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HUNTER

Holding Ripley gives me the worst case of baby fever. I literally feel like I'm on fire inside as I cradle her in my arms. When her tiny mouth stretches into a yawn, my heart races. I hate handing her over to Siobhan.

"You'll have your own soon," she promises. "Then, I'll be the one with baby fever."

The atmosphere in the house is so relaxed all evening. Even Zoot settles down, though I catch him constantly checking the security feeds.

Eventually, Carys and the rest of her family need quiet. Tack and Indigo flank me as we move from Cary's house to the second farmhouse. The other bikers are moving around a lot outside, nearly daring someone to take a shot.

Sleepy and Grumpy chase each other around the open area. Unlike earlier, they seem completely unbothered. Though I want to believe the mercenaries made the smart move and slipped away, I still fear someone else will get hurt because of me.

"I'm going to stay up tonight to keep an eye on things," Indigo tells us once we're inside the house.

Golden locks the front door and says, "I'll chill with you, man."

I smile at how the men might tease each other and get highly competitive about dumb stuff, yet they've always got each other's backs.

As I strip down in the bathroom, I start considering how Tack will return to Banta City's roads soon. The club's enemies will creep out of their hiding spaces and start causing trouble again. My fear for him could easily cripple me.

When the panic grips me, I'll need to remember how the club came together today. Everyone rallied around Carys and Pork Chop. The farm and Backcountry Kings have established rules and plans for when trouble hits. They know their world in a way I'll never understand. I ought to trust in them like they trust in each other.

As the night wears on, Tack and I can't sleep. We make love in between watching TV and texting people. I also check out news reports.

The worldwide media has gone wild over Matt Parker's arrest. They show him leaving his villa in only boxers and socks. The French prostitutes partying with him before his arrest are immediately interviewed on local news.

No longer hiding, Suzanne plans to be in Banta City by tomorrow afternoon. Her PR team has already put out a release from me, stating I'm relieved by the arrest and hope justice will be served for those whose lives were lost.

Tack and I crash until ten in the morning. I awake to messages from Suzanne who has touched down in Banta City. She's on her way to the estate to get details in order with the staff and new security team. She'll be over after lunch.

Tack and I stay in the shower for way too long. I must soap him up three times in between fucking. He washes my hair, kisses me for so long he forgets he already washed my hair, and washes it again. By the time we exit the shower, our skin is pruned, and we're ready for a nap.

"I don't want to do anything," I mumble to Tack who smiles since he was likely thinking something similar.

Tack and I soon eat grilled cheese sandwiches in the second farmhouse's kitchen. Indigo and Golden are sleeping in their rooms. The dogs nap on the front porch. The farm is quiet when we step outside.

When we check on Carys and the baby, Pork Chop is tossing the ball around with Hicks and Hudson. Inside the house, Carys breastfeeds Ripley in a recliner.

As soon as we enter, Siobhan hugs me and whispers, "The Feds are coming tomorrow. They want to redo all the interviews now that they've found their suspect."

"Why are you nervous?"

Her big blue eyes seem extra wide as she fights tears. "What if the FBI tries to use this case to bring the hammer down on the Backcountry Kings?"

"Do you remember how Carys told me to let the men handle the club stuff? Well, I plan to be a good club wife and not stress the legal issues. That's why we have so many lawyers."

Siobhan sighs and glances at Carys. "I want a baby."

"No," her sister insists. "Just let that feeling pass. The twins are in school now. They spend half their time with Sync. You've got the freedom to be a single gal and fall in love. If you get pregnant, I doubt you'll ever find a man."

"I don't want a man," Siobhan insists. "Romance is overrated. I like being a mom, though."

"If you had a baby, you couldn't bartend," Carys replies immediately if she's kept all these facts locked and loaded. "You were never alone with the twins for long periods of time when they were babies. You had Sync. You lived on the farm. This time, you'd do it alone. Why put yourself through that stress?"

"Because I love being a mom and I want one of those," Siobhan says and stares longingly at Ripley. "She's so cute, and looks like Mom."

"She looks like me."

" You look like Mom."

"Mom looks like Grandma. We can play this game all day."

"The girls look like Sync."

"No, they look like you."

"But I look like Mom, so that means they look like Grandma."

Carys smiles at her sister. "Okay, Siobhan, go make a baby with a stranger and raise it alone. I will always support you, even when you're a flipping moron."

Siobhan kisses Carys's head. "You're a good sister."

Seeing them bond stirs my longing for Austen. While Tack hangs out with Pork Chop and his boys, I find a quiet spot in Carys's house.

When I call my sister, she can tell I need help coming down from the last day. Rather than ask questions, Austen talks about her day. Soon, I send her the gothic mansion's photos, and we talk renovations. For a few minutes, Austen feels like she's in the room with me. We get so engrossed in home design, I'm startled to realize nearly an hour has passed.

"Mom's on her way here," I tell Austen. "I'm afraid she'll take over everything, and I'll lack the energy to push back."

"It's understandable for you to doubt yourself, but you've always been strong. When Suzanne pushes too hard, you'll stand up to her. When Tack needs something to be happy, you'll give it to him. When this madness with that Parker asshole bears down on you, you'll carry the weight. Just remember to ask for help. So many people love you, Hunter."

My sister's words offer me the shot of confidence I've lacked since I woke this morning. Once we hang up, I track down Tack outside. He's standing in the yard with a sleepy Indigo and the two dogs.

"Austen and Walla Walla are coming to visit next week," I tell Tack after offering him a lingering kiss. "I'm excited for you to start a bromance with her hubby."

Tack grins at me while Indigo shakes his head.

"Don't worry, man," Tack taunts Indigo. "My bromance with you can handle a little competition."

"I already tolerate you sucking up to Bear. I think I can handle this other guy."

While the men tease each other, I hear approaching SUVs. All my maturity spills out of me as I run toward the vehicles. My mom is out the back door as soon as the SUV stops moving. We collide and hold on tight.

The world spins with her arms around me. I flash back to the mugger, the attack in the garage, the shootout on the street, my time with Tack, the farm's quiet, the online judgment and lies, and finally how I'm facing years of media attention and legal issues.

As Suzanne holds me, I suddenly feel ready for what's coming. I know who I am. I know who I love. I know I can hold my head up high.

Suzanne surprises me by hugging Tack. Also startled by her affection, he stares at me as if asking for help.

"You saved my baby," Suzanne coos as she traps him in her hug. "If you two are ever having relationship problems, come to me and I'll help sort them out in your favor."

Tack chuckles while I roll my eyes. Suzanne frees my man and makes a move for Indigo.

"You saved my baby, too."

Backing away, Indigo mutters, "I don't need a hug."

"I offer them to so few people. You should feel special," she insists and forces herself on him.

Indigo looks embarrassed by her affection, but he doesn't break free until she releases him. Suzanne pats his cheek before reaching over to do the same for Tack.

"I've seen those videos of that horrible day. I still can't believe you two boys were so brave."

Tack shrugs and smiles at me. "What could I do? The woman I love was in danger."

Suzanne smiles at him and then looks at Indigo who's slowly inching away from her. He also shrugs but doesn't offer a reason for his bravery.

My mom realizes she's making the men nervous, so she dials down her affection for them and directs it at me. We hug more before going inside to see Carys and Ripley. Tack doesn't follow, seeming happier outside with his brothers and the boys.

I know one day he'll feel more comfortable in my ritzier world. We're both adjusting to so many changes.

In a month, life will be different again. In a year, we'll be rolling with new problems and blessings. In ten years, we'll be different people, but I believe we'll still only want each other.

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