Page 20 of Wrath's Redemption

We both look up to see the surgeon approaching. Wrath stands, pulling me with him, his hand still gripping mine.

"How is she?" he demands, and I hear the barely contained fear in his voice. The same fear that's been choking me since they took our baby away three hours ago.

The surgeon smiles.

"The surgery was a complete success," the surgeon says, and the entire room seems to exhale at once. "Anna did beautifully. Her heart is responding well to the correction, and her oxygen levels are already improving."

My knees go weak with relief. Wrath's arm slides around my waist, supporting me, though I feel him trembling slightly too.

"When can we see her?" he asks, his voice rougher than usual.

"She's in recovery now. Once she's moved to pediatric ICU, you can go in. Two at a time." The surgeon glances at the room full of bikers. "I assume these are all family?"

"They are," Wrath confirms, no room for argument in his tone.

Behind us, I hear Crow let out a shaky laugh of relief. Angel is crying quietly into Ruthless's cut. Hellfire stands, moving closer to us with that commanding presence that seems to part the very air.

"Thank you, Doctor," our President says formally. "The club appreciates your work."

The surgeon nods, seeming to understand the weight of those words.

"A nurse will come get you when she's ready for visitors." He pauses. "She's a fighter, your little girl. Never seen a baby so young handle surgery so well."

"Iron & Blood blood," Crow calls out proudly, and murmurs of agreement ripple through the room.

Once the surgeon leaves, Wrath turns to me, pressing his forehead against mine. "She did it, baby. Our girl did it."

Tears stream down my face as I clutch his cut. "Thank you," I whisper. "For making this happen. For everything."

His lips brush mine softly. "Anything for my family."

Family. The word means something different now than it did weeks ago. It means Anna, of course, but also this room full of dangerous men who would die to protect her. It means Wrath, who's become not just Anna's father but my partner, my protector, my love.

A nurse appears in the doorway after a while.

"She's ready for visitors."

Wrath's hand finds mine again as we follow her. Behind us, I hear Hellfire organizing visiting rotations, making sure everyone gets their turn to see their princess.

As we walk down the sterile hallway, I glance up at Wrath. His face is set in its usual hard lines, but his eyes... his eyes tell a different story. They're soft, vulnerable, filled with a love so fierce that it can’t be contained.

"Ready?" he asks as we reach the PICU door.

I squeeze his hand. "Ready."

Together, we step forward to see our daughter.

Epilogue - Wrath

Three years later

I watch Anna chase her little brother around the living room, her dark curls bouncing, her laughter filling our home. Three years ago, I didn't even know I had a kid. Now I have two, and sometimes I still can't believe they're mine.

"Daddy!" Leon crashes into my legs, his honey-colored hair – Lucy's hair – falling into his eyes. "Anna's trying to make me prospect!"

"Am not!" Anna protests, hands on her hips in a perfect imitation of her mother. "I'm trying to teach him the club rules 'cause Aunt Emma said all prospects need to learn them!"

"What did Aunt Emma say?" Lucy's voice comes from the doorway, and both kids whirl around.

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