Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Four Years Later, New Orleans, LA

“Eden, take it easy, will you?”

She huffs and pushes me away. “If you don’t stop mothering me, I’ll stab you. I’m fucking fine!”

I smirk at her fire. She’s gained weight and, as of yesterday, is in full fucking remission. It was a long, hard battle. Fuck cancer.

She’s enjoying one of our new autumn pale ales.

Alcohol and chemo do not mix, so she hasn’t ever had any. I promised I’d buy her the first round. So here we are with our family as we celebrate this important milestone in her life.

So many have been stolen from her, and I’m making it my life’s mission to give her as many as I can.

Including a birthday party.

She hasn’t had one since she was five, so we’ve been planning it for weeks. It’s in two weeks, and the club is beyond excited to help. They all pitched in and bought her first car.

I’ve been giving her lessons, and she’s not bad. It’s the way she looks at my Harley that worries me. I can’t have my baby sister on a bike. The thought makes me shiver, and I’m more than aware of how big of a hypocrite that makes me.

I don’t give a shit.

“Remember to eat something and drink water so you’re not hungover.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Yes, DAD.”

I groan and pour myself a tall one, and then I sit my ass down to play bodyguard as she starts to draw a crowd. I hate every single one of the guys who hit on her. No one will ever be worthy.

“WHIP!” I turn to Cowboy, who is waving me to the doorway where he’s checking IDs.

It’s a busy day at the Spirits tonight. The days before Halloween bring in tourists looking for vampires. It’s just as bad as Mardi Gras, but the money is excellent.

“Yeah?”

He steps away from the doorway and reveals a face I haven’t seen in years. She gives me whiplash just like she did then.

“Lulu,” I breathe as I study her.

She is thinner and hunched in on herself as if she’s sad, and the makeup she’s wearing is heavy but still not enough to hide the bruise on her cheek.

My vision turns red instantly.

“Mama?”

My eyes fly down to a little boy clinging to her leg, and then I stop breathing altogether.

“Hold on, baby.” She smiles down at him and then looks back up at me with sad eyes. “Can we talk?”

I shake my head in disbelief.

“Why don’t y’all two take the office, and Sarah here can watch this little one? Maybe get him some chicken nuggets?”

The little boy grins and nods.

“Thank you,” Lulu says to Cowboy, and I’m done with his flirty hospital shit.

I take her hand and drag her away, push her into the office, and slam the office door behind me.

“Who hurt you?” I take her chin in my hand and lift her face toward the light.

“I’m in trouble.” Her lip wobbles.

“No shit.” Now that I’m closer, I can see her lip is busted too.

It’s a strange sense of déjà vu.

I’ve been carrying her mark on my face for four years, and now she is, but this time, it’s me cleaning her up. I shake my head when the little boy’s face comes back to my mind.

Did I leave her carrying something, too?

“What’s his name?”

She swallows hard. “I’m not sure who’s after?—”

My growl cuts her off. “The boy. Your son, Lulu. What’s his name?”

The demand for knowledge seems to infuriate her.

“Why does it matter?”

I smirk. “You show up on my doorstep with a kid in tow, looking for help ’cause you’re in trouble. I’m not a genius, but I can do fucking math.”

We stare at each other, leaving so much unsaid between us.

I missed you.

I never should have left.

You’re the love of my life.

Give me a second chance.

I don’t say any of those. Instead, I stare her down, using my righteous indignity as a mask to hide the coward within. Because, at the end of the day, I will never be right for her.

“His name is Wyatt.”

My heart stops.

This story will continue!!!

Whip: A MorningStar MC Novel,

NOLA Chapter

Coming July 2025