Epilogue

Hadley

Three months later

Pulling my dad's car into the driveway, I look up at our home. Life is good. During the day, I run my tattoo parlor, which has been open for the last month. Business is booming and my appointments are filled up two weeks in advance. It helps that all the Gypsy Bastards have gotten something inked there recently. I even had to hire some help at the shop since it's started getting so busy.

For three months, I've been living with Brandon at his house. Knowing when I walk down the hall, or use the kitchen, or sit on the back porch that he bought this house for Amber and Rose. He finally told me about them. But I don't feel like second best. I feel like a queen.

Amber was his first love and will always be that. I don't want to take her place. Rose will always be his daughter and I would never try to replace her. But me? I'm different. I'm his first chance at happiness after losing his entire world and I feel honored. Wanting to make him happy, I try to do that through cherishing both of their memories. Standing out on the deck, having a cup of tea and watching the sunset, I feel lucky to have this opportunity. To start this life with him. Feeling his hands on my hips, I turn and smile at him. "Hey, babe. How was your day?"

"Great, actually. Finished the paint job on Mad Dog's bike. Just missed you."

The love shining from his eyes fills me with hope. Hope that we'll be able to have a long and happy life together. Hope that no matter what happens, we'll face it together.

"You?"

"Well, actually, you might want to sit down so we can talk."

Moving out of his grasp, I take a seat at the table we put on the deck just last week. My hands are knotted in my lap and sweatier than I ever remember them being. Brandon frowns at me but leans back against the railing.

"I think I'll stand. Don't know what this is about, but I have a feeling I might need to leave." His eyes have gone dark and that damn frown line is back between his eyes. With the sun setting behind him, he frowns down at me and that only makes me more nervous.

"I was hoping we could talk this through like adults. But you haven't even heard what I have to say and you're already on the defensive?" Instantly, my anger spikes.

Lowering my head, I feel tears well up in my eyes. I knew this was going to be hard, but I was really hoping for some sort of miracle.

"Well, I know how this conversation goes. It's not you, it's me … yada, yada, yada. But let me make one thing perfectly clear. If I don't make you as happy as you make me, that's fine. But if you think for one second that I'll let you move on with one of my brothers, think again. I'll kill him." His tone is deathly low.

My head snaps back as tears course down my cheeks. "What?"

It doesn't come out as a question but a squeak.

"Are you insane?" I ask.

He stares at me blankly. There's no movement, no reply.

"Maybe I should fucking move out!" My temper spikes instantly, again. Standing from the table, hands on my hips, fuming at him, I watch as confusion spreads over his face.

"You're an asshole, Wolf! I'm trying to do this the nice way because I'm afraid you're going to freak out and run and your first instinct is that I'm fucking around?"

"Wait…"

"Don't fucking wait me, you goddamned prick. I'm trying tell you that I'm fucking pregnant and you think I'm cheating?" My voice has gone high-pitched and my ears are ringing. A hiccup escapes through the tears and the screaming. Finally, enough is enough and the toll this day has taken on me becomes too much. My legs give out.

Before I land on the floor, he has me in his arms and is lifting me against his chest. Pushing against his chest, I try to get him to put me down.

"Jesus. Babe, I didn't know."

Regret is rife in his tone, but I am way too pissed to care about that at this moment. "Of course, you didn't know, you dickhead. You didn't let me tell you."

Brandon carries me through the house and up the stairs to lay me down on the bed in our room. The moment I roll over and try to get away, he turns me onto my back and pins my hands above my head. Usually, this move would inspire many things in me but at this moment, all I feel is rage. Trying to buck him off me, I yell. "Get the fuck off me. Now!"

"Not until you listen to me."

"Like you listened to me?"

Both of us stare at each other, breathing heavily. For a moment, neither of us speak, but the fight leaves me as fast as it started.

"Babe, I'm not going to run. Christ. This might be the best thing I've heard since the day you told me you love me." His right hand moves down my body to rest on my still-flat stomach. My insides flutter at the gesture.

"I don't think you're cheating. But it's my greatest fear. Knowing I'm not good enough for you, and that you could do better. I know I should probably let you go, but I'm a selfish bastard and I won't be doing that."

Looking him straight in the eyes, I wait. I want to make sure his full attention is on me. "I love you. You're the best man I know. You're the best man for me. You're the only man for me."

"I love you too, babe. I'm going to do my best to prove that to you every single day. I'm so sorry I fucked up your announcement, but I will love this baby with all my heart. I can't imagine my life without you."

"You won't ever have to."

The End