Page 34 of Heart of a Hero

I marveled at the sight before me -- Nora, my sweet, shy girl, slowly emerging from her shell in the presence of Mom’s vibrant energy. It was like watching a flower bloom, each petal unfolding to reveal the beauty within. She hadn’t been this animated even when she’d met with the Swift Angels, and I knew Avery had chatted her ear off.

Mom leaned in conspiratorially, her voice dropping to a stage whisper. “Well, let’s just say the guys around here don’t take dares like that one anymore.”

Dad rolled his eyes. “Yeah, because some of you nut jobs decided to take pictures of his junk flapping around and posted them all over the compound.”

The two women dissolved into a fit of laughter. For a moment, I forgot about the rough-and-tumble world surrounding us, lost in the joy of seeing Nora so at ease.

As their laughter subsided, Nora’s eyes found mine, and a smile graced her lips. “Dawson, your mom is amazing. The stories she has…”

Mom clapped a hand on Nora’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Stick with me, sweetheart. I’ve got plenty more where that came from.”

Mom winked at me, and I knew she was doing this on purpose. She’d noticed Nora’s unease and had done the only thing she could think of… tell inappropriate stories. I looked around the house and realized Taylor was nowhere to be seen.

“Um, where’s Taylor?” I asked.

“With Akira,” Nora said. “She stopped by and took her to the playground with a little boy named Kellen.”

So, Akira had snagged Thunder’s son. Good call, since the kid was only a year older than Taylor. Hopefully, the two of them would get along.

Nora’s smile widened as she faced my mom again, and I could see the gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thank you, Ridley. For everything. I know this can’t be easy, accepting us into your world like this.”

Mom waved a dismissive hand. “Nonsense. You’re family now, Nora. And family sticks together, no matter what. Isn’t that right, Dawson?”

I nodded, even though I caught the edge to her words. Yeah, she was pissed about the secrets I’d kept, but she was doing her best not to show it in front of Nora, for which I was grateful. “Damn straight.”

As Mom and Nora fell back into their easy conversation, I marveled at the way my worlds were colliding. The woman I loved, the mother of my children -- and yeah, I was claiming both Taylor and the baby as mine, was slowly finding her place among the people I called family. Now if I could just find a way for the two halves of my world -- Swift Angels and Dixie Reapers -- to not collide in a negative way.

Dad approached us, his eyes flicking between Nora and me. A look of understanding passed between us, and I knew he could see the love and determination in my gaze. He gave a slight nod, a silent acknowledgment of the path I had chosen. At least he approved of my woman. I’d take any victory, even small ones.

“Son,” Dad said, his voice gruff but not unkind. “You’ve got a good woman by your side. Don’t forget that.”

I would have asked how he could be so sure, since he hadn’t bothered to really get to know her, but my dad tended to see things others didn’t. Even if he hadn’t spoken to her much, he’d been observing her. I’d once heard my dad could watch someone for just a few seconds to a minute or two and tell you whether or not they were worth getting to know or going to be trouble. Of course, if that were entirely true, the club wouldn’t have had some of the issues they’d faced over the years.

For now, I’d just assume he was trying to make Nora feel welcome. The fact my mom had been talking to her and not tossed her out would be enough for my dad, unless Nora proved she couldn’t be trusted.

Since my woman was sweet and didn’t seem to be the lying type, I wasn’t worried about that happening. Not now or ever.

I reached for Nora’s hand, intertwining our fingers. “I won’t, Dad. I promise.”

Nora leaned into me. The only other time I’d seen her this happy was when she’d made cookies while Taylor and I had decorated the tree. I wished she’d have many more days like this one.

Mom’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked at Venom. “See, honey? They’re meant to be, just like I said after he called yesterday.”

Dad grunted, but I caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah, yeah. You’re always right, aren’t you, woman?”

Mom winked at Nora. “That’s the secret to a happy marriage, sweetheart. Always let them think they’re in charge but remind them every chance you get that you’re the smarter of the two of you.”

Nora laughed, a beautiful, carefree sound that made my heart soar. I pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I think we’re going to be just fine, baby,” I whispered.

As we stood there, surrounded by the love and acceptance of my family, I realized that this was where we belonged. Or half of where we belonged. No matter that I was a Swift Angel and a firefighter, I would also always be a Dixie Reaper, even if it wasn’t as a patched member. I’d been born and raised here, and as they said, you couldn’t run from your past. I’d learned about loyalty, family, and protecting the innocent from the people at this compound. This was where it had all started.

I met Nora’s gaze, and the love and trust I saw reflected in her eyes filled me with a sense of peace I’d never known before. Knowing my family accepted her lifted a weight from my shoulders. I’d had a feeling my mom would like her, but I hadn’t been sure about Dad. But they’d both welcomed her and set her at ease. I really did have an amazing family.

Chapter Eleven

Dawson

I sat down on the couch in my parents’ living room, my heart pounding against my ribs. The air felt thick with unspoken words and raw emotions. Dad lowered himself into his favorite armchair across from me, the creak of the springs echoing in the heavy silence. Even though we’d talked briefly earlier, I’d known he’d want to discuss things in more detail. Mom had taken Nora and Taylor shopping, so it was just us at the house.

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