Page 81 of Savage Loyalty

It wasn’t a solution, not yet. But it was a start. And for now, that was enough.”

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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

RYDER

THREE MONTHS LATER

Istood on the back deck, leaning against the wooden railing as the late summer breeze carried the scent of freshly mowed grass and blooming flowers. The house—our house—spread out behind me, its soft white siding and black shutters gleaming in the evening light. It wasn’t much, but it was ours. And for the first time in my life, I felt like I had something solid beneath my feet.

When Delilah told me she needed a real home for our baby, I listened. And I’d acted. The idea of staying at her father’s place had never sat right with me. I didn’t want to live under another man’s roof, especially not hers. So, I bought a house. Not a mansion, not a sprawling estate, just a good, solid home in a quiet neighborhood where we could start fresh.

The thought of her and the baby running around inside—their laughter filling the halls—made every grueling second of putting this place together worth it. I’d even built the crib myself, despite the hell Delilah had given me when I almost smashed my thumb in the process.

“Ryder?” Delilah’s voice called from inside, soft but firm. “Can you grab the drinks?”

“On it, Kitten,” I replied, pushing off the railing and heading inside.

The smell of dinner wafted through the open space. Axel and Mia were already seated at the table, their laughter mixing with the clatter of plates and silverware. The truce between the Vipers and the Reapers still held though it was as fragile as glass. Axel and I weren’t exactly best friends, but for Delilah’s sake, we’d made it work. And Mia? She was a grounding presence, the kind of person who kept Axel in check without even trying.

I grabbed the tray of drinks from the counter and stepped back outside, setting it down on the table as Delilah smiled up at me. She was glowing—all curves and softness, her hands resting protectively on her swollen belly. My chest tightened at the sight of her, and for a moment, I just stood there, drinking it in.

“Sit, Ryder,” she said, rolling her eyes when she caught me staring. “You’re making everyone uncomfortable.”

Axel snorted, shaking his head. “Nothing new there.”

I gave him a smirk as I dropped into the chair beside Delilah. “Keep it up, Axel. We’ll see how comfortable you feel after.”

“Oh, please,” Axel shot back, leaning forward with a grin. “You’ve got nothing on me, Ryder. I could take you in my sleep.”

“Is that a challenge?” I raised a brow, leaning back casually. “Because I’m pretty sure the last time we went head-to-head, you ended up flat on your ass.”

“That’s because you cheat,” Axel growled, pointing a fork in my direction. “Always finding some underhanded way to win.”

“Underhanded?” I scoffed. “It’s called strategy, Axel. Maybe try using your brain next time instead of your fists.”

Mia sighed dramatically, throwing her hands in the air. “Do you two ever stop? Honestly, it’s like watching a couple of teenagers.”

Delilah’s laugh was soft and sweet, cutting through the banter like a balm. “Leave them alone, Mia. They’re bonding. This is as close to a truce as we’re going to get.”

“Bonding?” Mia gave her an incredulous look. “It’s a miracle they haven’t killed each other.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Axel said with a wicked grin, “I’m saving that for a special occasion.”

“Good luck with that,” I shot back, grabbing a roll from the basket in front of me. “You’d have to get through me first, and we both know how that’d go.”

“Enough,” Delilah said, her voice filled with amusement but firm enough to shut us up. “Can we just have one nice dinner without the two of you turning it into a pissing contest?”

“Fine,” I muttered, popping a piece of bread in my mouth. “But only because you asked so nicely, Kitten.”

Axel rolled his eyes, but his grin lingered. “I’ll let it go. For now.”

The laughter settled into a more comfortable rhythm, the four of us falling into easy conversation. The teasing and banter were still there, but the edges had softened, replaced by something that almost felt like camaraderie. It was a stark contrast to where we’d started, and for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe we could make this work.

The evening passed in easy conversation, the four of us slipping into a rhythm that almost felt normal. It was a stark contrast to the chaos of a few months ago, and I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride at how far we’d come.

And then Delilah screamed.

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