Page 53

Ten years later .

“I’ll get it!” Charley shouted and rushed down the stairs.

It was a quarter past two, and everyone else had arrived on time. There was only one person left for their daughter’s seventh birthday. As she dropped down from the last step, she saw Kyler, a member of their home security, reach for the door.

“Ky!” she shouted, and he turned.

Giving nicknames and getting close to any of the security was forbidden.

But through the years she had become quite the rule breaker in the Underground.

She wasn’t the only one. Elodie, Quinn, and Dahlia were notorious for picking and choosing which rules to follow.

And don’t even get me started on Keely and her aversion to the rules.

In comparison to her best friend, Charley was a saint.

“I’ll get it.” She rushed forward, tapping his arm.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Charley gasped and spun around. “Ky!”

It was on the tip of her tongue to quote Inez from all those years ago. Kyler didn’t give her a chance.

He chuckled and held up his hand. “Sorry, Charley. It’s a habit.”

He walked away, shaking his head, and she couldn’t help but smile. She turned to the door and opened it wide. There he was. There were things in Charley’s life she’d always regret. Choices and decisions she could’ve made differently. This was not one of them.

Her brother, Cody, held up a box with a smile playing on his lips. “She told me you and Nash said she couldn’t have this, so like a good uncle, I got it for her. Don’t let your husband beat the shit outta me.”

Charley eyed the box, knowing exactly the contents. Hermit crabs. For a seven-year-old who lacked the maturity to handle most live pets, they’d been adamant she had to wait.

“You need to worry more about me kicking your ass than Nash.”

Cody laughed, stepping into the house and wrapping his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side.

If anyone had told her years ago that this would be the outcome, she might not have believed them.

But she would’ve wanted to. Charley never gave up hope on Cody, even through the darkest days.

And there were a lot of those. She recognized that not everyone got this type of happy ending.

It made her more thankful for the one she and her brother had been given.

He dropped his hand to his side and grinned with his eyes aimed to the end of the hall. Charley followed his gaze and smiled when she saw her daughter racing through the foyer.

“There she is.” Cody crouched down and braced for impact. He had to with Tabitha. She was a redheaded hurricane. She jumped into his arms and her present wiggled in his hand. Charley reached for it, but Cody tightened his fingers, stabilizing the present. Charley watched their embrace.

“Mom says I have to wait to open presents until after cake.”

Charley bit back her smile.

“Well, you might want to make this one a priority. Oxygen is important.” Cody winked, and Tabitha gasped, covering her mouth with her hands and bouncing on her toes.

Dammit, Cody. She sent her brother her best attempt at a glare, but when their eyes met, he chuckled. I’m still working on my intimidation tactics.

“Here, take it.”

Tabitha swiped the present from his hands and smiled up at Charley . This girl! Tabitha rushed off down the hallway, but she was careful not to shake the box. That was something. Right?

She glanced up at her brother. He had a serene, content gaze aimed at the end of the hallway. Charley found herself repeating the same statement from years ago but a different scenario. I don’t know how we got here. But I’m glad we did.

Charley hooked her arm through her brother’s. “You’re one of her most favorite people.”

He jerked his head, furrowing his brows. “Not her number one?”

Charley chuckled and shook her head. “Cousins are first. Oz takes second. But you’re third.”

Cody snorted. “I’ll take bronze.”

This was how she remembered him before the accident. Before the addiction. This was Cody.

He looked down at her. “You look good. Healthy. You put on weight?”

Charley gasped and slapped his chest. “And this is why you’re still single. You don’t say that to a woman.”

His lips twitched. “Well, I wouldn’t have, but Tabby outed the secret . She’s stoked to be a big sister.”

Her and Nash had gotten pregnant so easily with Tabitha.

They made the decision, and one month later, she was pregnant.

Charley had thought it would be the same down the line.

It wasn’t. They’d tried for years. A year ago, they been resolved and content with being a family of three.

A few months ago, the bout with what she thought was a stomach bug turned out to be their second child.

It was still early, and they’d only shared with immediate family.

She’d had every intention of telling her brother, but she’d wanted to do it in person. But my girl beat me to it.

Charley rested her hand on her belly. “It’s a boy.”

Cody balled his fists and raised his arms over his head. “I see drum sets in his future.”

“Just promise me no more live animals,” Charley said.

“Not promising anything.” Cody chuckled, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. He started through the foyer. Charley closed the door and raced to catch up, rounding her brother and stopping in front of him.

“What?”

Charley clasped her hands, twisting her fingers. “Can I see it?”

He snorted, shaking his head. “You were serious?”

Hell, yeah, I was serious. A few days ago, her brother celebrated an anniversary of his own.

Charley wanted to be there, but her incessant morning sickness had her bedridden with a garbage pail by its side.

Nash had been adamant she stay home, but Charley was persistent.

Until she walked out the door to the house and puked on the landing.

It was then she waved her white flag and retreated back to her bed.

“Yes.”

He sighed, looking down the hallway. He lifted his hand pointing to the living room. “This is Tabby’s day, not mine. We’ll do this another time.” He stepped to the side to pass, but Charley matched his steps, pressing her hands against his chest.

“Please, Cody.”

He dropped his chin to his chest and reached into his jean pocket. She followed his hands and smiled when she caught a glimpse. He slid it between his thumb and forefinger and lifted his hand.

Charley covered her mouth with her hands and squealed.

Not everyone would understand her excitement, her joy, and her pride.

It didn’t matter. They didn’t have to. This wasn’t about anyone else but her brother, his struggles, and his strength to overcome.

Strength wasn’t defined by failures, it was all about coming out on the other side.

Cody did that. It was not an easy road. But he did it!

Charley leaned closer, the chip blurring through her tears. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Take it.” Her brother’s voice was soft, a mere whisper.

Charley glanced up and found him staring down at her. They’d been through a lot. For a while, it had been countless dark times. Yet, when she looked at him, she always saw the person he was, the one she’d lost for a time, and who he’d emerged as once again.

“What, no! This is yours. You earned it.”

He shook his head and grabbed her hand, placing it in her palm. “Take it.”

“Why are giving this to me? It’s yours, Cody.”

“Without you? I wouldn’t have gotten it.”

“Yes, you would. You…”

“Charley, take it,” he said. “I want you to have it. Please.” He paused and cleared his throat and whispered. “Just take it, Charley.”

It was symbolic. Cody didn’t have to say the words. Charley felt it. This was his uphill battle. He’d done it. But not all on his own. There’d been an army holding his back when he stumbled. Steadying him through words and their presence. I’m part of that army.

She looked down at the round chip. Ten years sober. She’d been at all the milestones. This one was huge. She pressed it into her palm and fisted it.

Her brother took in a breath, veering his gaze anywhere but looking at her. His eyes were glassy, and he pointed to the living room.

“I’m starving. You got food in there?”

“Mmmm…” She didn’t trust herself to speak. This life with her brother had been an emotional roller coaster. But never once did she think of getting off.

Cody passed her, brushing his hand over her shoulder, and she watched him disappear into the living room. With the rest of my family.

She jumped when Nash circled his arms around her waist, placing his hands on her stomach. He did that a lot when she was pregnant with Tabitha. This baby was no different. Nash brushed his lips against her ear, and she curled into his chest.

“How much of that did you hear?” she muttered, holding tight to the chip.

“Everything,” Nash whispered.

Charley rested her hand over Nash’s. “Life is good.”

“Yes, it is.”

****

Nash sipped his scotch, surveying the children in the yard. His world had certainly changed in the last ten years. The Underground still ran strong under Oz, Rogue, and Trey, with Nash serving in his position. But it looked different. Better.

Everyone had had children, some more than others. Nash watched people mingle around the yard. Cody fisted a water bottle, kicking the soccer ball to one of Trey’s boys. He’d come a long way.

“You ever regret not killing that fucker?”

Fucking Rogue.

Nash snorted, shaking his head. If he’d learned anything in this life, it was to always expect Rogue to be Rogue.

“No,” Nash said, looking over at Rogue.

They’d come a long way too. It may’ve taken three decades, but they were beyond cordial. Another ten years and we might be friends.

Nash walked across the deck to where a few people were gathered. Elodie and Charley were seated across from Oz, with Tabitha leaning over the side of his chair.

“So when can I come to your house again?” she asked, peering up at Oz.

The most intimidating figure he’d ever met, and his daughter was in the throes of hero worship when it came to Oz. It might have something to do with how he catered to her. Oz was good with all the kids, but there was a special bond with Nash’s daughter. Same went for Elodie.

“How about this weekend, Tabby?” Elodie said, elbowing Charley. “Give mom and dad some alone time.”

Charley blushed and immediately glanced up at Nash. He raised his brows. Two straight days without any interruption?

“Yeah, this weekend would be great.” Her breath hitched.

You’re all mine, kitten.

The End