Page 41 of Monstrosity

I'm a monster.

I'm a father.

I'm a man who'll burn the world to keep his family safe.

And for the first time in years, I'm okay with all of it.

Because Dasha's right—I'm not just a monster.

I'm their monster, and that makes a huge difference.

CHAPTER FIVE

Dasha

The main room at the clubhouse is chaotic as all hell, but it's the good kind—the kind that comes from too many people who love each other crammed into one space.

Long tables are set up family-style, riddled with enough food to feed an army.

Which, looking around at all of my brothers and their families, might not be far from the truth.

The smell hits me first—roasted meats, fresh bread, something that might be Starla's famous mac and cheese that Meghan's always raving about.

It's like Thanksgiving, except everyone's wearing leather and there are probably enough weapons in this room to stock a small armory.

"Dasha, honey, pass the potatoes?" The request comes from Charm, one of the older old ladies whose husband is the VP and has been with the club for over thirty-five years.

She's been nothing but welcoming since we arrived, showing me where everything is, introducing me to the other women with a patience that speaks of years of experience bringing new people into the fold.

I pass the bowl, still adjusting to how natural this feels.

Cali is on my right, enthusiastically describing her day to anyone who'll listen, while Florencia sits across from us next to Rio, quietly observing everything with those serious eyes she inherited from her father.

"So," Meghan slides in beside me, bumping my shoulder. "How's your first official family dinner as Rio's ol’ lady?"

"Is that what I am now?" I ask, though the title sends a warm flutter through my chest.

"Girl, you've been his ol’ lady for years. Y'all just finally made it official." She grins. "Welcome to the chaos."

Looking around, I can see what she means.

The room is full of leather-clad bikers, tattooed and dangerous-looking, currently engaged in activities like cutting up chicken nuggets for toddlers and wiping faces.

There's Regnor, who is one of the full patch members, currently making airplane noises to get his stubborn five-year-old daughter, Eira, to eat her vegetables.

Magnus, scarred and intimidating, is patiently braiding his daughter Runa’s hair while she chatters about her favorite Disney princess.

The contrast should be jarring, but instead it's just... normal.

"Daddy, can we stay here forever?" Cali asks, ketchup already smeared on her cheek. "It's like a big sleepover!"

Rio reaches over to wipe her face with practiced ease. "Just for a little while, baby girl. Until some grown-up stuff gets sorted out."

"What kind of grown-up stuff?"

"Boring stuff," he assures her. "Nothing you need to worry about."

"Is it about the bad men?" Florencia asks quietly, and the table goes still for just a moment before conversations resume.