Page 35 of Phoenix

His eyes lit with happiness. “You were planning for us?”

“Of course I was.” I turned in his arms, pressing my hand against his chest. “So were you.”

He kissed me again, slower this time. Sweeter. And when he pulled back, his smile was soft but sure. “You walked into my life swinging, baby. And I knew right then you were gonna knock me on my ass.”

I grinned. “Good. Because I don’t plan on going easy on you anytime soon.”

“Wouldn’t want you to.”

I curled deeper into his arms, the ring on my finger catching the light as I finally let myself relax.

I’d walked into the clubhouse looking for answers. Instead, I found everything I didn’t know I needed.

EPILOGUE

PHOENIX

“You doing okay, baby?” I asked softly, rubbing a hand over Lindsay’s belly.

She nodded and leaned back in the booth, stretching her legs out to prop them on the bench seat across from us.

Since she had the day off from the center, she’d come with me to the bar owned by the club, Midnight Rebel. I was balancing the books with Savage since he managed the place.

“Can I get you anything?” I asked my wife.

“Um, a foot rub?” she suggested hopefully.

I chuckled and kissed her temple. “The second we get home.”

Savage had pulled up a chair to the end of the booth and was watching our interaction with a smirk.

“What?” I growled.

He shrugged. “Just never thought I’d see you go so soft.”

I rolled my eyes. “Only for her. And our kids. Everyone else? Still get a bullet.”

Savage snorted.

“You’ll see,” I predicted before turning back to the numbers.

When a cool breeze came in, I glanced up and a wide smile broke over my face.

My eighteen-year-old sister, Melanie, walked inside, followed by another girl who looked to be a similar age.

“Bro!” she screeched, running over to throw herself into my arms the second I was on my feet.

“Hey, kid,” I greeted her, kissing the top of her head as I gave her a squeeze.

Then I pulled back and frowned down at her. “What the fuck, Lainie?” I grunted. “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”

“I wanted to surprise you,” she chirped happily as she pushed me out of the way to climb into the booth to hug my woman.

The other girl was hanging back, looking around nervously. She looked innocent and downright wholesome, so I figured all the tatted, rugged bikers were probably freaking her out.

Not wanting my sister’s friend to feel unwelcome, I smiled and held out my hand. “Hey. I’m Lainie’s brother, Phoenix.”

Before our hands touched, Savage was standing between us, his chair crashing to the floor from standing up so fast.

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