Page 69 of Dagger

When I park in front of the house, she just stares. The place is big—bigger than anything we’ve lived in before. A wide porch wraps around the front, and the yard stretches out in all directions, green and inviting.

Steele is out of his seat the second I unbuckle him, running across the yard with that endless energy only toddlers seem to have. Beast hops out after him, sticking close as he sniffs the air, already acting like he owns the place.

Chloe steps out of the car slowly, her hand shielding her eyes as she takes it all in. “This is… this is ours?” she asks, her voice quiet.

“Yeah,” I say, stepping up beside her. “What do you think?”

She doesn’t answer right away, her gaze still sweeping over the house and the yard. Steele’s laughing as he chases Beast, the sound carrying on the breeze.

“You want to check it out?” I ask, nudging her gently.

She nods, and we make our way to the front door, Steele and Beast trailing behind us.

The inside of the house is even better than the outside. Hardwood floors stretch through the open living spaces, and the kitchen is big enough for Chloe to cook up one of her epic meals without feeling crowded. But it’s the little touches that really make it special.

I lead her down the hallway to the bedrooms, stopping outside the one at the end. “This is Steele’s room,” I say, pushing the door open.

She steps inside, her eyes widening as she takes it all in. The room is already set up—painted in soft blues and grays, with a bed shaped like a race car and shelves filled with books and toys.

“I had Sophie, Carlie, and Jenny help out in here,” I admit, scratching the back of my neck. “Figured they’d know what a kid’s room should look like better than I would.”

Chloe turns to me, her eyes glassy, and for a second, I think she might cry. “You did all this?”

“Not just me,” I say, shrugging. “But yeah. Wanted it to feel like home for him.”

She moves to the next room, the one we’ve set up for the baby. It’s soft and warm, with pinks and creams, a crib in the corner, and a rocking chair by the window. Chloe runs her fingers over the edge of the crib, her lips trembling.

I step up behind her, wrapping my arms around her. “Figured we’d call this one Macie’s room,” I say, my voice low.

“She,” Chloe murmurs, her hands resting over mine.

“Yeah,” I say. “Thought we’d make it special for her.”

Chloe turns in my arms, her eyes shining as she looks up at me. “It’s perfect, Dagger. All of it.”

I press a kiss to her forehead, holding her close as Steele’s laughter echoes from down the hall. Beast pokes his head into the room, giving us a look like he’s making sure everything’s up to standard.

“Think you’ll like it here?” I ask her.

Chloe smiles, her hand resting on her belly as she leans into me. “I already do.”

EPILOGUE

HAWK BOOK 5

The low murmurof Perdition fills the air around me, the scrape of chairs and the occasional clink of bottles cutting through the haze. I’m slouched at the table, boots hooked on the rung of my chair, a half-empty whiskey glass hanging loose from my fingers. I stare at the scratched surface in front of me, butmy mind’s not here. Hell, it hasn’t been for months. Seeing all of those guys with their old ladies, acting like life is perfect.

Across from me, Sledge leans back in his chair, one boot propped on the edge of the table, his beer dangling from his hand. He takes a slow sip, watching me like he’s waiting for me to break the silence first. Of course, he cracks first. Always does.

“Y’know,” he starts, his tone casual like we’re just shooting the shit, “I saw Mack bust his ass earlier trying to yank that busted generator out back. Almost took the whole damn shed down with him.”

I snort, the corner of my mouth twitching. “Sounds about right. Guy couldn’t fix a flat without snapping the jack in half.”

Sledge grins, leaning forward now. “Yeah, well, I let him keep at it for a while. Good entertainment. You should’ve seen the look on his face when the thing finally shifted.” He pauses, his grin taking on that sly edge I know too well. “Watching him fumble around, though? It kinda reminded me of you.”

I glance up at him, narrowing my eyes. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

His grin widens, showing teeth now. “Just saying, you’ve got the same damn look lately. Trying to muscle through something that ain’t budging. Except instead of a generator, it’s Chloe.”

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