Page 43 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Shine—

“Can I talk to you, Wolf?”

He doesn’t respond, and just when I wonder how long this silent treatment is going to last, he turns and meets my gaze. “Fine. Talk.”

I glance around. “Somewhere more private?”

He huffs an irritated sigh and stands, the bar stool screeching across the polished concrete floor. “Come on.”

He leads me down the hall to the room they use for Church and drops into one of the chairs at the far end. I take one diagonal to him.

“For Fiona’s sake, we need to get along. I get that you’re pissed at me. I should have told you as soon as I realized the woman at the cabin was your daughter. But I didn’t, and I can’t change that fact. In my defense, I didn’t know everything right away.

“Fiona never told me about the baby. I didn’t know until Dylan was six months old. I swear to you. If I’d known, nothing would have stopped me from coming to see her and the baby. But I can’t go back in time and fix any of that; all I can do is be here for them now, and that’s what I plan to do.”

Wolf studies me. “I need to know you’re serious about that. I need to know that you mean what you say and that you’ll be here for them.”

I pull a velvet ring box out of my pocket, pop it open, and lay it on the table. “That serious enough for you? I want to give her this, but I won’t until I have your blessing.”

***

The very next morning, Fiona wakes up beside me, her arm across my belly, snuggled against me.

I stroke my fingers through her hair, and she realizes I’ve been up much longer than her.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks.

“I’m thinking this isn’t going to work for long.”

“What?” she pops up, shock written on her face.

“This apartment. There’s not enough space.”

She sinks in relief. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Dylan is in the crib next to us, lying on his stomach, chewing on his fist and watching his parents.

“How long has he been awake?” she asks.

“Not long. He’s just been amusing himself.” We both watch him, and suddenly he gets a little knee under his belly, tightens his little arms, and rolls over.

Fiona surges up. “He rolled over. He rolled over, Shine. That’s the first time ever.”

Happiness floods me. “Goddamn, and I was here for it. This is awesome.”

“Quick. Grab your phone.” She moves to put him back on his tummy. “Maybe he’ll do it again.”

Dylan immediately fusses because he’s been turned back over. His frustration tightens his little face red, but we watch, and he flips himself back over, and I record it on my phone.

“Forward that to me. I want to send it to my mother.”

“Why can’t I send it to your mother?” I ask, and she pauses.

“No reason, I guess.” She smiles. “I kind of like the fact that you and my mom talk to each other. Maybe in a way it makes up for the fact that my father has been freezing you out.”

I shoot off a text, then scoot across the bed. “Get dressed. I want to take you somewhere.” I glance at the time. “Hurry. I don’t want to be late.”

“Late? Late for what?”

“You’ll see.”

We dress, and Fiona feeds Dylan, then we load in her car, and I slip behind the wheel.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

“You’ll see when we get there.” That drives her crazy, and I smile.

We drive across town, and I pull to the curb in front of a modern, newly built condo building.

Fiona looks up at the place. It’s really beautiful with big, covered balconies.

“I thought we could look at getting a place a little bigger. The realtor I contacted is supposed to meet us here to show us a two-bedroom that just came on the market.”

She glances at the building. “You want to live here?”

“You don’t like it?”

“Can we afford it?”

“Well, there are actually two units that just came available. I thought when my mom sells her house, she and Crissy could move in the same building as us. That way we’d have easy access to babysitting, and I could keep an eye on them.

What do you think?” My face falls. “Maybe you don’t want them so close. ”

“Baby, c’mere.” Fiona cups my face. “I love the idea. And I love what an awesome son you are to your mother. I hope someday Dylan will be just the same.”

I grin and yank open his door. “Great. Let’s go. I’ve got this carrier I’ve been dying to put him in and see if it’s any good. But you’ve gotta help me get the contraption on.” I drag it from the backseat.

Fiona giggles. “Where did you get this?”

“I walked in a store. I do that sometimes, ya know?”

“I’m sure you do.”

Then before we get out of the car, I slip my hand in my pocket. “I walked into another store, too. Got you this.”

I pull out the little velvet box, and her mouth drops. I don’t keep her waiting, but pop it open to reveal the beautiful diamond ring I picked out.

Fiona’s hands go to her cheeks. “Oh, Shine. It’s stunning.”

“It better be for the price.” I take it out and slip it on her finger.

“I’m not very good at this, sweetness, but I want you to know how much I love you.

You’re it for me. I don’t know how I got so lucky as to find my soulmate, but I did.

That night, when I walked into the cabin and saw you standing there, I sure never expected you.

I had no idea my life was about to change.

In ways I’d never expected. Good ways. The best ways.

What I’m trying to say is I love you, Fiona.

Marry me, and make our family complete.”

She throws her arms around me. “Yes, a million times yes.”