Page 77 of Trick

His brows lift. “Congratulations. How far along?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe five or six weeks.”

“Obstetrics isn’t really my field,” he says. “Were you hurt at any point? Hit in the stomach? Do you have any cramping or bleeding?”

I shake my head. “I feel fine other than a little scared.”

“I’d wait and monitor. Book in with your own doctor as soon as possible. At this stage, baby is pretty protected, so if you weren’t hurt in the incident, I’m sure everything will be fine. Try to limit stress.”

Is that a joke? Limit stress? That is easier said than done, but I give my agreement anyway. The doctor stands, grabbing his medical bag. “Don’t take this personally, but I hope I don’t see either of you any time soon.”

As soon as he’s gone, Trick signals for me to come to him. I sit next to him on the sofa, letting him pull me against his side that isn’t hurt. His arm wraps around me, holding me tight. “It’s over.”

I don’t even know how to describe how that makes me feel. For so long, we’ve lived under the shadow of Desmond Richardson and his men. Knowing he is no longer a threat is a surreal feeling. “Yeah, it’s over.”

And I’ve never been happier knowing that our unborn baby will grow up in a world where they do not have to be afraid of stepping outside the house because of Desmond fucking Richardson.

He kisses my forehead as we watch Sophia play, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding around us, and for once, I look forward to the future we are building.

EPILOGUE

TRICK

ONE YEAR LATER…

Iwatch Heidi from across the room, my gaze locked on her as she rocks our daughter in her arms. The glow in her cheeks is fucking stunning, and although we’re both tired from taking care of a three-month-old baby, I can see how happy she is to be a mother.

As if she knows I’m staring, her eyes lift and find mine. The way she looks at me makes my insides heat. I didn’t think I could love anyone ever again, and I didn’t believe in second chances, but that is exactly what I have been given. I’m not entirely sure I deserve all the good I have now, but I sure as fuck am going to embrace it.

She gives me a dazzling smile before she returns her attention to the baby in her arms. Motherhood looks good on her, and somehow, she has managed to make Sophia feel included and secure since the arrival of Keira.

My girls…

They are everything to me. I had no idea I could feel so much love for my children, but I would die to protect either of them. Mara gave me the greatest gift in Sophia, and then Heidi made our little family complete with Keira. There’s not a day that goes by when I’m not grateful for everything I have.

As I glance around the room, it’s clear how much things have changed in our club. The bachelor days are long gone as the common room is filled with old ladies and kids.

Skye bounces her son on her knee, deep in conversation with a newly pregnant Ophelia and Elyse. Her half-sister, Sariah, is sitting in Lucas’s lap, talking animatedly.

On the other side of the room, Hope tries to corral an overexcited Maisie, while Terror and Hawk are standing near the bar, the former holding his son in his arms.

Wren and Hawk’s two youngest are playing pool with Elyse’s brother, who will be ready to become a prospect in just a few short years, if he chooses to.

Pia and Howler are talking with her parents and Blackjack while Brewer shows Wren’s older kids a card trick. Bobby watches, his brows drawn together. The kid got his full colours the week after he took down Desmond Richardson, and then he spent the next month cleaning up the remaining Pioneers soldiers with the Fraser brothers.

This right here… this is family, and I never want to lose this again.

My daughter rushes past me, but I sweep her up before she gets too far, tickling her side and earning one of her mad cackles. She’s never grown out of that, and I fucking love it. “Where are you going, Princess?” I ask her.

“Daddy, put me down,” she squeals.

I know I should, but instead, I hold my daughter close, just enjoying having her in my arms. She is a miniature version of her mother, as if the universe hit ‘copy and paste’ on her.

I miss Mara every day, though my grief is no longer as suffocating as it was. Once a month, we go as a family to the cemetery to visit those we lost. I never want to forget those we left behind, even though we’re working towards a different future.

“I love you so much, Sophia,” I say to my daughter. She grabs my cheeks between her hands, planting a kiss on my mouth.

“I love you too, Daddy.” Her words aren’t perfectly pronounced, but they melt my insides.

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