CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Aggie
The twinkling lights on the Christmas tree cast a warm glow across the living room, reflecting off the shiny paper and ribbons strewn about.
I lean back against the couch, soaking in the comforting chaos of wrapping paper carnage and excited chatter.
Jolt's arm is around my shoulders as he sits on the floor beside me, his back against the couch.
Conrad's high-pitched voice cuts through the noise as he holds up a long box, his gap-toothed grin infectious. "Aggie, look! Santa brought me a telescope!"
I can't help but smile back at my little brother's enthusiasm. "That's brilliant, Con! You'll be spotting aliens in no time."
Davina rolls her eyes good-naturedly from her perch on the armchair. "Please don't encourage him. You know he'll be waking us all up at 3 AM to go stargazing."
Pushing my sister’s button is on my to-do list. "Ach, let the lad have his fun. Besides, you're just jealous Santa didn't bring you anything as cool."
My seventeen-year-old sister huffs dramatically, but I catch the hint of a smile playing at her lips. "As if. My new laptop is way cooler than some glorified binoculars."
Sorcha pipes up from her spot on the floor, surrounded by a pile of art supplies. "I think Con's telescope is neat! Can I use it too?"
"'Course you can, squirt." Conrad puffs out his chest like a little emperor bestowing favors.
Jolt's chest rumbles with silent laughter against my side.
His thumb traces lazy circles on my arm, and I find myself leaning into his warmth.
It's strange how natural this feels—him here with my family, as if he's always belonged.
"What do you think, Jolt?" I ask, tilting my head to look up at him. "Reckon we've got some budding astronomers on our hands?"
His deep green eyes crinkle at the corners as he grins. "Definitely. Though I'd keep an eye on that one." He nods toward Conrad, who's now dramatically reenacting some space battle with his telescope. "Pretty sure he's plotting interplanetary domination."
I snort, picturing my six-year-old brother as some sort of pint-sized evil overlord. "Wouldn't put it past him. The wee terror's too clever for his own good sometimes."
Jolt's arm tightens around me briefly, and I catch a flicker of something in his expression—fondness, maybe—before he schools his features back into his usual easy-going smile.
"Speaking of clever," he says, raising his voice slightly to be heard over the ongoing gift-opening frenzy, "Davina, how's that college application process going? Aggie mentioned you were looking at some programs."
Davina perks up, clearly pleased to be included in the 'adult' conversation. "It's going well, actually! I've got my eye on a few programs, but I haven’t decided what I want to do yet."
It’s a little hard to believe Davina’s going to be graduating high school next year.
Sorcha rushes over, plopping herself unceremoniously onto my lap.
At ten, she's really getting too big for this, but I wouldn't dream of pushing her away.
"Aggie," she says seriously, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I need your expert opinion."
I raise an eyebrow, fighting back a grin. "Oh? And what might you need my expertise on, mo chridhe ?"
She holds up two sketchbooks—one with a vibrant floral design, the other adorned with fantastical creatures. "Which one should I use for my new project? It's very important."
I pretend to consider deeply, tapping my chin in mock thoughtfulness. "Hmm, a truly weighty decision. What do you think, Jolt? Any artistic insights to share?"
He leans in. "Well, as someone with absolutely zero artistic talent, I'd say... flip a coin?"
Sorcha giggles. "You're silly. I can't leave it up to chance! This is serious business."
"Ah, of course. My apologies," Jolt says solemnly, though I can see the corners of his mouth twitching. "In that case, I vote for the magical beasties. Can't go wrong with a dragon or two, right?"
Sorcha considers this, then nods decisively. "Good point. Dragons it is!"
She hops off my lap and scampers back to her pile of art supplies, already lost in her own world of creation.
I watch her go, a bittersweet ache blooming in my chest.
It hits me suddenly how much I've missed—how much I'll continue to miss—being away at university.
Sure, Vegas has its excitements, but nothing quite compares to the comfort of home, of family.
Jolt must sense the shift in my mood because he gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"You okay?" he asks softly, his voice pitched low enough that only I can hear.
I nod, not quite trusting my voice.
He doesn't push, just pulls me a little closer, a silent offering of support.
It's moments like these that make me wonder how I ever thought this thing between us was just a bit of fun.
There's a depth to Jolt that constantly surprises me, hidden beneath his easy going exterior.
"I'm glad you're here," I finally manage, my voice barely above a whisper.
His answering smile is soft, genuine in a way that makes my heart stutter. "Wouldn't want to be anywhere else, Aggie-girl."
The moment is broken by a shriek of laughter from Conrad, who's now wielding his telescope like a sword, chasing a giggling Sorcha around the room.
"Oi! Watch where you're swinging that thing!" I call out, more amused than actually concerned. "You'll take someone's eye out!"
Conrad calls back, not sounding sorry in the slightest. "Sorry, Aggie!"
Davina rolls her eyes again—I swear, one of these days they're going to get stuck that way—and goes back to tapping away at her new laptop.
The familiarity of it all washes over me: the chaos, the constant low-level bickering undercut with pure love.
It's home, in all its messy, wonderful glory.
I catch my Mum's eye from across the room where she's perched on Da's lap in his favorite armchair.
She gives me a knowing look, her gaze flickering between me and Jolt.
I feel my cheeks heat up, but I don't look away.
There's approval in her eyes, and maybe a hint of relief.
I know she worries about me, off in Vegas on my own.
Well, not entirely on my own anymore, I suppose.
"So, Jolt." Da's gruff voice carries easily over the commotion surrounding us. "How do you feel like prospecting is working out for ya?"
I tense slightly, unsure how this conversation will go.
Da's part of the Montana charter, sure, but Jolt’s forging his own path in Vegas.
Jolt, to his credit, doesn't miss a beat. "It's been an experience, sir. Challenging, but rewarding. I've learned a lot."
Da grunts noncommittally. "I bet. Vegas is a different beast altogether from what we deal with up here."
"That it is," Jolt agrees easily. "But at its core, it's about family, right? Looking out for your brothers, protecting what's yours. That's universal."
I watch Da carefully, seeing the way his eyes narrow slightly as he considers Jolt's words.
There's a tense moment where I'm not sure which way this is going to go, and then—Da nods, a small smile breaking through his usual stoic expression.
"Well said. You've got a good head on your shoulders."
Mum shouts at Conrad and Sorcha, “Get back in here you two! Plenty of other gifts to be opened, don’t ya think?”
Conrad doesn’t have to be told twice.
He rushes back in and slides on the hardwood floor like a rocker playing at Madison Square Garden.
Sorcha comes back too, plopping down quietly.
Conrad begins ripping away at more paper and before long he’s squealing, eyes wide with excitement.
"Oh my gosh, it's the new Minecraft Lego set! Santa is the freaking best!"
I glance over at Jolt and realize he's watching me, those deep green eyes of his intense and searching.
"What?" I ask, suddenly self-conscious. "Do I have hot chocolate on my face or something?"
Jolt shakes his head, a slow smile spreading across his face. "No, nothing like that. You just... you look beautiful, Aggie. Radiant."
I roll my eyes, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest.
"Oh, stop it. You don't need to butter me up, you know. You've already got me."
"I'm not toying with you," Jolt says, his voice low and serious.
He reaches up, tucking a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. "I mean it. Seeing you this happy... it's something else. You're glowing."
I feel my cheeks heat up, and I'm grateful for the dim lighting that hopefully hides my blush.
"You're such a sap," I mutter, but there's no real bite to my words.
"Only for you, lass," he responds, his attempt at a Scottish accent making me snort with laughter.
Davina calls out, her eyebrow arched, "Oi, what's so funny over there?"
"Nothing," I say quickly, at the same time Jolt answers, "Just admiring your sister's beauty."
Davina makes a gagging noise, but I can see the approval in her eyes.
It means more to me than I care to admit, knowing that my family seems to like Jolt.
As Conrad launches into an excited explanation of his new Lego set to anyone who'll listen, I lean back into Jolt's embrace, allowing myself to relax fully for what feels like the first time in weeks.
Tomorrow, we'll have to head back to Vegas, back to the club and all the complications life brings us.
I won’t lie though, the crackling fire and the soft chatter of my family create a cocoon of warmth that I never want to leave.
As I watch Sorcha help Conrad piece together his new Lego set, I realize how much I’ve truly missed my family.
"Mum?" Sorcha's voice breaks through my thoughts.
She's looking at our mother with a furrowed brow. "Did you and Da get anything for Aggie for Christmas?"
I feel my cheeks heat up. "Sorcha, don't be?—"
But my mum's warm laugh cuts me off. "Of course we did, love. We've got presents for Aggie, and for Sienna too." Her eyes twinkle mischievously. "We even picked up a couple things for Jolt and Vader."
Jolt straightens beside me, surprise evident in his voice. "Ma’am, you didn't have to?—"
"Natalie, dear," my mum corrects him gently. "And of course we did. You're guests in our home, and more importantly," she gives me a knowing look, "you're important to our Aggie girl."
I duck my head, feeling a mix of embarrassment and overwhelming love for my family.
Jolt's arm tightens around me, and when I glance up at him, I see a softness in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat.
"Thank you," he says, his voice rough with emotion. "That means a lot."
As my mum bustles off to retrieve the gifts, I lean in close to Jolt. "See? I told you they'd love you."
He chuckles, the sound rumbling through his chest. "I think it's more that they love you, Ghost I'm just along for the ride."
I punch his arm lightly. "Don't sell yourself short, Jack Sterling. You're pretty lovable when you want to be."
His eyebrows shoot up at the use of his real name. "Oh? And here I thought you only had eyes for Jolt, the mysterious biker."
I snort, unable to keep a straight face. "Please. You're about as mysterious as an open book."
"Ah, but I'm your open book," he quips, pressing a kiss to my temple.
As I watch my family, feeling Jolt's solid presence beside me, I know with absolute certainty that I've made the right choice.
Whatever challenges await us back in Vegas, we'll face them together.
For now, I just need to enjoy the time I have left here.
My mum returns, arms laden with brightly wrapped packages. "Here we are! A few little somethings for our guests."
Jolt and Vader immediately start protesting, their voices overlapping.
"You really didn't have to—" Jolt begins.
"This is too much, we can't accept—" Vader chimes in.
My mum waves them off with a laugh. "Nonsense, boys! You're practically family now. And it's Natalie, remember?"
I can't help but grin at the flustered looks on their faces.
"Mum's right," I say, squeezing Jolt's hand. "You're stuck with us now. Might as well get used to it."
Jolt's eyes meet mine, a mix of gratitude and something deeper swirling in their depths. "I think I can live with that," he murmurs.
As the gift-opening continues, I find myself lost in thought.
It's surreal, watching Jolt and Vader fit so seamlessly into my family's Christmas.
If someone had told me a few months ago that I'd be sitting here, cuddled up to a Reaper's Reject prospect, I'd have laughed in their face.
Yet here we are, and it feels... right.
The rustle of paper and excited exclamations fade into the background as the last of the presents are opened.
My mum stands, clapping her hands together. "All right, girls! Time to get cooking. We've got a proper Scottish feast to prepare."
I groan playfully. "I should've known there was a catch to all this holiday cheer."
Jolt chuckles, releasing me from his embrace. "Go on. Show me what those talented hands of yours can do in the kitchen."
I swat at him, heat rising to my cheeks. "Behave yourself, Sterling. There are children present."
As I follow my sisters and mum into the kitchen, the scent of spices and roasting meat already filling the air, I can't help but feel like I could do this every year.
"Aggie, can you start on the neeps and tatties?" my mum calls out, already elbow-deep in stuffing preparation.
I roll up my sleeves, ready to dive in. "On it!"
As we work, the kitchen reminds me of a commercial one.
Sienna's at the stove, stirring a pot of soup with intense concentration.
Davina's chopping vegetables with the precision of a surgeon, while little Sorcha carefully measures out ingredients for the cranachan.
"So," Sienna says, bumping her hip against mine as we work side by side. "Things seem pretty serious with you and Jolt now."
I feel a blush creeping up my neck. "Yeah, I guess they are."
"You guess?" She raises an eyebrow. "The man looks at you like you hung the moon. And don't think I haven't noticed how you light up around him."
I bite my lip, focusing intently on mashing the potatoes. "It's... complicated. But good. Really good."
Sienna's voice softens. "I'm happy for you, Aggie. You deserve someone who makes you smile like that."
I glance over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of Jolt through the kitchen doorway.
He's listening intently to something my da is saying, his brow furrowed in concentration.
As if sensing my gaze, he looks up, flashing me that crooked grin that never fails to make my heart race.
"Yeah," I murmur, turning back to my task with a smile. "I think I found a good one."
The scent of cinnamon and cloves fills the air as Sorcha and I work on the desserts.
My little sister's tongue pokes out slightly in concentration as she carefully finishes measuring out ingredients for the cranachan.
"Aggie," she whispers, eyes wide with excitement, "d'you think Jolt likes Scottish puddings?"
I can't help but chuckle. "I'm sure he'll love anything you make, wee one."
Hours pass in a flurry of chopping, stirring, and laughter.
Finally, Mum calls out, "All right, troops! Dinner's ready!"
We file into the dining room, a parade of steaming dishes in our hands.
Jolt jumps up to help, his fingers brushing mine as he takes a platter.
That simple touch sends a shiver down my spine.
"Looks amazing," he murmurs, his deep green eyes locked on mine.
As we settle around the table, the conversation flows as freely as the wine.
I can't help but notice how my da keeps engaging Jolt, asking about his work with the club, his plans for the future.
There's an approving glint in Da’s eye that warms my heart.
Curious, I turn to my stepfather. "Da, have you known Vader for long? Before all this, I mean."
Grim nods, taking a sip of his whiskey. "Aye, the Deathstalkers have been allies of the club for years now. We've crossed paths a time or two."
Mum lets out a laugh, shaking her head. "It's a small world, isn't it? Who would have thought one of the Vegas prospects would be a Deathstalker's little brother?"
I feel Jolt tense slightly beside me, and I lay a hand on his thigh under the table.
He relaxes at my touch, flashing me a grateful smile.
"Small world indeed," I agree.
Da nods slowly, his weathered face creasing with a mix of pride and concern. “Mmm, it's not too shocking. The MC world's smaller than you might think, especially when it comes to allied clubs."
Suddenly, Conrad's eager voice pipes up from the end of the table.
"I wanna be a Reaper!" he exclaims, nearly bouncing in his seat with excitement.
The room falls silent for a moment, and I feel my breath catch in my throat.
I glance at Mum, seeing the flash of worry in her eyes before she masks it with a smile.
Da leans forward, his gaze softening as he looks at his young son. "I'm sure you will, little man," he says, his gruff voice gentler than I've heard it in a long time.
I know Da loves the club, but I also know the toll it's taken on him over the years.
The thought of Conrad following that same path sends a shiver down my spine.
It’s hard to imagine my little brother dealing with all the same dangers Da and my boyfriend do.
"You've got plenty of time to decide what you want to be, sweetheart," I say, trying to keep my voice light. "Maybe you'll want to be a doctor or a teacher instead."
Conrad shakes his head vigorously. "Nuh-uh! I'm gonna be just like Da!"
I feel Jolt shift beside me, and when he speaks, his voice is low and thoughtful. "Being a Reaper is a big responsibility, little man. Your da's one of the best, but it takes a lot of work and dedication."
I squeeze Jolt's hand under the table, grateful for his attempt to temper Conrad's enthusiasm without shutting it down completely.
It's a delicate balance, one I'm still learning to navigate myself.
But Con’s only six, and he’s got plenty of time to make up his mind.