Page 35

Leaning against the kitchen door frame in the clubhouse, I watch as Birdie dances around the kitchen with Lovelyn as she cooks breakfast for us. There’s wonder in my daughter’s eyes as she watches the happiness her mom displays.

How long has it been since they’ve seen her like this?

“She’s really happy, huh, Dad?”

I glance down at the little boy standing next to me and rub my hand across the top of his head. “Right now, she sure is.”

“Never saw her like this before.”

“Happy?”

He lifts his shoulders to his ears before dropping them. “She would only smile and laugh when he wasn’t around. But it wasn’t nothing like this.”

Legend chews on his lip, watching his mom and sister before returning his gaze to me. “I think it’s ‘cause she’s home. Here everyone loves Mama. She didn’t have that before here.”

“I promise to do my best to always keep her happy, Legend. We still have a long way to go to get her there fully.”

Birdie and Lovelyn dance over to us, singing along with big smiles to the song playing through the speaker Birdie has hooked up to her phone. They both hold their hands out for me and Legend.

“Come on, Daddy and Bugga! Come dance with us.”

“Yeah, Daddy,” Birdie teases. “Come show us those moves. You too, G-Man.”

With a wink at Legend, I slide my hand into Lovelyn’s. “Let’s show the ladies how men do it, little warrior.”

Legend smiles and grasps Birdie’s hand, laughing when she pulls him to her quickly before twirling him back out.

Birdie and I dance around the room with our kids. Laughter fills a room that used to be so silent as our bodies move to the music. It’s not long until Birdie and I gravitate toward one another. The twins clap, cheering us on in delight as we swing, twirl, dip, and cha-cha around the space.

The song ends and I rest my forehead against hers, our harsh breathing syncing together.

“I love you,” I whisper, unable to help myself.

I’m not expecting a response. She’s not ready to go there yet. When she hums peacefully with a smile, it doesn’t surprise me. At least she didn’t outright reject my claim.

“This place smells good. I’m surprised none of these hooligans have followed their nose in here,” I tell her, kissing the tip of her nose before stepping away.

“Oh, they tried. I told them it was breakfast for my family and to leave us be.” She shrugs. “They’re trying, so they just smiled and left.”

“What are we having?”

“Homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, fried potatoes with onions, and cheesy scrambled eggs.”

“Sounds as delicious as it smells, little mama. I’ll grab the plates.”

“Hey,” she says, grabbing my hand to hold me in place, “I’m glad I came home.”

“Yeah?”

Her eyes soften at the hint of vulnerability in my voice. “I am.”

“It was only days ago that you were considering running,” I remind her.

“Guilt. I was feeling as if everything that had happened in the twins’ life was my fault. The abuse from Frankie they had to witness, then the shoot out.”

“None of that was your fault.”

“I know, but it doesn’t make me feel less guilty.

Did you know I was even questioning if this place was a good life for them?

” She snorts, shaking her head in disbelief.

“As if I didn’t grow up in this same lifestyle I was questioning and turned out okay.

Violence surrounded me almost every day and I still grew up with a good heart.

Despite the heartbreak I’ve experienced here from all of you, this place is host to all of my absolute best memories.

There was a time when these people were my family.

Our kids only had me and Valkyrie after we left.

Here they have an entire club who already adore them.

I’d be hurting you and the twins if I took off with them now. ”

“That mean you’re really staying, little mama?”

“Whoa, now. Don’t get ahead of yourself, you beast,” she teases before becoming serious again.

“We’re staying. This is home, but Apollonos, things are still rocky with us.

I know we’ve been having some really good days, but the past is still right there in my face.

My heart is warning me to be cautious, and my head is telling me I’m a fucking idiot. ”

I curl a hand around the back of her neck. “And I’ll be right here in front of you on my knees every day, loving you hard enough for both of us. I can apologize until I’m blue in the face, but words are just words, baby. You won’t believe me until I’ve proven it long enough.”

Sliding my hand around to anchor around the front of her throat, I pull her to meet my mouth.

Our kids snicker in the background and Birdie’s huff of laughter flutters into my mouth.

I pull away with one last brush against her swollen lips. “The only idiot in here is me, little mama. So shut your mouth with that bullshit.”

“So bossy,” she teases.

“Brat.”

She giggles, fucking giggles , and it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever fucking heard. Birdie’s finally beginning to live again and what a sight it is to witness.

I’m finishing up breakfast with my family when my phone pings with a text message. “It’s Cypher. He wants me to meet him in my office. He’s got something for me.”

“Go ahead. I got this,” she says, giving me a soft smile.

I brush a kiss to the top of her head as I pass, touching the twins’ shoulders in farewell.

I’m surprised we were able to eat uninterrupted for so long without one of those nosey fuckers coming to steal my family’s love from me.

Cypher is sitting behind my desk when I walk into the office.

“You’re going to want to call church. Like right now,” he says.

“That bad?”

“Yes.”

I run my fingers through my hair, pulling until there’s a bite of pain in my scalp. “Fuck. Okay.”

After sending out a message in the council member group chat, Cypher and I make our way back through the clubhouse to the chapel.

I do a quick peek into the kitchen, wanting one last glimpse of my family.

They’re surrounded by ol’ ladies, brothers, and even sweetbutts.

Birdie leans back in her chair, chatting with Coco and Scorch while keeping an eye on the kids.

Even with so many eyes on them, hers are never far away.

She must feel my heavy stare because her eyes find mine.

I stand there for a minute, soaking up her features.

Fuck.

She’s so goddamn beautiful.

“You okay?” I mouth.

Birdie nods, a small smile on her face before turning back to the conversation.

Council members wait around the table for me to take my place. I quickly bring the club meeting to order.

“Cypher, you have the floor.”

“I’ve been working with my contact on the dark web to unlock the shit I couldn’t get on my own about Frankie.

Chimera went deep. Deeper than I’d ever have been able to pull off.

We found the connection we’ve been waiting on.

” He blows out a breath and does some shit on his laptop before turning back to us.

“You’re right that there’s a connection to you, Pope.

The church did their best to hide the trail, but they were no match for Chimera.

There was a young woman in the congregation named Rose Dwyer whose name was connected with Eoghan Brannigan.

Pope,” he says wearily, “she went to the police when she was seventeen to file rape charges against your father.”

My fists clench on top of the table as bile builds in my throat. “Nothing ever came of it?”

“No. She was basically ex-communicated from the church and branded with so much fucking vile shit, it sickens me. We found hospital records from nine months after she went to the police. She had a set of male twins.”

The room explodes in shock as I still, my mind going haywire as I try to comprehend what he’s saying.

“One died during childbirth, and she gave the other up for adoption. Two days after she left the hospital, she walked in front of a train.”

“Are you saying . . . ” I trail off, my stomach rolling with the revelations.

“That Frankie is your half-brother.”

Cyanide kicks the trash can to me just in time for me to hug it to my chest and spew my breakfast into it.