Page 1 of One Hellion of a Christmas

CHAPTER ONE

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Inhaling long and deep,I took in the sharp bite of cold air mixed with a freshness that I didn’t get to experience in LA, letting a little of the stress that had been building over the past few months fade away. Autumn’s Slumber had been in the studio for the last few weeks recording and editing our fourth album that was set to release in February. On the heels of our first solo summer tour, with every venue sold out, I needed this break more than I’d willingly let anyone know.

Pressing a hand to my stomach, I tried not to grimace at the cramps and acid building in the back of my throat. I just had to get through all the insanity of spending the holidays with my family, and then I could chill out for a little while, which was what I needed more than anything.

It felt great to get away from the nonstop pace of home, with all the crazy fans following us around, practically stalking me.Practically.Fuck, that was a hilarious understatement. But I wasn’t going to think about that. Spending some time with Abi and Amala was the Christmas present to myself that I’d been needing for way too long.

Abi was supposed to be taking it easy, the end of her second pregnancy approaching faster than I felt ready for. She hadn’tbeen able to make it down for Thanksgiving with our extended families, and there hadn’t been enough time for us to make the trip to Creswell Springs to be with her, like Kin and Jace had done. No way I was going to miss Christmas with my bestie, though.

Thankfully, the album was done, and I didn’t have to rush back. Not that I would have, even if we’d absolutely had to. Abi was only a few weeks from her due date, but her doctor was worried she could go at any minute. Sammy and I had both been there for Amala’s birth, and I refused to miss the birth of my second godchild.

Compared to LA, Creswell Springs was considerably colder. Maybe we would even have snow for Christmas. Excited at the possibility, I glanced up at the huge house Ky had parked in front of.

It was as big as a hotel. Anya and Emmie had decided we all needed one place to call home when we were visiting our Angel’s Halo MC family. Sammy had designed the house, and Elias and his brother had personally broken ground on the construction. Money moved mountains, and it had also ensured that the mega-mansion-sized house was ready to go in what felt like a blink of an eye.

For me, that was probably because no sooner had we broken ground than Autumn’s Slumber had had to hit the road for a tour. We’d co-headlined that particular summer, promoting the release of our second album. The next time I’d gotten back to Creswell Springs more than six months later, the house was ready. Despite forty bedrooms, an entertainment room the size of a theater, equipped with heated, reclining chairs, five guest bathrooms on top of the en suites in every bedroom, and an industrial-sized kitchen, Emmie still questioned if it was large enough for everyone, should we all decide to visit at the same time.

Seeing as how the place almost split at the seams with all the kids running around, excited for the chance to see cousins they didn’t get to see but a few times a year, I had to agree that Emmie might have reason for concern.

Christmas lights and other decorations illuminated the house as the sun began to set. Jamie grabbed one of our suitcases from the trunk of our rental, his face spread in a huge grin as he kept shooting the gaggle of kids screaming in the yard amused glances.

“Uncle Jamie!” one of the kids yelled. It was one of Arella’s daughters, who was swinging on the play set Elias had designed and built himself for Amala to play on. There were so many kids, it made me dizzy to keep up with who was who for a minute. “Come play! Hurry! Mom said we have to go in for dinner soon.”

Sparks nudged him, tipping his chin toward the kids, a smile teasing his lips. “Go on. We got this.”

Jamie wrapped his arm around me, pressing a quick kiss to my lips before he jogged over to the kids. Aidan screeched with happy glee, while his twin jumped on Jamie’s back in an attempt to take his prey to the ground. Expecting Ciaran’s antics, Jamie twisted and rolled the terror, inciting a cheer from Fallon as she jumped up and down at her favorite uncle’s victory.

Shaking my head, I laughed at them all. I’d missed all my little cousins. And I loved seeing Jamie playing with them. He would make a great daddy.

Another cramp squeezed my belly. A belch tried to bubble up, but I moved away before Sparks or Ky could hear me release it, the taste of stomach acid burning the back of my throat. Fucking stomach acting stupid and getting all ugly over the least little thing.

“My bestie!”

Heart lifting, I turned at the sound of that sweet little voice in time to see a flash of dark red pigtails speeding toward me. Bending, I swooped Amala into my arms. “My mini Abi!”

She smacked a kiss to my cheek. “I missed you so much, bestie.”

“I missed you more.”

“Nuh-huh,” she argued, shaking her head from side to side adamantly. “I missed you more.”

“Nope,” I popped the p. “Not even in a million years could you miss me more than I missed you, Mini.”

Her nose scrunched up in a totally Abi way, and I just wanted to stand there and soak up every tiny thing that was Amala. “No, bestie. Not in a kajillion-billion-million years could you miss me more.”

“That is a very long time,” I said, impressed. “But still, no. Wanna know why?”

Both her hands were already playing with my hair, scrunching and twirling the curls around her fingers. “Why?”

“Because I love you the mostest of anyone on the entire planet.”

“Me too!”

I gasped in delight. “You love me more than you love yourtetka?”

“I love youequally,” she rushed to correct me, stressing the whole equal thing because she didn’t want to hurt my feelings. I was a teeny-tiny bit jealous that Sammy got to spend so much time with Amala and Abi. I missed them so damn much. “You are both my favorite aunties in the whole wide world. The universe. The galaxy.”

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