Chapter 32

In the following days and weeks, we summon every last ounce of patience we have left as we go through the legal motions. Interviews, statements, and plenty of paperwork. Bouncing from one federal office to another, then the sheriff’s department, then court for character testimony for Colton Harrow’s arraignment. He’s denied any bail. He’s considered one of the most dangerous men in the U.S. right now. At least the task force was ridiculously efficient in that aspect.

His empire went down in flames.

Only the Blackthorn Riders MC remains standing in all of Orange County. Those who survived the house raid will spend some time in prison as the Feds start digging into their clubs’ activities. The bikers’ creed was more important to them than basic decency. They’re paying the price for their pride, and I hope they pay it in full.

We almost lost everything because they were too blind to see the disaster coming.

* * *

It will takea while for the aftermath to clear, but we can already tell that the county is doing better. It’s as if the air itself is cleaner and lighter. The sun shines brighter. The ocean seems bluer. The future holds promises I’d feared we’d lost. We made it. Through rain and fire, through death and violence, we made it.

And now, with the clubhouse fully rebuilt and more members joining our nonprofit organization, the guys and I are ready for the next step. We’re claiming our woman, and Paddy has decided to come with us. I didn’t expect the old guy to be so determined to help out in this particular aspect, but I welcome his support.

It’s been almost a month since we rescued Nadia.

We’ve been exchanging messages, talking late at night over the phone. I miss her like crazy, and she misses us, too. She’s healthy, and that’s all that matters. The babies are growing, her bump more visible every day. I’d give anything to just hold her again, to plant a kiss on her belly and tell our children that we’re stoked to meet them.

“You’re a fucking rock star, Paddy,” Drake says as we come out of the elevator on the top floor of Kessler’s office building. “I didn’t think you’d get ol’ Quick to agree to a meeting with us.”

“He agreed to a meeting with me. He doesn’t know that the three of you are tagging along,” Paddy grumbles.

We make our way through a maze of posh glass cubicles, standing out from the crowd. Everyone else is wearing suits and smart dresses in shades of white, black, and grey, and the occasional pastel for the more adventurous junior account executives while we’re all in leather and jeans, studded boots, tattoos and piercings aplenty.

Not exactly a sight for sore eyes, I tell myself when we walk into Kessler’s office.

As soon as he turns around, smiling as he expects to greet just Paddy, I can see the joy drain from his face. “Paddy, you traitor,” Michael grumbles.

“Oh, come on, you should’ve known this was coming,” Paddy laughs and takes a seat in one of the fine leather guest chairs.

“You all need to get out of here,” Quick waves us away.

“Actually, you need to shut the fuck up and listen to what they have to say, or I swear to God, I’m going to rescind your club membership and tear you out of every single MC photo we have,” Paddy replies with a harsh tone. “I’m done dealing with your stubborn ass.”

Michael stares at him in shock and disbelief, but to my relief, he doesn’t object. Instead, he takes a deep breath and sits behind his giant glass desk, his gaze bouncing between us. A minute passes in the heaviest silence, though I swear I had a full speech ready. It’s always easier in theory, I guess. But my longing for Nadia is strong enough to push me. Strong enough to overcome this moment.

“The truth is, we did wrong by keeping this relationship from you,” I begin, and exhale sharply. “We were worried you wouldn’t understand.”

“You’re right, I don’t,” he shoots back.

“Hard as it may be to believe, we love Nadia—the three of us, in equal measure,” I reply. We didn’t see it coming. We’ve shared women before; we’re blood brothers, man. You know how that goes.”

“Yeah, when you’re young and restless and fucking around, but certainly not with my daughter.”

“True enough, but it’s different with us and Nadia. First of all, we’re not so young and restless anymore, Quick. Come on, look at us. We’re still reeling in after these past few months. We don’t fuck around, we haven’t fucked around in eons. We want something real, and we found it with Nadia. I know it sounds crazy but it works. We’re happy with her, and she is happy with us, Quick. She makes our lives better, and we are constantly devoted to making her life a fucking paradise,” I say.

Drake offers a slight smile. “We want to be with her. She wants to be with us. And at the end of the day, you can fight us all you want, but we’re still going to be together. We’d rather have you on board, though. You’re all the family she’s got left, Quick.”

“We’ll take good care of her,” Kai adds. “She’ll never be without. And now that the club has taken a different direction, she’ll be safe, too. We’re practically untouchable.”

“What makes you untouchable, exactly? You’re disgraced bikers as far as Orange County’s MCs are concerned,” Kessler replies.

Paddy chuckles dryly. “There aren’t any MCs left in Orange County except the Blackthorn Riders, and they’re known associates of the federal government. Any MC that does have the balls to come up will be subject to serious law enforcement scrutiny, Quick. The olden days are gone. It’s done, brother.”

“I find that hard to believe, but I have no choice, do I?” Michael ultimately concedes, running his fingers through his blonde and silver hair. “As much as I hate to admit it, Nadia has been miserable without you three. She’s also been remarkably respectful of my wishes, which tells me that she is maturing, and I’m inclined to believe it’s got something to do with you. You’re a good influence on her, and God, I feel like I could puke just for saying the words out loud.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Quick, we’d appreciate your approval, tacit or otherwise. We can’t hope for your blessing; we wouldn’t dare. But I know Nadia would be more at ease if she didn’t have to lose her father so we could be together. Hasn’t she lost enough already?”

“She has,” Quick sighs deeply.

“We want what’s best for her,” Drake says. “We kept our word to you. You can’t deny that. We got her back, and then we stayed away. But it’s time for us to move forward, man. She belongs with us.”

He points a stern finger at Drake. “As far as the public is concerned, she’s with one of you. You three decide which one is going to be the face. Everything else stays private, you hear me? If I hear a single rumor about this anywhere in the press, I will bury you. I’m not kidding.”

“I know you’re not kidding,” I reply.

Paddy rolls his eyes. “Aren’t you tired of this same horseshit, you old fool? It’s a new world, a new day. Embrace the fucking future already. These are good men, the best men you could hope for, for Nadia, and you know it. It’s weird as hell, yeah, but it works for them. What you and Cassandra had was special. We didn’t really understand it at first. We supported you, though, didn’t we? We funded your club retirement. You got rich off our backs. Let Nadia carve her own path through life. Let her be happy.”

“I could smack you,” Kessler grumbles. “But you’re a decrepit biker. I might break something.”

“Let’s take it outside and see who falls apart first,” Paddy retorts with a sly grin. “You old sack of bones.”

This is their way of making up, which tells me we’re headed in the right direction. We finally convinced Quicksilver to let us take his daughter back home with us. I’m filled with joy and relief—in quantities I didn’t think were humanly possible. My mind is already weaving all sorts of plans for the future.

Projects. Trips. Moving in together.

We need a place. A house for the four of us. Holy shit, the six of us. We’re going to be a family soon.

“Let me be clear,” Kessler adds. “If you break my daughter’s heart, I will kill you. I will finish what Colton started.”

“I think Nadia will beat you to it,” Kai replies, half-smiling. “That girl is a fucking brilliant tornado.”

After everything she’s been through, after what she survived, I’m inclined to agree with Kai. If we hurt her, she will end us. That woman is still standing after countless monsters tried to destroy her.

I’m glad we were able to get her father on board. As much on board as an old school fella like him can be. It’s better than nothing, and it is definitely more than what Nadia has hoped for. She deserves this. She deserves all the love and all the peace in the world. She walked out of the storm, and it’s time for her to start living again.