Page 97 of Turmoil's Target

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.

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