Page 215 of Come Back To Me

I smile. “You grew up here. This house literally holds all of your memories.”

His lips press against my neck. “Look at our baby girl.”

I turn into him, resting my head against his chest, one arm around his front, one around his back as we both look down at Grace.

“We have a million new memories to make,” he says. Calm. Peaceful. “I don’t want to waste a second more.”

When he wasn’t at the hospital, I knew he was busying himself with the house he bought for us. Adamant my name go on the mortgage, I only agreed if he’d let me pay towards it. My job provides a steady income, and once he gets today out of the way, Dean will continue the painting and decorating business. That’s the plan, anyway.

We both know how huge today is.

Chapter Fifty-Two

DEAN

The door to the clubhouse swings open, all heads turn to me and Mads. Over the past three weeks I’ve worked myself more than I should. I know it. She knows it. Do I give a shit? No. Getting our new house ready was a priority. Not only that, but we buried The Joker. There was no time for rest, not until it was all done. Now that we’re nearly there, all I can see are my girls in our home.

Myfamily.

I still smile from ear to ear when I think or say that. Not even a year after meeting Mads, and I’m stood here carrying my daughter with my fiancé under my arm. All. Mine.

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them.

We step towards the bar as everyone either smiles, cries or hugs us. There’s no denying the men and women here are also our family.

I’m patted on the back, and I look around seeing Travis. “Looks good on you, mate,” he says, dipping his bulky frame for our embrace.

My chest expands wide. Fuck, this is going to be hard.

Telling him I’m getting out could go one of two ways. He’ll either accept it, or he won’t. If the tables were reversed, I wouldn’t want to be here anymore. Not without him. Although business islooking brighter for the club, new deals will have to be made to secure its future. He’ll have decisions to make without me here. He can handle it. But will he want to?

Letting him go, he looks down at Grace. “Got Mads’ genes I see.”

Dick. But he’s right.

“Your folks would be proud, mate,” he says softly, still looking at her.

A small smile raises, pride warming me. Travis is right; they would be proud. And Linda. Rocco too.

Ronnie won’t like me leaving, but there’s nothing he can do. The club is his life. We strengthened the Rippers back here in the UK, and for that, he’s happy. I tell him I no longer want to front the club he built, he’ll see it as dishonour, perhaps I’ll even be a letdown to him. He thinks he lost one son. The thought of his other boy walking away from the life might finally send him over the edge.

But he’s blood. I’ll have to start with that when I call him.

“Mollie coming?” Mads asks, taking Grace from her seat and holding her. I know she’s desperate to see her.

Lauren searches through the baby bag, grabbing a bottle of milk and handing it to Mads.

“Later,” Travis says without looking up, his eyes still locked on Grace.

Mads looks past him at me.

I widen my eyes. We didn’t realise they’d had recent contact.

“Before both of you get weird, it isn’t what you think. I called her with an update on Mads. I still need more time, before...” his voice trails off.

I see Jack walk in. “We understand, brother,” I reassure him, patting his back.

“But—”

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