Page 13 of Monstrosity (Raiders of Valhalla MC: New Blood #5)

"When I realized he wasn't just some violent criminal. He's a protector. They all are. They do terrible things to terrible people to keep us safe." She takes a sip of her spiked juice. "Once you understand that, the blood becomes... not acceptable exactly, but understandable."

"Dasha?" Cali appears at my knee, rubbing her eyes. "I'm thirsty."

"There's juice right there, baby."

"I want water. From the kitchen. The cold kind."

I recognize a stalling tactic when I see one, but I indulge her anyway. "Okay, let's go get some cold water."

The kitchen is quieter, though I can hear the muffled sounds of the men's meeting from down the hall.

Cali climbs onto a stool while I get her water, adding ice because I know she likes to hear it clink.

"Are you and Daddy married now?" she asks suddenly.

I nearly drop the glass. "What makes you ask that?"

"Runa said when mommies and daddies live together and kiss, they're married." She sips her water thoughtfully. "And you live with us and kiss Daddy."

"Well..." I scramble for an age-appropriate answer. "Sometimes adults who love each other very much live together before they get married. Your daddy and I love each other and you girls very much, but we're not married yet."

"Yet?" She perks up. "So you will get married?"

"Maybe someday," I answer her honestly. "Would you like that?"

"Yes!" She bounces on the stool. "Then you'd be our real mommy!"

"Oh, sweetheart." I crouch down to her level. "I don't need to be married to your daddy to love you like a real mommy. I already do."

She throws her little arms around my neck, nearly knocking me over. "I love you too, Dasha-mommy."

My eyes sting as I hold her tight.

When she pulls back, she's yawning widely.

"How about we skip the rest of the movie and get you to bed?" I suggest.

"Will you tell me a story?"

"Of course."

Back in our room, I tuck her into the bottom bunk.

Florencia must still be watching the movie.

As I'm making up a story about a brave princess who rides motorcycles, I hear the door open.

Rio slips in quietly, pausing when he sees us.

"And the princess rode her sparkly motorcycle all the way to the castle," I continue, very aware of him watching us. "Where the handsome king was waiting with her favorite ice cream."

"What flavor?" Cali asks sleepily.

"Strawberry with rainbow sprinkles, of course."

"That's my favorite," she mumbles, eyes drooping.

"I know, baby. Sweet dreams."

She's asleep before I finish tucking her blanket around her. When I turn, Rio's looking at us with an expression that makes my heart skip.

"How long were you listening?" I ask softly.

"Long enough." He pulls me into the hallway, closing the door quietly behind us. "Dasha-mommy?"

I blush. "She just started calling me that. I didn't?—"

He cuts me off with a kiss that leaves me breathless.

When we break apart, he rests his forehead against mine. "Don't apologize. Hearing you with her... Christ, Dasha. Do you know what you do to me?"

"Hopefully, the same thing you do to me."

" Kirkja's not over," he says reluctantly. "But I needed to see you. To see them. To remind myself what I'm fighting for."

"Is it bad?" I ask. "Whatever you're planning?"

"It's necessary," he says, which isn't really an answer. "Vanir cracked the laptop. We know more about their plans now."

"And?"

He hesitates, clearly debating how much to share. "We need to move fast. Hit them before they expect it. But first, we have to smooth things over with the Irish tomorrow. I’m going with the group to talk to them."

"About the warehouse that burned?"

"Yeah. Bembe's trying to start a war between us. Make us fight each other while he moves his product." His jaw tightens. "We're not going to let that happen."

"Rio!" Tor's voice carries down the hall. "Need you back in here, brother."

"Go," I tell him. "I'll wait up."

"Could be late."

"I'll still wait."

He kisses me again, quick but thorough. "Check on Florencia? Make sure she gets to bed at a reasonable hour? You and I know this one will be out for the rest of the night."

"Already planning on it."

He heads back to the meeting, and I return to the media room.

The movie's almost over, and several of the younger kids are already asleep in the pillow nest.

Florencia is still awake but yawning.

"Ready for bed?" I ask her.

She nods, taking my hand as we navigate around sleeping children.

"Dasha?" she says as I'm tucking her into the top bunk. "Are we going to be okay?"

The question breaks my heart a little. "Yes, sweetheart. We're going to be fine."

"Promise?"

"I promise we're going to do everything we can to stay safe and together," I say carefully. "Your daddy and all his friends are working hard to fix the problem."

She seems to accept this, snuggling into her pillow. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too, baby. Sweet dreams."

I leave a small light on and settle into the chair by the window with a book I grabbed from the main room.

I can't focus on the words, but it gives me something to do while I wait for Rio.

The clubhouse settles into nighttime rhythms.

I hear doors closing, muffled conversations, someone's TV through the walls.

It's like living in a very dangerous apartment complex.

My phone buzzes with a text from an unknown number.

My blood freezes until I read it:

This is Magnolia. Saved your number from the dinner list. If you need anything tonight, I'm down the hall, in room 12. Don't hesitate. - M

The kindness of these women continues to amaze me.

I save her number and send back a thank you.

Another buzz, this time from Meghan:

Still up? Wine in my room if you need company.

I consider it, but decide to wait for Rio.

I want to be here when he gets back, to see for myself that he's okay.

Time passes. I must doze because the next thing I know, Rio's gently taking the book from my hands.

"Hey," I mumble, disoriented. "What time is it?"

"Late. After two." He helps me stand. "Come on, let's get you to bed properly."

I check on both girls—still sleeping soundly—before following him to our bed.

He strips down to his boxers, and I can see the tension in every line of his body.

"Bad meeting?"

"Eh, it was a productive meeting," he corrects, sliding in beside me. "Vanir found a lot on that laptop. Carlos was thorough—detailed files on you, Meghan, and Elfe. Schedules, photos, personal information. Even had notes about your coffee preferences."

"That's... creepy."

"That's dangerous," he corrects. "But now we know what they know. And we found their shipping manifest. Bembe's expecting a massive shipment in three days. Enough heroin and fentanyl to supply half the country."

"And you're going to stop it?"

"We're going to steal it, give it to the Irish, and make a fuck ton of money. Gonna destroy his ass.." The certainty in his voice should probably scare me. Instead, I find it reassuring.

"What about the Irish?"

"Meeting them tomorrow morning to tell them the plan.

Runes, Ivar, and I will show them the evidence, make sure they know Bembe's trying to play us against each other.

" He pulls me closer. "Liam Mackenzie's unpredictable on his best day, but he respects honesty.

We'll make it right. The fact that Revna married Doran solidifies the relationship between the club and the Irish, so I don’t think things could ever go sour. "

"And then?"

"Then we plan. Then we execute. Then we come home safe."

I'm quiet for a moment, processing everything. "Elfe's so young to be caught up in this."

"She's Ivar's daughter. This world is all she's ever known." He strokes my hair absently. "But yeah, when we saw her file... Ivar almost lost his mind. Would've gone after Bembe himself if Runes hadn't talked him down."

"Can't blame him. If someone was stalking my daughter..." I trail off, realizing what I've said.

Rio goes still. "Your daughter?"

"I mean... they feel like mine," I say softly. "Is that okay?"

"It's more than okay." His voice is rough. "It's beautiful."

We're quiet for a while, just holding each other in the dark.

Finally, I ask the question that's been nagging at me.

"What happens after? When Bembe's dealt with? Do we just go back to normal?"

"There is no normal in this life," he says honestly. "There will always be threats. Always be someone who thinks they can hurt us through our families. But we'll handle them. Every time."

"And we just... live with that?"

"You live with it, or you leave." His arms tighten around me. "I'd understand if you wanted to leave. Take the girls somewhere safe, somewhere normal?—"

"Stop." I prop myself up to look at him. "I'm not going anywhere. Neither are the girls. We're a family, Rio. Your world is our world."

"Even knowing what it costs?"

"Especially knowing. Because I also know what we get in return. Love, loyalty, protection, family." I kiss him softly. "That's worth any price."

He rolls us so I'm beneath him, kissing me deeply.

When we break apart, we're both breathing hard.

"I love you," he says. "More than I've ever loved anyone. More than I thought possible after Flora."

"I love you too," I whisper. "All of you. The father, the protector, the monster. Every part."

We make love slowly, quietly, very aware of the children sleeping nearby.

It's different from last night's desperate passion—this is promise and commitment and something deeper than words.

After, curled against his chest, I think about how much has changed in just two days.

Two days ago, I was serving coffee and living a normal life.

Now I'm in hiding with the man I love and the children who've become mine, surrounded by dangerous people who'd die to protect us.

It should terrify me.

Instead, I've never felt safer.

"Rio?" I whisper into the darkness.

"Mm?"

"Whatever happens tomorrow, with the Irish and with Bembe... just come back to us."

"Always," he promises. "I'll always come home to you."

And in this clubhouse, surrounded by brothers and their families, with our girls sleeping peacefully nearby, I believe him.