Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Turmoil

Seven Months Later…

The crisp autumn air nips at my cheeks as I step out of the clubhouse into the darkening evening.

Early November in Vegas—the days are getting shorter but the nights are just starting to come alive.

I breathe deep, savoring the smell of woodsmoke drifting from the bonfire pit.

Seven months since the chaos of that wild summer.

But also seven months with her by my side.

As if on cue, I catch sight of Seraphina walking across the parking lot, her dark hair tossed by the breeze, alight with glimmers of sunset orange.

My heart kicks into a gallop.

Damn, will the sight of her ever not make my pulse race?

I hope not.

I stride over to meet her halfway.

When I reach her, I pull her into my arms and kiss her hard, letting the press of her soft curves against me say all the things I'm still learning how to put into words.

"Mmm, hello to you too," she murmurs against my lips before pulling back to look up at me. "How was your day?"

"Better now," I say with a grin. "It went all right. Club business, you know how it is. How about you? Anything I should know about?"

She hesitates for a split second before answering. "It was good. Productive. Although...I did find out my mother is planning to come back to Vegas. In the next month or so."

I tense.

Her mother, the she-devil herself.

I tighten my arms around her.

"We'll handle it," I tell her firmly. "Together. She's not going to hurt you again, not on my watch."

Seraphina nestles into my chest and lets out a shaky sigh. "I know. I'm not nervous, exactly. I just don't want anything to ruin this, what you and I have. I'm...I'm really happy, Abe. With you."

Emotion wells up, threatening to spill out.

I have to clear my throat before I can get the words out. "I'm happy too, darlin'. Happier than I've ever been. You're the best damn thing that's ever happened to me, you know that? I'm not gonna let anything come between us."

I seal the promise with another kiss, slow and deep.

Seven months by her side, and I already know with soul-deep certainty—I'll spend the rest of my life fighting tooth and nail to keep her there.

The sounds of whoops and hollers interrupt our moment, drawing our attention back to the party.

Fate and Orion are chasing each other around, weaving between the adults, silly string shooting everywhere.

The clubhouse has been transformed into a veritable wonderland for the twins' birthday bash.

Streamers in electric blue and hot pink zigzag across the ceiling.

Balloons in every color of the rainbow bounce and bob.

The ladies really went all out—there's a nacho bar, a make-your-own sundae station, even a bounce house set up out back.

No expense spared for our birthday girl and boy.

Orion cackles with glee as he ambushes Fate with another stream of foam.

She whirls on him, her face scrunched in outrage. "Orion! Stop it!"

He dances away with a mischievous grin. "Make me, na na!"

With an ear-splitting shriek, Fate charges after him. "I said fucking STOP!"

Jaws drop all around at the expletive.

Then raucous laughter breaks out among the brothers.

Ivy arches an eyebrow, but Kade just guffaws and calls out, "You tell him, baby girl!"

I can't help cracking up myself.

Hearing that word come out of our sweet Fate's mouth in her little angel voice is just too much.

She's growing up fast, no doubt about it.

My eyes find Seraphina's and we share a smile.

This is what it's all about—family, brotherhood, joy and chaos.

The club has its troubles, sure, but moments like these make it all worthwhile.

And having my woman by my side? That's the greatest gift of all.

Seraphina's gaze flicks over the party, taking in the controlled chaos of Orion and Fate's thirteenth birthday bash.

Streamers dangle haphazardly from the rafters.

A mammoth cake shaped like a motorcycle teeters on the bar.

Kids weave between clusters of leather-clad bikers, shrieking with laughter.

It's loud, rowdy, and so quintessentially Reaper's Rejects that a grin tugs at my lips.

"Can you believe those two hellions are officially teenagers now?" I muse, snagging a beer from a nearby cooler.

"God, now we get to deal with the raging hormones," Seraphina shudders theatrically. "Or worse, they start dating."

I choke on my beer, sputtering. "Dating? Oh hell no. Any snot-nosed punks come sniffing around Fate, they'll be missing a few key body parts. I know their father, and there's nothin' he loves more than his baby girl."

She laughs, elbowing me playfully. "Such a protective papa bear. It's adorable."

"Adorable, she says." I huff in mock affront.

My gaze snags on Damon across the room.

Our Prez is deep in conversation with Dixon, their expressions uncharacteristically grim.

A sense of unease prickles along my spine.

If those two are wearing their serious faces at a time like this, something's up.

I incline my head toward them. "Think we should go fill them in on your little chat with Serpent?"

Seraphina follows my line of sight, lips thinning. "Probably a good idea. If Serpent's recruiting new blood, Damon and Dixon need to know."

With a shared nod, we make our way over, dodging sugar-hyped pre-teens.

Damon glances up at our approach, one dark brow lifting. "You two lovebirds gonna join the land of the living anytime soon?"

"Can you blame me for wanting to keep my woman all to myself?" I quip, tugging Sera possessively into my side.

Dixon snorts. "Keep it in your pants, kid. There's impressionable young minds present."

I flip him a one-fingered salute, prompting a round of rough chuckles from my brothers.

But as the laughter fades, Sera clears her throat, expression sobering.

"Actually, there's something you both need to know..."

Sera's about to fill them in when a Shiver comes striding into the clubhouse, something cradled to his chest.

As he gets closer, I realize it's a baby carrier.

What the hell?

The room goes quiet, every eye turning to stare.

Shiver meets each gaze steadily, but there's a muscle ticking in his jaw.

He looks like a man marching to the gallows.

Kat is the first to approach him, her face a mask of concern. "Shiver? Whose baby is that?"

He swallows hard, like the words are broken glass in his throat. "It's Sassy and Doc's."

Fuck.

The room erupts in whispers and exclamations.

I feel Sera stiffen against me.

We all know Sassy, that crazy clubwhore who left without a trace months ago.

Now she dumps the kid on our doorstep?

Whatever, I guess it's better than being raised by that dumb bitch.

Doc pushes through the crowd, his eyes locked on the baby carrier like a laser sight.

He stops in front of Shiver, gaze flicking between his stoic face and the bundle in his arms.

Shiver meets his stare dead-on. "Sassy showed up at the gate a few minutes ago. Said to tell you..." He hesitates, jaw clenching. "She said you can have your son, but she needs a head start."

Doc's hands shake as he reaches for the carrier.

Slowly, carefully, he pushes aside the soft blanket to reveal a tiny face, pink and perfect in sleep.

The room collectively holds its breath.

I can practically feel the rage coming off the guys in waves, hear the whispered threats and curses.

Doc...he's looking at that baby like it's the most precious thing he's ever seen.

Like in this moment, nothing else exists.

"Did I do the right thing?" Shiver asks lowly. "Taking the kid, letting her go? I know how much she fucked us over, but I figured you'd want your boy more than revenge."

Doc tears his gaze away from the baby to look at Shiver.

Some unspoken message passes between them, gratitude and understanding and absolution.

He nods once, short and sharp. "You did good, brother."

Kat steps up beside Doc, her hand gentle on his shoulder as she peers at the sleeping infant. "Of course he did the right thing. Now we focus on keeping this little man safe." Her eyes harden to steel. "And we start hunting Sassy down like the bitch she is."

Murmurs of agreement ripple through the crowd.

These men are out for blood, and they won't stop until they have Sassy's.

But as I watch Doc cradle his son close, whispering a promise to protect him, to be the father he never had.

I know this changes everything.

The game just got a whole lot deadlier.

I'll be damned if I let anything happen to Sera or the people I love.

Even if it means painting the streets red with the blood of our enemies.

Ready for more Reapers Rejects MC? Check out Doc's story.