicole took Waverly’s hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it. “Hello, beautiful.” 

Nicole smirked as she felt the faint tremble in Waverly’s hand. 

A pinkish hue dusted Waverly’s cheeks at the term. She cleared her throat, composing herself. “I’ll show you around?”

Nicole’s thumb brushed over Waverly’s knuckles before she let go. “Please.”

Waverly led Nicole through the gallery, weaving past clusters of guests until they stopped in front of a large canvas near the far wall.

“This one,” Waverly said softly.

Nicole tilted her head as she took it in. The painting was a vast landscape. Rolling hills bathed in the golden light of a setting sun. A single path cut through the middle, winding toward a distant horizon where the sky bled into a dusky pink.

“It’s beautiful,” Nicole murmured. “Feels like something out of a dream.”

Waverly smiled. “That’s kind of the point.” She glanced at Nicole before turning back to the painting. “It’s about … yearning. That feeling of knowing where you want to go, but not quite being there yet. The anticipation of something just out of reach.”

Nicole’s gaze moved to her. “And what’s waiting at the end of the path?”

Waverly held her eyes. “Someone,” she said finally.

Nicole hummed. “Must be a recent painting, then.”

Air caught in Waverly’s throat, just barely, but Nicole noticed.

With a light scoff, Waverly shook her head and shot Nicole a sideways glance. “I thought you’d forgotten me. Haven’t heard from you in a week.”

Nicole exhaled. She looked at the painting again briefly before returning to Waverly. “Did you miss me?” 

A flush crept up Waverly’s neck. “That’s a little full of yourself, don’t you think?”

Nicole smirked. “Not an answer.”

Waverly tilted her head. “Did you ? Miss me?”

Nicole’s eyes stayed on Waverly’s for a moment. 

“Yes.” 

Waverly’s teasing smile faltered for a split second at the quiet honesty in Nicole’s voice.

“I thought about you,” Nicole admitted. “Dreamt about you.”

Waverly clearly hadn’t expected that. They barely knew each other, and had only met a handful of times. She swallowed, but quickly covered the moment with a scoff. “You’re dangerous.”

Before Nicole could respond, a figure stepped up beside Waverly.

"Waves," the woman drawled. "You planning on ignoring the rest of your guests all night to entertain the hot redhead? Do I at least get an introduction?"

Waverly smiled. “Nicole, this is my sister, Wynonna.” She turned to Wynonna. “Wynonna, this is Nicole.”

Nicole extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Wynonna shook it firmly. “So, you’re the mysterious woman who knocked my sister down. Waverly’s been-” 

“Wynonna,” Waverly quickly cut in and gave her a warning look.

Wynonna smirked but let it slide. “So … Nicole. How’re you enjoying the evening so far? Bored yet?” 

Nicole huffed a small laugh. “Not at all. The art is incredible. And your sister’s very talented.”

Wynonna nodded. “Yeah, yeah, my baby sister’s got talent.” She nudged Waverly playfully. “But I meant the company.”

Waverly shot her a look, but Nicole smirked. “No complaints there either.”

Wynonna snorted. “Smooth.” She glanced around the gallery. “Anyway, I need to steal Waves for a sec. Think you can survive without her?”

Nicole placed a hand over her heart. “I’ll try my best.”

Waverly gave Nicole a small smile before Wynonna tugged her away, leaving Nicole watching after her.

Nicole stayed for a while, weaving through the gallery as she took in more of Waverly’s paintings. Other artists’ works were displayed as well, but she found herself drawn back to Waverly’s pieces. There was something familiar in them. The warmth, the quiet longing, the way light and shadow intertwined. Maybe it was the art itself. Or maybe it was because, in every brushstroke, she saw Waverly.

Eventually, she ended up in front of the first painting Waverly had shown her of the winding path. Nicole studied it again, remembering the way Waverly looked at her earlier, when she said ‘someone’. 

Glancing around, she searched for Waverly, but the room had grown busier, and she was nowhere in sight. Checking the time, she pulled out her phone and typed out a message.

Heading out. Tonight was amazing. Congratulations again, Waverly. See you soon? 

She slipped her phone back into her pocket, and made her way to the exit. The cool night air greeted her as she stepped through the doors, but before she could take another step, hurried footsteps sounded behind her.

“Nicole!”

She turned just in time for Waverly to reach her, slightly breathless in those high heels. 

Nicole lifted an eyebrow. “Running after me?”

Waverly exhaled a soft laugh and gently pulled her to the side, away from the main entrance. “I didn’t get to say goodbye.”

“You didn’t have to,” Nicole said. “But I’m glad you did.”

Waverly smiled. “Thank you for coming.”

Nicole’s voice was gentle. “Of course.”

A pause stretched between them. And then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Waverly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Nicole. 

For a beat, Nicole stood still, caught off guard. Then she let herself melt into it, arms sliding around Waverly’s waist as she held her close.

Neither of them moved to pull away. They stayed there, wrapped in each other. Neither of them wanted to break the moment.

Eventually, Waverly murmured, “Good night.”

Nicole blinked, snapped out of the quiet spell Waverly had cast over her. She smiled sheepishly. “Good night.”

She forced herself to step back, to turn away, and walked off into the night, aware of Waverly’s gaze on her until she disappeared from view.

~~~

For almost two months now, Nicole and Waverly had been circling each other. The flirting had become blatant, especially from Nicole, but Waverly had her own sharp comebacks, too. Ones that left Nicole grinning for hours after. Their eyes spoke volumes, saying things they weren’t ready to put into words. And the touches had become intentional, trailing just a little too long. 

Nicole knew she was falling. Hard. For this incredible, smart, beautiful woman who made her world brighter every time they met. Their little routine had become sacred. They would meet at what they now called our bench , where they would sit for hours, talking about everything and nothing. From what they had for breakfast to Waverly’s latest work-in-progress. Every conversation felt easy, natural.

Waverly was endlessly curious about Nicole’s work, her cars, and especially her Muay Thai training. And Nicole, in turn, had found herself fascinated by Waverly’s art, drawn into the passion and meaning behind each piece. Family, though, was a topic Waverly kept guarded, and Nicole never pushed. Maybe, someday, Waverly would trust her enough to share that part of herself. If she wanted to.

That morning was no different. Nicole had picked up coffee and settled onto their bench, waiting for Waverly. She was always early, even though Waverly’s booth was just up the street. She didn’t mind. These quiet moments were a rare luxury. Just a few minutes of calm, free from the weight of business deals, the constant threat of rival gangs, or the ever watchful eyes of Dolls and Eliza. Here, there was no strategy, no survival, just peace. And the anticipation of seeing the woman she was falling for.

“You always look so peaceful like that,” Waverly said as she approached, noting Nicole with her head tilted back, eyes closed. “What do you think about?”

A slow smile spread across Nicole’s lips even before she opened her eyes. “Mostly you.” 

Waverly rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. “Charmer. Now hand over my coffee.”

Nicole passed her a cup and took a sip of her own. “Tell me something.” 

“Something,” Waverly deadpanned. 

Nicole suddenly reached for Waverly’s wrist. “Give me back that coffee!”

Waverly squealed, yanking it away. “Okay, okay! Tell you what?”

“Mm … tell me you’ll have dinner with me tomorrow night.” 

Waverly tilted her head, amused. “Smooth.”

Nicole winked. “Will you?”

Waverly sighed. “I can’t tomorrow night. I’ve got a business thing with my sisters.”

“Fuck,” Nicole muttered. “That reminds me. I’ll be away too. The day after tomorrow?”

Waverly bit her lip. “Sorry … I’m meeting with a curator.” 

“Friday, then,” Nicole pressed, and before Waverly could decline again, she quickly added, “Just ten minutes. I promise.”

Waverly arched a brow. “Ten minutes? That’s the worst dinner date proposal I’ve ever heard.”

Nicole grinned. “Just ten minutes. I’ll send a car.”

Waverly studied her for a moment before nodding. “Alright. See you Friday. For ten whole minutes.”

~~~

"All set?" Nicole glanced at Dolls and Eliza.

They nodded and slipped into the car. Dolls in the passenger seat, Eliza in the back, one hand resting on her holster, always ready.

Tonight’s shipment was small but crucial. The seller was testing a new route out of Xiamen. If it worked, it could mean a steady pipeline of business. More than the cargo, Nedley valued connections. Loyalty meant everything. He called it "marketing costs." 

For Nicole, this wasn’t just another run. It was proof of concept.

The black SUV rolled to a slow stop near the docks. Nicole cut the engine and scanned the scene. Shipping containers loomed in stacks. A few dock workers were already unloading the shipment onto a flatbed trolley. Three small wooden crates marked with red symbols.

Dolls swept the area. “Quiet.” 

“I don’t like it,” Eliza’s fingers tightened around her gun.

Nicole felt it too, that gnawing, prickling instinct telling her something was wrong. But they were here now. The job had to be done.

She walked ahead and greeted the foreman overseeing the transport. “Smooth trip?”

He nodded. “No problems. Crates are intact.”

The first crate was hefted into the SUV. Two more to go. Almost done. Almost-

The first gunshot cracked. 

“Down!” Dolls roared, already drawing his pistol free as the workers scattered. The second shot splintered the wood of a nearby crate. 

Nicole reached for her gun as she took cover behind the SUV.

Figures emerged from the shadows between the containers. Six, maybe seven people, all armed.

“Whose crew is this?” Eliza pressed against a crate. “This is just not done!” 

A spray of bullets tore through the dock. A worker cried out as he took a hit.

“Fuck!” Nicole growled. “Dolls?”

“Flank left,” he ordered. “I’ll cover. Eliza, take right. Let’s pinch these bastards in.”

Nicole gripped her gun tighter as she took off. She sprinted low and fast behind the parked forklift and slid into position. A gunman stepped out. She fired. The bullet hit his chest, dropping him instantly.

Eliza fired twice. One bullet took a man in the leg, the second ripped through his throat.

Dolls laid down covering fire , forcing the remaining shooters back. “Move the shipment!” he barked at the workers, who scrambled to lift the final crate into the SUV.

Nicole reloaded fast. “E, clear a path!”

Eliza smirked. “With pleasure.” She pulled a flashbang and tossed it. 

The explosion of light and sound disoriented their enemies just long enough. Dolls took two down in clean, efficient shots. Nicole hit another in the shoulder, sending him crashing against the side of a container. 

The last man saw his crew drop and bolted toward the water.

Nicole let him run. A message needed to be sent.

“Eliza, get in the goddamn car!” Dolls yelled.

Nicole was already in the driver’s seat, slamming the gas as Eliza dove into the back. The SUV roared away from the docks, leaving the chaos behind.

Nicole glanced in the rearview mirror. Dock workers scrambled haphazardly, bodies lay on the ground.

“Could’ve been worse.”

Dolls exhaled sharply. “Who the hell were they?”

Eliza rolled her shoulders. “And how the fuck did they know to show up tonight?” 

Nicole stared at the road ahead. “The Xiamen route was supposed to be classified. We’ve got a mole.”

~~~

Dolls pulled the car up to the curb and waited as Waverly hesitated.

“ Here ?” she glanced at him in disbelief. “The date is at our bench ?”

Dolls simply shrugged.  

With a huff, one that did little to mask the nervous flutter in her chest, Waverly stepped out. She fidgeted with the strap of her purse as the car pulled away, but she barely noticed. Her gaze was already locked onto the sight ahead.

A single lantern hung from the lamppost beside their bench. Beneath it, Nicole sat with effortless ease, arms draped along the backrest, eyes closed. Beside her sat two thermoses and a small box.

Waverly approached the bench the way she always did, slipping into their familiar rhythm. “Your ten minutes start now.”

Nicole’s eyes fluttered open, and for a long moment, she just looked at Waverly.

Waverly was radiant. The soft glow of the lantern highlighted the smooth line of her shoulders, the delicate straps of her black dress, the way the hem skimmed just above mid thigh. High heeled black stilettos elongated her legs, and her hair, usually pulled up, was loose in soft curls that framed her face.

Nicole took a slow, deep breath.

Waverly’s lips twitched. “Are you just going to stare?” she teased. “Nine and a half minutes.”

Nicole stood, reached for Waverly’s wrists and pulled her in. Close, flush against her.

Waverly’s breath caught, eyes wide as she met Nicole’s.

The warmth of Waverly’s skin, the scent of her perfume, wrapped around Nicole like a spell. She dipped her head, pressed the softest of kisses against Waverly’s cheek before whispering against her ear, “You look beautiful.” 

When she pulled back, the most adorable flush coloured Waverly’s cheeks.

“Dinner?” Nicole gestured toward the bench.

Waverly sat, and Nicole handed her a napkin before opening the small box.

Waverly’s eyes lit up. “Are these …?” 

"Peanut butter caramel cupcakes," Nicole smiled, knowing they were Waverly’s favourite. She had asked the barista at Waverly’s usual coffee shop, who mentioned that Waverly loved them but only indulged in them occasionally, as a rare treat. 

Waverly picked one up and took a bite, humming in delight as she closed her eyes.

Nicole watched, utterly captivated. Then, with a grin, she took a large bite of her own.

When Waverly glanced up, she giggled.

“What?” Nicole frowned. 

“You have …” Waverly reached out and swiped a finger across the tip of Nicole’s nose. “There.”

And without a second thought, she brought the finger to her lips, licking the frosting away. 

Nicole blinked. 

Waverly stilled, realizing what she had just done. Then, deciding she had nothing to lose, she locked eyes with Nicole and, with purposeful slowness, slid her finger from her mouth with a soft pop.

Nicole licked her lips, gaze fixed on Waverly’s mouth. “Fuck.”

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Five minutes had passed. She had set a timer to go off at five, nine, and ten minutes, with Fools Rush In set to play softly in the background.

Without breaking eye contact, she took the cupcake from Waverly’s hand and placed it back in the box. Then, standing, she extended a hand. “Dance with me.” 

Waverly’s lips curled into a soft smile as she placed her hand in Nicole’s.

Nicole pulled her in and wrapped her arms around her waist, while Waverly draped hers over Nicole’s shoulders, melting into the warmth between them as the music swelled from the phone’s speaker in Nicole’s pocket.

“This is nice,” Nicole murmured.

“Mm,” Waverly hummed in agreement.

Nicole let them sway for a moment before asking, “How did your business trip go?” 

Waverly pouted. “Not too great. A competitor ran off with the deal.” 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Nicole growled at the sight of that pout.

Waverly tilted her head. “Did you just growl at me?”

Nicole’s ears burned. “Stop pouting. I can’t stand it.”

“Why?” Waverly bit her lower lip.

Nicole’s gaze darkened. “Because if I had it my way, I’d take that lip between mine and devour it.”

Waverly gasped. “What’s stopping you?” 

“Manners,” Nicole said simply.

“Huh?” 

Nicole’s voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re special, Waverly Gibson. And I’d like to give you a proper first kiss. One that sets butterflies loose in your stomach. That makes your heart race like a drum. That makes your knees weak until I have to hold you up.”

Waverly nearly melted on the spot but somehow kept her composure. Barely. “You think so highly of yourself?” 

Nicole smirked. “I know so highly of myself.” 

“So cocky!” Waverly teased. She brought one hand down to rest flat against Nicole’s chest, feeling the steady beat beneath her palm.

Just then, the nine minute timer vibrated in Nicole’s pocket, silencing the music. One minute left.

Nicole stilled. Slowly, she reached into the back pocket of her pants and pulled out a single stalk of red camellia. She held it to her chest.

Waverly’s lips curled into a soft smile. “What’s this?”

“A beautiful flower for my beautiful lady,” Nicole said. 

“ Your lady?” Waverly reached for the flower, but Nicole pulled it back. 

Instead, Nicole tightened her hold and drew Waverly even closer. Her gaze dipped to Waverly’s lips before meeting her eyes again. She whispered, “May I kiss you?”

Waverly didn’t trust her voice, not with the way Nicole was looking at her. So she gave a small, breathless nod.

Nicole leaned in. Her lips brushed against Waverly’s in the softest, most reverent kiss. It was slow, tender, unrushed. Waverly’s lips were warm, impossibly soft, and molded perfectly against Nicole’s own. A quiet sigh escaped Waverly as her fingers slid up into the short hairs at the nape of Nicole’s neck, her nails scratched lightly against her skin. 

Nicole’s heart pounded, as if trying to memorize this moment, to etch it into her very being. She deepened the kiss just slightly, savouring the way Waverly melted into her. Nothing else existed. Just the taste of Waverly, the warmth between them, and the quiet hum of something inevitable falling into place.

And when Nicole pulled away, Waverly’s eyes fluttered open, her breath shaky, her knees unsteady. Just as Nicole had promised.

Nicole smiled. She brought her hand around to offer Waverly the flower. Waverly accepted it with a soft smile, and a deepening pink on her cheeks.

The timer vibrated. Nicole’s ten minutes were up.

“Time’s up,” Nicole whispered, though she made no move to let Waverly go. 

“Date over?” Waverly’s eyes searched Nicole’s.

Nicole nodded. “Date over.” 

Nicole slowly loosened her hold, but Waverly didn’t step away. Instead, she twirled the red camellia between her fingers and glanced up at Nicole through her lashes.

“So, what happens now?” Waverly asked. 

Nicole smirked. “Technically, you should be leaving.” 

Waverly arched a brow. “Technically?”

Nicole shrugged. “You only gave me ten minutes.”

Waverly hummed, considering. Then, with a slow step back, she turned and made her way to the bench. She sat down as if she hadn’t just been kissed breathless moments ago. She patted the space beside her. “Then I guess I’m not on a date anymore. I’m just here, at our bench, drinking coffee like always.”

Nicole chuckled and shook her head before joining her. She reached for her thermos and twisted the lid off. Directly under the lantern now, Nicole was able to see what looked like a small burn mark on Waverly’s shoulder, just below the strap of her dress. 

Her brows furrowed. “Did you get hurt?”

Waverly followed Nicole’s gaze before looking back at her with a small, dismissive smile. “Oh, that? It’s nothing. I forgot all about it. Clearly, since I put on a spaghetti strap dress.”

Nicole wasn’t convinced. “What happened?”

Waverly waved a hand. “Just a little accident at the studio last night. I got too close to a soldering iron. Barely felt it.”

Nicole’s eyes remained on the mark for a second longer. It didn’t quite look like a soldering burn. She knew burns. She’d gotten her fair share working on her cars, and … other things. But she let it go. Maybe Waverly just wasn’t ready to share the real story.

Instead, she said softly, “Come here.” 

Waverly set her thermos behind her and scooted closer.

Nicole reached for the thin strap of Waverly’s dress and gently slid it down her shoulder.

Waverly released a sharp gasp. 

Nicole leaned in. A soft kiss landed on the burn, featherlight, like a whisper against her skin. Then another, trailing up the side of her neck. Slow, open mouthed, drawn out. And finally, a brief but firm kiss on her lips before Nicole pulled away and slid the strap back into place.

Waverly stared at her, lips parted, breath uneven. “I should get injured more often.” 

Nicole chuckled. “Did you enjoy your date, Waverly?” 

Waverly exhaled a dreamy sigh. “Very much. Every second of each of those ten minutes.” 

“Good.” Nicole smirked. “Maybe next time, you’ll let me take you out for twenty?”

Waverly giggled. “How about this? Why don’t you let me ask you out on the next date?”

“Oh?” Nicole lifted an eyebrow. “I’d like that.”

“Okay,” Waverly nodded.

Chapter Text

Bangkok, Thailand

July, 2021

“Hey, Chrissy,” Nicole greeted tiredly as she slumped into the couch. 

“Are we all set?” Chrissy asked. 

“All good,” Nicole sighed. “I just need sleep.”

“No kidding,” Chrissy gave her a once over. “You look like you need some. Between work and your pent up frustrations, you probably need to sleep for three days.” 

Nicole shot her a glare. “I’m not pent up.” 

Chrissy smirked. “Come on. You’ve been circling this woman for four months now, and she still hasn’t given it up! Have you finally lost the Haught Charm?” 

Nicole threw her head back against the couch. “For your information, the Haught Charm is still very much intact. She’s just … she’s special. I want this to be at her pace. However goddamn fucking glacial that may be!” 

Chrissy giggled. “See? Pent up.”

Nicole groaned. “Chrissy!” 

“Okay, okay,” Chrissy relented. “Dad wants to know if we have any updates on the Visal deal.” 

“No changes,” Nicole replied. “Deal’s going down as planned. I’ve shifted some resources and delegated our other deals to the crew. My focus is locked on Visal. Can’t screw this up.” 

“Good. Can’t afford to screw it up.”

Nicole exhaled sharply. “Speaking of which, did you dig up anything else on the Earps?”

Chrissy frowned. “Nothing. They’re an elusive bunch. Their name gets tossed around a lot, but there’s no real trail. No files, no transaction history, no pictures, not even first names. Nada. It’s like they’re ghosts.”

Nicole leaned forward. “Our rival gangs don’t pull shit like this. They know the rules. If they lose the deal, they bow out at the table. No car chases. No ambushes. But now it’s happening too often. Someone’s stirring things up, and I’d bet anything it’s the Earps. We can’t have them messing up the Visal deal.” 

“I know,” Chrissy said. “Dad’s been worried about that, too. Did you know he and Ward Earp used to run together back in the day?” 

Nicole’s eyes narrowed. “No. I did not.”

“Yeah. Ward’s been dead a long time. Now, his family runs the crew.”

“Hm. Whatever it is, we need something . A breadcrumb. And we need to flush out our mole, fast. We’ve got six weeks, Chrissy.”

Nicole’s phone chimed just then, and the moment she saw Waverly’s name, a smile tugged at her lips.

I hereby cordially invite you to our second date at my home, tomorrow at 8 pm. I am graciously offering to cook you dinner, so come with an empty stomach. I promise you’ll leave … happy .

Heat crept up Nicole’s neck. “Waverly, you foxy minx.”

She quickly typed back:

‘I gratefully accept this gracious offer.’

8 pm tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough. 

~~~

Nicole knocked softly on the door of Apartment 108 in the ultra luxurious Suphansa Residences. In one hand, she gripped a bottle of Barolo tightly by the neck. She wasn’t even sure if it would pair well with whatever Waverly had cooked, but she remembered that Waverly had once mentioned it was her favourite red.

In her other hand, a single stalk of red camellia. 

The door swung open within seconds. 

And just like that, Nicole forgot how to breathe.

Waverly stood barefoot, one hand resting lightly on the doorframe. She looked stunning in a champagne coloured silk slip dress that ended just below her knees. The low V-neckline skimmed her collarbones, dipping just enough to tease, while the thin sleeves left her shoulders bare. A high side slit revealed the smooth length of her leg and a glimpse of skin every time she shifted.

Her hair was swept into a loose updo, a few soft tendrils framed her face. Small gold hoop earrings, subtle makeup, softly defined eyes. And a rosy nude lip that looked far too inviting.

Nicole swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry.

“Hi,” Waverly greeted with a knowing smile. 

Nicole didn’t respond. She couldn’t . 

"Are you planning to step inside, or should I start setting the table out here?" Waverly teased.

“She wears a sexy dress and expects me to function,” Nicole breathed. 

Waverly giggled, clearly enjoying the effect she had.

With some effort, Nicole stepped inside and handed her the flower.

Waverly twirled the stem between her fingers. “Still only one stalk, Haught? El-cheapo much?”

Nicole pouted. “It’s romantic!” 

Shaking her head, Waverly laughed and nodded toward the kitchen. “Come on, dinner’s ready.”

The apartment was beautifully and carefully designed, no doubt by Waverly herself. Soft cream coloured walls and high ceilings, complemented by sleek, tasteful furniture. A few of Waverly’s sketches hung on the walls. And one entire wall was a floor to ceiling glass window with a breathtaking view of the city skyline.

Nicole took it all in, appreciating the beauty of the space. But there was something odd. There were no family photos. No framed memories. Nothing personal beyond the art.

“I made lasagna,” Waverly interrupted Nicole’s thoughts as she poured the wine into two glasses. She carried them over to where Nicole stood in the living room. “You remembered.”

Nicole smiled. “I remember everything about you, Waves.” 

Waverly blinked. “Waves?” she repeated, her voice quieter now.

Nicole’s eyes widened. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t-”

“I like it,” Waverly interrupted with a small smile. “Sit.” 

Nicole obeyed immediately, as if she was following precise instructions. 

Waverly settled next to her, tucking one knee beneath her leg. She tilted her head, amused. “Why’re you so nervous? What happened to the cocky matinee hero who promised to kiss me until my knees went weak?”

Nicole’s confident grin returned. “I did kiss you until your knees went weak. Or have you already forgotten?”

Waverly set her glass on the table, then gently took Nicole’s from her and placed it beside hers. She slid her hands up to Nicole’s shoulders and shifted onto her lap, straddling her. The movement caused her dress to slip higher up her thighs. 

She leaned in, so close that her lips brushed against Nicole’s as she whispered, “A girl doesn’t forget a kiss like that. But why don’t you remind me anyway?”

Nicole’s expression darkened as her hands glided along Waverly’s sides, tracing the bare skin of her thighs. She kneaded the firm muscle, fingers traveling higher until they cupped beneath Waverly’s buttocks.

Waverly’s gaze burned into her, eyes ablaze, breaths shallow. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, her hips began to move against Nicole’s stomach. Her fingers wove into Nicole’s hair and grazed the nape of her neck with light, teasing scratches.

Nicole pressed a soft kiss to her neck, then the underside of her jaw, before capturing Waverly’s lips in a fierce, consuming kiss. Nicole felt like her entire body had been lit on fire. Her hands roamed, gripping Waverly’s ass beneath her dress, pulling her in, pressing her closer.

Their tongues met, and Nicole swallowed a groan. The taste of Waverly sent a fresh wave of need through her. 

Waverly’s response was instant. Her fingers tangled in Nicole’s hair, nails scraped against her scalp, making her shiver.

Nicole’s lips broke away to trail down Waverly’s neck. She felt Waverly’s thighs tighten around her hips, locking her in place.

Her hands slid to Waverly’s waist and tightened. She lifted her. Effortless, controlled. She turned and laid Waverly onto the couch. 

Then, without breaking eye contact, Nicole dropped to her knees.

Her hands slid up Waverly’s thighs again. Her gaze softened. Searching, waiting, asking.

Waverly’s lips curled into a knowing smile. She sat up, caught Nicole’s jaw between her fingers, and pulled her into a soft kiss. 

Then, against Nicole’s lips, she whispered, "Yes."

Nicole growled. The sound came out low and hungry. She caught Waverly’s bottom lip between her teeth, tugging just enough to make her gasp, then guided her back until she was sprawled against the couch.

Nicole’s mouth was on her instantly. She trailed open, hot kisses down her neck, her collarbone, teasing over the swell of her breasts, still hidden beneath the fabric of her dress. And lower, lower, to her stomach. 

Then, she pushed Waverly’s dress up and over her head, tossing it aside without a second thought.

Nicole sat back on her heels, stunned.

Waverly had left nothing to the imagination. No bra. Just smooth, bare skin, her nipples peaked, begging for attention. The only thing left between them was the flimsy scrap of lace that barely qualified as underwear.

Nicole dragged her gaze up to Waverly’s. Eyes dark, voice hushed. “You’re so fucking beautiful.” 

Waverly shivered under the weight of that stare. Heat pooled low in her belly. She reached for Nicole, desperate, needy, aching to feel her hands, her mouth, her everything.

Nicole pressed a kiss to the soft skin above Waverly’s knee, then slowly up the inside of her thigh. She glanced up and was met with Waverly’s gaze. Locked, intense, unblinking.

Skirting the heat radiating from her centre, Nicole moved higher, trailing kisses along her stomach, then up to the dip of her sternum.

Her breath came shallow. “Let me take my time,” she whispered.

Waverly didn’t answer. She just watched, as Nicole’s lips closed around her breast. A moan escaped her as she arched into the touch.

Nicole brought a hand to the other breast, rolling the nipple between her fingers while her mouth worked in tandem to suck. She teased with her tongue, grazed the nipple between her teeth. Then she released and switched sides. 

Satisfied, she trailed slow kisses up Waverly’s chest and neck, pausing at her pulse point. She pressed her lips to it, then sucked hard, claiming the spot. As she let go, she soothed it with a slow lick, watching the skin bloom red beneath her mouth. She placed one more gentle kiss there before moving to her jaw, then finally capturing her lips again.

Nicole slipped her tongue between Waverly’s lips. Waverly met her with a hungry pull, sucking her in, deepening the kiss. Then Nicole felt her legs wrap tightly around her hips, drawing her flush into her body. 

Nicole broke the kiss and trailed back down. Her lips brushed a path across Waverly’s skin. Back on her knees before the couch, she gently pushed Waverly’s legs apart, and settled between them. She hooked Waverly’s knees over her shoulders. Then, locking eyes with her, Nicole pressed a featherlight kiss to the delicate lace stretched over her heat.

Waverly’s head tipped back against the couch, as Nicole kissed her through the lace, as if coaxing her body to open up. Waverly gasped. It felt too much and not enough all at once. Her hand shot out into Nicole’s hair, gripping tightly, urging her closer. She craved more contact, more sensation. And she wanted it now. 

Nicole lifted her mouth from Waverly’s covered centre. “Patience,” she murmured. 

Waverly whimpered at the loss of contact. She was prepared to beg if she had to. 

Nicole hooked her fingers into the waistband of her panties and slowly slid them down Waverly’s legs. Then she settled back between her thighs. 

“Fuck,” she murmured against Waverly’s glistening centre. “You’re so fucking wet.” 

“Nicole …” Waverly moaned. 

Nicole ran a finger through her folds. She watched as Waverly writhed beneath her. Her finger was immediately coated with thick slick. She lowered her mouth and ran her tongue slowly through the wet heat. Then another long lick, this time slower and deeper. 

“You taste so sweet,” Nicole breathed. “So wet for me.” 

She closed her lips around Waverly’s aching clit and sucked hard, drawing a loud, desperate moan from her. Then she licked with intent, strokes that grew faster, more insistent. She circled the swollen bud with her tongue, flicking and teasing, applying pressure, then easing off. Again, she sucked, then flattened her tongue against the sensitive nub and pressed.

Nicole kept her lips locked around Waverly’s clit. Her tongue moved in solid, pulsing strokes. Her hands gripped Waverly’s thighs, holding her steady as she worked.

Waverly’s movements grew frantic. Her body was trembling. Nicole felt the tension coil tight. She quickened her pace. With one final, hard suck, Waverly cried out her name, back arching as the orgasm crashed through her.

Nicole slowed her tongue, circling gently, coaxing every last wave of pleasure from her, drawing it out until Waverly finally slumped back, boneless and gasping.

Finally, Nicole pulled away from Waverly’s centre. She pressed a tender kiss to the inside of her thigh before making her way up her body. She waited until Waverly’s eyes fluttered open, then kissed her. 

Waverly moaned into the kiss, tasting herself on Nicole’s lips. She was so lost in the warmth of it that she didn’t notice Nicole’s hand slipping between her legs again, until fingers began circling her still sensitive clit.

Her eyes flew open. 

Nicole leaned into Waverly’s ear. “I’m not done with you yet,” she growled. 

Her hand slid further down and two fingers slid deep inside Waverly. 

“Nicole!” Waverly screamed. She clung on tightly to Nicole’s back. Her legs fell open wider. 

Nicole’s fingers stroked into Waverly. She built her cadence guided by Waverly’s every reaction. By the arch of her back, the clutch of her nails, the way her hips rolled to meet each thrust.

“You’re so beautiful like this.” Nicole’s lips brushed the hollow of Waverly’s neck. “All bare and helpless.” 

Waverly moaned loudly at the sound of those words. 

Nicole’s lips trailed down the curve of Waverly’s neck, to her collarbone, and then enveloped a breast in her mouth. She felt the tightening of Waverly’s walls around her fingers as she quickened her thrusts. When Waverly began to clench, Nicole curled her fingers inside her. 

“Come for me,” Nicole whispered. 

And Waverly did. 

Her second orgasm hit her stronger and more intense than the first. She cried out. Her breath was ragged and her body jerked against Nicole’s fingers. Her nails dug into Nicole’s shirt as the pleasure consumed her. Nicole held her steady, lips pressed against Waverly’s neck, guiding her through the aftershocks.

Still breathing heavily, Waverly released her tight grip on Nicole and melted into the couch. 

Nicole gently eased her fingers out of Waverly and shifted beside her. With one hand behind Waverly’s back and the other beneath her knees, she lifted her into her lap. Waverly was too spent to move on her own. She rested her head against Nicole’s shoulder as Nicole pressed a soft kiss into her hair.

They stayed like that for a few moments before Nicole’s voice broke it. “You okay?”

“No,” Waverly mumbled against Nicole’s neck.

Nicole’s brow furrowed with concern as she looked at her. 

“You’re overdressed.” Waverly pulled back to meet Nicole’s eyes. “I need you in my bed. Naked. Now.”

Nicole chuckled. “Hm. Not until I get round three from you, first.” 

Nicole stood up with Waverly in her arms. Waverly squealed, instinctively wrapping her arms around Nicole’s neck as she was swept up.

*

Waverly’s fingers lightly traced over the ridged scar just above Nicole’s hip bone. “What’s this from?” 

Nicole glanced down, already knowing what Waverly had found. She hesitated a beat too long before sighing. “I got shot.”

Waverly’s eyes snapped up to hers. “You got shot ? How? Why ?”

Nicole exhaled. “The work I do … it’s not exactly your typical corporate office job. It’s a little more … hands on.”

Waverly’s brows drew together. “What are you talking about?”

“My line of work is dangerous, Waverly,” Nicole admitted.

Waverly searched her face. “What do you do exactly? Will you at least tell me now?” 

Nicole paused, then let out a slow breath. “I can’t tell you that. But it’s enough to know I need to keep you out of it as much as I can. Please don’t push this.”

A moment of silence stretched between them before Waverly nodded. “Okay.” Her voice was soft, but her eyes held questions she didn’t voice. Instead, she asked, “Will you be okay?”

Nicole pressed a kiss to Waverly’s forehead. “I’m always careful.” She pulled back just enough to smirk. “Why? Are you worried about me?”

Waverly rolled her eyes even as her fingers absentmindedly traced over Nicole’s scar again. “Of course not! I’m just a nosey parker.” Her hand trailed higher until her fingertips brushed over another scar on Nicole’s shoulder. “What about this one?”

“You really are a nosey parker,” Nicole teased. “That one’s from a car accident. I was young and stupid. I was trying to impress a girl. I overshot a cliff target, had to roll out before the car went flying down with me. Knocked my shoulder against a sharp rock on the way out.” 

Waverly shook her head. “You and your cars! What wouldn’t you do to impress a girl?” 

“Back then? Anything,” Nicole said. “But for you? Everything.” 

“Ever the charmer!” Waverly swatted at Nicole’s chest. “Please don’t go driving off cliffs for me. I’m not that into cars.”

“But you’re into me?” Nicole rolled Waverly over and pinned her against the bed. 

Waverly squinted playfully. “ Juste un petit peu .” (2)

Nicole groaned. She buried her face in the hollow of Waverly’s neck. “That was so fucking sexy.”

~~~

“We set, Nicole?” Nedley asked. 

It was a week before the biggest deal of their lives. The Visal deal. Set to go down at the Thai-Cambodian border. It had to be airtight. Nedley had gathered Nicole, Eliza, Dolls, and Chrissy in his office to go over the final details and any potential risks.

"No one else from the crew on this, sir," Nicole said. "Just the three of us in the field, Chrissy on standby here. I don’t trust anyone else." 

Nedley nodded. “Agreed.”

"Everything’s in place. We get three coordinates, twenty four hours ahead," Nicole continued. "Dolls, Eliza, and I cross separately. We meet our contact points. No next steps until we’re on the ground."

“Any risks?” Nedley asked. 

“The Earps,” Eliza said. “They’ve been getting drops on our deals. We can’t afford leaks. No one outside this room knows a damn thing. No comms. Face-to-face only."

Chrissy sighed. "I’ve got nothing on them, just that they’re here. So stay sharp."

Nedley’s gaze swept over the room. "This deal goes sideways, we’re dead in the water. We need Visal. Make it happen."

He eyed each of them in turn. "Now get to work."

~~~

Nicole and Waverly sat side by side on their bench, with coffees in hand. 

Waverly took a sip of her drink before turning to Nicole with a hopeful smile. “Meet me tomorrow?”

Nicole smiled back, but before she could respond, Waverly added softly, “It’s my birthday.”

Nicole’s heart sank. “Shit, Waves …” She ran a hand through her hair. “I can’t. I’ll be out of town.”

“What? Nooo …” Waverly pouted. 

Nicole shook her head. “Ah ah. Don’t give me that pout. It’s not gonna work.” 

“Can’t you postpone?” Waverly pleaded. “It’s my birthday!” 

Nicole exhaled. “I’m sorry, Waves. I’ve been working on this for a while. Clients are confirmed. It’s an important one.” 

“More important than me?” Waverly’s eyes were wide. 

“You’re ridiculous,” Nicole smiled. “ Nothing is more important than you. I promise I’ll make it up to you. How about I spend the next couple of days just with you. I’ll even stay over. And you can be naked the whole time. And I will render my services for as long and as many times as you want. How does that sound?” 

Waverly smirked. “Very tempting. But how about this instead? I’ll come with you.” 

“No,” Nicole’s response was instant. “I told you before that I don't want you anywhere near my work. It’s dangerous. These people can get vicious. You can’t be there.” 

“I’m not spending my birthday without you,” Waverly crossed her arms. 

“Come on, Waves,” Nicole coaxed. “Please try to understand. I’ll be back the next day, and I’ll come straight to you. I promise.” 

Waverly exhaled. “You wouldn’t be going if this deal wasn’t important, would you?”

Nicole shook her head. 

After a moment, Waverly sighed. “Okay. But be careful. Come back to me in one piece.”

“I will,” Nicole pressed a soft kiss to Waverly’s lips. intending for it to be quick. But Waverly didn’t let her pull away. She curled her fingers around the front of Nicole’s shirt, holding her close and deepening the kiss. 

The kiss felt different to Nicole. Almost like a goodbye. She pushed the thought down as quickly as it came. It was ridiculous. She would just be gone for a day. 

Nicole exhaled against her lips. She felt bogged down by her obligations. Her hand rose to cradle Waverly’s jaw, thumb brushing lightly over her cheek.

“I hate this,” Waverly whispered against her mouth.

Nicole pressed a soft kiss to Waverly’s cheek. “Me too.”

~~~

Thailand - Cambodia Border

September, 2021

The next morning, the first thing Nicole did was text Waverly a birthday greeting. The reply came almost instantly, thanking her and wishing her good luck for work. Nicole smiled down at the message and quickly slipped the phone back into her pocket. There was no time to dwell. She got ready, met Dolls and Eliza at their cars, and they set off for the Cambodian border.

The three of them entered Cambodia separately, each taking a different route. It was part of the plan. Three different points of contact, three separate locations. Upon meeting their respective contacts, they each received a fragment of the final destination. Once assembled, the path was clear. All that remained was to collect the shipment and get out. Nicole issued explicit instructions to Dolls and Eliza before setting off toward the final pickup site. 

She never made it.

The first hit came out of nowhere. A blacked out Land Cruiser blindsided her, slamming into her car so hard it nearly ripped her off the road. Before she could react, another strike. This time, a forceful push that dragged her vehicle along the rough asphalt. Metal shrieked, glass shattered, and then, with a sickening lurch, the car flipped. Once. Twice. Until it came to a violent stop, upside down.

Nicole dangled from her seat, held in place only by her seatbelt. Blood dripped from a deep gash on her forehead, trailing down her face, blurring her vision. Her gun had been flung onto the car’s ceiling, now the floor. She grabbed onto it in a hurry. 

Through her distorted vision, she saw them.

The Land Cruiser and a few other cars skidded to a stop in front of the wreck. Doors opened. Figures emerged. Her heart pounded as she struggled to clear her sight and to focus. In the center of the group, a woman stepped forward with a gun in her hand.

Nicole blinked hard, trying to make out the face. And when she finally did, the breath punched out of her lungs.

Waverly . 

No. 

Her mind refused to process what her eyes were seeing. The blood dripping into her vision had to be playing tricks on her. The crash had rattled her brain. There was no way, no possible way, that the woman closing in on her, gun in hand, could be Waverly.

And yet, there she was. Waverly stood at the center of the chaos like she belonged there. Her delicate features, once so warm and full of life, were unreadable now. Cold, detached. The easy smile that had once made Nicole’s heart stutter was gone, replaced by a smirk laced with something sharper and wicked.

Nicole’s chest tightened. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.

It didn’t make sense. Waverly was art sketches on cream coloured walls, sunlit laughter over morning coffee, whispered kisses between tangled sheets. Waverly was the woman she had begun to-

The truth landed harder than the crash. Every moment, every touch, every look had all been calculated, expertly woven into a lie. None of it had been real.

Nicole lifted her gun, aiming straight at Waverly’s chest. Her finger hovered over the trigger, but she couldn’t do it. Her grip faltered. With a sharp exhale, she let the gun drop.

Waverly crouched beside the wreckage, gun still in hand, and peered through the shattered window.

“Nicole Haught,” her voice was laced with mockery. “International gold smuggler. Best in the business. Never lost a deal.” 

Nicole said nothing. 

“Until now,” Waverly’s tone turned razor sharp. She tilted her head. “Surprised to see me? Your sweet little … Waves ?”

Silence. 

Waverly smirked. “Waverly Earp ,” she finally revealed. She let the name settle between them. “Your world must be turned upside down right now.”

Nicole’s stomach twisted. An Earp . It burned. She had been played. 

“I worked so hard to get intel from you,” Waverly sounded almost amused. “Played the helpless girl. Let you save me. Flirted just enough to keep you hooked. Even went on that stupid date with you. Let you into my bed. Nothing. You wouldn’t spill a damn thing about work.”

Nicole’s head swam. Blood loss was catching up fast, muddling her thoughts, making everything slow. 

“But you did give me something.” Waverly’s smirk deepened. “That phone number? A direct line into your texts. Thanks for the location, by the way. My sisters are already there.” 

Nicole’s breath stopped short. 

“But me?” Waverly tilted her head. “I wanted to be here. With you .” 

Nicole’s vision blurred even further. She fought to stay conscious. 

“All those excuses yesterday … ‘No, Waves. You can’t come, Waves. It’s dangerous, Waves. They’re vicious, Waves.’,” Waverly scoffed. She turned the gun in her hand. “You know what all that danger you were so worried about is? Me.”

Nicole’s head screamed. 

Waverly lifted her gun and pressed the barrel to Nicole’s forehead. Then, she studied her for a moment, taking in her pale complexion, the sluggish droop of her eyelids.

"You’ll bleed out soon enough. That seatbelt’s probably crushing your ribs." Her voice was light, almost careless. "No need to pull the trigger. Besides …" she smirked. "It’s my birthday after all."

She straightened and stepped back. 

“Tell your dad, Ward says hello from the grave.”

Nicole heard the retreating footsteps. With the last ounce of her strength, she reached for her gun and lifted it once more.

She had the shot. Waverly’s back was turned.

But she still couldn’t take it.

Her grip loosened. The gun slipped from her fingers. And then-

Darkness.

~~~

Bangkok, Thailand

September, 2021

The Earp sisters sat sprawled across their spacious Bangkok hideout. A bottle of Dom Pérignon sat chilling in a silver ice bucket on the table. Wynonna lifted it and popped the cork. 

“Ladies,” she poured the bubbly into three crystal flutes. “To a job well done.”

Waverly leaned back against the plush leather couch. “To half a billion dollars in gold, safe and sound.” 

Willa Earp raised her glass. “And to Randy Nedley, who didn’t even see it coming.”

They clinked their glasses together with a satisfying chime.

Wynonna took a long sip before setting her glass down with a satisfied sigh. “God, that was almost too easy. Poor ol’ Nedley, probably still wondering how the hell the gold just vanished right under his nose.”

Willa snorted. “In the hands of Nicole Haught, no less.” 

At the mention of the name, Waverly’s fingers tightened around her glass. The cold bit into her palm. A small uneasiness flitted through her chest. 

She swallowed. Forced herself to take a sip.

“And speaking of …” she said smoothly. She set the glass down before it could tremble in her grip. “The biggest threat of all is gone.”

Willa stretched her arms. “Nicole Haught, dead. That’s a victory worth celebrating.”

Waverly kept her expression carefully neutral. The image of Nicole’s bloodied face, her body twisted in that wreck, the betrayal in her eyes, flashed through her mind.

The champagne was crisp on Waverly’s tongue, but it might as well have been acid. She exhaled through her nose, forcing the phantom image from her mind. She had done what she needed to do.

“To the Earps,” Willa raised her glass high.

Wynonna grinned. “To being filthy fucking rich.”

A beat of silence stretched. Waverly’s lips curved into a smirk, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

She lifted her glass last. Twirled the stem between her fingers. Then, in a voice just above a whisper, she murmured, “To Nicole Haught.” 

~~~

Nicole had been found unconscious in her overturned car by Dolls and Eliza, arriving just minutes after Waverly and her crew had vanished. They’d rushed her to the nearest hospital, where doctors had diagnosed her with nothing more than severe blood loss, some broken ribs, and a deep gash above her left eye. Painful, but survivable.

A couple of days later, she was discharged.

Now, back at home, she sat alone in her chair with a glass of whiskey in hand. Her gaze was distant, unfocused. Her mind was stuck on a loop she couldn’t break.

She had never been played before. 

She always knew. Had a knack for reading people, trusting her instincts. It was one of the few things she prided herself on. 

But Waverly Earp? 

She had been blind. Completely, utterly blind.

The woman had slipped past every defense, every instinct, every goddamn red flag. Waverly had wrapped her up in sweet words and soft touches. Made her believe they had something real.

And Nicole had believed it.

Because she had fallen for her.

Nicole had loved Waverly. She had let herself trust her. Let herself imagine a future. And for what? For a bullet to the heart?

It was a betrayal far worse. 

She’d thought she had something real with Waverly.  

But it had all been a lie.

And now, because of that lie, and her stupidity, they had lost everything.

Five hundred million dollars in gold, gone. The biggest deal of their lives, up in smoke. And Nedley’s disappointment had cut deeper than any wound. She had never let him down before. Not once.

She couldn’t let it end like this.

She knocked back the last of her whiskey. The burn down her chest grounded her. Then, she picked up her phone and dialed.

Eliza answered on the second ring.

*

Nicole sped down the Andaman Sea Coast Road. Eliza had given her the intel. Waverly would be out here today. 

Nicole didn’t know what the hell she was going to say. Didn’t know if she wanted to scream at her, put a bullet in her, or just see her again. But she couldn’t just let her slip away.

Her eyes swept the road ahead. To the right, cliffs plunged straight into the ocean. To the left, the jungle loomed thick and untamed. Stunning scenery, but none of it mattered. Only one thing did.

Then - there. 

A sleek convertible. Top down. Cruising along the winding stretch of Highway 4 like she had all the time in the world. 

Waverly. Earp . 

Nicole slammed her foot down on the accelerator. The engine roared. Her heart raced as she pushed the car to its limits. She would not lose her again.

Waverly caught sight of the car in the rearview mirror. She hit the gas.

Nicole matched her pace. 

The chase was on.

They ripped through the curves of the coastal highway, weaving between the lines, testing the limits of speed and control. Waverly was good, taking the turns with a precision that should’ve been impossible at this speed. But Nicole was better. Her car ate the distance between them.

At one corner, she saw her opening, and took it.

She swerved, and slammed her car into Waverly’s. The impact was vicious. Waverly’s car skid sideways, and spun out. Nicole kept her foot on the gas, watching. Waiting. 

Waverly’s car teetered on the edge of the cliff. For a moment, it hung there, balanced precariously, before it tilted and started to slide forward. 

For a second, Nicole thought it was over. Her stomach lurched. No .

But Waverly was fast. The door flung open, and she caught the handle just in time. Her body dangled over the cliff.

Nicole jumped out of her car and sprinted toward the wreck. She vaulted onto the seat of Waverly’s car through the open top, reached down, and grabbed onto her wrist. 

Waverly’s eyes snapped up. Disbelief flashed across her face as she realized who was keeping her from a long drop and a sudden stop. 

Nicole pulled Waverly upward, wrenching her free from the wreckage and onto solid ground. 

A second later, the car went over. 

Waverly lay there, gasping, hands pressed against the dirt, eyes locked on Nicole like she still wasn’t sure this was real. Like she’d just seen a ghost.

Nicole didn’t give her time to speak. She hauled Waverly into her arms, crushing her against her chest. Her fingers dug into her hips. Her voice came low, rough. Deadly.

"I wouldn’t have let you fall." Then, "You messed with the wrong person. Don’t ever fucking show your face again. Next time, I’ll kill you."

But Nicole didn’t let go, in fact her grip tightened.

And then, she kissed Waverly.

Hard. Rough. Demanding.

A kiss that had nothing to do with love. It was punishment. It was rage. It was everything she couldn’t say, everything Waverly had ripped out of her and left bleeding.

When Nicole pulled away, her eyes were frighteningly cold. 

Without a word, she let go. She turned, strode to her car, and slammed the door shut.

Waverly was left standing at the edge of the cliff, with the wind howling around her and the taste of Nicole’s kiss still burning on her lips.

~~~

Waverly sat in her apartment, staring blankly at the wall. Her mind wouldn’t stop. She replayed the events at the cliffside over and over like a relentless loop of images she couldn’t escape.

Nicole’s face flashed in her mind. The way she had looked at her on the cliff. Dangerous. Cold. She was ready to kill. True to the words she had spoken.

Next time, I’ll kill you.

That was no empty threat. She had meant every single word.

The shiver that ran through her at the thought was almost unbearable. 

But it wasn’t the threat that haunted her the most. It was the kiss. It was supposed to be a warning. Waverly understood it for what it was. Still, it wasn’t like any kiss she had ever experienced with Nicole. There was no softness, no warmth, no care. It was raw, harsh, almost cruel. A promise of harm.

Her lips still tingled from the force of it.

Waverly had spent so long controlling every moment, every conversation, every carefully crafted smile. She had manipulated her, lied to her, used her. And in the end, she had left her for dead. Bleeding and helpless in an overturned car. 

But Nicole had saved her. 

Waverly couldn’t shake the realization that she had been so wrong. Nicole had felt something real. She hadn’t needed to say it. She had shown it. In the way she looked at Waverly, in the way she touched her, in the way she-

A hollow, bitter laugh escaped her lips. She had always believed she could keep her emotions locked down, that she could control every piece of the puzzle. She had spent so long believing she was untouchable. That she could slip into someone’s life, get what she needed, and walk away unscathed.

But Nicole had cracked her open.

Waverly had made a colossal mess of things. The memories of the moments she had shared with Nicole before everything turned chaotic made her stomach twist. Those warm brown eyes, those dimples that made her heart skip, Nicole’s smile. The teasing flirtation, the thoughtful date she had brushed off as stupid. And the way they had made love. Beautiful, real, undeniable. There had been something there all along, something she hadn’t let herself see before.

But Nicole had been a fool, too. For trusting her. 

Waverly paced the room. Her hands were shaking as she stared out the window. She had to do something. But what? Could she really fix what she had broken? Could she repair the damage she had caused to Nicole? To herself? Did she want to?

She didn’t have the answers. She wasn’t sure she deserved to try.

But she had to. She couldn’t ignore the reality of what she had done, the hurt she had caused. Nicole had suffered because of her, and Waverly couldn’t live with that.

She had made her decision. 

~~~

Waverly stood outside Nicole’s house. It was past midnight. Her heart was racing, but she had made her choice. She had to face Nicole.

She rang the doorbell. It felt like she was dangling over the edge of the cliff again. 

Dolls opened the door. He froze for a second when he saw her standing there. 

Waverly didn’t wait for him to speak. She shoved past him and entered the house before he could stop her. He didn’t try. 

Inside, Eliza sat next to Nicole at the kitchen table. The second she saw Waverly, she reached for her gun.

But before she could pull it out, Nicole raised her hand. 

Eliza hesitated but finally let go of her weapon. 

Waverly’s eyes stayed fixed on Nicole as she stepped closer. She stood in front of Nicole, her chest tight, words caught in her throat.

Nicole stood from her seat and looked at her. The last time Waverly had seen those eyes, they were filled with fury. A promise of death. Now, they were worse. Cold and empty. Like the woman she had known, had touched, had kissed, had maybe even loved , was simply gone. In her place was someone dangerous that she didn’t recognize.

She took another step forward to stand directly in front of Nicole. “I need to talk to you.”

Nicole didn’t say anything. She simply nodded toward Dolls and Eliza, silently signaling them to give her space. The two of them moved toward the living room, but their eyes never strayed far from the door. Nicole kept her gaze fixed on Waverly.

Waverly took a deep breath before speaking again. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. 

Nicole’s eyes flickered in surprise. It was the last thing she expected to hear from Waverly. 

“I’ve done everything wrong,” Waverly continued. Her voice was more vulnerable than Nicole had ever heard it. “But you ... you only ever cared. So, I need to say it. I’m sorry.”

Nicole still didn’t respond. She seemed to be processing the words for a moment. Then, without a single word, Nicole grabbed Waverly by the arm and yanked her outside.

“Nicole!” Waverly tried to free herself. 

Nicole shoved her into the porch and slammed the door behind her.

Waverly stood there for a moment, stunned. Her heart raced as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. 

“Nicole. I won’t leave until you talk to me,” Waverly pounded on the door. 

But there was no response. No movement behind the door.

She pressed her forehead against the wood. “Please.”

Still nothing. 

She turned, slumping against the door, staring out at the empty street. She had expected rejection, but not like this. She had expected anger, maybe some words of betrayal. But Nicole hadn’t said a single word to her. The silence was worse than anything she could have imagined.

She sank down onto the porch steps. Minutes turned into hours. She checked the time on her phone. It was already past 2 am.

Rain began to fall, slowly at first, then more steadily. 

“Perfect,” she muttered.

Waverly didn’t move. She let the rain soak her, let it numb her. She had nowhere else to go. Her mind raced with every possibility. How she could fix this, what she could say to make Nicole understand, but nothing came to her. All she could do was wait.

Her body ached from the cold. She hugged herself tightly for some warmth. 

The rain continued, and Waverly stayed right where she was, unwilling to give up.

The sound of the door creaking open jolted Waverly from her thoughts. She turned sharply. Nicole stepped onto the porch.

Nicole walked into the rain and stopped just in front of her. She was soaked instantly. Rain dripped from her hair, her shirt clung to her frame. Her eyes were shadowed with something Waverly couldn’t quite place. She stood up slowly. 

“What exactly do you want to prove?” Nicole’s voice was low, almost tired.

“That I’m sorry,” Waverly searched Nicole’s face for any sign of softness. “That I do care.”

Nicole let out a bitter laugh. “Why should I believe you?”

“You believed me when I was lying to you. And now that I’m telling you the truth, you don’t. What’s your problem?”

Nicole’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want to be betrayed again.”

“Then shoot me if I do,” Waverly said bluntly.

Nicole scoffed. “Shoot … kill, lie, cheat. Don’t you know anything else?”

“No,” Waverly stepped even closer. “No, I don’t. But you do. You can show me. Please.” 

Nicole’s eyes darted between Waverly’s, searching. For truth, regret, maybe even redemption. 

Waverly held her breath. She didn’t know if she had just saved herself or destroyed whatever sliver of hope remained between them.

Then, without warning, Nicole reached out, cradled Waverly’s face in her hands, and kissed her for the second time that day.

Right there. On the porch, in the rain, in the middle of the night, with the storm crashing around them.

But this kiss was nothing like the one before. There was no anger, no threat, no sharp edges. Nicole’s lips moved gently against Waverly’s. She pulled away just enough to breathe, then leaned in again. Her tongue brushed teasingly against Waverly’s bottom lip before capturing it between her own, sucking lightly before retreating once more.

Waverly felt like she was sinking, unraveling under Nicole’s touch.

“You’re lucky I didn’t kill you,” Nicole whispered against Waverly’s lips. 

Waverly just stood there, stunned and trying to process.

Nicole tore herself away from Waverly. 

“Get the fuck out of my life.”

~~~

“Are you fucking mad ?” Eliza stared at Nicole like she had truly lost it. 

“I’m with E on this one,” Dolls agreed. “This is reckless.” 

Nicole had expected resistance. She would’ve questioned their sanity if they hadn’t pushed back. But she wasn’t backing down.

“It can’t all be for bust. The plan will work.”

Eliza let out a harsh laugh. “You have been wrong every step of the way with this woman. What makes you think this time will be any different?”

Nicole held her gaze. “Because this time, my eyes are clear.” 

Eliza and Dolls stayed silent for a moment. 

Nicole squared her shoulders. “Are you with me, or am I doing this alone?”

Eliza sighed. “Ride or die, Haught. You know that.” She pointed a finger at Nicole. “But if you get us killed, I will haunt your ass.”

Dolls shook his head, but his smirk gave him away. “Guess we’re doing this.”

*

They’d been hunting the Earps for weeks. Watching. Studying. Tracking every move, every meet, every handshake. But they couldn’t pinpoint the warehouse location. The Earps ran tight. Covert as hell.

Then Nedley came to Nicole with a deal proposal. And just like that, she saw her opening.

She had no choice but to bring him in.

It wasn’t easy. He resisted, of course. Loyalty was a hell of a thing. But Nicole had a way of making people see things her way. A little pressure. A little persuasion. In the end, he folded.

The plan was clean and simple. 

Nedley would throw the next bid. Lose on purpose. Let the Earp rep take the deal.

No one would think twice about it. A small score. Not worth the hassle.

Then, all they had to do was wait.

The moment the deal went through, Nicole tailed the transport container. Never took her eyes off it. Followed it straight to its destination.

And just like that, they had the warehouse.

For days, they tracked the Earps' movements. Counting heads. Timing rotations. Mapping the exits.

Then, the perfect night came. When all three Earps were out of town. 

There was one job left to do. 

Hit the warehouse. Take back what was theirs.

Steal back the gold.

*

The warehouse reeked of oil, dust, and metal. It wasn’t as clean and well maintained as Nicole’s. 

She, Dolls, and Eliza moved between crates and shelves. They had studied the layout. Counted the cameras. Timed the rotations. This was their window.

Eliza knelt by the storage unit’s lock. A click. A creak. The door swung open.

Stacks of gold gleamed under the dim security lights.

“ Bingo, ” Dolls muttered.

They worked fast, loading the bars onto flat trolleys and wheeling them toward the truck. It took longer than they’d estimated. They were getting antsy. Finally, they stacked the last load. One more trip, and they’d be ghosts.

Then, a voice cut in from behind. Smooth and too damn smug.

"Couldn’t let you have all the fun."

Nicole turned. Nedley had come to the warehouse. 

“What the fuck are you doing here?” she hissed.

"Come on, kid. Like I’d sit this one out."

Nicole didn’t argue. There was no time. He’d get an earful later. 

They grabbed the last trolley. Almost there.

Then came the roar of engines.

Headlights. Voices.

A cold fist gripped Nicole’s spine.  

“What the fuck?” 

Wynonna Earp.

“Motherf-” Eliza barely got the word out before the first gunshot split the air.

Chaos erupted. 

Bullets ripped through crates, steel, flesh. The Earps stormed in, guns blazing.

Dolls dove behind cover, returning fire. Eliza rolled behind barrels, her machine gun spitting out sharp, controlled bursts. One of the Earp crew near the entrance dropped. Blood splattered across the concrete.

Nicole yanked Nedley behind a crate. A bullet zipped past. Too fucking close. Wood splintered. Dust rained down.

"Stay down!" she barked. "They were tailing you!"

Nicole popped up, fired twice. A man near the doors stumbled back, chest torn open.

Dolls dropped another.

Eliza dropped two more before they even saw her coming.

The numbers were thinning. Almost clear.

Then, there was a flash of movement. A figure darted behind crates.

Wynonna. 

She leaned out with her revolver raised. Nicole barely ducked before the bullet whizzed past her ear.

“We need to move!” Dolls shouted.

Nicole fired back, forcing Wynonna into cover. Eliza flanked left, catching another crew member mid reload.

Nicole didn’t have time to deal with the sisters, they had to put down the crew and skedaddle. Forget the last trolley. The Earps could keep that one.

Then from behind her, two shots rang out, almost simultaneously. 

Nicole turned just in time to see Nedley hit the floor. 

A strangled, wordless cry tore from her throat as she lunged forward, sliding to her knees beside him. His breathing was ragged. There was blood everywhere.

“No, no, no. Stay with me,” Nicole whispered as she cradled him. She gritted her teeth, trying to blink back the sting in her eyes. But Nedley’s strength was fading fast.

Nicole’s hands were red, slick with the blood of her father, as she pressed against the wound. 

His gun was still in his grip. Nicole pried it free. She lifted it, aiming blindly at the shadows, daring anyone to take another step.

But it was too late.

Nedley took his final breath.

Nicole barely had time to register it before she heard footsteps.

She looked up, just as Waverly walked in.

Waverly’s world stopped.

Her gaze snapped between Willa’s motionless body and Nicole, crouched by Nedley, gun trained on Willa, blood smeared across her fingers.

The image was clear in her mind before she even thought to question it.

Nicole had killed her sister.

Rage unlike anything she had ever felt boiled in her veins.

Waverly bent down, snatched Willa’s revolver from her lifeless hand, and aimed it at Nicole.

Nicole stared at Waverly, eyes pleading, chest heaving. 

“Waverly-” 

The gunshot exploded. 

The bullet slammed into Nicole’s chest.

Her body jerked back and her legs buckled beneath her. She hit the floor. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs. Blood spread across her shirt, hot and fast.

The last thing she saw before her vision blurred was Waverly standing over her, eyes wild and hand trembling around the gun.

Then everything faded to black.

Chapter Text

Purgatory, Ghost River Triangle

January, 2023 

The garage was busy, as always. Eliza wiped her hands on a rag and stepped back to admire the finished job. The car in front of her, a sleek black Mustang, purred to life under Doll’s careful tuning. Across the shop, Chrissy was busy flipping through a stack of invoices. 

Their lives had changed in just over a year. It had only taken one night, one girl and one fucking bullet. 

Gone were the days of high stakes deals, shootouts, and betrayals. Now, it was all about oil changes, engine repairs, and running a legitimate business. ‘Randall’s Repairs & Customs’ had become a staple in Purgatory, known for good work and fair prices. Dolls and Eliza kept the cars running, while Chrissy managed the books and customer flow.

They had also brought in another mechanic. John Henry Holliday, though he answered to Doc. He was a character straight out of another era, an old timey cowboy type who never went anywhere without his hat. His specialty was classic cars, and he had a knack for bringing them back to life with a near magical touch. There was something about him. An easy charm, a quiet wit, and kind eyes that put people at ease. 

“You gonna stand there looking pretty, or actually do some work?” Eliza tightened the last bolt on the Mustang’s engine.

Doc smirked from where he leaned against a tool cart. "Reckon keepin’ watch over folks is a skill most do not give its due."

Eliza rolled her eyes. “You find avoiding work is an art form.”

Doc tapped the brim of his hat. "And like any top notch gunslinger, I stick to my trade, no two ways about it."

Dolls snorted from under the hood. “You two done flirting, or are we fixing cars today?”

Eliza huffed and tossed the rag at Doc, who sidestepped it with a grin.

The workshop was spacious and surprisingly clean for a mechanic’s garage. High ceilings and large overhead lights kept the space well lit, while the smooth concrete floor bore only a few stubborn oil stains. A long workbench stretched across the back wall, cluttered with toolboxes, spare parts, and half finished projects. The walls were lined with neatly arranged tools. Wrenches, ratchets, power drills. All within easy reach.

To the right, a sturdy metal door led to a storage room, where shelves were stocked with parts, spare tires, engine components, and crates filled with anything that might one day be useful.

An extra extension had been added to the side, housing a makeshift gym. Free weights were stacked against the wall, a bench press sat in the corner, and a heavy punching bag hung from a reinforced beam. 

A rolling tool cart stood near the center, ready to be wheeled to whichever vehicle needed work. A hydraulic lift occupied one side of the shop, towering over a vintage muscle car waiting for its next fix up. A pegboard near the entrance held keys, each labeled with a strip of masking tape, while a whiteboard next to it was scrawled with job notes and schedules. 

Chrissy had a small space of her own at the front of the shop. A modest but functional open office area. Her desk was a controlled mess. An open laptop sat among scattered files, invoices, and spare parts order forms. A sturdy filing cabinet stood behind her. Its drawers were labeled in thick marker, though she seemed to have her own system of organisation that only she understood.

Neatly stacked catalogues lined one side of the desk, detailing everything from engine components to high performance upgrades. A corkboard hung on the wall beside her, pinned with receipts, notes, and reminders. A small, well worn coffee machine sat in the corner. 

Despite the grease and machinery surrounding her, Chrissy’s space had a personal touch. A framed photo of the crew at a racetrack, a potted plant that somehow survived the fumes, and a battered radio that played classic rock or whatever station suited her mood that day. It was the nerve center of the shop, where orders were placed, schedules were juggled, and arguments over missing parts were settled.

It wasn’t the life they had expected. But it was a life they had settled into. 

And tonight, they were stepping out of it. Just for a little while.

“We don’t do clubs,” Eliza grumbled. 

Chrissy glared at her, “We’ve been living like old retirees. I, for one, want to remember what fun feels like.”

“It’s just one night,” Dolls said. “We’ll go, have a drink, see what all the fuss is about, then come home.”

Doc smirked. "Sounds like you are the one fixin’ to skedaddle before the dust even settles."

Dolls exhaled through his nose. “It’s not me you gotta convince.” 

A wrench clattered onto the concrete behind them. 

The group turned.

A woman rolled out from beneath a ’69 Camaro. She had insisted on handling the job herself, despite Doc’s claims that he could do it faster. Now, the fuel pump was in, the lines were secured, and all that was left was a test run.

She pushed to her feet, dusted off her hands, and glanced toward the group.

“Funny. Garage’s full, but somehow, no one’s working,” she said. 

Chrissy scoffed. “It’s five minutes to closing, Nicole. We have plans for tonight.” 

Nicole didn’t argue. She just grabbed a clean rag, tossed it onto the workbench, and said, “An hour tops. Then we’re out of there.”

~~~

The bathroom door swung open and Nicole stepped out. Water dripped from the ends of her hair. A towel hung loosely around her hips. She rubbed another over her face and down her neck. 

She stood in front of the mirror and let her gaze drop. It was automatic. 

The jagged scar sat just above her left breast. It wasn’t large. Just a couple inches of raised, pale flesh. But it was impossible to ignore. 

- Nedley’s lifeless body. Gunfire. A sharp burn in her chest. The taste of blood in her mouth. -

Her fingers ghosted over it, tracing the rough texture, pressing lightly at the center. It didn’t hurt anymore. At least not physically.

- Cold concrete beneath her. Waverly’s face above her. Hard, angry, tears streaking down her cheeks. The barrel of the gun still smoking in her hands. -

Nicole shut her eyes. Shook her head. She turned away from the mirror and grabbed a shirt. Slipping it over her head, she moved to the dresser.

- Beeping machines. A hospital room. The scent of antiseptic. Waking up to Dolls sitting in the chair beside her, looking like he hadn’t slept in days. “About damn time.”. -

She grabbed a pair of jeans. Focused on the motions. One leg, then the other. Familiar steps. Grounding.

- The gym. The bar hovering just above her chest, arms shaking, muscles burning. She pushed up, locking her elbows. Eliza stood nearby, unimpressed. "You ate a fucking bullet, but a couple reps gonna do you in?" - 

She pulled her boots on. 

- The decision to leave. Bangkok in the rearview. A new town. A new start. Paperwork scattered across a desk. A sign going up. Randall’s Repairs & Customs. - 

She stood. Rolled her shoulders. Met her own gaze in the mirror again.

- Waverly. Smiling. Eyes crinkled into half moons, wavy brown hair spilling over her shoulders. The same face, but different now. Dark eyes, hard set. Fury twisting her features. - 

Nicole stared at the mirror. It stared back.

The past was done. The scars remained.

But tonight, she was going out with her family. 

~~~

The Devil’s Playground was … something . Pulsing bass, flashing lights, the scent of expensive liquor. People were packed onto the dance floor, grinding against each other. Some were already too drunk to stand, others too busy making out to care. The entire place screamed trouble.

Nicole groaned. This was not her scene. She would rather be at home on her couch with a cup of hot coffee and a good book. 

But, Chrissy had insisted, and Nicole didn’t get out much. So, here they were. 

“This place is wild,” Chrissy scanned the chaos.

Eliza scrunched her nose. “It’s opening night. Give it a month, and it’ll be just another overpriced, overcrowded dive bar.”

Dolls chuckled. “Still, better than another night in the garage.”

Nicole slid out of the booth. “I’m getting a drink.”

She made her way to the bar. Behind the counter, a stunning brunette was busy pouring shots. She caught Nicole’s eye and smirked.

“What can I get you, red?”

Nicole leaned against the counter. “Whiskey. On ice.”

The bartender, who introduced herself as Rosita, poured her drink and slid it over. “You from town?”

Nicole took a sip. “Just outside.”

Rosita smiled. “Shame. Someone like you ought to be seen more."

Nicole chuckled. “Are you always this forward, or is it just for me?”

“Oh, darling,” Rosita leaned closer, “you’d be surprised what I could do just for you.”

Nicole traced the rim of her glass. “That so?”

Rosita rested her elbows on the counter and leaned forward. “I don’t make empty promises, red.”

Nicole couldn’t help but gaze down at the ample cleavage on display. She licked her lips. “You think I’m that easy?”

“You just stared down at my boobs,” Rosita reached for a bottle and poured another drink without breaking eye contact. “Tell you what. First drink’s on me. If you’re still here by the time I close, maybe I’ll show you just how much fun we can have.”

Nicole let out a low chuckle. “We’ll see.” 

Rosita winked.

Nicole turned. Then froze. 

Because standing at the other end of the bar, staring at her like she’d just seen a ghost, was Wynonna Earp .

Fuck. 

Nicole watched as Wynonna pushed past the other patrons and came behind the counter. She stopped just a foot away from Nicole. 

“You’re not dead.” 

“Apparently not.”

“What the fuck are you doing in my club?” Wynonna spat. “Here. Of all places. In godforsaken Purgatory !”  

Nicole set her glass down. “Was aiming for Hell, but took the wrong left.”

“You-” Wynonna stopped herself. 

Nicole appreciated the restraint.  

“Outside,” Wynonna didn’t wait for Nicole to respond. She unlatched the counter and gestured for Nicole to follow. She led her into the back of the club and through a door into an alleyway behind the club. 

“How are you alive?” Wynonna cut straight to the chase. 

Nicole took a deep breath. She didn’t want to revisit those dark days, the ones that left scars on her soul. But here she was, face to face with a reminder of all that had happened. “A doctor pulled the bullet out. I lived.”

Wynonna’s eyes narrowed. “And now you’re here ? In Purgatory?”

Nicole shrugged. “So are you.” 

“This is where I’m from , knucklehead!” Wynonna snapped. “If you were trying to run away, you came to the wrong fucking place!” 

Nicole held her gaze. Whatever it was, she was here now. There was nothing she could do about it. “Are you back, then?” 

“Yeah,” Wynonna’s voice was softer now. “We got back a couple of months ago. Got this place running.” 

“ We ?” Nicole whispered. 

Wynonna took a moment before the words came to her. “Me and Waverly. We. We buried Willa in Bangkok. Spent some time in Burma, tried to make it work. We were doing alright. But, without Willa, it wasn’t the same. So we decided to come home. Start fresh.”

“You’re not mad at me about Willa?” Nicole asked cautiously. 

Wynonna looked away, shook her head, then returned her gaze to Nicole’s. “I know what happened. I saw the whole thing.” 

Nicole’s eyes widened. “Did you tell Waverly?” 

“No,” Wynonna said quietly. 

“Why the fuck not?” Nicole snapped. 

“She killed you!” Wynonna shot back. And then, in a much calmer voice, continued. “If I told her the truth, that you didn’t kill Willa … it would break her. I couldn’t do that to her. She had just lost a sister, I wasn’t about to break her heart again. Things are good as they are.”  

“Selfish asshole!” Nicole punched the wall behind her. 

Wynonna didn’t so much as wince. “Yes,” she admitted. “And I’d do it a million times over if it meant protecting Waverly.”

*

“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” Dolls remarked as Nicole returned to their table.

"What took you so long? Did you go to Scotland to harvest the barley?" Eliza quipped. 

“We have to go,” Nicole said. 

“What? We just got here,” Chrissy protested.

“Chrissy, now,” Nicole’s tone left no room for debate. 

They all saw tension in her stance, the way her eyes darted around, the set of her jaw. They knew better than to argue when she was like this. 

Back in the car, Dolls kept his voice low. “What happened?”

“The bar belongs to the Earps,” Nicole exhaled sharply. “I just saw Wynonna fucking Earp.” 

*

“The one happening place in all of Purgatory, and it’s owned by the Earps?” Chrissy huffed. “Can’t a girl get one peaceful night out?”

“It’s been over a year,” Dolls murmured. “Feels like we’ve put enough distance between us and the past, but it just keeps finding us.”

“What are the odds we all end up in the same place?” Eliza said. “Like some sick joke the universe is playing on us.” 

Nicole absently rubbed the old bullet wound on her chest. A habit these days when she was nervous or lost in thought. But more than that, it grounded her.

“We can’t be seen in town,” Nicole said.

“Why not?” Chrissy argued. “The crews have scattered. We’re out of the business. They may be from here, but we live here now too. This is just as much our home as it is theirs. We owe them nothing.”

“Maybe you don’t,” Nicole murmured. 

“Nicole …” Chrissy started. 

Nicole raised a hand to cut her off. “Do what you want.” 

“Nicole,” Chrissy tried again. 

But Nicole was already on her feet. Didn’t argue. Just turned on her heel and walked away. 

~~~

"Yer mighty early today, Miss Valdez," Doc tipped his hat to the young university student. "Everythin’ alright, I reckon?"

"All good, Doc," Rachel Valdez replied with a grin. "My Performance & Diagnostics lecturer’s out with the flu. The replacement wasn’t much of a car guy, so he just gave us a free period. So, I’m done for the day!"

Rachel Valdez was a first year student at Big City University, and spent most of her free time at Nicole’s workshop, eager to learn beyond the classroom. She helped out with cleaning, organizing, and filing, to earn her place in the garage. In return, they let her observe their work, ask questions, and occasionally get her hands dirty with simple maintenance tasks and tire changes. It wasn’t much, but to Rachel, every moment in the shop was a step closer to mastering her craft.

It didn’t hurt that she had grown close to the group, too. She loved Chrissy’s carefree, jolly nature, Dolls’ brooding seriousness, and Eliza’s sharp wit and smart mouth. Doc’s effortless charm and old school suaveness never failed to amuse her. 

But most of all, she was drawn to the quiet mystery that was Nicole.

She never pried or asked more than she should, but she could sense there was more to Nicole than just a simple workshop mechanic.

Chrissy gestured for Rachel to join her. “Come help me with these new catalogs we just got.”

Rachel groaned and rolled her eyes as she trudged over. She hated anything that even resembled paperwork.

Doc chuckled. "Ya gotta take the good with the bad. Any gal learnin’ automobile engineerin’ oughta know that right off the bat.” 

“For the millionth time, it’s Automotive Technology , Doc!” Rachel called over her shoulder. 

"Ain’t no real difference,” Doc muttered with a smirk.

The banter was broken by the growl of an engine outside. A red Jeep Wrangler rattled into the lot and rolled to a stop near the entrance.

Doc wiped his hands on a rag and glanced up just as the driver’s door swung open. A woman stepped out. Elegant, poised, effortlessly striking. 

Doc recognized her immediately. Armed with his signature smile, he met her at the entrance. 

"Pleasure, Miss Waverly,” Doc greeted smoothly. “But if I may ask, what sorta ailment done brought ya here?"

“Doc,” Waverly returned his smile. “Are you a sight for sore eyes. My Jeep’s been acting up. Rattling and the engine’s stuttering. I remembered you gave me your work address a while ago. Had it saved on my phone. This place was on my way back anyway, so …” She trailed off with a small shrug.

"Ain’t no trouble, we will have it fixed up in two shakes of a lamb’s tail,” He gestured toward the front desk. “C’mon now, Chrissy will get ya sorted."

They stepped inside. Chrissy glanced up from her laptop as they approached.

“Chrissy, this here is-” before Doc could finish, a voice called out. 

“Doc, get me the ratchet. It’s not in the fucking toolbox!” 

Doc turned, already grinning. "I am comin', Nicole. Keep yer boots on!"

The name struck Waverly like a blow. She told herself that it was a common name, it could be anybody. She glanced around the workshop. Cars, a punching bag, Chrissy . Too many similarities. She tried to shake it off. It couldn’t be. But then she heard the voice again. It was too familiar. 

Slowly, almost unwillingly, she turned.

Doc was heading toward a lifted car, where a pair of long legs stuck out from underneath, clad in worn coveralls.

The legs shifted, and a body slid out from beneath the car.

Nicole Haught. 

Her red hair was a little longer, her face leaner, but it was her. Grease smudged across her overalls and streaked her hands.

Alive. 

Not dead. Not bleeding out on the warehouse floor. 

The world tilted. Waverly shot to her feet so suddenly that the chair behind her toppled to the ground with a loud clatter.

Nicole’s head snapped up at the sound, and the moment their eyes met-

Everything stopped.

Waverly Earp. 

Of course. 

The universe had it out for her. She just knew it. Of course she would end up in Purgatory, in Waverly’s hometown. Of course Waverly would return. Of course she would walk into Waverly’s club. And now, as if fate was hell bent on mocking her, Waverly’s car had problems, and where else would she bring it but here?

Of. Fucking. Course. 

Nicole exhaled sharply. She forced herself to stay composed.

Waverly looked ... different, but the same. A little older. A little more depth in her eyes, like she’d seen too much. But still … still as heartbreakingly beautiful as the first day they’d met.

Nicole was barely aware of the steps she took forward. 

“I killed you …” Waverly spoke, almost to herself. 

Nicole snapped out of it.

"Not here," Nicole said quickly. 

"I don’t care!" Waverly’s voice rose. 

Nicole wanted to yell back, to tell her to keep her voice down, to not act like a fucking moron. But instead, she just stepped back.

And then she turned and walked out of the workshop.

She didn’t need to make a scene.

*

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Waverly grabbed Nicole’s elbow. 

Nicole hadn’t even realized Waverly had followed her. She let herself be turned. She scanned the lot for prying eyes. Then, without warning, she shoved Waverly behind the gym extension, out of sight.

"Let go!" Waverly struggled against her hold.

“Tone it down!” Nicole snapped. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” 

"You killed my sister!" Waverly’s voice broke on the last word, but her eyes burned. 

Nicole exhaled. “I’ll fix your car. And then you better get out of here.” 

“Or what?” Waverly challenged. “Why did you do it? Why did you steal from us and then kill my sister? Why?”

Nicole's voice dropped. "The past is exactly that. Let’s not dig it up." 

"No!" Waverly’s eyes flashed. "It’s my past too. I have every right!"

Nicole didn’t waver. She just looked at Waverly with the same unreadable expression she had perfected over the years.

Waverly waited, fists clenched at her sides, eyes burning with unanswered questions. But Nicole said nothing.

Then, Waverly’s phone rang.

She startled slightly, dragging her gaze away just long enough to glance at the screen. Wynonna.

She exhaled sharply and answered. “Yeah?”

After a short while, she ended the call and shoved the phone back into her pocket. Then she turned to Nicole. “This isn’t over.” 

Nicole didn’t respond. She just watched as Waverly stormed off. 

*

Doc sauntered over to where Nicole was working under the hood of an old Corolla. He watched her in that way of his. Half amusement, half curiosity.

“So the rumours were true after all,” he drawled. 

Nicole's eyes darted toward him mid turn of her wrench, before resuming her work. "That so?" she said in a neutral voice. “I wondered how long it’d take before you said something.” 

Doc raised an eyebrow. "Well, I'll be- ya knew?"

Nicole scoffed. “If you knew about me, then you should know what kind of background checks I run.”

"I figured as much but did not pry. So … they ain't just rumours, are they?"

Nicole straightened up and wiped her hands on a rag before turning to him. “If you’re here for gossip, you’re not gonna get any. But I know you better than that. Spill.”

"They are in a bit of a pickle, the Earp girls," Doc watched her carefully. "Bobo Del Rey aims to push his devil’s dust in their club. Offered ‘em a cut to turn a blind eye. They said no. Now he is sendin’ his boys to rough ‘em up."

Nicole puffed out her cheeks. “How’d they get mixed up with Bobo?”

"They did not," Doc set his jaw. "That club is fresh territory for Bobo. He aims to stake his claim."

“And they don’t want in?”

Doc shook his head. "They ain't lookin' to have no truck with drugs."

Nicole wiped some grease off her fingers. “And you know this because?”

Doc’s lips curled into a smirk. "Let us just say I am … mighty well acquainted with a certain older Earp lady."

Nicole chuckled. “You do like ‘em wild.”

"And Wynonna is wilder than a mustang in a thunderstorm."

Nicole leaned against the car. “Why are you telling me this? You expecting me to step in?”

Doc scratched his stubble. “Look, Nicole. I know ya came here lookin’ for a fresh start, and I ain’t fixin’ to drag ya into somethin’ you do not want no part of. But Del Rey ain’t playin’. He will hurt those girls. And they are all alone. Ain’t got no crew, no network, no resources like they once did."

“Neither do I,” Nicole countered. 

"But ya got us," Doc said. "Dolls, Eliza, Chrissy, and ... well, me. If you will have me, that is."

Nicole closed her eyes for a beat. “Doc, they ruined my life. They stole from me, they killed my father, and they … she messed with me.” 

“I know,” Doc said quietly. "But they done left their past behind too. Came here lookin’ for a fresh start, same as you. And this is Bobo we are talkin’ about, Nicole. He ain’t the kind to just scare folks. He will hurt ‘em. Kill ‘em. We gotta step in."

Nicole thought about walking away. Thought about how easy it would be. But the past never let her go. She met Doc’s gaze. “Okay.” 

Doc nodded. 

Nicole smirked slightly. “You’re a good man, John Henry.”

"I been meanin’ to ask ya somethin’. Why’d ya hire me, knowin’ full well who I was?"

Nicole studied him for a moment before replying. “Everyone deserves a second chance.”

~~~

Nicole sipped her whiskey, watching. Watching Bobo’s men. Watching the way they hovered near Waverly and Wynonna, the way they grinned too smugly. 

She clocked the tension in Wynonna’s shoulders. The way Waverly scowled and shifted uneasily. Doc was beside her, following her gaze. 

“That is them,” he said under his breath.

Nicole weighed her options. She had no intention of stepping in uninvited. But she wasn’t about to stand by and watch these assholes keep pushing either.

“Think they’d bite if you dangled a better deal?”

Doc smirked. “Men like that are always sniffin’ around for somethin’ sweeter."

She nodded. “Then reel ‘em in.”

Doc finished his drink and pushed off the bar, making his way toward the men. Nicole caught Wynonna’s eye from across the room. She tilted her chin toward Doc. Wynonna arched a brow in confusion but didn’t interfere.

A few minutes later, Doc sauntered back. The five men followed close behind.

“They are hankerin’ to hear more," he murmured as he passed Nicole.

Perfect. 

Wynonna and Waverly watched Nicole with complete confusion and surprise. Of all people, she was the last they expected to see in their bar. Let alone negotiating with Del Rey’s men, seemingly wrapped up in the very business they despised.

Nicole held Waverly’s gaze as she tossed back the last of her whiskey, set the glass on the counter, then gave a subtle nod to Dolls and Eliza.

Time to handle business. 

The alley behind the club was dimly lit. Nicole stood with her hands in her pockets, Eliza and Dolls flanked her. Doc led the men out, all cocky grins and easy swagger.

“So,” the leader, a thick necked guy with a shaved head, said. “You’re telling me you can offer us a better deal than the Earps for their own bar?” 

Nicole tilted her head. “No,” she said simply.

The man frowned. “What?”

Eliza smirked. “She means you’re not getting a deal at all, dingus.”

The realization hit slowly. “You wasting our time, bitch?” 

Nicole smiled, small and dangerous. “Just giving you a chance to walk away before this gets ugly.”

They didn’t take it.

The first man swung, a wild, heavy punch aimed at Nicole’s face. She ducked, shifting to the side as she drove a fist into his ribs. He grunted, stumbling back.

Eliza kicked the second guy’s knee out before slamming his face into the alley wall. Blood splattered brick.

Dolls caught the third by the arm, twisting it hard before driving his elbow into the man’s gut. He doubled over, choking on his breath.

The door burst open with a bang as Wynonna and Waverly rushed into the alleyway. They skidded to a stop, eyes widening at the chaos. Fists flew, bodies hit the pavement. 

The fourth and fifth men approached Nicole simultaneously. 

Nicole sprang off the ground, driving a sharp sidekick into the first guy’s chest. As he stumbled back, she drew her elbow back and, before her feet even touched the ground, brought her fist down in a brutal downward punch to the second guy’s face. She touched back down lightly, already shifting into her next stance, ready for more.

Doc moved with surprising speed for a man who favored a slow draw. He ducked a wild swing, came up with a sharp uppercut to the guy’s jaw, then followed it with a solid hook to the ribs. When another thug charged, Doc sidestepped smoothly and drove an elbow into his gut, sending him crashing into the alley wall.

Nicole barely had time to register movement before the first guy was on her again. She turned with his momentum, slamming his head into her knee. He cursed, spitting blood, but still came at her.

Fine. 

She let him charge, then sidestepped at the last second, driving her elbow into his temple as he passed. He crumpled to the ground.

Doc cracked his knuckles. "Well, that went ‘bout as smooth as a sandpaper saddle."

Nicole crouched down next to the leader. His dazed eyes struggled to focus on her.

“You tell Bobo Del Rey to keep his boys out of the club,” she said. “The Earps don’t want trouble. But if you push, I guarantee you’ll be dealing with more than just them."

She straightened up. He groaned, clutching his head.

Nicole turned to her friends. “All good?”

Dolls rolled his shoulders. “Barely broke a sweat.”

Eliza grinned. “That was fun.”

Doc didn’t say anything, just tipped his head toward the Earp sisters, who still stood frozen in shock.

Nicole’s eyes darted between them before settling on Waverly. Holding her gaze, she slowly, purposefully, licked the blood from her lip.

“Let’s go,” she said. 

Without another word, the four of them turned and walked out of the alley, leaving the Earps behind, confused. 

~~~

Waverly sat at the kitchen table with a warm cup of coffee, but she barely tasted it. Her mind was elsewhere. Flashes of the night before played on a loop.

The fight in the alley. The way Nicole had moved. Sharp, lethal, effortless. Like a predator toying with prey. How easily she had taken down Bobo’s men, like it was nothing. 

And then, at the end of it all, the way she had looked at her, fierce, almost daring. She had run her tongue over her split lip and tasted the blood like it was nothing. 

A shiver ran down Waverly’s spine. Heat coiled low in her stomach. She swallowed hard. The memory wouldn’t leave her alone. The blood on Nicole’s lip. The heat in her eyes. The way she had just … walked away, like it was nothing. Like it hadn’t even mattered.

It mattered to Waverly.

“Earth to Waverly.”

She jolted, nearly spilling her coffee. Wynonna was suddenly there, seated across from her. Waverly hadn’t even noticed her walk in. She cleared her throat, willing away the heat that crept up her neck.

“Hi,” Waverly tried for a smile. 

“You okay, baby girl?” Wynonna searched her face. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Waverly nodded quickly. “Just thinking about last night. That was weird, right?”

“Hella weird!” Wynonna threw up her hands. “What the fuck even happened?”

“Well, for one, Bobo’s men got their asses handed to them. But …”

“But why was Haught the one doing the handing?” Wynonna finished. “Exactly. You think she’s dealing now?”

“Nicole doesn’t do drugs,” Waverly said matter-of-factly.

“Could be a turf war,” Wynonna mused, having not fully registered Waverly’s barely there comment. “Maybe Bobo’s stepping on her toes. Maybe she wants the Devil’s Playground for herself.”

Waverly frowned. “Something doesn’t add up.”

“It seems pretty clear to me,” Wynonna said. “But … if Doc’s mixed up in this …”

"Unlikely, right? Maybe you should have a word with Doc."

“I will,” Wynonna exhaled. “I sure as fucking hell will.” 

~~~

Nicole rummaged through tools in her garage. The room was quiet. Doc stood nearby, while Dolls paced. Eliza sat on an overturned crate, absently spinning a wrench between her fingers.

Nicole glanced at her crew. “Are we not working today?”

Dolls finally broke the silence. “This is exactly what we didn’t want. We came to this town to stay under the radar. Now we’re picking fights with Bobo’s men in alleyways.”

Eliza exhaled sharply. “He’ll be watching us now. You know it.”

Doc cleared his throat. "Ain’t much use cryin’ over spilled whiskey. We are here now. Question is, what is our play?"

“This was your idea in the first place!” Dolls shot Doc a glare.

“Enough,” Nicole said calmly. 

Eliza tossed the wrench onto the workbench with a loud clatter. “We could always leave. Pack up, disappear again.”

Nicole shook her head. “I’m done running.”

“So we fight?” Dolls asked. 

Silence settled over them for a moment. 

Nicole straightened. “Purgatory’s our home now. If there’s a drug problem, we’re gonna help solve it.”

Eliza smirked. “Just say you’re still sweet on the Earp girl.”

Nicole’s gaze snapped to hers. “If you’ve forgotten, E, she fucking shot me.”

“That’s not a no,” Eliza teased. 

Nicole narrowed her eyes. “Get back to work.” 

It wasn’t anyone’s business what she felt, or didn’t feel, for Waverly.

~~~

Waverly’s Jeep sputtered once, twice, then died completely. She gripped the wheel, muttered a curse, and smacked the dashboard with her palm.

"Perfect," she groaned. 

Outside, the sky had darkened and thick storm clouds rolled in. She was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Just her luck.

She grabbed her phone. No signal. Even better.

“To hell with you, Purgatory!” She slammed the steering wheel. 

A loud rumble of thunder answered her.

With a frustrated sigh, she shoved open the door and stepped out. Rain was already pouring down. She popped the hood and stared at the engine, as if sheer willpower might bring it back to life.

Then she heard the sound of an approaching engine.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she muttered to herself. 

A sleek black car pulled up behind her Jeep. 

She exhaled in relief, shivering slightly as she squinted against the rain. 

The driver’s side door creaked open, and Nicole Haught stepped out. 

Waverly shook her head. Of all the people in the world …

Even in the middle of a storm, Nicole looked exactly as she always did. Controlled, unshaken, and entirely too composed. She shut the door behind her and took in the scene. Waverly’s Jeep sat lifeless with the hazard lights on. 

Nicole exhaled. “Car trouble?”

Waverly shoved wet hair from her face. “No, I just love standing in the rain for fun.”

Nicole didn’t bite. She simply walked past her and leaned over the open hood. She already had a guess before she even inspected the engine. These old Jeeps always had the same damn problem. 

Waverly rolled her eyes. She tried not to watch. Not to notice the way Nicole moved. The way her forearms tensed as she worked. The way rain clung to the ends of her red hair and slid down the sharp line of her jaw.

Waverly swallowed hard. 

What the hell was wrong with her? 

This woman killed her sister. Stole their gold. And … and probably dealt drugs.

So why did her stomach tighten when Nicole looked up at her?

Rain dripped from the tip of Nicole’s nose as she pushed her wet hair back with both hands. Waverly felt like she was watching a reel in slow motion. 

Nicole’s arms flexed beneath her rolled up sleeves. The hem of her flannel rose just enough to reveal a strip of damp skin. Her eyes cut to Waverly’s with a smoldering glare. Then she turned away again, back to the open hood of the truck, like nothing had happened at all.

Nicole had to be doing it on purpose, just to rile Waverly up. There was no other explanation. And it was working … unfortunately.

Just a few seconds of inspection and Nicole had found the problem. She reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a small multitool. She loosened a connection and cleared the clog in the fuel filter in a matter of moments.

Waverly watched in silence with her arms still wrapped around herself. 

Then, Nicole straightened and slammed the hood shut. She tipped her chin toward the Jeeps’ driver’s side seat.

Waverly slid in and turned the key. The engine sputtered, then roared back to life.

Nicole wiped her hands on her jeans, barely sparing Waverly a glance as she turned toward her own car.

For some reason, that irritated Waverly. She shoved the door open and stepped back out. "That’s it?"

Nicole turned. One brow lifted, waiting.

Waverly stalked toward her. “Why’d you beat those thugs up the other night?”

Nicole’s eyes narrowed. She had assumed Doc would’ve explained things by now. Clearly, he hadn’t.

"You always had so much to say," Waverly pressed. "So, speak. What, you leave Bangkok and suddenly forget how to talk? Something in the Purgatory air?"

Nicole sighed. She didn’t need this right now. 

“What is it? You dealing now?” Waverly shoved a hand against Nicole’s chest.

Nicole caught her wrist, spun her, and pinned her against the car in one quick movement. 

Waverly was caught by complete surprise. 

Nicole’s eyes blazed as she leaned in. Her gaze dropped to Waverly’s lips for the briefest second before returning to her eyes.

Waverly hated how much she wanted to close the space between them, to taste her again, just once. She hated how familiar this felt.

But then, Willa’s lifeless body flashed through her mind. Nicole’s gun aimed at her. 

She shoved against Nicole’s chest, but Nicole didn’t move.

“You want to push your goods in my club. That’s why you beat Bobo’s men up,” Waverly accused. Her eyes searched Nicole’s. 

Nicole released her grip on Waverly’s wrist and stepped back.

Waverly quickly moved away, arms wrapping around herself again.

“Think what you want,” Nicole said. 

She slid into her car and peeled off down the rain slicked road, leaving Waverly standing there, shivering. For reasons that had nothing to do with the cold.

~~~

The bass thumped through the walls of The Devil’s Playground, vibrating through the floors.  The atmosphere was thick with sweat, alcohol, and neon light. Waverly was behind the bar, pouring a drink when she felt the shift. 

The energy in the room changed. Conversations dipped. People moved aside.

Then she saw why.

A man strolled through the crowd like he owned the place. Tall, broad, leather jacket dusted with rain. A scar ran from his temple to his jaw. One of Bobo’s men.

She set the bottle down and straightened. 

He reached the bar, placed both hands on the counter, and leaned in. “The boss sends his regards.”

Waverly just stared at him. “Not interested.”

The man smirked. “See, that’s the thing. This isn’t a negotiation.”

Across the room, Wynonna noticed the tension. She slid off her stool and made her way over. 

The man’s smirk widened. “You’re making a mistake. Bobo’s offering a chance to reconsider. But if you don’t, things get ugly. Real fast.”

"Look, scar tough guy, we’re out of crayons, so you’ll have to colour outside the lines elsewhere," Wynonna said. 

The man let the silence stretch, like he was daring them to break first.

Waverly spoke. “You think walking in here, making threats, is gonna scare us? You must be new.”

The man chuckled. “Oh, I know exactly who you are.” His eyes flicked to Wynonna. “And I know what you did to the last asshole who crossed you.”

He grinned widely, flashing his yellowed teeth. “But I didn’t take you for the type to hire muscle to do your dirty work. What, couldn’t handle Bobo’s men on your own, so you brought in some outside help?”

Waverly’s expression didn’t change. 

Wynonna just smiled. “You seem awful chatty for a guy who got his ass handed to him.”

His smirk faltered for a split second, then returned, colder now. “Message stands, Earp. Either you reconsider, or you’ll wish you had.”

Waverly stepped forward. “Then tell Bobo he should’ve sent someone worth listening to. Because right now, all I hear is a dead man flapping his gums.”

The man tapped the bar twice and turned. 

Wynonna let out a breath. “Fucking hell.”

Waverly shifted her gaze to her. “He thinks we hired Nicole?” 

“Curiouser and curiouser,” Wynonna tapped her chin. 

Waverly exhaled. “He’s scared.”

Wynonna nodded. “Yeah. And scared people do stupid things.”

~~~

The moment Wynonna and Waverly stepped inside Nicole’s workshop, three sets of eyes locked onto them.

Doc looked up from a 1967 Chevy Impala he was working on. Dolls and Eliza flanked him, both watching like they were expecting trouble.

Waverly’s eyes darted around. No sign of Nicole.

Wynonna stepped forward with her hands on her hips. “Alright, Doc. Enough bullshit. What the hell is going on?”

Doc smirked. "Yer gonna have to be a mite more specific, darlin’."

Wynonna scoffed. “Don’t play coy. Bobo’s men think we hired you lot to do our dirty work. Now why would they think that, huh?”

Doc sighed. He glanced at Dolls, then Eliza. Neither spoke.

Waverly stayed quiet as she watched their faces. Watching how none of them looked surprised.

“What is going on?” She asked. 

Doc met her eyes. “There is a whole mess o’ things goin’ on."

Eliza tilted her head. “Question is … how much do you really wanna know?”

"All of it!" Wynonna snapped. "Fucking everything! You don’t just beat the hell out of Bobo’s guys in a dark alley for the hell of it."

Doc exhaled. "'Cause we do not take kindly to men like him."

Wynonna rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Doc. Since when are you the noble type?”

Doc’s expression darkened. "Ain’t got a lick to do with nobility, darlin’. It is ‘bout keepin’ this town from turnin’ into Bobo’s own personal stompin’ ground."

Eliza smirked. “Not to mention, Nicole’s got her own reasons.”

Waverly’s head snapped toward her. “And what reasons are those?”

Eliza lifted her hands in mock surrender. “Not my story to tell.”

Wynonna shook her head. “So what, you four just decided to go to war with Bobo?”

Doc’s lips pressed into a firm line. “Ain’t no war just yet. But if he keeps pushin’…”

“You’re not pushing drugs, then?” Wynonna cut in. “Tell me that much.”

Dolls frowned. “We don’t do that. Never have, never will.”

Eliza let out a sharp laugh. “That’s what you thought?”

“It’s easy to assume,” Wynonna shot back.

Waverly glanced around the workshop again. “Where’s Nicole?”

“Went to pick up Bilstein shocks for the Impala,” Eliza said. 

Wynonna and Waverly just stared at her like she’d started speaking Latin.

Before either could say anything, they heard a car pull up outside, followed by the distinct slam of a car door. 

Nicole walked in, pausing for just a second as she took in the scene before her. She stepped past them, set the box down on the workbench, and finally turned to face them.

“What’s going on?”

Eliza smirked. “They think we’re running a drug empire. Kingpins, real underworld shit.”

Nicole let out a slow breath. Her eyes flicked briefly to Waverly. “Heard that one before.”

She turned back to the workbench and tapped the box of shocks. "If everyone’s got their answers, this conversation is over. We’ve got work to do.”

“Why are you helping us?” Wynonna asked. 

Nicole glanced at Wynonna, then Waverly. “Take the win and walk away.”

Wynonna huffed. “Win? Bobo sent his men again. Walked right into our club, sat at our bar, and made it real clear for us.” 

Nicole’s gaze sharpened. “And you’re telling me this because?”

“You beat the hell out of his guys!” Wynonna snapped. “Now he’s out for blood.”

Nicole stepped in close. “Listen, Earp. I’m not about to let drugs run through my home. If you think I’m the reason Bobo’s pushing back, you’re denser than I thought.” She exhaled sharply, then turned away. “We’re done here.”

“No, we’re not,” Waverly said. 

Nicole didn’t respond, focusing instead on unpacking the shocks.

“C’mon, Wy.” Waverly tugged at Wynonna’s elbow. “No point wasting our breath on a bunch of goons.” 

~~~

Nicole leaned against the counter, easy and unbothered, her signature smirk in place as Stephanie practically draped herself over the register.

“So,” Stephanie purred, running a slow hand over the scanner as she rang up Nicole’s purchase. “You fix cars and break hearts?”

Nicole chuckled. “Only when I get paid for it.”

Stephanie laughed, bright and sweet. “Oh, so you charge, huh? Good to know.”

Nicole tilted her head. “For you? Maybe I’d give a discount.”

Stephanie leaned in, elbows on the counter, chin in her hands. “And what do I gotta do for that?”

Nicole tapped her fingers against the edge of the counter. “Ask nicely.”

Stephanie’s grin widened. “Please?”

Nicole bit back a smirk. “That’s a start.”

In the next aisle over, Waverly gripped a pack of nails so hard the plastic crinkled under her fingers.

“Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ,” she muttered under her breath.

Wynonna, beside her, arched an eyebrow. She followed Waverly’s line of sight and let out a low whistle. “Well, well. Someone’s enjoying herself.”

Waverly’s jaw tightened. “She can do whatever she wants.”

Wynonna studied her. “Sure. But why do you look like you wanna climb over there and rip Bosom Barbie’s extensions out?”

“I do not.”

Wynonna tossed a hammer into their basket. “Can’t blame you. Haught’s got game.”

“Don’t I know it,” Waverly rasped. 

And she did. She had been on the receiving end of that charm once. Nicole had a way of slipping past defenses, all lazy smirks and effortless confidence. A touch staying just long enough to make you crave another. She didn’t just flirt. She made it feel like you were the only person in the room, like she saw something in you no one else did. And once she had you, there was no forgetting it. 

And the thought of another woman getting hit with that, with Nicole’s easy smiles, her knowing touches, that low, honey smooth voice, made something hot and restless coil in Waverly’s chest.

“Mm-hm,” Wynonna hummed, all too amused.

Waverly just watched as Stephanie ran a teasing finger along Nicole’s wrist when she handed her the receipt.

Nicole accepted both the receipt and the touch, with that damn smirk still in place.

“See you around, Nicole,” Stephanie’s voice dripped with suggestion.

Nicole winked . “Count on it.”

Waverly huffed . Loudly.

Nicole’s head turned at the sound. Wynonna yanked Waverly down behind the aisle before she could spot them.

“Would you relax?” Wynonna whispered. “You’re practically breathing fire.”

“I don’t care what she does,” Waverly hissed, though her heartbeat told a different story.

Wynonna sighed. Because Waverly might not know the truth yet, but one thing was clear. She wasn’t as over Nicole Haught as she liked to pretend.

And that was a problem.

~~~

The call came through just as Nicole was adjusting the timing belt on a GMC Sierra 1500. She wiped her hands on a rag when she saw the caller ID light up. It was an unknown number. She answered it. 

“Trouble at the Earp Homestead,” came the clipped voice on the other end. 

Nicole recognized the voice immediately. It was a local informant who’d worked with Nicole in the past, someone who had eyes all over Purgatory. He never fed her false intel. He knew better than to cross Nicole Haught.

Nicole’s heart rate quickened. “Bobo?”

“He’ll put a target on your backs if you don’t move fast.”

Nicole’s blood ran cold.

She ended the call and turned to Eliza, Doc, and Dolls, who were working nearby.

“The Earps are in danger.”

Doc grabbed his jacket. “We ride.”

Eliza and Dolls shared a glance, and without another word, they were all piling into Nicole’s car, as they sped toward the Earp Homestead.

*

As Nicole’s car screeched into the compound, she slammed on the brakes, sending the car to a quick stop just a few feet from the Earp sisters. 

Bobo Del Rey turned towards her. His lips curved into a cold, almost pleasant smile. His scruffy beard and sharp eyes gave him a look of someone who had seen too much and wasn’t afraid to make others feel the same. 

“Well, well, Nicole Haught,” his every word seemed to carry a threat. “A pleasure to see you.”

One of his men, big, brutish, and clearly eager to make a show of strength, yanked Waverly’s arm, pulling her forward. Waverly gasped, stumbling a bit. 

“Hey!” Wynonna yelled. “Touch her again, and I swear-”

Nicole’s gaze flicked toward the man. Her eyes briefly narrowed in warning, then she returned to Bobo, unaffected by the tension surrounding them.

Bobo held up a hand, signaling his man to release Waverly. The brute complied, though his grip remained just long enough to make a point.

“No need for violence, Wynonna,” Bobo said smoothly. He stepped closer, his tone almost conciliatory. “I’m not here to cause trouble. Just want to talk business. Turf rights at your club.” His eyes flicked toward Nicole. “And I’ll even offer you a cut, for your trouble. Though, you’ve already cost me quite a bit.” 

Nicole’s brows furrowed slightly as she sized him up. “No deal.”

Bobo’s smile sharpened as he looked her up and down. “You’ve got an interest in the Earps. What’s your stake?”

Nicole just stared at him. 

Bobo’s grin widened. “No answer? I wasn’t asking you anyway.” He turned his attention to Wynonna and Waverly. “What say you?”

“What she said,” Wynonna hissed.

Bobo studied her for a moment. The coldness in his smile deepened. “You’re playing with fire, Earp. I’m not stupid. I know what you can do, and I know what I can do. So consider this your warning. Stay out of my way.”

He turned and made his way back to his car. As he slid into the car, he shot Nicole one last knowing glance. He gave a short nod to his men, and they immediately shifted positions.

Nicole felt the shift immediately. The tension, the predatory movement. The men were about to strike.

“Get down!” Nicole shouted just as one of Bobo’s men, a big, hulking figure, pulled a gun from beneath his jacket. His fingers tightened on the trigger, as he aimed straight for Waverly.

Nicole launched herself at Waverly, knocking her to the ground just as the shot rang out, missing them by mere inches. Dirt and debris kicked up around them as Nicole’s body shielded Waverly’s.

“Go!” Nicole pushed Waverly back onto her feet. “Into the house, now!”

Wynonna fired a warning shot into the air, but there was no time to wait. The sound of gunfire erupted all around them as Bobo’s men scattered and took cover behind their parked cars. 

“Move!” Wynonna pulled Waverly toward the door of the Homestead.

Eliza, Dolls, and Doc rushed in. Wynonna provided cover until Nicole was safely inside, then shut the door. 

Nicole leaned against the door, breathing heavily. “What do you have?”

Wynonna wiped sweat from her brow. “We’ve got a stash of Earp guns in the basement. Waverly, come with me.”

Bobo’s men pressed on. Inside, Nicole and the rest of the team moved into defensive positions. Nicole's mind was racing. Bobo had just made things personal, and she had a sinking feeling this was far from over.

But for now, they had to fight back.

Wynonna and Waverly stepped into the living room just moments later with armloads of guns. Earp guns, the kind that had been passed down through generations. They distributed the guns around. Everyone quickly grabbed what they needed. Pistols, shotguns, anything that could help them defend the Homestead.

Wynonna took her place at the front window, where Waverly joined her. 

Through the narrow gap in the window, Nicole saw movement. One of Bobo’s men ducked behind a barrel. Her hand slammed against the trigger, and the first shot from inside the Homestead rang out. 

The bullet hit the barrel, and the man ducked lower, cursing as he scrambled for a better position.

Eliza fired from the living room. Her shot hit one of Bobo's men square in the chest.

The battle was on.

Nicole’s gaze moved toward the other side of the yard. Two of Bobo’s men were taking cover behind a car, slowly advancing toward the Homestead. She aimed carefully at one of the men, and fired a shot that caught him in the chest. He dropped instantly. 

Through the side mirror of the car, Nicole saw the second man move. She adjusted her aim and fired again. The bullet struck him in the head, and he collapsed. 

Gunfire from outside was relentless, the sound of bullets ripping through the air and ricocheting off walls. 

Suddenly, a sharp cry broke through the chaos. "Dolls!" Eliza screamed.

Dolls, who had been positioned near the front door, stumbled backward, clutching his arm as blood stained his sleeve.

“Goddamn it!” Dolls gritted out. His teeth clenched in pain as he fell to one knee. He hadn’t seen the shooter, and the bullet had grazed him along the upper arm.

Nicole’s heart skipped a beat. "Fuck!"

“Stay down!” Wynonna shouted. She fired at the man who had shot Dolls, and it hit him directly between his eyes. He fell backwards. 

Doc, who was watching the doorway, fired another shot and took another one of Bobo’s men down. 

Nicole moved quickly toward Dolls. She grabbed his good arm and yanked him toward cover, trying to help him move out of the line of fire.

Instantly, Eliza moved forward and positioned herself beside Doc by the front door. They flanked Nicole and Dolls to provide cover, both releasing rapid shots at Bobo’s men advancing through the yard, forcing them into retreat. Doc took a sharp, calculated shot that downed one of the attackers. Eliza fired in quick bursts, taking down another.

Wynonna slid across the floor to the other side of the door, positioning herself at the window, where she provided steady fire from the opposite angle. Her shots forced Bobo’s crew to scatter.

Meanwhile, Waverly took up position at the nearer side window. She fired off shots and one shot connected with one of the men trying to take cover behind a bush. 

Nicole carefully laid Dolls down, making sure he was out of immediate danger. With a quick glance at Eliza and Doc, she moved to join them at the front door, securing the position. The door rattled as bullets hit nearby, but their coordinated fire was enough to offset the attackers. One by one, Bobo’s men fell.

The gunfire gradually slowed as each of Bobo’s men were either neutralized or scattered.

The fight stopped. 

They all remained silent. 

*

Nicole quickly moved to Dolls' side and dropped to one knee beside him. The blood staining his arm was already beginning to pool on the ground, but he was trying to stay calm, trying to look unaffected. 

“Maintain your positions,” Nicole looked up at Doc and Eliza. 

They nodded, understanding their assignments. 

Nicole’s attention snapped back to Dolls as he shifted uncomfortably on the floor with his hand pressed against the wound. His face was pale, clearly in a lot of pain. 

"I’m fine," he muttered. His voice was low, but there was a slight tremor in it. "It’s just a scratch."

Nicole didn’t even look up from her inspection. She ignored him. 

Dolls shook his head, but Nicole was already moving into action. She reached for a clean rag from a nearby table and pressed it firmly to his arm to stop the bleeding. Dolls flinched but didn’t argue. His jaw tightened, and he tried to wave her off, but she wasn’t having it.

"Don’t even start," Nicole muttered. 

From her position at the window, Eliza called out in irritation. “Shut the fuck up, Dolls, and listen for once.”

Waverly shot a glance at her sister, but Wynonna was focused on the window, scanning the yard for any sign of danger. She went into the kitchen and returned with a first aid kit, a basin of water and clean towels. 

Nicole poured antiseptic into the basin of water. She dipped a clean towel in, wrung it out, and gently pressed it against Dolls' wound. He hissed. Nicole didn’t react to his discomfort. She kept her focus on his arm. 

Waverly stood quietly nearby, watching the scene unfold. She had always known Nicole to be calm under pressure, but there was something about the way she was handling Dolls that caught her off guard. With so much care and gentleness. Nicole’s face remained serene, her brow furrowed only slightly in concentration, but otherwise, she was the picture of calm.

She cleaned the wound and worked patiently to stop the bleeding. Her focus never broke, and her attention was entirely on Dolls as if there was nothing else in the world. Waverly couldn’t help but feel a twinge in her chest as she observed. There was something so raw and protective in the way Nicole handled him.

Nicole's gaze darted up briefly to meet Waverly's. For a brief moment, Waverly saw something softer in her eyes. Nicole had always been someone who gave off an aura of control, but when she was this close to someone in need, that Waverly saw how deep that care ran.

Nicole wasn’t just fixing Dolls’ wound. She was holding his world together in a way that only she could.

As she carefully finished bandaging his arm, she met his gaze. “You’ll live.” 

Dolls scoffed. “It was just a graze!”

Nicole hummed. 

“If everyone’s still in one piece, I suggest we stay put tonight,” Eliza said. “We can’t afford to risk Bobo’s men coming back.”

Wynonna raised an eyebrow. “You’d do that?”

Doc shot her a pointed look. "Unless you reckon on takin' ‘em out all on your own?"

Wynonna huffed. “Waves, come on. Let’s grab sheets and pillows. We’re bedding down here tonight.”

“I’ll take the barn,” Nicole said. She didn’t wait for a response before walking out the door. 

~~~

A few days had passed since the gunfight. Bobo was staying low, licking his wounds, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time before he would regroup and come back stronger. His absence didn’t bring relief, it just meant they were all waiting for the inevitable.

Waverly knew she couldn’t keep pushing down what had been nagging at her for weeks now. The way Nicole had been there for her, for Wynonna, the way she’d thrown herself in harm's way for them. She had helped with Bobo’s mess at the club and at the Homestead, risking so much. And even with the threat of death hanging over them, Nicole stayed. And then there was the way Nicole had saved her life. Physically putting herself between Waverly and danger.

Waverly had never felt more conflicted. It wasn’t just the desperate need to understand Nicole’s role in all of this. It was something deeper.

She found Nicole in the workshop, elbow deep in some engine parts. Nicole looked so in her element, it made Waverly’s heart ache. 

Taking a deep breath, Waverly stepped into the doorway.

“Nicole?” Her voice was soft, a little uncertain.

Nicole looked up, exhaling. “What now?”

“I-” Waverly paused, trying to steady her thoughts. “I need to talk to you. Privately.”

Nicole wiped her hands on a rag and stood. “This is a change. You don’t want to yell at me right here in front of everybody like you always do?”

Waverly felt the familiar irritation flare but pushed it back down. “Please.”

Nicole studied her for a moment before gesturing toward the door.

They moved to the back of the gym extension as they stood in the quiet.

Waverly took a moment before speaking. Her eyes searched Nicole’s face, looking for something she wasn’t sure of. “What’s going on?”

“You’ve got to give me a little more to go on here.”

“You’re helping us with Bobo. You saved me from that gunshot. Dolls even got hurt. What’s happening? Why are you doing all this?”

“Any decent human would,” Nicole answered flatly. 

Waverly’s jaw clenched. “And how are you a decent human?” Waverly couldn’t help it. The anger was seeping back in. “You killed Willa.” 

Nicole closed her eyes for a brief moment. “I didn’t kill Willa,” Nicole admitted finally. 

Waverly let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Right. Because you’re a moral compass.”

Nicole stayed silent.

“Say it again,” Waverly seethed. “Say you didn’t kill her. Say it to my face.”

Nothing.

Waverly snapped. Rage consumed her. How could Nicole so casually deny what Waverly had witnessed with her own eyes? The memory of that night burned in her mind. Trembling, she yanked her purse open, pulled out a gun and tossed the bag aside. 

She aimed the gun at Nicole. “Lies! I saw you! I saw my sister’s body on the floor after you shot her.” Her finger twitched over the trigger. A fraction of an inch, and it would all be over.

Nicole remained stone faced. 

“Say something!” Waverly’s voice shook with anger, but her eyes were already swimming with tears.

Nicole felt it like a gut punch. She never could stand to see Waverly cry.

“Think, Waverly! Did you actually see me pull the trigger?”

Something shifted in Waverly’s expression, just for a brief moment, before the anger flared again. 

“You had your gun on her,” she spat.

“I did,” Nicole admitted. “The gun I pulled from Nedley’s hand after he shot her. In self defense. Willa killed my dad.”

“You’re lying,” Waverly’s voice cracked. “You’re just messing with my head.”

“Just think,” Nicole said, gentler this time.

“Don’t!” Waverly’s grip tightened around the gun. “I’ll sh-”

“Then shoot me,” Nicole cut in, cold and raw. 

Nicole ripped open the top of her shirt, exposing the scar on her chest. The same spot where Waverly’s bullet had struck her once before. She grabbed the barrel of the gun and pressed it firmly against the wound. 

“Shoot,” Nicole repeated. “I won’t survive at this distance. Shoot.”

Tears had already started running down Waverly’s cheeks. Her eyes dropped to the bullet scar on Nicole’s chest. A mark of the pain she’d inflicted on Nicole.

Nicole didn’t back down. “What are you waiting for?” she pushed. “If you’re so sure, pull the fucking trigger.”

Waverly’s heart shattered as her tears fell freely.  

Nicole’s hand shot out, grabbing the back of Waverly’s neck and pulling her in until their foreheads slammed together. Waverly gasped, but the gun stayed firmly pressed to Nicole’s chest. 

They were locked together, breath to breath. Nicole’s fingers dug into Waverly’s skin, hard enough to hurt. 

Waverly’s heart pounded loud enough to drown everything else. The pressure of the gun, the intensity in Nicole’s stare, the closeness of their bodies. It was unbearable and addictive all at once. She could feel every breath Nicole took, every subtle shift of muscle.

“I didn’t kill Willa,” Nicole whispered.

Just as suddenly, she pulled away, turned and walked back toward the workshop, leaving Waverly crumpled in the dirt on her knees.

The tears came in heavy waves as Waverly collapsed. 

~~~

Waverly stood in front of Wynonna, a complete mess. Her hands were still shaking from the confrontation with Nicole, the gun still heavy in her thoughts. 

The room swayed. The warehouse, the blood, Willa’s body. It all blurred together in her head. Her chest felt tight. Her vision tunneled. She barely registered when her knees hit the floor.

“Baby girl.” 

Warm hands caught her before she collapsed completely. Wynonna’s voice was soft, pulling her back. Waverly felt herself being lifted, guided, until the familiar worn cushions of the couch pressed against her back.

“I got you,” Wynonna sat beside her, one arm still around her shoulders, grounding her. She placed a soft kiss on Waverly’s hair. 

Waverly’s chest still ached, but the warmth of Wynonna’s body against hers kept her from slipping further.

“I need to know,” she whispered. 

Wynonna sighed heavily, knowing immediately what her sister meant. She looked away, rubbing her hands over her thighs, like she could wipe away the heaviness of what she was about to say. She had carried this truth long enough, shielding Waverly from it, but maybe it wasn’t hers to carry anymore. Maybe it was time for Waverly to face it. 

“I saw it all,” Wynonna said finally. “Willa went after Nedley. She shot him. And he reacted. Shot her back. Nicole-” Wynonna paused. “Nicole didn’t kill her.” 

Waverly’s body went rigid, and she gripped Wynonna’s arm like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. The reality of Wynonna’s words crashed over her. Nicole didn’t kill Willa. But just as quickly, another truth struck her like a blade to the gut. She had shot Nicole over a lie.

“I shot her,” Waverly’s voice sounded hollow. “I didn’t even let her say a word.” 

She had always been so sure that Nicole was the one who had taken Willa away. She had held onto that certainty, built her anger around it, let it shape the way she saw Nicole. But now that certainty was gone, replaced by something crueler.

Guilt. 

She had been wrong. So, so wrong.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Waverly’s voice cracked as she looked up at her sister. 

“It would have broken you, Waves. If you’d have known that you had shot an innocent person … Nicole-” Wynonna paused. “You didn’t need to carry that. I was trying to protect you.”

Waverly’s hands balled into fists. “But she’s alive.” 

“She is,” Wynonna ran her fingers through Waverly’s hair. “I’m sorry, Waves. I knew that if you found out the truth, you wouldn’t be able to live with what you’d done. I did what I thought was right.” 

Waverly squeezed her eyes shut. The image of Nicole, the woman who had risked everything for them, who had been there when it counted, flooded her thoughts. Her mind raced as she thought back to all the moments Nicole had been there for her. All the times Nicole could have easily taken her out, but protected her instead. Saved her. How many times had Nicole put herself in danger for her? How many times had she chosen Waverly over everything else?

And after all of that, Waverly had still pointed a gun at her.

And now, Waverly realized something else. Something even harder to admit to herself. 

“I’m falling for her, Wynonna. Again.”

“I know,” Wynonna said quietly, after a moment.

Waverly let out a shaky breath. “I have to fix this.”

“Then just be honest, Waves,” Wynonna told her. 

Waverly wasn’t sure how she could ever truly undo the wrong she’d done. The guilt would stay with her. But what mattered now, what mattered most, was trying to find a way to make things right with the woman she had wronged. She had to try. 

“I have to see her,” Waverly wiped her face and looked at Wynonna. “Take me to her.” 

Wynonna gave a small nod. “Okay.”

Chapter Text

Purgatory, Ghost River Triangle

April, 2023 

Waverly stalled outside Nicole’s door. Dolls had barely said a word when he led her through the workshop and into Nicole’s home, only nodding toward the hallway before stepping back. Wynonna had stayed behind in the garage, giving Waverly space to do this alone.

Now that she was here, she wasn’t sure she could do it.

She took a breath, steeled herself, and knocked.

A brief pause.

“Come in.” 

Waverly pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside.

Nicole was sitting on the edge of her bed, legs spread, forearms resting on her knees. She had changed into an old t-shirt and sweats and her hair was damp from a recent shower. The sight of her like this, relaxed, vulnerable, so different from the composed, untouchable Nicole Haught the world saw, made Waverly’s stomach tighten.

But then Nicole looked up.

For a second, just a second, surprise flashed across her face. But it vanished almost instantly, replaced by something harder.

Waverly opened her mouth, but- 

“You gonna pull a gun on me again?”

The words were sharp, but there was no real bite behind them. Just exhaustion.

Waverly flinched. “Nicole-”

“Spoke to Wynonna, did you?” 

Waverly nodded. 

Nicole glanced down at her hands, flexing them once. “What do you want, Waverly?”

Waverly had practiced this. Rehearsed every possible way to say I’m sorry, every way to make Nicole understand. But standing here now, none of it felt like enough.

She swallowed hard. “I-” She dropped her gaze. Don’t justify it. Don’t explain. Just say it.

“I was wrong.” 

Nicole stilled. 

Waverly took a step forward. “Can we talk?” 

For a long moment, Nicole just watched her. Then, finally, she nodded toward the chair by the window.

“Close the door.” 

Waverly nudged it shut and moved toward the chair. She sat stiffly, with her hands clenched in her lap.

Nicole exhaled. “Talk.” 

Waverly’s fingers twisted together. This should be easy. Just say the words.

“Uh-” She stopped, frustrated at herself. She wasn’t used to this. Admitting she was wrong. Facing the consequences of her choices. And she wasn’t used to this version of Nicole either. One who wasn’t meeting her halfway, who wasn’t smoothing things over for her.

She forced herself to look up. “I’m sorry.”

Nicole just let out a quiet, detached hum. “Mm.”

“ Mm ?” Waverly’s brows furrowed. “That’s all you have to say?” 

A knowing smile curved on Nicole’s lips. “There she is.”

Waverly stood up. “What?”

Nicole leaned back on her hands slightly. “You know what your problem is?”

Waverly crossed her arms. “Oh, please enlighten me.” 

“You have to have everything your way. Right down to how I react to you.” 

Waverly stiffened. “What-”

“You walked in here expecting a script. You’d say sorry, I’d forgive you, we’d move on. But I didn’t play my part exactly how you pictured it. And now you don’t know what to do with yourself.”

Waverly’s jaw clenched. “That’s not fair.” 

Nicole just arched a brow. 

Frustration rose hot in Waverly’s chest. “I don’t know what you want from me.” 

Nicole held her gaze. “Maybe you won’t believe me when I say this, but I know you. You played me. But, I’ll give you that. I know the business we were in. I know how you guard your heart like your life depends on it. But the second I saw you, everything I knew, every wall I built, came crashing down.”

“You lied. You cheated. You stole. You even killed me.” A humourless smile tugged at the corner of Nicole’s mouth. “But I refuse to believe that underneath all of that, even if it’s buried so damn deep you can’t admit it to yourself … I refuse to believe you didn’t feel something for me.”

Waverly gasped.  

Nicole’s eyes hardened. “I know you’re sorry. I know you know you were wrong. And I wasn’t exactly innocent, either. But maybe, just once … start with something real.”

Waverly studied Nicole for a long moment before murmuring, “That might be the most words I’ve ever heard from you.”

Nicole didn’t so much as blink.

Waverly shifted with frustration. “I am sorry, Nicole.”

Nicole’s eyes shifted downward. 

She wanted to go to Waverly. Wanted to fast forward to the part where everything was okay. But she couldn’t ignore the feeling of deep, twisting betrayal in her chest. 

Not because Waverly had shot her. That part she could understand. Waverly had seen her with a gun pointed at her sister’s dead body. They were in the middle of a shootout. She couldn’t exactly hit pause and ask questions. She had reacted blindly out of rage and grief.

It was the betrayal that stung. Waverly had manipulated her. Wormed her way into her life, made her fall madly in love. Then turned around and destroyed her. Nicole had lost her father. Lost the biggest deal of her life. Had to leave everything behind and start over in a new country.

She had spent a long time rebuilding.

And now Waverly Earp wanted to stand in front of her and say sorry like it was that simple?

Nicole looked up, meeting Waverly’s gaze head on. “What do you want from me?”

“Forgiveness,” Waverly answered easily. 

Nicole smiled. “That easy, huh?” 

Tears gathered in Waverly’s eyes. “I hurt you. I’m not trying to deny it or justify it. It was what I did. It was who I was. I lied, I manipulated, I got my way. For deals. For gold.” 

Nicole didn’t say anything. She wanted to see where Waverly was going with this.

“When we first met, you were just a mark. No different from any of the others before you.” 

Nicole held her gaze. Tears had begun to slip down Waverly’s cheeks, and Nicole’s heart broke. She wanted to reach out, wanted to brush them away. No matter how much Waverly had hurt her, watching her cry hurt more.

But she waited. 

“And then I got to know you,” Waverly whispered. “Your heart, your soul, your spirit. Completely different from all the others before you.” 

A sharp pang settled in Nicole’s chest. 

“I realized … maybe too late, that I had fallen for you,” Waverly admitted. 

Nicole held her gaze. Those were the words she had longed to hear. The words she never thought would come.

“It’s been a year and a half, Nicole,” Waverly said. “I don’t think I’ve gone a single day without thinking about you.” 

Nicole shook her head slowly. “Uh-uh. Eighteen months, three weeks … and four days.”

Waverly’s eyes widened as she looked at Nicole with surprise. 

Silence settled between them. 

For Waverly, it was suffocating. She shifted on her feet, uncertain, searching Nicole’s face for any sign of what she was thinking. But Nicole gave her nothing. The quiet stretched, and with it, Waverly’s unease.

For Nicole, the silence wasn’t empty. It was full. Full of memories, of heartbreak, of the war waging inside her. She had spent so long convincing herself she had moved on, that Waverly was nothing but a painful chapter in her past. And yet, here she was, standing in front of her, asking for something Nicole wasn’t sure she could give.

Finally, Waverly couldn’t take it anymore. She spoke softly. “Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

Nicole considered the question. She wanted to say yes. A part of her ached to say yes.

But instead, she met Waverly’s gaze and said the only truth she had.

“I don’t know.” 

~~~

Rachel stepped into the garage and felt it instantly. The tension was as thick as the motor oil.

She frowned. “Who died?” 

The only person who lifted their head to acknowledge her was Chrissy. The rest of the crew stayed hunched over their work, silent. No jokes, no chatter. It was abnormally jarring. 

Rachel’s stomach dropped. “Oh my god. Did someone actually die?”

Chrissy exhaled. “C’mon, kid. You’re with me today.” 

“What happened?” Rachel asked. 

Chrissy looked toward the gym extension. Rachel followed her gaze.

Nicole was pounding into the punching bag relentlessly. Her knuckles looked raw. Like she was trying to beat something out of herself.

“Nicole’s in a … mood ,” Chrissy muttered. “When she gets like this, the whole crew feels it. Nothing to worry about.”

“Is she okay?” Rachel hesitated. “Can I at least say hi?”

Chrissy smiled. “If you want to. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” 

Rachel set her bag down, squared her shoulders and walked into the gym.

Nicole saw her coming and grabbed the bag to stop its swing.

“Hey, squirt.” She greeted the young girl. “What’s up? No one giving you a job out there?”

Rachel shoved her hands in her pockets. “I just wanted to say hi.” 

Nicole nodded. “School okay?” 

“Yeah, everything’s good. Got my term project due in a couple of weeks,” Rachel said. 

“Hm.” Nicole shifted her stance. “You manage to get that camshaft?”

“Yeah, Doc had one from the AE86 he worked on last month. We replaced it together,” Rachel said.

“Good.” Nicole jerked her chin toward Chrissy. “Better see what she needs today. Pay’s not gonna earn itself if you just stand here talking.” 

Rachel didn’t move. “Nicole … are you okay?” 

Nicole let her hands drop from the bag. “I will be. Nothing you need to worry about, okay? Just make sure you ace that midterm. Your job’s on the line. I don’t want a B-grader working in my garage.” 

Rachel huffed a laugh and eyed the punching bag. “Promise you’ll teach me how to throw a punch one day?”

Nicole smirked. “Only if you promise to ace your exams.”

“Deal.”

Rachel turned to leave, but before she reached the exit, Waverly stepped inside.

Nicole hadn’t noticed her approach, but the second Waverly appeared, her gaze snapped to her. Then, just as quickly, she looked away, back to Rachel.

“See you in a bit, squirt.”

Rachel darted her gaze between them, then ducked her head and hurried out.

Waverly watched her go before turning back to Nicole.

“You’re hiring teenagers now?”

Nicole hadn’t expected to see Waverly so soon after their conversation. Her eyes roamed over Waverly like she was trying to decide whether to acknowledge her at all. Then, she turned back to the punching bag and threw a sharp jab. And another.

Waverly exhaled. “So that’s how this is gonna go?”

Nicole didn’t look at her. “Got something to say, say it.”

“Just stop punching and look at me,” Waverly’s voice rose. 

Nicole gripped the bag for a moment before she quickly looked toward the garage. She knew her friends could hear them, even if they pretended not to. They were giving her space. She appreciated that.

She stepped past Waverly and slammed the gym door shut.

When she turned back, her eyes were hard. “What?”

Waverly’s gaze dropped to Nicole’s wrapped hands. They were bruised, streaked with blood and grime.

Nicole tucked them behind her back.

Waverly lifted her eyes. “What are you punishing yourself for?”

Nicole said nothing.

Waverly took a step forward.

Nicole instinctively moved back. She didn’t want to be too close. Didn’t trust herself to be too close. Waverly had opened up to her just a few days ago in such a raw way. And she had opened her heart to Waverly. She didn’t know what she would do if she got too close.

But Waverly kept coming. 

Nicole’s legs hit the bench press, and before she could stop herself, she sat down hard.

Waverly dropped onto the bench beside her, close enough that Nicole could feel the warmth of her body. She reached for Nicole’s hands.

Nicole stiffened but didn’t pull away.

Gently, Waverly began undoing the wraps, layer by careful layer. The fabric was damp with sweat and stuck to Nicole’s skin. As it unraveled, the damage was revealed. Raw, split knuckles, blood seeping into the creases.

Waverly inhaled sharply. She lifted her gaze to Nicole’s. 

Nicole held still. 

“Stay,” Waverly ordered. It was a command meant to be obeyed. And for reasons unknown and incomprehensible to Nicole, she didn’t even think to resist. 

Waverly stood and walked out of the gym. 

She found Chrissy at her desk. “Can you get me a first aid kit?” she asked. “And a basin of water. And a clean cloth.”

Chrissy glanced at her, then at Nicole sitting obediently in the gym. She nodded, gathered the supplies and handed them over.

Waverly took them, murmured a quiet, “Thanks,” and headed back inside.

Nicole hadn’t moved. She was still sitting on the bench, hands resting limply in her lap, gaze distant.

Waverly shut the door behind her, set the supplies down, and knelt in front of Nicole. 

Nicole’s eyes widened. Seeing Waverly kneeling before her like that sent something sharp and visceral through her chest. An involuntary growl rumbled from deep within her. 

Waverly’s eyes snapped up to hers. Held for just a second. Then, as if the sound hadn’t affected her at all, she dipped the cloth into the water, wrung it out, and began cleaning Nicole’s wounds.

Nicole watched her. 

Waverly’s touch was impossibly soft. She dabbed at the blood, wiped away the grime. When she pressed antiseptic to the torn skin, Nicole finally reacted with a sharp hiss through her teeth. 

Waverly ignored it, keeping Nicole’s hands still as she worked. “You can punch a bag until your hands are wrecked, but a little antiseptic hurts?” 

Nicole felt herself exhale, long and slow.

When Waverly finished, she took a roll of bandages and gently wrapped Nicole’s knuckles, smoothing the fabric over with her fingertips.

Then, finally, Nicole spoke in a voice that was softer than it had been in a long time. “What are you doing?” 

This time, Waverly was the one who stayed silent. She put away the supplies, then sat back down beside Nicole. For a long moment, she just sat there, before finally turning to meet Nicole’s gaze.

“I don’t even know,” Waverly admitted softly. “Treating your hands was something I could do. I don’t know how to do anything else when it comes to you.”

“Waves …” Nicole murmured. 

Waverly’s eyes widened. The nickname, so effortlessly spoken, so familiar, sent a warmth through her chest that she hadn’t expected. It had been so long since Nicole had said her name so softly, so … endearingly. It almost hurt.

Nicole lowered her eyes. If she noticed Waverly’s reaction, or even realized what she had called her, she didn’t show it. She had started to say something, but for a moment, the words felt impossible to shape.

She closed her eyes and tried again. “A lot of fucked up shit happened between us. I don’t know what was real and what wasn’t. All I know is … you hurt me.”

Waverly parted her lips, but Nicole didn’t let her speak.

“No matter how you spin it, no matter what reasons you have, that’s how I feel,” Nicole continued. “And hurt that deep … I don’t know if I can just forget and forgive so easily.” 

Waverly nodded. “Do you think you ever will?” 

Nicole shrugged. “Maybe.”

“And if you do …” Waverly paused before correcting herself. “... when you do, do you think we could start to mend things between us?” 

Nicole studied her for a long moment. Then, she asked the one question Waverly wasn’t prepared for.

“Why?” Nicole said. “Why do I even matter to you anymore? Why do you need to be in my life?”

Waverly furrowed her brows in confusion. “Why? There are so many reasons, I don’t even know where to begin. But … How about this? I want to make amends. Nicole, I lo-” She stopped herself.

“Hm,” Nicole smiled, almost amused. “I never stopped loving you, Waverly.”

Waverly felt the words hit her like a blow to the chest. Nicole had never stopped loving her? Was she hearing things? 

“Then why won’t you give us a chance?” 

“Because loving you and trusting you aren’t the same things,” Nicole answered. “I’m in love with you. I’m not afraid to say it. But I don’t fucking trust you.” 

Waverly winced at those words, but she didn’t look away. She let the significance of Nicole’s words settle into her chest. 

"Okay," Waverly said finally. "Tell me how to fix it."

Nicole’s fingers instinctively found their way to the bullet scar on her chest. Waverly noticed the action, as her gaze followed the movement. Nicole noticed and immediately let her hand drop.

“I don’t know if I want you to.” 

That hurt more than anything Waverly had expected. “What are you afraid of?”

Nicole scoffed. “You.”

Waverly sucked in a sharp breath. Nicole, who wasn’t afraid of anything, who stared down barrels of guns, who never backed down, was afraid of her ?

Nicole let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head as she stared at her bandaged hands. “You could tell me you’d never hurt me again, and I’d want to believe you. Hell, I would believe you. But if you proved me wrong … I don’t think I’d survive it.”

Waverly reached out instinctively, but Nicole tensed. She stopped and withdrew her hand. 

“I won’t push,” Waverly said softly. “But you need to understand something. I love you too. Maybe I realized it too late, but I do. And if that’s not enough, then I promise you something. I won’t walk away, either. I’ll fight for you.” 

Nicole finally looked at her, but she remained silent. 

Waverly exhaled shakily, then nodded to herself. “I swear it,” she murmured, rising to her feet.

Nicole just watched as Waverly walked away. 

~~~

Chrissy had insisted they go out for drinks at Shorty’s that evening. Nicole had wanted a quiet night at home, but Chrissy was relentless. Since The Devil’s Playground was off limits, at least they could all hang out at Shorty’s. It was neutral ground. After some persuasion, Nicole had finally given in. She didn’t put up much of a fight, anyway. 

She did like Shorty’s. Really, she did. It was old school, smelled of horse and beer, and felt familiar. She ordered beers, a glass of wine for Chrissy, a whiskey on ice for herself, and settled into a booth with her friends.

She was actually having a good time, until Doc stood up with a mischievous smirk.

“Hope ya don’t mind, but I done went and invited some friends over.”

Nicole barely had time to register what he meant before she turned and saw Waverly and Wynonna Earp walking toward them. Her stomach dropped. She snapped her head back around and shut her eyes tight.

Doc was going to get an earful later.

The sisters approached the table, but the energy had turned so cold. They weren’t friends. None of them. There was too much bad blood between them all to believe that Doc had seriously invited the Earps to spend the evening together.

Waverly’s eyes settled on Nicole. But Nicole didn’t meet her gaze. She kept her focus on her drink. 

“Come on, Waves,” Wynonna looped her arm through Waverly’s and gave a gentle tug.

Doc sighed and tipped his hat to his friends. "I will mosey on back to ya in a spell." He followed the Earp sisters to their table, leaving the rest of them in silence.

“Fucking Doc,” Eliza hissed. 

Chrissy shot Nicole a guilty glance. “Sorry, Nicole. I didn’t think we’d run into them here.”

“Not your fault,” Nicole shook her head. She drained the rest of her whiskey, stood, and muttered, “Refill.”

As she passed the Earps’ table, Nicole stole a glance at Waverly, only to find her already looking. A glass of red sat in front of her. Despite herself, Nicole couldn’t help but smile. Waverly was always a red wine person.

At the bar, she set down her empty glass. “Hey, Sarah. One more, please.”

Sarah smirked as she reached for the whiskey bottle. “Either you drink fast, or someone’s got you all worked up.”

Nicole huffed a quiet laugh. “Maybe I just like your company.” She met Sarah’s gaze with an easy smile.

Sarah poured the whiskey slowly. “Oh yeah? Thought you were more the ‘brooding in the corner’ type.”

Nicole tilted her head. “Depends. You gonna give me a reason to stick around?”

Sarah slid the glass toward her. “Guess that depends on what you’re looking for.”

Nicole held her gaze as she took a slow sip of her drink. “Haven’t decided yet.”

Unbeknownst to Nicole, Waverly had been watching the entire exchange. She couldn’t hear the words, but she didn’t need to. The way Sarah leaned in just a little too much, the way Nicole held her gaze, it was enough. Anger flared in her chest before she could stop it.

Without thinking, she stepped up behind Nicole and cleared her throat.

Nicole turned, surprised, only to meet Waverly’s sharp stare.

“Outside,” Waverly said in a tight voice.

Nicole didn’t want to go. But Waverly had already turned and was making her way toward the exit.

With a sigh, Nicole left her drink unfinished and followed.

Outside, Waverly stood waiting with her arms behind her back. 

Nicole was unsure what to say or do. So she stayed silent and did nothing. She waited for Waverly to speak.

When she finally turned, there were tears in her eyes. “I can’t do this.” 

Nicole’s instinct was to reach for her, but she held back.

“I can’t watch you with other people,” Waverly ‘s voice shook. “I thought I was strong enough. That I could fight for you without letting it get to me. But I can’t. It’s too much.”

Nicole let a moment pass by before she said softly. “It’s none of your business.” 

“I know!” Waverly snapped. “You don’t think I know that? I know, Nicole!” 

Her voice broke, and the tears spilled over. 

Nicole couldn’t stand it anymore. She closed the space between them and pulled Waverly into her arms.

Waverly didn’t resist. She melted into Nicole’s embrace, gripping the back of her jacket, sobbing into her chest. It was comfort, warmth, that she hadn’t realized she’d been starving for until now.

“Please …” Waverly sobbed into Nicole’s shirt. She didn’t even know what she was asking for. Only that it was the only word she could manage.

Nicole tightened her hold. 

Suddenly, Waverly shoved against Nicole’s chest, twisting to free herself.

Nicole let go. Her eyes were locked on Waverly’s tear streaked face.

Don’t,” Waverly hissed. “Don’t touch me. Don’t …” 

Nicole took a small step forward. 

“Waves …” she whispered. 

“Don’t call me that! You have no right. No … what- I- stop. Just stop,” Waverly pressed her palms to her ears. “I- no-” 

“Hey …” Nicole kept her voice soft and small. Waverly was spiraling. Nicole had never seen her like this before, and she wasn’t sure how to fix it. She took another careful step closer.

Waverly’s eyes snapped up. Wild. Confused. Her breaths came short and ragged. 

“Come here,” Nicole whispered. “Please.” 

“No!” Waverly snarled. “I- don’t-” 

“It’s okay,” Nicole murmured, as she stepped in and wrapped her arms around Waverly again. 

Waverly collapsed into her instantly. Nicole held her up. 

“Ssshhh … just breathe, sweetheart,” she whispered. “It’s alright. I’ve got you.”

Nicole held on to Waverly like that for a long time. 

At one point, Doc stepped outside, took one look at them, and gave Nicole a knowing nod before slipping back inside.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Waverly’s voice was muffled against Nicole’s chest. 

Her breathing had steadied, and she was standing on her own now. Gently, Nicole pulled back, bending slightly to meet Waverly’s gaze. Those beautiful hazel green eyes that had once held all her dreams. Now, they were just … sad.

“I feel stupid,” Waverly wiped a hand across her cheek. “You were only talking to a girl, and I lost my mind. What’s happening to me?” 

Nicole smirked. “You told me you love me, but this …” 

Waverly shoved a fist against her chest. “Shut up.” 

Nicole caught Waverly’s hand and pressed it to her chest. Then she guided it up to her lips and brushed a soft kiss against the inside of her wrist.

Waverly gasped softly. It had been so long since she’d felt Nicole’s lips on her skin. The touch burned.

“Are you okay?” Nicole asked. 

Waverly shook her head. “I don’t think I’ll ever be anymore … without you.” 

Nicole lowered her head. “That’s emotional blackmail. It’s not fair. And it won’t work on me.” 

“I’m just being honest,” Waverly said. 

“Hm,” Nicole replied. 

They remained silent. Nicole’s arms still rested around Waverly’s waist, and Waverly’s hands remained on Nicole’s chest. Neither moved. Then, at the same time, their eyes met.

Nicole’s gaze shifted, just for a second, to Waverly’s lips before snapping back up.

“May I be honest too?” Nicole finally asked. 

Waverly nodded. 

“I really want to kiss you right now,” Nicole whispered. 

“I know,” Waverly said. Her tone was flat and detached. 

Then she pushed herself out of Nicole’s arms and turned toward the bar.

“Good night, Nicole.” 

Nicole stood there, watching her leave. Again. It was becoming a pattern, Waverly walking away from her. She should be used to this by now. But every time, it hurt more than she’d ever admit.

She leaned back against the wall and let out a loud huff.

~~~

Nicole never admitted it to anyone, but she loved the Purgatory Fair. This was their second year attending, and she looked forward to it more than she’d ever admit. There was something about the open fields, the laughter, the way the whole town came alive for a night. The rides, the games, the food, all of it had its charm.

But what Nicole loved most was the classic car display.

She, Chrissy, Doc, Dolls, and Eliza strolled through the fairgrounds as they took in the sights.

Eliza scrunched up her nose. “Ugh, there’s too much hay. This is a war crime.”

Dolls smirked. “You’ve survived worse things than hay.”

Eliza shot him a look. “Hay fever is real.”

Nicole barely registered their banter. She rolled her shoulders, breathing in the crisp spring air as they made their way toward the classic car showcase at the far end of the fairgrounds.

A sleek 1971 Buick Riviera in midnight blue caught Nicole’s eye. 

She stepped up to it and ran a careful hand along the hood, appreciating the smoothness of the finish. She crouched slightly to inspect the tires. Original rims, well maintained tread. Then, she moved to the single concealed headlights behind their clamshell covers and the bold grille. Classic muscle, built for power and presence.

“Beautiful,” she murmured, not realizing she had said it out loud.

Doc chuckled beside her. “Ain’t she?” 

Nicole knocked lightly against the driver’s side door, testing the solidness of the frame. “She’s a damn masterpiece.” 

Dolls nodded in approval. “Big block engine?”

Nicole glanced at the owner’s display sign and nodded. “Four fifty five. Absolute beast.”

Eliza scoffed. “That’s nice and all, but none of you have commented on the real crime here. Why are these events always on hay?”

“Fuck off,” Nicole laughed. “Learn to appreciate the finer things, E.” She ran her fingers gently over the metal trim. “Just look at that craftsmanship.”

A loud throat clearing interrupted her admiration, followed by a familiar, teasing drawl.

“You touch all your women like that, Haught?” Wynonna jeered. 

Nicole turned. 

And suddenly, the Riviera wasn’t the most beautiful thing she’d seen tonight.

Dressed in a sleeveless fitted white knit top with a plunging v-neck that hugged her in all the right places, paired with a deep red corduroy mini skirt that showed off her legs, Waverly looked absolutely stunning. Black ankle boots completed the look. Her hair was curled in soft waves, and the moment she spotted Nicole, she smiled. 

Nicole swallowed, unable to look away. She had seen Waverly Earp in many ways. Furious, heartbroken, guarded. But this soft, radiant version of her? It knocked the breath right out of her lungs.

“Hi,” Waverly greeted. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks were turning pink under Nicole’s stare.

Nicole was shamelessly staring, hands buried in the pockets of her light washed jeans. Her fitted black henley hugged her frame just right, the top few buttons undone, hinting at skin. A cropped, light blue denim jacket completed the look, sharp against the dark of her shirt. Simple, effortless, but she wore it like armour, cool and composed, even as her eyes gave her away.

Chrissy nudged her side. 

Waverly giggled. 

Nicole cleared her throat. “Hi.” 

“Thinking of buying a car?” Waverly stepped closer to Nicole. 

Nicole still hadn’t taken her eyes off her. “Just admiring the beauty.”

Waverly looked up at her with a shy smile. She felt like a teenager again, crushing hard on the school jock.

“You always were into cars,” she murmured.

The words snapped Nicole out of her trance. They were a reminder of a past life, of who they used to be.

Waverly noticed the shift in her energy. “Sorry.” 

Nicole shook her head. “Didn’t know you were coming to the fair. Would’ve rolled out the red carpet, maybe thrown in some leis for Purgatory’s royal family.”

“Very funny,” Waverly rolled her eyes. 

After a beat, Nicole said. “Come on.” 

“Leaving? Don’t you want to stare longingly at your … classic beauties ?” Waverly teased. 

Nicole glanced at her. “I already have a classic beauty to stare at all night.”

Waverly giggled. “I forgot how cheesy you could be.” 

The group made their way toward the food trucks lining the edge of the fairgrounds. Nicole’s eyes lit up when she spotted a dessert truck and immediately scanned the menu.

Then, with a childlike grin, she turned to Waverly. “Do you still like peanut butter caramel?”

Waverly smiled. “You remember.”

“Hang on.”

Nicole stepped up to the truck and ordered seven peanut butter caramel cookies, still warm and smelling heavenly. She passed them around before returning to Waverly and handing her one.

Waverly took a bite, eyes fluttering shut as she rolled her head back in delight. “Mmmm.”

Nicole chuckled. “Good?”

“So good,” Waverly licked the caramel from her lips.

Nicole’s gaze locked onto the movement. The slow swipe of Waverly’s tongue, the way she bit down on her lower lip.

She stepped in closer.

“You still have a little-” Nicole’s voice dropped as she cut herself off.

Then, not knowing what prompted her to do it, she swiped her thumb slowly over Waverly’s lip. Their eyes never left each other’s.

And then, purposefully, Nicole brought her thumb to her own lips and sucked the caramel off.

Waverly’s eyes widened as she watched Nicole’s lips close over her thumb. 

“That does taste good,” Nicole murmured. 

Waverly shook her head and bit down on her smile.

*

Nicole watched as Dolls, Eliza, and Chrissy disappeared into the crowd. A part of her wanted to go with them. No, if she was honest, most of her did. Sticking around meant risking too much. Feeling too much. 

Before she could turn to follow, a hand gently caught her wrist.

“Stay,” Waverly said quietly.

Nicole’s jaw tensed. Bad idea .

“Just for a little longer?” Waverly’s eyes searched hers. “Please?”

Nicole exhaled slowly through her nose. She should say no. She should walk away. The incident with the cookie earlier was already too much. But Waverly’s touch was warm, her voice soft in that way that made it impossible for Nicole to refuse.

“Okay.”

Waverly smiled, and Nicole had to look away.

The foursome walked through the fairgrounds until they stopped at a shooting gallery where rows of vintage style rifles were lined up in front of a moving target range. Tin cans, spinning plates, and tiny targets shaped like outlaws swayed under the string lights.

Wynonna cracked her knuckles. “Hell yes. Step aside, peasants, and watch a legend work.”

Doc snorted. "Ain’t a soul questionin’ your skills, darlin’. Just your way of playin’ fair."

Wynonna smirked. “Fair.”

Waverly chuckled and stepped up to the counter. “I’m in too.” She turned to Nicole. “What about you?”

Nicole shook her head and tucked her hands into the pockets of her denim jacket. “I’ll pass.”

Waverly’s eyes narrowed in playful challenge. “Scared of a little competition?”

Nicole huffed a soft laugh. “Not even a little.”

Waverly didn’t push. Instead, she handed over her tickets and picked up one of the rifles.

The game began. Wynonna took her shots first. Quick, precise, effortless. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Doc let out a low whistle. “Fancy pants.”

Wynonna blew on the barrel of her rifle like an old Western gunslinger. “You’re just mad I make it look this good.”

Then Waverly stepped up.

Nicole watched as she held the rifle steady, biting her lip in concentration. She fired. Ding! A perfect shot. Then another. And another.

Something tightened in Nicole’s chest, seeing Waverly with a gun in her hands. 

The bell rang, signaling the end of the round.

“Damn, baby girl,” Wynonna whistled. 

Waverly grinned as the game attendant stepped forward, holding up a large teddy bear dressed in a tiny leather jacket and a gun belt.

Waverly took it from him, thanked him, turned and handed it to Nicole.

Nicole blinked. “What?”

“You didn’t want to play,” Waverly said, a little shyly. “So I won you something.”

Nicole stared at the bear. It was ridiculous. The little gun belt. The tiny faux leather jacket.

She took it from Waverly and brushed her thumb over the bear’s tiny nose. “I’m gonna name him Outlaw Paws.” 

Waverly let out a startled laugh.

Nicole held the bear a little tighter, watching Waverly laugh.

She should walk away. 

But maybe … just a little longer.

*

Nicole managed to slip away from the fair. She needed air and space. A moment where she wasn’t being watched, where Waverly’s eyes weren’t on her. 

An empty gazebo sat at the edge of the fairgrounds, wrapped in ivy and dimly lit by some string lights. She stepped inside, exhaling as she leaned against the wooden railing.

She was losing her grip.

She could feel the way her walls were cracking, the way Waverly’s presence pulled her in like gravity. Being near her felt like standing in the ocean as the tide pulled at your ankles, knowing that if you let it, it would sweep you away.

And she couldn’t do that again. Could she?

She pinched the bridge of her nose.

She wanted Waverly. That much was undeniable. Wanted her in a way that made her chest ache, in a way that had her looking for her even when she wasn’t around. It was muscle memory at this point. 

But love wasn’t the problem. Trust was. She had said it herself. To Waverly. 

And that still felt impossible.

So why was it, when Waverly smiled at her, all she wanted to do was grab her and kiss her?

Her grip tightened on the railing.

How much longer could this go on? How much longer could she pretend that she wasn’t unraveling?

Because that’s what was happening. She could feel it. Thread by thread, Waverly was tugging at the walls she had built, loosening the carefully knotted stitches she had pulled tight to hold herself together. And she was letting her. That was the worst part. Nicole had fought so hard to stay guarded, to keep her heart locked behind steel and stone, but Waverly had known the way in.

She wanted to believe things could be different. That Waverly wouldn’t break her again. That if she gave in, if she let herself fall this time, that she could catch herself. But she didn’t know if she could take the risk. Didn’t know if she could survive picking up the pieces of herself all over again.

And yet, every time Waverly smiled at her, every time she looked at her like she was the only person in the world, all those fears faded into something softer. Something dangerous. Because for all her resistance, Nicole ached for her. She longed for the warmth of Waverly’s hands, for the sound of her laugh, for the quiet moments that made everything else feel small.

God, she was tired. Tired of fighting. She loved Waverly with every part of her. It was clear and simple. 

Her heart felt like it was caught between two forces. One pulled her toward the past, toward the hurt, the betrayal, the reasons she should walk away. The other pulled her toward Waverly, toward something she wasn’t sure she could resist anymore.

She let out a slow, unsteady breath.

A quiet throat clearing snapped her out of her thoughts.

Nicole turned sharply. 

And there she was. Her pain and her salve. 

Waverly stood just outside the gazebo, watching her with those big, searching eyes.

Nicole swallowed. Her heart was pounding.

“Hey,” Waverly said softly.

And just like that, she felt herself slipping again. 

“May I join you?” Waverly asked. 

Nicole huffed a quiet laugh. “This is where the boring people hide.” She glanced toward the fair. “The cool kids are back there.”

Waverly stepped closer. “Good thing I’ve never cared about being cool.”

Nicole watched as Waverly came to stand beside her and leaned against the railing. They stood in silence, gazing out at the almost empty streets beyond the fairgrounds. There was a light breeze coming in. 

“Did you have a good time?” Waverly asked. 

Nicole hummed in response.

Waverly let out a small chuckle. “You used to have so much to say back then. What happened to your words?” 

Nicole bit down on her bottom lip. “I don’t have the need for them anymore.” 

Waverly turned to face her. “It feels like …” she exhaled. “... it’s like you’ve lost a part of yourself. And I can’t help but blame myself.” 

Nicole’s smile was bitter. “It was you. You should blame yourself. I didn’t lose a part of myself, Waverly. I lost everything.”

“Nicole … I-” Waverly started, but Nicole cut her off. 

“But you know what I gained when I came here? Peace of mind. Honest work. A  newfound love for my family. It’s a different way of living … but, there’s nothing I would change about it.” 

“Are you happy?” 

Nicole was silent for a moment, before she answered. “Yes … and no.” 

Waverly tilted her head in question. 

“I have everything here,” Nicole continued. “It’s a beautiful life. But … I don’t have you.” 

It was so direct, so simply said. Nicole who a couple of months ago told Waverly she couldn’t trust her, was now saying this. Was it an opening? Was Nicole giving her a chance? 

She stayed still, just watching Nicole. It wasn’t her move to make. At least, she didn’t think it was.

Nicole rubbed the scar on her chest. “You gonna say something?”

Waverly exhaled. “I don’t know what to say.” 

Nicole let out a soft chuckle. “Now you’re the one without the words?”

“What are you saying, exactly? Do you …” Waverly trailed off. 

Nicole looked down at her hands, then turned back to the railing. “I don’t even know.” 

Waverly closed her eyes for a brief moment before stepping closer. She reached for Nicole’s arm, gently tugging her to face her again. 

“This isn’t fair. Yes, I’ve done you wrong. I’ve hurt you. And I’ve admitted that. I’ve apologised … profusely. But this … this push and pull? This game you’re playing? It’s not fair to me.” 

She saw it, then. The shift in Nicole’s eyes. But before she could process it, Nicole stepped forward, gripped her waist and pulled her in, flush against her chest.

Nicole closed the space between them, capturing Waverly’s mouth in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was raw, deep, filled with separation, unspoken words, and buried emotions.

Waverly gasped into the kiss. Her fingers gripped Nicole’s shirt like she needed something to hold onto or risk collapsing. The heat of Nicole’s body, the press of her lips, the way she kissed like she was trying to pour years of lost time into it. It was overwhelming.

Nicole’s hands slid from Waverly’s waist to cup her face. Her thumbs rubbed gently on her cheeks. She kissed her like she had waited too long for this moment and wasn’t going to waste a second more.

Waverly melted into her, surrendering. Her hands trailed up to Nicole’s neck, fingers threaded into soft red hair. She tilted her head, deepening the kiss, exhaling shakily when Nicole’s arms wrapped around her waist once more, pulling her in tightly.

The time apart, the pain, the misunderstandings. It didn’t feel like just a kiss. It was a reckoning. A promise.

When they finally pulled away, Waverly let out a broken laugh. She brushed her nose against Nicole’s.

“I missed you.” 

Nicole closed her eyes. “I never stopped missing you.”

~~~

“Well, well,” Doc drawled. “Never reckoned I’d live to see this day."

Chrissy nudged Nicole’s side. "Didn’t you swear on your Challenger’s engine you’d never step foot in this place?"

Nicole played it cool. “Felt like a change.”

“Sure,” Eliza smirked. “And that change wouldn’t happen to be about five foot four, brown hair, and currently behind the bar, would it?”

Nicole shot her a glare. “Fuck off.” She glanced at the others. “All of you are assholes.”

Doc chuckled. "Struck a raw spot, did we?"

Dolls, who had been quiet until now, tugged at Nicole’s elbow to draw her attention. “Listen, Nicole,” he said. “You know I’ve always got your back. Just … be careful, alright?”

Nicole met his gaze. Then she gave a small smile and nodded. 

Dolls gave her a firm shove on the shoulder. “Go get your girl.”

Nicole barely heard him. Her focus had already shifted to the bar, to Waverly, who was watching her. 

She made her way over and slipped onto an empty stool. A bartender started toward her, but Waverly gave a subtle nod.

“I’ve got this.”

Nicole smirked. “Service from the owner herself? I must be important.” 

Waverly matched her smirk. “Not really. The owner just had some time. You should be honoured.” 

“I am,” Nicole murmured. 

Waverly turned and reached for a bottle on the top shelf, without asking what Nicole wanted. That caught her attention.

Nicole squinted. Yamazaki 25-year old. 

Unopened. 

She’d had it once in Bangkok. Smooth as sin. Ten grand a bottle. If Waverly was about to pour her that, it wasn’t just a drink, it was a statement. Waverly was about to make a power move. 

Nicole watched as Waverly grabbed a glass, dropped in a few ice cubes, and poured a precise measure of the drink. Then she slid the glass across the bar in front of her.

“Still a whiskey on ice girl, right?” 

Nicole didn’t answer. She picked up the glass, tapped it once against the bar top, and took a slow sip. Her eyes never left Waverly’s.

It was fucking smooth. 

Her eyes fluttered shut for a second as the whiskey burned its way down and settled in her chest.

When she opened them again, Waverly was watching her, waiting.

Nicole exhaled. “Fuck, that’s good.”

Waverly slid the bottle back onto the shelf carefully before turning to face her.

“Did you just buy me a drink?” Nicole’s lips quirked. “Because I’m sure as hell not paying for that.”

Waverly rested her elbows on the bar as she met Nicole’s gaze head on.

“Consider it an investment,” she said. 

Nicole turned the glass in her hand. “That a warning?”

Waverly tilted her head. “More like a challenge.”

Nicole hummed. “Dangerous thing to do.” 

Waverly’s fingers traced the rim of Nicole’s glass. “I’m not afraid of you.” 

Nicole’s gaze moved downward, following the lazy path of Waverly’s fingers before dragging up, staying on the hint of cleavage beneath soft fabric, then the curve of her lips, before finally meeting her eyes.

Waverly felt the heat of it like a slow drag of fire over her skin. Starting in her belly and sinking deep, pooling into a throb between her thighs. But she held her ground, refusing to be the first to look away.

Nicole’s voice dropped. “Careful, Earp. You let your guard down around me …” She moved in just enough that Waverly could feel the warmth of her breath. “And I’ll burn you.”

Waverly’s lips curled. “Maybe. I’ve been told I like to play with fire.” 

Nicole’s smirk deepened. “That so? Then tell me, Waverly …” 

She reached out and traced a featherlight touch along the inside of Waverly’s wrist, just enough to send a shiver racing up her arm.

“How close do you want to get before you burn?”

Something deep inside Waverly clenched. Raw, aching, and immensely familiar. The way Nicole looked at her now, it reached into the past, into the quiet moments she tried not to miss. And for the first time in a long time, she let herself hope.

She opened her mouth, about to respond- 

But the club doors crashed open with a violent bang. 

Shouts filled the air as a group of men stormed inside, brandishing bats and sticks. Glass shattered. Tables overturned. Patrons screamed as they were shoved aside, bodies scrambled toward the exits.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” Wynonna’s voice rang from somewhere in the chaos. 

Waverly stepped out from behind the bar. Nicole was on her feet in an instant.

She glanced toward her friends. No words were needed. Dolls, Eliza and Doc immediately sprang into action, guiding people toward the exits. Chrissy hauled a stumbling guy off the floor and shoved him toward the door.

A goon grabbed Eliza’s arm.

Wrong person. 

Eliza twisted, broke his grip with ease and drove a brutal kick between his legs. He crumpled instantly, groaning in pain.

The commotion stilled as one man stepped forward. Bigger than the rest. Smug. Mean.

Nicole recognized him immediately.

The same bastard she’d left bruised and humiliated the last time they crossed paths at the club. 

He spat on the floor. “Everybody shut the fuck up.”

*

The last of the patrons had been evacuated. Surprisingly, the goons hadn’t tried to stop them. It wasn’t about the people. It was about sending a message. 

A standoff settled over the ruined club. Wynonna had taken her place beside Waverly, while Nicole held position on Waverly’s other side. Across the room, Dolls, Eliza, Doc, and Chrissy spread out, forming a line of defense. The goons occupied the middle of the room with their leader standing just ahead of the rest.

He was a thick set bastard with a cruel smirk. He cracked his neck, surveying the damage like he owned the place.

“This is Bobo’s final warning.” His voice carried through the empty club. “You Earps don’t give us turf, we’ll take it.”

Wynonna snorted. “See, that’s the problem with you low level assholes. You think you’re scary, but you’re just Bobo’s little errand boys, running around trying to piss on things that don’t belong to you.”

His smirk twitched. “That right?”

Suddenly, one of the goons lunged at her.

Wynonna didn’t even start. She had her gun out and aimed between his eyes before he could take another step.

Click. 

The sound of safeties being flipped echoed in unison. Doc, Dolls, and Eliza had drawn as well, barrels locked on their targets.

Nicole stood steady, eyes locked on the leader. She didn’t need a weapon in her hand to be a threat. She was quite sure he remembered the beating she delivered the last time around. 

For a long beat, no one moved. The goon who had lunged at Wynonna froze, hands raised slightly, realizing his mistake.

The leader exhaled through his nose. He held up a hand, signaling his men to back off. “Not today,” he said coolly. “But soon.” He stepped back toward the door. His crew moved with him. Before leaving, he shot Nicole a glance. “You should pick a side before the ground gets ripped out from under you.”

Nicole didn’t bother to respond. 

His smirk widened, but he said nothing more. With a final glance at the destruction they’d left behind, he and his men disappeared out the door.

Eliza and Dolls moved quickly, securing the doors and double checking that the goons were gone. Only once they were sure did everyone finally ease. 

Wynonna holstered her gun with a sharp exhale. “Free renovations,” She kicked at a broken chair, shaking her head.

Waverly surveyed the wreckage. “They scared off our customers. And they’ll keep doing it until we do something.”

Nicole, who had been scanning the damage, turned toward them. “Shut down for a few days.”

Wynonna frowned. “So we just let them win?”

“No,” Nicole said evenly. “We buy you some time to rebuild. And we make sure they don’t use club hours to push their shit.”

Doc rubbed at his chin. "If Bobo’s fixin’ to settle in, he’ll be needin’ the buyers."

“We’ll run a major loss,” Wynonna said. 

Eliza scoffed. “You let them come in here again, next time you’ll be scraping bodies off the floor. Your choice, Earp.”

A tense silence followed. Then Wynonna exhaled and gave a firm nod. “Okay.” She turned to check Waverly’s decision. 

Waverly nodded in agreement. 

Then, her eyes widened. “Wouldn’t that just mean Bobo will send his stupid dogs to the Homestead again?” 

“Probably,” Nicole said. “That’s why you two will stay with me for the time being.” 

All eyes in the room snapped to Nicole in disbelief.

She turned to the bar and swallowed the last bit of her very expensive whiskey. She sure as hell was not going to waste it. 

~~~

The Homestead felt a world away as Nicole pushed open the front door to her place, letting the Earps step inside.

“Make yourselves at home,” she kicked off her boots. “No shoes in the house.”  

Wynonna let out a low whistle as she glanced around. “Nice. Didn’t peg you for the domestic type, Haught.”

Nicole rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it.” She gestured down the hall. “Guest room’s this way.”

She led them to a room with a queen sized bed, crisp sheets, and enough space for two people who didn’t mind sharing.

Waverly stepped in first and dropped her bag near the dresser. Wynonna flopped onto the bed with zero hesitation.

“Firm,” Wynonna tested the mattress with a bounce. “Could be worse.”

A knock sounded at the door frame.

Doc tipped his hat. "Ladies, just poppin’ by. Y’all settled in?"

“All good,” Wynonna said.

He gave a nod, then tilted his head toward the hall. "Take a stroll with me?"

Wynonna sighed dramatically but stood and stretched. She strolled out with Doc, leaving the door half open behind her.

Nicole shifted on her feet. Waverly smoothed a hand over the bedspread.

“Thanks again,” Waverly said. “You didn’t have to do this. You’ve gone above and beyond for us.”

Nicole nodded. Funny. Just last night, she’d been flirting shamelessly with Waverly. But now … it felt like there was a wall between them.

Waverly looked at her then. “Why, though? Bobo could easily come here.”

Nicole’s throat worked around an answer. Then, finally she said, “I protect the people I love.”

She let the words sit between them, before turning toward the door. 

“I’ll be in the garage.”

And then she was gone.

~~~

Nicole couldn’t sleep. 

She paced her room, ran her hand through her hair, exhaling sharply. It was ridiculous. She’d been through shootouts, brawls, and high stakes deals without breaking a sweat, but knowing Waverly was just down the hall had her completely undone.

Too many thoughts. Too many what ifs.

She shook her head, willing herself to get it together. 

And then there was a soft knock on the door. 

Nicole immediately stilled. She knew who it was. Her heart pounded as she crossed the room and opened the door.

Waverly stood there. Hair in a high ponytail, oversized shirt slipping off one shoulder, shorts barely visible beneath the hem, looking every bit like she belonged in Nicole’s home.

It made Nicole’s chest ache.

She gripped the doorframe, holding herself back. “You alright?”

Waverly shook her head. 

Nicole’s brow furrowed. “What is it? What do you need?” 

Waverly met her gaze. “You.”

Every wall Nicole had built, every doubt, every reason she’d told herself to stay away crumbled like dust. 

She pulled Waverly inside, kicked the door shut, and pressed her against it before she could take another breath.

Her eyes travelled over Waverly’s face, breath already shallow and uneven.

Waverly’s hands slid up to rest on Nicole’s chest, but Nicole caught her wrists and pinned them high above her head. Then she slid a knee between Waverly’s legs and pushed up.

Waverly gasped. “Nicole …”

Nicole’s voice was wrecked. “What did you do to me?”

Waverly couldn’t hear Nicole’s words. She ground her hips down against her thigh. 

Nicole watched. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Then she leaned in until her mouth brushed the curve of Waverly’s neck before trailing to her ear.

“You got inside me. So deep, I’d kill for you … or kill you if you ever leave again.” 

Waverly shivered at the dark promise in Nicole’s voice.

She tilted her head, exposing her throat in surrender.

Nicole sank her teeth into the soft skin just below Waverly’s jaw, hard enough to leave a mark. Waverly whimpered. 

“You ruin me,” Nicole murmured against her skin. “You don’t even know it.”

Waverly’s hips rolled again, searching for friction. Her lips parted as her eyes fluttered shut. “Then break me too.”

Nicole’s control snapped.

Her mouth crashed into Waverly’s with a raw, hungry kiss. It was rough and demanding. There was no gentleness, only the clash of lips, teeth, and frantic need.

Nicole shoved her tongue into Waverly’s mouth. Roughly, possessively. She licked into her, tasting what she had missed for so long. 

Waverly’s entire body tensed beneath her, but Nicole held her wrists tightly. She devoured the kiss, pulling her closer. She took, and she claimed. She bit down on Waverly’s bottom lip, tugging it between her own before releasing it.

When they finally broke the kiss, both of them breathless, Waverly’s chest heaving against Nicole’s, Nicole finally let go of her wrists. She yanked Waverly’s shirt off and tossed it aside like it didn’t matter. 

Her eyes nearly glowed at the sight of Waverly’s bare chest. Then her hands were everywhere. All over her, tracing every curve, every inch of bare skin. 

“Fuck, Waves,” Nicole growled against her skin. 

Waverly moaned when Nicole’s mouth closed over her breast. She sucked hard. Her tongue flicked relentlessly over the peak again and again. 

Waverly’s head dropped back and her spine arched, pushing more of herself into Nicole’s mouth. The sensation shot straight through her.

Nicole shifted her grip, one hand braced at the small of Waverly’s back, holding her in place as her mouth worshipped her. She alternated between licks and hard pulls, biting just enough not to break skin. 

Waverly’s hands tangled into Nicole’s hair. “Don’t stop.”

Nicole doubled down and switched to the other breast. Her tongue was rough and demanding before she latched on. Her teeth grazed over the nipple and bit lightly.

Waverly’s knees buckled. Nicole caught her, held her up like she weighed nothing.

“I wanna taste you,” Nicole murmured into Waverly’s skin. “I’ve missed your taste.” 

Waverly moaned loudly at the words. Her hips bucked forward against Nicole’s. “What’re you waiting for?”

Nicole dropped to her knees, right there. 

She pulled Waverly’s shorts and panties down and off. She growled at the sight of her. Wet, glistening, so fucking ready. 

“Look at you,” Nicole’s voice was thick with hunger. “You’re so fucking wet.” 

Waverly swayed. Nicole gripped her thighs and guided her to straddle her shoulders, one leg on either side of Nicole’s body. Waverly clutched the door behind her, trying to stay upright. 

Nicole looked up. Her eyes burned as she leaned in. She licked up the full length of Waverly’s folds just to taste. Then again, rougher, wetter, to open her up.

Waverly gasped loudly. Her hips jolted forward.

Nicole pushed her tongue deep into Waverly’s centre. She buried her face between her thighs like she’d drown there and be grateful for it. 

Nicole fucked into her with wild hunger. She groaned at the taste, gripping Waverly’s hips tighter, holding her in place as she worked her tongue in and out, fast and incessant. 

Waverly cried out. Her head dropped back against the door, hands scrambled for purchase in Nicole’s hair.

Nicole growled into her. The vibration sent a jolt through Waverly’s spine. She shifted and sucked Waverly’s clit into her mouth. She flicked her tongue over it with sharp pressure. 

Waverly was whimpering. She bucked into Nicole’s face. 

Nicole devoured her like she was starving. Her hand slid up and her fingers dug into Waverly’s ass, pulling her down harder onto her mouth, grinding her against her tongue.

Waverly was a mess above her. Panting, trembling, the tension coiling impossibly tight in her core.

Nicole plunged her tongue deeper into Waverly. She brought one hand forward and started circling around Waverly’s clit. 

Waverly shattered. Her entire body locked up before it broke apart. Her orgasm ripped through her uncontrollably. Her legs gave out and Nicole held her through it, riding every aftershock with her mouth still working her until Waverly was gasping, twitching, spent.

Only then did Nicole pull back. She rose slowly and reached for Waverly. She drew her up into her arms and held her. Waverly melted into her without a word, cheek pressed to Nicole’s shoulder, still trembling.

Then, Nicole hooked an arm under Waverly’s legs and lifted her off the ground. Waverly gave a soft yelp, as she wrapped her arms around Nicole’s neck.

Nicole carried her to the bed and lowered her gently onto the sheets. She knelt beside her and just watched. She let Waverly breathe, let her recover. 

Her gaze roamed freely, drinking the sight in. From the dazed shimmer in Waverly’s beautiful hazel eyes, to the parted lips still slick with their kiss. Down the elegant line of her neck, to the rise and fall of her flushed chest and peaked nipples. Over the curve of her stomach, and the sharp lines of her hips. Then lower, to the sticky, wet patch of neatly trimmed curls between her thighs.

“Angel,” Nicole whispered. 

Waverly’s eyes snapped to hers. “Take your clothes off.” 

Nicole’s fingers moved to her shirt. She took her time. She peeled each layer off teasingly slowly, letting Waverly drink her in.

Waverly’s eyes followed every movement hungrily. But when Nicole’s bra came off, her gaze caught on the mark on Nicole’s chest. The bullet scar. Her bullet scar. She had only seen it once before, the day that Nicole had told her that she didn’t kill Willa. 

Waverly came up onto her knees and reached out without asking. Her fingers brushed gently over the scar, then she leaned in and pressed her lips to it.

A sound raw and torn from somewhere deep in her chest, escaped Nicole’s lips. 

No one had ever touched that part of her. No one had dared. 

Waverly pulled back just enough to whisper, “I’m sorry.”

Nicole cupped Waverly’s face, her thumb brushing over her soft skin, and pressed a kiss to her lips. The kiss was gentle at first, a soothing exploration. But as Waverly’s lips parted beneath hers, Nicole deepened the kiss. It grew hungrier, more desperate. 

Nicole pulled away just long enough to look at Waverly, and then she moved to unbutton her pants. But Waverly’s hand shot out to stop her.

“Let me,” she murmured. 

Nicole’s heart raced as Waverly’s fingers slid slowly down her waistband to unbutton her pants. Waverly’s eyes never left hers. As the last button came undone, Waverly tugged the pants down and eased them off Nicole’s hips. 

Completely bare in front of her, Nicole pushed Waverly back onto the bed as she climbed over her, straddling her thighs. 

But Waverly was having none of it. She put her hands on Nicole’s chest and pushed her back. She hooked her legs around Nicole’s hips and flipped them, so that now she was straddling Nicole. Her bare chest hovered above Nicole’s. Her lips curled into a playful smile. 

Nicole’s hands ran up Waverly’s thighs, gripping them tightly as she pulled her closer.

“My turn,” Waverly rasped. 

Waverly began moving against Nicole’s stomach. She pressed her core into the hard muscles of her abs, leaving slick behind. Nicole’s tongue darted out, eager to taste her again.

“Behave,” Waverly warned, sensing Nicole’s intentions.

Nicole responded with a low growl. 

Waverly settled her body on top of Nicole’s and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. She slipped her hand between them, trailing it down toward Nicole’s core.

Nicole gasped. She wrapped her arms tightly around Waverly’s body, pulling her in closer.

Waverly circled Nicole’s clit a few times before moving lower, sliding two fingers easily inside her.

Nicole’s body arched at the sensation. 

“You’ve made quite a mess of yourself just from fucking me,” Waverly breathed against Nicole’s neck. 

As Waverly drove into her harder and faster, Nicole jerked her hips in sync, meeting her thrusts. With a snap of her wrist, she pushed her hand down into Waverly's core, slipping two fingers inside.

Waverly’s eyes went wide and a surprised gasp escaped her.

They thrust into each other. Their bodies moved in sync. Faster, harder, exactly how they remembered their need for one another. Waverly pressed her lips to Nicole’s neck, sucking a bruising kiss.

“I’m close,” Nicole grunted. 

Their movements quickened, each stroke deeper, more urgent as their breaths grew erratic. Waverly closed her eyes as she lost herself in the sensation.

“Don’t,” Nicole’s breaths were ragged. “I want you to look at me when you come.” 

Their fingers drove into each other, pushing them closer. Then Waverly arched her back in a scream. Her eyes never left Nicole’s, and that’s when Nicole allowed herself to let go. 

They moved together as they rode their orgasms out. Their bodies slowed eventually as their breaths evened out and their fingers stilled inside each other. 

A few seconds passed, maybe longer, before they slowly withdrew their hands from each other. Waverly collapsed fully onto Nicole as she let her body melt against hers. 

Nicole gently ran her fingers through Waverly’s hair. “You okay?”

Waverly pressed a soft kiss to Nicole’s chest. “Perfect.”

“You are ,” Nicole whispered. 

She clung to Waverly and held her close. Her body turned tense, as if afraid someone might come and take Waverly away again.

“Nicole …” Waverly said. 

Nicole didn’t respond. She just held tighter.

“I’m here, baby,” Waverly brushed her thumb along Nicole’s jaw. She shifted up and cradled Nicole’s head against her chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?” Nicole murmured into her skin. 

Waverly kissed the top of her head. “Promise.”

*

Waverly woke first.

Nicole lay on her stomach beside her, fast asleep. Her strong, bare back was exposed, tapering into a sheet covered waist. One arm rested possessively across Waverly’s hips. As if even in sleep, she couldn’t let go.

Waverly’s mind drifted back to the night before. Heat curled low in her belly once again. A familiar throb started between her thighs. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to focus.

She wanted to touch Nicole. To run her fingers, her lips, down the length of Nicole’s back. But she didn’t want to wake her. Nicole looked so peaceful, so deeply at rest. 

Waverly decided she should get up. She had a full day ahead. She and Wynonna had to figure out a plan to fix their bar. Gently, she began shifting from beneath Nicole’s arm. She was so careful not to wake Nicole up. 

But before she could stand, fingers curled around her wrist.

She turned back.

Nicole’s eyes were barely open and her voice was husky with sleep. “Don’t go.”

Waverly sighed and gave in, slipping back under the covers. Nicole pulled her close and rested her head against Waverly’s stomach. 

“Where were you going?” Nicole mumbled.

“I need to shower,” Waverly said quietly.

“Shower here. Stay with me for a while.”

Waverly’s fingers stroked slowly into Nicole’s hair. 

Then, a softer question. “Do you regret last night?”

Waverly stilled. She remained silent for a while. Nicole looked up. Concern evident across her face.

Waverly smiled gently and smoothed the crease on Nicole’s brow. “You have your little worry wrinkle.”

Nicole chuckled softly.

After a beat, Waverly whispered, “I love you, Nicole. I don’t regret anything. I just …”

Nicole’s gaze searched hers. “Just what?”

Waverly sighed. “I just need you. I don’t ever want to be without you. Is that okay?”

Nicole pressed a kiss to her stomach. “Very okay.”

They lay there in silence for a while, warm and wrapped around each other. Then Nicole murmured, “You called me baby. Last night.”

Waverly smiled. Her fingers traced slow lines across Nicole’s back. “I did.”

Nicole nuzzled deeper into her skin. “I like it.”

Chapter Text

Purgatory, Ghost River Triangle

September, 2023 

Waverly padded softly down the hallway from Nicole’s room. Fresh from a shower, she wore nothing but one of Nicole’s oversized flannels. The sleeves were rolled sloppily to her elbows and the hem brushed just below her thighs. She looked relaxed, content. Happy. 

She stepped into the guest room, only to find her sister already inside, sitting on the bed, one leg shaking furiously. 

“Hey,” Waverly said cautiously. 

“Yeah, hey .” Wynonna’s eyes were ablaze. “You didn’t think to tell me you were planning to stay out all night?”

Waverly blinked. “I- I’m sorry. I should have.”

“You didn’t even take your damn phone,” Wynonna snapped. “I was about to send out a search party. Doc figured you were probably with Nicole. Apparently so.” Her eyes dropped to the flannel shirt. Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Nice outfit.”

Waverly flushed. “I said I’m sorry. It wasn’t planned.”

“Wasn’t pla-” Wynonna shook her head in disbelief. “We’ve got a fuck ton of problems right now, Waves. Bobo’s out there gunning for us. Our bar’s in pieces. And the last thing I need is to worry about you getting yourself tangled up with some fucking criminal.”

That did it.

“I’m not a child you need to babysit.”

“Don’t do that,” Wynonna shot back. “Don’t act like this is just all romance and rainbows. Nicole has a past, Waverly. She’s been in deep with some bad people. Or have you forgotten?”

“So have we!” Waverly shouted. “Or have you forgotten that we were the ones who screwed her over. We took her life away. Her father!” 

“I know,” Wynonna said quietly. 

“And weren’t you the one who told me I just had to be honest with her?” Waverly continued. “To go for it? I went for it. I still love her, Wynonna. So much!” 

Wynonna threw her hands up. “You think I want to be the asshole here? I’m trying to keep us alive.”

“I don’t need you to protect me from her ,” Waverly’s voice rose. “Nicole isn’t the threat here. Bobo is. Nicole’s the one who’s been helping us. And instead of seeing that, you’re accusing her like she hasn’t put everything on the line for us! She moved us into her home, for god’s sake!”

Wynonna stared at her. “It’s not that simple.”

“Yes, it is,” Waverly said. “But don’t make her the enemy just because it’s easier than facing everything else.”

“Baby girl,” Wynonna went up to her. “I’m just …”

“I know you’re worried,” Waverly’s tears were threatening to spill. “I am, too. And I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you where I was last night.”

“We need to be careful, Waves,” Wynonna said. “Things are heating up with Bobo. I can’t lose you. Do you understand that?” 

Waverly hugged Wynonna tightly. “And I can’t lose you . You’re stuck with me for the rest of our lives.”

Wynonna chuckled against Waverly’s shoulder. “I’m gonna have to deliver the shovel talk, don’t I?” 

Waverly pulled away from the hug with wide eyes. “Oh my god, please don’t.”

Wynonna cupped Waverly’s cheeks. “Are you happy?”

Waverly smiled. “Very.”

“Then, I’m happy,” Wynonna pressed a kiss to her sister’s forehead. “Just be careful, okay?”

Waverly nodded. “Nicole’s a good person, Wy.”

“Yeah,” Wynonna said. “Come on, we have work to do. Get your freshly banged ass out there, pronto.” She squinted at Waverly for a while before adding, “I can’t believe I just said that.” 

~~~

Nicole sat in an armchair in her living room with a book in her lap. Her damp hair was pushed back casually, still tousled from her shower. A pair of reading glasses rested low on her nose. She felt worn out from a good day’s work, a full belly, and a quiet house. 

Waverly padded in silently from her room and stopped when she caught sight of Nicole. She didn’t say anything. Just watched. 

Nicole hadn’t noticed her yet. She was too deep in whatever book she was reading. But it wasn’t the book or the quiet that caught Waverly’s attention.

It was the glasses.

Nicole must have sensed her, because she glanced up and smiled.

Waverly sauntered over and gently settled herself in Nicole’s lap, like it had always been hers. 

Nicole looked pleasantly surprised. “Hello.”

She moved to remove her glasses, but Waverly caught her wrist. 

“Don’t. It’s sexy.” 

Nicole raised a brow. 

“I didn’t know you wore glasses,” Waverly’s fingers brushed the collar of Nicole’s t-shirt.

She leaned in and kissed her softly.

Nicole set her book aside, then slowly removed her glasses. 

“Why’d you take them off?” Waverly complained. 

“They’re getting in the way of kissing you properly,” Nicole gritted her teeth at Waverly’s adorableness. 

Waverly pouted. 

Nicole’s eyes dropped to her mouth. “What’s this face?” she leaned forward and kissed the pout right off Waverly’s lips.

Waverly sighed contentedly. “How was your day?”

“Long. Greasy. Satisfying,” Nicole said with a tired smile. 

Waverly chuckled. “Such a poet. You really have a way with words.” 

Nicole shook her head. “How was yours?” 

“Good. I think we’ve figured out how to move some funds around for all the repair costs,” Waverly said. “Might have to fork out a little bit more for marketing, but we should be okay if we can cover expenses within the next six months of reopening.” 

“Hm,” Nicole brushed idle circles against Waverly’s leg.

“Nicole … I-” Waverly looked up at her. “You’ve done so much for us already, and I hate to ask, but … when do you think we can reopen?” 

“Soon,” Nicole said. “We’ve sat on our hands long enough. I think it’s time we take the fight to Bobo. Settle this once and for all.” 

Waverly frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I might have an idea,” Nicole said. 

~~~

Nicole parked her car a little distance from the rendezvous point. Her eyes actively scanned the area for any signs of trouble. Wynonna leaned against the door, wearing that skeptical look that never quite left her face.

Nicole didn’t even know why she’d let Wynonna come with her. The woman had insisted, and Nicole had quickly learned that saying no to the Earp women was an almost impossible task.

“Are we here?” Wynonna took in the somewhat dodgy area Nicole had parked in.

“Stay in the car,” Nicole swung her door open. She wasn’t giving Wynonna a chance to argue. She had to meet the informant alone. She couldn’t risk exposing him.

Wynonna grumbled as she slouched back into the seat, “Nice car for a hit and run. If you were skipping town, this’d be the ride.”

Nicole didn’t even look back. She had more important things to focus on as she made her way toward the meeting point.

She walked the short distance to an alley behind a rundown building. Her informant was already waiting. He saw her approach and snuffed out the cigarette he’d been smoking under his shoe.

Nicole didn’t waste time on pleasantries. She pulled a thick envelope from her inside jacket pocket and handed it to him.

“Cash and burner,” she said. “I need everything on Del Rey’s supply routes.” 

“This ain’t no small job. Bobo’s running tight circles,” he replied. 

“Can you get me the info or not?” Nicole pressed. 

He looked her over for a moment before giving a curt nod. “You’ll get a call in a couple of days.”

With that, she turned and walked back toward her car without another word.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, she fired up the engine. Wynonna was still sitting in the passenger seat, surprisingly. 

“You get what you need?” Wynonna asked. 

Nicole pulled out onto the road, not answering right away. Instead, she focused on the road ahead as they cruised back through the town.

Wynonna raised an eyebrow. “So, what’s the plan? We get the intel, then what? You gonna share?” 

Nicole smirked. “We’re gonna relive our Bangkok days one last time.”

~~~

Rachel stood under the hood of a BMW E30, while Nicole hunched beside her, pointing something out inside the engine. 

“No. That’s the coolant hose,” Nicole said. “That one. You feel the difference? That’s your fuel line.” 

Rachel wiped her hand on a rag and nodded. “Got it. Fuel line. Not coolant hose. Fuel line.”

“They’re easy to mix up. The two run close. The fuel line’s usually reinforced, stiffer to handle pressure. Coolant hoses are rubber, more flexible, and they’ve got a bit of give when you press them.”

“Stiffer … coolant flexible,” Rachel frowned. “Got it, got it.” 

“Good,” Nicole smiled. “Now, pull it out like I showed you.”

Waverly watched the two of them. The way Nicole guided Rachel with so much patience and gentleness warmed her chest. A quiet smile bloomed on her face. 

Wynonna didn’t miss it.

“Looks like someone’s ready to start nesting,” she sidled up beside Waverly. 

“Shut up,” Waverly turned her head as if she hadn't just been caught smiling at her girlfriend in full view of everyone.

“I’m just saying. Is your womb aching seeing your girl with a kid?” Wynonna nudged her elbow. 

Before Waverly could respond, Nicole’s phone rang. She wiped her hands on her pants, and answered. The tension in her shoulders shifted almost instantly.

She turned away slightly, listening intently. The room grew quiet. The crew knew this call wasn’t routine. Nicole didn’t speak a word as she ended the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket.

She searched her crew’s eyes. They all knew something was going down soon. Doc tipped his hat in understanding. Dolls threw a rag over his shoulder, and Eliza gave her a knowing smirk. Chrissy nodded solemnly. 

“You okay?” Waverly pressed a hand into the small of Nicole’s back. 

Nicole nodded once. 

“That was him, wasn’t it?” Wynonna asked. 

Nicole met Wynonna’s gaze. “We’ve got work to do.” 

Rachel looked from one person to another. “What’s going on?”

~~~

Nicole and Dolls made their way through the less traveled road into Purgatory. It wound through the edges of the Pine Barrens. No one used this road if they could avoid it. There were too many sharp turns, too many trees, and it cut through parts of the woods. Nicole didn’t even know the route existed, until now. 

They found a place off the road, hidden in the trees, where they could see without being seen. Then, they got down to the path and started setting up a trap near a blind curve. It was covered just enough with leaves and debris to be invisible in the dark. They placed a spike strip along a narrow part of the road. 

Then, they settled back behind the trees and waited. 

Thirty minutes passed. Then headlights pierced through. 

Dolls lifted his binoculars. “Two men. Mid-size sedan.”

The car rolled closer, then hit the spikes.

The rubber exploded with a loud pop. The car veered violently, fishtailing before crashing into a pine tree. The horn blared once, then went silent.

Nicole and Dolls pulled their ski masks over their faces and moved in fast with their guns drawn. The two men inside the vehicle were dazed but conscious. As soon as the doors opened, Dolls barked orders.

“Out of the car! Hands where I can see them!”

Dolls covered them as Nicole yanked zip ties from her pocket and bound their wrists behind their backs. One of the men growled through gritted teeth.

“You have no idea who you’re messing with. Bobo’s gonna-”

Nicole yanked the zip tie tighter around his wrists. He hissed sharply. 

The second man twisted and pulled a knife from his boot and slashed upward. He caught Nicole’s forearm. She jerked back with a grunt. Blood bloomed through the sleeve of her jacket.

Before she could react, Dolls cracked the man across the head with the butt of his gun. The man dropped like a stone, unconscious.

Nicole cradled her arm briefly, then shot Dolls a look before he could say a word. “Don’t start.”

They searched both men and stripped them of their weapons and phones and tossed them into a bag. Dolls popped the hood and disabled the car's engine, then slashed all four tires for good measure. Meanwhile, Nicole ducked into the cabin and dismantled the GPS system, pulling wires until the unit came free in her hand.

Dolls slammed the trunk shut after retrieving a heavy duffel bag.

They swept through the car for hidden weapons or trackers. They slashed into the seats, peeled up floor mats, and checked the roof liner and undercarriage.

Satisfied, they slipped back into the forest with the bag slung over Dolls’ shoulder. 

After a long trek deeper into the woods, they arrived at a collapsed stone wall surrounding what used to be an old homestead. At its center, was an abandoned well, sealed off with a rusted grate.

Dolls pried the grate open and they both looked down. It was completely dark. Nicole dropped a stone into the well and after a second, they heard a tiny splash. 

Good. There was water at the bottom. 

Nicole opened the duffel. Dozens of white packages marked with faint blue stamps stared back at them. 

Dolls let out a low whistle. “Gotta be at least two mil in there.” 

One by one, they dropped the bricks into the well. When the bag was empty, Dolls resealed the grate and dragged an old wooden beam across it.

No evidence. No trail.

Dolls gave Nicole a satisfied nod. “Bobo’s gonna feel this one.”

“Good,” Nicole said. 

*

Everyone was waiting for them as Nicole and Dolls returned to the garage. 

Waverly’s gaze immediately flicked to Nicole’s forearm, where a cloth was hastily tied around her wound. She pushed off the wall, and hurried towards Nicole. 

“What happened?”

Nicole just shrugged and shook her head. 

Dolls rolled his eyes. “She got cut.” 

Nicole didn’t want to stick around. She was tired, and she knew Dolls would fill the crew in. She turned and headed back to her home. 

Waverly followed her out into the house. “Nicole.”

Nicole smiled. “I’m fine, Waves.” 

“You got cut!” Waverly pressed. “You’re gonna let me help you. Go shower. I’ll be right here when you’re done.”

“Waverly …” 

“No.” Waverly had her hands on her hips, her posture all business now. “I’m not asking. That cut could get infected. You were in the middle of the woods, for crying out loud.”

Nicole stared at Waverly for a moment longer, then relented. “Fucking bossy.”

Waverly smiled. “It’s one of my better qualities.” 

Nicole moved past Waverly and disappeared into the bathroom. As soon as the door clicked shut, Waverly went to grab a first aid kit. 

It wasn’t long before Nicole came out, her hair damp, dressed in sweatpants and a loose t-shirt. There was defiance in her posture, like she still planned to shrug the whole thing off. But Waverly wasn’t having it.

“Sit,” Waverly ordered. 

Nicole obeyed without argument. For all her pushback and resistance, she secretly liked it when Waverly fussed over her. There was care in Waverly’s touch, in her voice. No one else had ever been able to or even dared to boss her around like this. And certainly not with so much love behind it. And maybe that’s what made it feel so good, knowing Waverly could, and did, with complete ease. Waverly was comfortable with her. 

“Does it hurt?” Waverly scanned the injury.

“Not at all. Feels like puppy kisses and bubble baths,” Nicole deadpanned. 

“Such a smartass with that mouth of yours,” Waverly muttered, starting to clean the wound. 

“You like my mouth,” Nicole smirked. 

“Shut up,” Waverly blushed.

Once the wound was cleaned and bandaged, Waverly looked up to find Nicole watching her. She couldn’t quite place the expression on Nicole’s face. 

“All done,” Waverly said gently. “See? Was that so bad?”

Nicole shook her head, then reached out and circled an arm around Waverly’s waist, tugging her down onto the bed.

Waverly let herself be guided, settling against Nicole’s body.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “What happened out there?” 

“We flushed the drugs,” Nicole said. 

“Baby …” Waverly began. 

“I know,” Nicole cut in. “It doesn’t solve the problem. I’m working on it.” 

Waverly nuzzled in closer. “Please be careful.” 

Nicole pressed a kiss into the curve of her neck. There was more work ahead, and not much time. But for now, she let herself rest.

~~~

“So, we’ve cut his supply. This time,” Wynonna said. “We can’t be doing this over and over again. What’s the endgame here? Do we have a plan?”

The room remained silent. They all knew this wasn’t over. At best, they’d slowed Bobo down. He’d be scrambling now, for funds, for a new shipment, for whoever hit him. And it wouldn’t take long to figure it out. Still, they’d bought time. Just enough to figure out their next move.

“Well?” Wynonna pressed. 

“Do you have a plan?” Eliza snapped. 

“Yeah,” Wynonna shot back. “We cut off the head. Shut it all down. I don’t know why we’re sitting back.”

Dolls scoffed. “Barge in, guns blazing. That’s your plan?” 

“Why not?” Wynonna shrugged. 

“You think Bobo’s gonna just roll over because we show up and start shooting?” Dolls’ voice grew. “We don’t even know the full extent of his resources. His crew, his weapons. We can’t just go in blind.” 

“So, we find out,” Wynonna said. “We can’t wait for Bobo to strike first.” 

“Wynonna,” Waverly warned. 

“She’s right,” Eliza said. “We’ll be sitting ducks if Bobo makes the first move.”

“So what do we do?” Waverly asked. 

"Might I make a suggestion?” Doc spoke up. “I reckon we take a good look at his operations and count heads first. Best we do it quick, though. Then, we ride in."

“I can look up his transactions,” Chrissy said. “Maybe we can spot a pattern.”

“I can help with that,” Waverly offered. 

“Okay, okay, now we’re getting somewhere,” Wynonna said. 

Nicole, who had been listening in on the entire conversation, finally spoke. 

“We don’t need to chase his whole operation. We just need one hit.” 

All eyes turned to her. 

“What does that even mean?” Chrissy asked. 

“We take his turf. The Blackroot. That’s where his people are. That’s where the product moves. We make him lose control in the place he thinks is safe. We break the illusion that he’s Purgatory’s kingpin.”

Wynonna frowned. “That sounds a lot like guns blazing. And how do you propose we do that? With our good looks?” 

“You mean my good looks,” Nicole smirked. “And a halfway decent brain, Wynonna.” 

“Fuck off,” Wynonna shot back. “Spill, then.” 

“Two ex-criminal crews walk into a bar …” Nicole began. 

~~~

Nicole parked at the edge of Purgatory, far enough from town to avoid attention. The area was empty. Just overgrown grass and a few crumbling buildings left to rot.

Her informant had arranged this meeting. Getting an undercover cop involved wasn’t easy, but she needed a card Bobo couldn’t control. She had one chance to make this work, and she wasn’t about to mess it up.

The message said he’d be here soon. 

As she stepped out of the car, she glanced at the empty surroundings. The sound of an engine rumbled in the distance. Right on cue.

A black sedan with tinted windows and clean plates slid into view, parking a few feet away. Nicole straightened, watching the car carefully. The door opened, and a tall man stepped out, dressed in a dark, casual leather jacket, black jeans, and boots. He looked around briefly, then made eye contact with Nicole.

She recognized him immediately. He’d been at the Devil’s Playground. One of the guys she and her friends had brawled with that night.

“You gonna beat me up again?” he said dryly.

“Don’t give me a reason,” she replied. “Detective Clayborn.”

“Nicole fucking Haught,” he muttered. “This is risky.” 

“I’ll make it quick,” she said. “I’m bringing Bobo down. I need your help.”

Clayborn raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been embedded with his crew for almost a year. I’ve got nothing. What makes you think you can do what I can’t?”

“Leave that to me. I just need you ready to arrest his crew. Quietly.”

“How the fuck would you do that?” Clayborn looked skeptical. 

“We’ll force them out of The Blackroot. You have your people waiting. You take them down as they scatter.”

He watched her closely, thinking it through. She knew how this looked. Some small town mechanic making big promises out of nowhere.

“What’s in it for you?” he asked. 

“I’ve got personal stakes. That’s all you need to know.”

He opened his mouth to press, but she cut in.

“You get the bust. You get the credit. You keep my name out of it.” 

Clayborn held her gaze for a long beat. “And if this goes sideways?”

“Your cover stays intact. The fallout’s mine.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Are you in or not?” Nicole had no interest in explaining herself to him. 

Another beat. Then he nodded. “I’m in.”

“Good,” she said. “You’ll get the details through our mutual friend.”

~~~

“Waverly’s already asleep in your room,” Wynonna said as Nicole walked in with two glasses in hand.

Nicole handed one to her and clinked their glasses together. “Waverly doesn’t drink whiskey.”

She dropped into the armchair across from the couch where Wynonna was slouched. 

“So you decided to have a drink with the sister?” Wynonna raised an eyebrow. 

Nicole took a sip of her whiskey.  

Wynonna swirled hers. “Hell of a thing we’re about to do.”

Nicole stared down at her glass.

Wynonna glanced over at her. “Is it gonna work?” 

Nicole met her gaze. “It has to. Or it’s all our asses.”

That earned a soft huff of a laugh. “Sounds about right.”

A beat passed before Wynonna spoke again. “I’ve seen what Bobo’s done to the other clubs. To this town. The way he plants himself like a damn parasite. He’s a mad man. I didn’t think you’d push this hard.”

“Someone’s gotta save your ass.”

“My top shelf ass, you mean.”

Nicole smirked. “No arguments there.” 

Wynonna narrowed her eyes. “Have you been checking out my ass, Haught?”

Nicole smiled. 

“I’m telling on you.” 

After a beat, Nicole spoke. “I love her, Wynonna. You have no idea how much. I know you still don’t trust me. And I get it.” 

Wynonna exhaled. “You make sure I don’t see a single tear drop from her eyes. Or I will fucking kill you.” 

Nicole nodded. 

The soft pad of footsteps interrupted the stillness.

Waverly appeared at the hallway entrance, sleep soft and tousled, wrapped in an oversized T-shirt, eyes half lidded.

“What are you two doing up?”

Wynonna raised her glass. “Plotting. Scheming. Talking about you behind your back.”

Waverly made her way over, plopped onto the couch beside Wynonna, and curled into her. Wynonna shifted enough to make room.

Half dozing, Waverly mumbled. “Go to sleep.”

“Let’s get you back to bed, baby girl,” Wynonna said softly. 

Waverly grumbled something incoherent into her shoulder.

Wynonna smiled and pressed a kiss to Waverly’s hair. “Come on.”

She helped her up. Waverly clung to her like a koala, muttering sleepy protests as they disappeared down the hall together. 

Nicole watched them go with a soft smile on her face. 

~~~

The Blackroot throbbed with sound that pulsed through the bones of every person on the dance floor. Bobo Del Rey’s house always looked good on the outside. That was the trick. But tonight, the rot was coming to the surface. 

Nicole entered first. She walked with that effortless authority that made people step aside without knowing why. Wynonna followed. Unlike Nicole, she wanted to be noticed. She wanted Bobo to feel it.

At the far end of the club, Bobo lounged in his corner booth like a wolf in silk. Half amused, half bored. His enforcers stood nearby. Clayborn stood just behind Bobo’s shoulder, silent and watchful.

Nicole and Wynonna walked straight through the current of bodies, cutting through the music, through the stares, until they stood directly in front of him.

“Look who finally came to dance,” Bobo said, lifting a glass. “The cheek of you two to show yourselves in my club after that cheap stunt you pulled. Don’t think I don’t know who did it.” 

Nicole didn’t respond. Wynonna smirked without warmth. They had his attention. 

“What the fuck do you want?” Bobo snarled. 

Wynonna leaned in just enough to needle. “Relax, Bobo. We just came for a little chat. No need to get your panties in a twist.” She gestured to the booth with a pointed look. “Aren’t you gonna offer your guests a seat? Boy, customer service in this place is shit.”

Bobo’s grin spread. It was a dirty, predatory thing.

He took a slow sip from his glass. “You cost me two million dollars. I hope you’re here to pay up.” 

Wynonna’s voice was flat, unbothered. “You think I’ve got that kind of money on me?”

“Don’t lie!” Bobo’s voice was edged with anger. “I know about the Earps. I know the fortune you made running dirty routes in Africa and Asia. Don’t fuck with me.” 

“Then you know about the connections I’ve got too,” Wynonna shot back. “So tell me, who’s fucking with who?”

Bobo’s eyes slid to Nicole, who hadn’t said a word since they walked in. “You part of this connection , Haught? Didn’t peg a lowly mechanic to be in bed with the Earps. Bit out of your league, no?” 

Wynonna let out a dry scoff. “Stop embarrassing yourself, Bobo.”

Bobo’s eyes narrowed on Nicole. She detected a little bit of doubt in his expression, but he masked it quickly enough. 

He exhaled. “This is getting boring. Cut the fuck to the chase.” 

Nicole’s eyes locked on Bobo. “The Devil’s Playground is off limits. That’s non-negotiable. But I’ve got something else to offer. If you’re willing to agree to a fair cut.”

Bobo was genuinely surprised. “You’re here to make a deal ?”

Both women stayed silent. 

Bobo sneered. “What could possibly be more lucrative than the Devil’s Playground? I’m listening.”

*

The garage was unusually quiet that night. Usually, even after closing, the crew would sometimes hang out and have coffees and chats. But tonight … 

Chrissy never imagined she’d be sharing this space with Waverly, of all people. Working side by side, trying to take down one of the longest running criminals Purgatory had ever seen. There was a certain irony in it. After all, it was Waverly’s family that had destroyed hers.

“The things I do for you, Nicole,” Chrissy muttered under her breath. 

“What?” Waverly glanced over at her. 

Chrissy shook her head. “We’re in. Feeds are live. Comms blocked. The whole club’s blind.” 

“How long until they figure it out?” Waverly asked.  

“Not long,” Chrissy exhaled. “They better work fast. How’s it going on your end?” 

“All set,” Waverly gave a thumbs up. “I’ve got access to the security cams outside the club. Social media’s prepped and ready to go.”

“Alright,” Chrissy nodded. “Ready to test drive this?” 

Waverly nodded in return. “Let’s roll.” 

Chrissy hit a key, switching to the frequency of the earpieces that Dolls, Eliza, and Doc were wearing that night. “Hello!” she yelled into the microphone.

A chorus of muffled curses blared through the speaker, enough to make Waverly laugh. Chrissy shot her a wink.

“You guys good?” Chrissy asked, trying to stifle a grin.

"Reckon I just busted my eardrums,” Doc’s voice complained. 

“Stop whining, Doc,” Chrissy teased. “Nicole and Wynonna are in. Just make sure you three don’t screw up.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Eliza’s voice crackled through. “Just don’t fuck up the directions.”

“Shut your pie hole and move down the corridor,” Chrissy said. “Two men around the corner.” 

“Clayborn come through?” Dolls asked. 

“The police are in position,” Waverly answered. “Doc, first right, down the hallway, and straight ahead. You’ve got two to handle.”

“Gotcha,” Doc confirmed.

*

Doc moved quickly down the narrow hallway. He reached the corner just as he spotted the two men standing guard outside a door at the end of the hallway. One had his back to the door, the second was pacing. There was no obvious way to slip by without being seen. The corridor was too open.