Page 61 of Demon's Angel

“But you didn’t stay in contact.”

“I stayed away but watched from a distance. I knew every step you took until you were settled. I let you move on with your life but made sure you were okay until you were through college and started out on your career. I’m an outlaw biker, darlin’. You seemed to be on another path. Didn’t want to pressure you to step off it.”

“You never spoke to me. Never picked up the phone, never asked how I was doing.”

I ignore her, needing to get this off my chest. “I suspect I knew what I’d feel if I saw you up close, Vi. Like I did that morning we went for coffee. I wanted to step into your life and take over. You were no longer a girl I had to stay away from, you were a mature woman who I could pursue.”

“But you didn’t.”

I turn over, stare down into her beautiful eyes, the colour only deepened since I’d first held her as a babe in my arms. “I’m the prez of an MC, Vi. What have I to offer but my protection? You were not of this world, Violet, until circumstances drew you into it. I thought I could do best by being a proxy brother.”

“I don’t need another brother.”

Raising her fingers to my lips, I suck them into my mouth one by one, my tongue curling around them. She sighs, draws in a sharp breath, starts to turn to me…

Theo’s sharp cry interrupts.

A quick grin for me, then the concerned glance of a mother. Quickly shrugging a wrap around her, she lifts her—our—son into her arms, then takes him to the changing table and has a fresh diaper on him in a quarter of the time it had taken me. I determine to get in more practice; whatever I take on, I’ll learn how to be the best. Clean and dry, she now brings him to the bed. Unconcerned, she opens her wrap and puts him to her breast, then frowns as he suckles.

“That painful?”

“It sort of is and isn’t? Pinches a bit. In some ways it’s the best feeling in the world, but my milk is drying up, and now his teeth are starting to come through, it’s time to stop.”

I watch, my gut clenching. It’s the most beautiful sight in the world. Doesn’t matter how he came into my life, that’s my son she’s feeding. The child I’ll guide to be what he wants, just like Hellfire had done me. I’m transfixed, but from the little frown on his face, I don’t need her to translate the situation.

“Want me to get him a bottle?”

“Please.”

The clubroom is covered with bodies sprawled out over every available surface. A few seem to have passed out on the floor. In the kitchen there are signs of life, Shadow is getting a glass of water. He watches as I heat the bottle, a grin covering his face.

“Bit domesticated there, Prez.”

A swift glare stops any further jokes. But he’s got an excuse to watch me wide-eyed. There are no babies in the Vegas chapter, as there were none here. Seems I’m not uncomfortable with it at all. Perhaps a new generation will be the making of us. New life to protect, the signs of a future. All of a sudden the new tattoo parlour, other businesses we run, are not just to give the brothers a comfortable existence, but for providing for our families and giving us something worth fighting for.

There’s a spring in my step as I return to Hellfire’s old room. “It’s our wedding day,” I tell her, noting Theo, now taking the bottle, looks more satisfied.

“Your mom said she got me a dress. I didn’t think it important.” She frowns. “I hope she has good taste, D.”

“Mom will do okay.”

What happened last night has given this day more significance. I’m not surprised Vi’s gone from not caring to now wanting to look her best. The vows are no longer just words we have to say, but on my part at least, a real commitment.

“I’ve already claimed you, Vi. In front of my brothers, and last night…”

“Was incredible. Everything I ever dreamed of.” She shifts Theo to make them both more comfortable. “It was always you, D. Always.”

The tone of her voice tells me her words are the truth. I slide something out of my cut and approach her. “Want to give you something.”

Her hands point to my crotch and she grins. “Again?”

My mouth quirks, then I grow serious. I turn her around so her back is toward me, then fasten a chain around her neck. She looks down; her fingers raise the heart I’ve just placed around her.

“You had this made for me?”

“It’s our wedding day, Vi. It seemed appropriate.”

“Even before we admitted what we felt?”

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