Page 36 of Shadow’s Protection (Hurricane Heat MC #1)

I don’t tell her that I don’t know how well the Club will handle having a baby at the compound, but the other guys have their kids around, playing video games or doing homework.

“It’s not an orgy twenty-four seven in there,” I tell her.

“And I’m sure it’ll be good for some of those shitheads to see another side of life. ”

The club is the only family most of us have. It’s what binds us, bonds us, and that’s never going to go away. I can’t imagine not combining the sides of my life—my blood and my brothers.

Violet wraps her arms around my waist and squeezes tight. “Baby, this is incredible. I can’t believe I get to wake up every morning and look at this.” She looks over her shoulder and then cups my chin. “I won the lotto of life.”

I grin. “Jizzy and a bunch of the others are bringing my truck to your condo this afternoon. Let’s get you moved in sooner rather than later.”

She cuddles herself against my chest but then leans back and frowns a little. “I assume you’ve got a bathroom in there? Because I think I…”

We hold hands and run for the back door.

My place is swarming with bikers by sunset. Stella and Violet are hugging out back, watching the sun disappear into the river. I can hear Stella’s excited voice even through the glass of the sunroom.

Thankfully, my neighbors live far enough apart, I doubt the noise will travel that far or be that loud. I shake my head at the irony.

Weeks ago, I was watching these shitheads snort coke off Jackie and Penny. Now, Penny is shooting orders at the prospects as they move the last of Violet’s sparse belongings into the house.

“What are we doing with this?” Penny asks, holding up a box that is marked Strawberry Shit .

I shake my head. “Kitchen. Get rid of my generic shit. Bin it, for all I care. Set hers up so it feels like home.”

Penny cocks her head at me and reaches out to punch me gently on the shoulder. “Of all the assholes to pick up an old lady, I can’t say I pegged you to be the first to fall.” She nods in approval. “I like nerd girl. I think I’m gonna like nerd baby even more.”

She walks past me, carefully balancing the kitchen items, and I say a silent goodbye to my décor. It’s fine. It’s just stuff. And with a baby around, we’re gonna have to cram a lot more stuff into this place.

Phantom walks up to me and sighs. “All right, then,” he says.

I almost laugh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He groans. “I got two fucking daughters, Shadow. Everything’s gonna change for you.”

My mood darkens a bit. “You think I can’t handle it?”

His intense dark eyes stare at me, and he looks taken aback, like I told him his mother stinks. “Fuck no,” he says. “I was about to tell you the best days of your life are ahead.”

He’s quiet for a minute, then he yells for the brothers to clear the fuck out. He extends his hand to me, and I take his. We clap backs in a half hug, and Phantom holds me close for a second. “You ever need light duty,” he says, “you say the word.”

I know what he means. I don’t know how many assholes like Malcolm I’m gonna wanna shake down while I have a baby at home. Phantom balances our business with his personal life well, so I hear the invitation he’s extending.

“I’m good,” I tell him simply. “That changes, and you’ll be the first to know.”

We release each other, and I thank the rest of my brothers for their help. I sent Cammy and Jackie ahead with a bunch of cash to buy everybody pizza and booze on me.

The party of the year is at the compound tonight, but I won’t be there to take part in it. I’ll be here, at home, right where I’m meant to be.

Stella hears the bikes and truck fire up and comes in through the sunroom to join me in the kitchen.

She throws herself at me and gives me a tight, hard hug.

“That’s all I’ve got,” she says, then releases me with a huge smile.

“Never mind. I wasn’t going to give you a big speech and tell you how proud of you I am and how I believe in you.

But it’s all true. This is good, Shadow.

Good for you, good for Violet. I’m so, so happy for you. ”

I hug her back hard and then give her a gentle shove away. “Now, get,” I tell her. “I gave Jackie money for drinks, and you’re gonna be pouring all night.”

Stella gives Violet another hug goodbye, squealing that she’ll see her next week.

Once we’re alone, Violet and I collapse on my couch. I have all the lights off and a couple candles lit, the ones that crackle like there’s firewood inside. She rests her head against my shoulder and sighs.

“It’s been how many hours since I barfed?” she asks. “Maybe happiness suits me.”

I kiss the top of her head. “Suits me too.”

We sit in silence, the crackle of the candle wicks and our breathing the only sounds. It’s peaceful. It’s home.

“Can you believe we only met like a month ago?” she asks. “How the heck are we gonna tell my parents how we met?”

I shake my head. “That’s on you, sweetheart. I don’t know how you explain I brought you back to a place you thought was a sex dungeon to ride out a hurricane, and then I rode you until the hurricane passed.”

“Let’s agree to never say the words sex dungeon in front of my parents.”

“Deal.”

I throw my arm over the back of the couch. “What are we going to do with the second bed?” I ask her. “You like yours? After you sleep in mine, you can decide which one you like better.”

“Can we have both?” she asks. “I’d put mine out in the sunroom. I want to wake up to that view every single morning.”

I don’t have any window coverings out there, so sleeping in the sunroom would most definitely give the locals a show.

“I want to fuck you in every room in this house,” I tell her. “But I’m not sure how much sleep we’d get in the sunroom. Sunrise, no blinds…”

She snuggles closer to me, then lifts her face for a kiss. “How soon till we can start?” she asks.

I lift my brows at her. “Start…”

“Fucking,” she whispers. “If we plan to cover every room…”

I stand from the couch, take her hand, and blow out the candles. “Let’s start upstairs,” I say.