Page 44 of Harley

Aspen’s parents had died when she was eighteen, and by then she was pregnant with Archer. Archer’s dad left when he realised Aspen was knocked up, and she couldn’t care less. Aspen had moved in with Grandad.

At the time, I’d been thirteen. Aspen had experienced five Christmases with Grandad before he passed. Lucky girl. ThenAspen disappeared with Archer, and I’d been hunting for them ever since.

Harley squeezed me, and I smiled, but it felt forced. My joy had subsided a little. Once I found Aspen and Archer, we’d build something like this. Harley was showing me the way to create a family, and I would. Me, Aspen, and Archer, our own unit.

Harley

I sensed Oakley’s mood change, and her eyes held a distant sadness. It wasn’t hard to guess that she was thinking of Aspen and Archer. I made a mental note to speak to Hawthorne tomorrow and see if there was another update. Oakley deserved to have her family around, and I would find Aspen and Archer.

Carmine’s—no, Shutout’s—phone rang, and he frowned and got up to answer it in private. He returned with a scowl on his face that meant he’d had bad news.

“Everything okay?” I murmured.

“Yeah,” Shutout muttered, and then he looked at me, and a light lit in his eyes. “Talk to you tomorrow.”

“No problem,” I replied.

“Thanks, bro,” Shutout said as he took a seat.

Molly snuggled into him and peered upwards. Carmine… damn it! It was hard to get used to calling him Shutout.

Shutout smiled down at her, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mom watching.

Mom’s gaze flitted to Ice and Demi. Her face softened, and then she gazed at me and Oakley with hope in her eyes.

I shook my head, and Mom made a face. She didn’t believe me, and she was right not to.

Oakley was fast wriggling her way under my skin. My greatest desire was Oakley’s happiness. Her life was a shitshow, through no fault of her own.

Well, moving forward, I’d be taking care of any issues, and if Oakley’s family came, they better be ready. I was a prospect in Rage, and Oakley was my wife. Add to that, I was a Michaelson. Once we claimed a woman, we’d kill to keep her.

If Reverend Jeffrey or that asshole Bronson got anywhere near Oakley, they needed to bring an army. Oakley was mine.

Phoe

“Did you see Harley?” I demanded as Drake undressed.

“Babe, let the kids fall in love without meddling.” Drake sighed.

“No! I’m still waiting for Micah,” I refuted.

“Micah hasn’t met the one yet.”

“Why not? Tye, Carmine, and Harley have. I need grandchildren,” I argued as I creamed my face.

“Pushing them too hard might make them run in the other direction.”

“Do you think so?” I gasped, horrified, as I contemplated his words.

Drake sighed and, standing, padded over naked as I sat at my vanity table. Before I could argue, Drake snagged me around the waist and carried me over to bed. He dropped me on it, climbed between my legs, and pinned me down.

This looked promising.

“Phoe, let the kids find their own path,” Drake said, kissing me.

“A helping hand doesn’t hurt.”

Drake kissed me again, making me dizzy. “Leave them alone!”

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