Page 20 of Sinful Mates

“That’s enough, Mom,” I warned with a growl worthy of Slade Vincent. “She’s Jimmy’s. She was adopted. Mia is seven and I recently got custody of her.”

Mom blanched, oblivious to the baby I hid from them when studying at college in Sydney. They thought I went through a phase, needing time away from the family, and left me alone for six months. Well after Mia was born. Before that, I hid my baby bump in sweatpants and baggy shirts and laughed off any reference to putting on weight.

“I … I have a grandbaby?” Mom’s voice softened with forgiveness and longing. After all, Mia and I were all she had now. The long, manicured nail of her thumb scratched her forehead, shaking ash on her perfect creme blouse. “Keeping so many secrets, aren’t you?”

I took her free hand in mine and squeezed, giving her reassurance I was still loyal to my family despite my relationships with my mates. “I never wanted to raise her in this life.”

Mom nodded, understanding. Motorcycle club life wasn’t for everyone. Dad cheated on her. Went to prison twice, once when they first started trading drugs and a second time to protect Danny. Prioritized the club over her and she raised two kids with little help from him besides financial.

Fuck. That hit a little too close to home. My mates were lucky they escaped the penitentiary. I hoped to the goddess that Slade didn’t turn out like my father. There would be no us if he made the same mistake.

“Bring my grandbaby to visit me.” Mom rubbed my arm. “But I don’t want the Jackals anywhere near my house.”

It was pointless to defend Slade when Amanda Heller’s mind was made up about my mates. I tried to show her the truth, but she chose to remain blind. She had free will to believe whatever she wanted, and it wasn’t my job to make her see reason.

For Mia’s sake, I acquiesced. “Okay, Mom. I’ll call you and arrange a time. Maybe in a few weeks when Mia’s settled in. She’s just getting used to a new family, and I don’t want to throw too many things at her at once.”

Another inky tear streaked down my mom’s cheek. “I can’t wait to meet her. Part of the Wolves lives on in her.”

My muscles went rigid at that. No, Mia wouldn’t carry on that legacy. It burned and turned to ash. I just hoped the Jackals didn’t meet the same end at the hands of our next adversary.

“Bye, honey.” Mom kissed me on the cheek, glancing over her shoulder at my men, then retreating with the other Wolves’ family members.

Slade strolled over to me with Castor and Zethan tagging along. I slipped into his warm arms and chased away the chill clinging to me. His smoky, whisky, molten steel scent calmed me.

“How’d it go with your mother?” His dark voice wrapped around me like a rough kiss.

I snorted and hit his stomach. “You heard every word, big ears.”

He shrugged and flashed his gorgeous dimples. “Can’t help it.”Shifters.When I pinched him, he added, “I have to protect my mate from threats.”

I bitch-please frowned at him. “From my mom’s biting words?”

“I see where you inherited your ferocious tongue from.” He teased me with a flick of our tongues and a wild kiss that left me rocking.

“Ferocity comes with the territory of biker wives.” I shrugged.

“Only a fierce mate will do for me.” A force of nature, fire, ice, and everything in between needed a strong woman to contain him.

Castor nudged Slade aside to have his turn, and I giggled at his impatience and dominance not to share. “Want to go home, have a bath, and wine?” He always knew the way to my heart.

I placed my palm over the one he set on the side of my face, expanding the warmth over my body. “I want to do something first.”

His hand dropped from my face to take my waist. “Sure, Dark Sorceress. Lead the way.” I loved Castor’s laid-back style.

I glanced at Zethan to motion for him to join me, but his focus remained elsewhere. On the wisps of colorful souls drifting in and out of this world. Some trapped here, I imagined. Some approached him with requests.

I walked my men back to Jerry’s grave site, a few slots down from the one intended for my last rose. My father’s. Castor’s warmth receded as I bent down in front of the marble headstone. This was the first time in six months that I got the chance to visit. Slade refused to let me out of his sight until the danger with my brother passed, which meant I talked to Dad’s ghost in my head.

I placed the rose on the top of the tombstone. “You can rest now, Dad. I avenged your death.”

The tight band around my chest that squeezed the moment he died released with a snap, and finally, I took a fresh breath.

A warm, heavy hand settled on my shoulder. Zethan’s. “Don’t be sad, Hellhound Bitch. He’ll find his peace. Eventually, they all do.” Comfort from the god of death.

Fighting back tears, I found my feet again and tucked myself in his embrace. Protective. Hard. Loyal. My dismay faded with each stroke of my hair.

Death was Zethan’s domain, life mine. And at this point in the game, they clashed, taking our loved ones and brothers. It left me wondering if death always won or if the gods achieved their balance.

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