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Chapter fifty-five

Two Years Later

The last couple of years have been chaotic as hell. The funerals of our fallen brothers took a lot out of our club. Members have been full of grief, anger, and sadness with nowhere to really aim it since our enemies were destroyed in the war. Kaitlyn has been working overtime trying to help people through their grief. We keep the memories of our fallen alive through stories that slowly bring life and laughter back to the clubhouse.

Having reasons to celebrate keeps the members from falling deep into despair. After Bailee and I eloped at the courthouse, Emmy Lou surprised us with a reception at our house. There was a group of brothers sitting astride their bikes outside the courthouse with orders for us to follow them. It surprised Lee how happy everyone was for us. She’s been struggling to accept that no one blames her for the losses, and I think this and her claiming party played a part in her finally realizing that.

Fucking love staring at her property ink on the back of her neck. I run my fingers and lips over it any chance I’m able.

There’s peace inside me knowing she’s mine now. Her eyes resonate with that same peace whenever I peer into them.

Never thought much about being married until my Hummingbird flitted her way back into my life. Waking up with her every morning, seeing that ring sparkling on her finger and hearing her sleepy ‘Hello, husband’ is something I crave so fucking much now. So much that I get fucking angry if I have to be away from her for longer than a night. The brothers have taken to ribbing the hell out of me for my snarkiness when I do, but Wraith and Crow seem to understand since they feel the same when they’re away from their Old Ladies.

We’ve been gone for the last two weeks down in Ashbourne, Florida, helping Rage get his chapter of the Dirty Mavericks established. It’s been strange and exhilarating watching and helping another piece of our club go up. We’ve gone from a small-town club in Kentucky to a bigger city in Florida. We’re growing, and I can’t wait to see where our club goes in the future.

Now, I’m fucking ready to be back home with my girls. Two weeks is way too long to be away.

I rub my thumb over Bailee’s name on my ring finger, letting the motion soothe me as I fly through the streets of Brighton.

Lyric’s been giddy all week, seeming to be overexcited to have me home, and it must be contagious because my wife has been too.

I’m just thankful Lyric is doing better. It was rough the first couple weeks after we told her about Heather, but like most kids, she bounced back quicker than we’d anticipated. I asked her the other day how she was doing, and she reassured me that she was sad and sometimes missed Heather, but she understands she was a bad person who helped hurt Bailee.

Sometimes, I wonder if my daughter isn’t growing up too fast in this lifestyle. Bailee reassures me that she’s safe, healthy, fed, and loved deeply, and that’s all any child can ever ask for. If anyone knows about shit childhoods, it’s my wife.

My brows draw together when I pull up to the garage of our house. Sitting next to the spot where I normally park my bike is a miniature replica of mine. Did Bailee get our girl a bike? My lips curve, imagining my little girl riding around the yard on it. Kicking down the stand, I turn off my bike and walk over to inspect the miniature one. I run my hand over the seat, surprised that it’s an exact replica. Down to the little chameleon painted skulls along the matte black tank. Hanging from one of the handlebars is a cut small enough for one of Lyric’s baby dolls.

Of course, my little girl wants her doll to have one that matches the one I’d bought her for her fifth birthday.

I hold it in my hand, inspecting the leather work. The back rocker is the Dirty Mavericks logo, but when I flip it over, the patch on the front says ‘Lil Steel’.

My fucking stomach flutters as my hands grow clammy around the piece of leather. I tighten it in my fist and make my way to the garage door, my mind roaming so many different directions.

I blink, not even realizing I’d stepped inside until I’m facing down my daughter, who has her arms folded across her chest with a fierce expression on her face. She’s wearing the cut I’d bought her. I’m surprised it still fits her with how much she’s grown over the last three years. When she narrows her eyes at me and turns around, I see it’s not the same one I bought her at all.

The rocker on the back reads ‘Big Sister in Training’. My pulse skips before continuing at a rapid pace as she marches away from me into the kitchen.

I follow behind her slowly as my gaze bounces between the back of Lyric’s cut and the tiny one in my hand, my brain still refusing to connect the dots.

When I get to the kitchen, my wife is there, leaning back against the island counter, and the shirt she has on display is drawing my attention.

“Your dream is coming true. My boobies are going to grow. I’m pregnant,” I read in a low tone.

My eyes bounce between the shirt, Lyric, the little cut in my hand, and back to my wife as my brain finally connects.

My mouth goes dry as a wide smile overtakes my face and my eyes get a little glossy. “Yeah?”

Bailee’s eyes fill with tears. “Yeah, bossman. You’re going to be a daddy again.”

I toss the piece of leather in my hand onto the counter beside her and scoop her into my arms. “Fuck yeah.” I twirl her around, soaking in the laughter that spills from her. “Love you so fuckin’ much, Hummingbird.”

With her caged in my arms, I brush my lips over the scars on her face. It’s become something that’s as routine to me as breathing, needing her to always remember that I love these pieces of her just as much.

Bailee brushes her fingers through my hair. “Love you too, Jericho.”

I hold my arm out for my little girl. When she slides into the hug with us, I smile down at her. “Big sister in trainin’, huh?”

She nods, her face serious. “I’m going to be the best big sister ever.”

“Have no doubt, Princess.”

“Lena is coming for dinner tonight so I can finally let her know,” Bailee informs me.

I finally got to meet my wife’s best friend not long after we went to war with the Night Skulls. Lena was not what I was expecting of someone who is a fucking assassin. When she caught me staring at her curiously, she smirked and said, “Meow. Kitty Kitty,” confirming my suspicions of who she is. I told her when Bailee was out of the room that she needed to tell my wife who she truly is because I wasn’t keeping secrets from her. Lena assured me she had planned on talking to her that night, and from the shocked expression on Bailee’s face after she left, I knew she had. It took Bailee a few days to come to terms with the fact that the best friend she’s had since she was younger kills people for a living. Granted, Lena—or Mercy, as she’s known by—always makes sure her target is guilty before taking their life.

She finally asked Bailee if she wanted her to take her dad out, but Bailee told her that while she appreciated the gesture, death was too good for him. She wants him to rot in prison. I let Lena know that Desdemona isn’t letting him off easily in there anyway.

“Better be on my best behavior then,” I tease, brushing a kiss against her mouth.

Bailee’s lips twitch. “Wouldn’t want her to show you any mercy.”

I laugh softly, leaning down to rest my forehead against hers, and close my eyes. I hold both my girls tightly to me.

My life has been all about my club for the longest time. I didn’t want anything tying me down, cutting my wings. Didn’t want anything that would make me any more vulnerable than I already was. Then I met Bailee. She brought sunshine to my life when I lived in nothing but blood and violence. She terrified the hell out of me because there was something about her that refused to let me go. I kept coming back to her, time after time, telling myself each time would be the last. I didn’t have the strength to cut her out of my life like I knew I should. I treated her like shit, only gave her the pieces of myself I was comfortable with her having, even after I knew she was catching feelings for me. Even when she found her way back into my life, I still kept her at arm’s length, not wanting to give in to what she made me feel because I knew that once I did, that’d be it for me. There’d be no turning back, no running. There’d be no way I wouldn’t claim her as mine.

“Fuckin’ put you through hell, Lee,” I whisper, ashamed of who I was.

“Bossman, I was born with the strength to walk through it. For me, without pain, there is no purpose. It’s all I knew. Pain is where I find my strength.” She leans her head away from mine so she can peer into my eyes. “Stop beating yourself up about it. Our past is our past. I’m looking forward to our future. We have a lifetime together, and I don’t want you carrying this through it because I don’t want to. If it’ll help you, we can talk to Kaitlyn together.”

I swallow tightly, not exactly thrilled about opening up myself up like that but knowing it’s something we need. “Yeah, okay. We’ll talk to her.”

“Can I go play now?” Lyric asks, her voice muffled from between us.

We laugh, loosening our hold on her. “Go on, Princess.”

She beams at us before hollering for her dog. “Wolfy, come on!”

Nails clip along the wood floor, and her husky comes barreling into the room. Lyric laughs when he starts licking her, then she grabs one of his balls and has him follow her out the back door.

My life looks a hell of a lot different than I thought it would.

There was a time when all I wanted to do was fuck and fight.

Now, I can’t imagine my world without my wife in my arms while our baby grows inside her and our daughter laughs and giggles on the outside.

I’m a fucking Dirty Maverick until I die, but I’m also more than that.

I’m a husband and a father.

Not really sure my life can get better than this.