“No.” I pulled him back in to me. “God, no. Zach, that’s never going to happen. Honey, you’re ours. We love you. You’re our son.”
He pulled back to look up at me, a mixture of relief and trepidation on his young face. “S-so you wouldn’t kick me out?”
“Never,” Cord said roughly. “Not ever, bud. You’re our boy. We’re a family. When Rory and I get married and have kids, all that means is our family’s gonna get even bigger.”
“We want to give you brothers and sisters,” I told him. “We want you to teach them how to be strong and brave, just like you. They’ll need a big brother to show them the way, sweetie. And I can’t think of anyone better for that job than you.”
His eyes went big and his lips parted. “You… you love me?”
“With all my heart,” I whispered.
“You have our hearts, Zach,” Cord replied in a gruff, quiet voice. “That’s never gonna change.”
“The second happiest day of my life was when Cord told me he loved me. But the first… the first was the day I got you.”
“I love you guys too.” Zach sniffled. “I wanted to say that before. I’m sorry I didn’t until now, but I do. I love you.”
We fell back into a hug, Zach and me crying while Cord held us safe against him.
“That boy’s the devil!” I heard screeched a second later. When I looked up, I saw Miriam Weathers fighting against the officers trying to handcuff her and put her in the back of one of the cruisers. “He’s the spawn of Satan! He’s evil! Pure evil!”
“Christ,” Cord grunted, his arms clenching around us. “Bitch is as crazy as her cousin.”
“Honey,” I said, drawing his attention to me. “Stay with Zach, will you? I have something I need to handle real quick.”
His face split into a knowing grin, and he gave me a short nod before leaning in to press a kiss to my lips.
I stood to my feet and started in the direction of the screaming, batshit-crazy woman.
Usually I wasn’t one to condone violence. But this woman had kidnapped my boy, scared him senseless, and drove like a maniac, putting his life in jeopardy, so this time I was willing to make an exception. I got close, cocked my arm back, and let it fly, punching Miriam Weathers in the face so hard that her broken nose instantly started gushing blood and the back of her head cracked against the doorframe of the police car.
She let out a sharp cry of pain before her eyes bugged out. “That’s assault!” she screamed. “You saw that! You all saw! She assaulted me. I’m pressing charges!”
“I didn’t see anything,” the officer on Miriam’s left muttered, looking to the one on her right. That was when I noticed the officers were Fred Duncan and the other one who’d been there the night Cord and I found Zach. They knew the state he’d been in, and they knew exactly why. “You see anything?” Fred asked the other guy, his lips quirking up in a smirk.
“Saw her trip and fall,” that officer announced. “But that’s about it. Broken noses happen when your hands are cuffed behind your back and you take a header on the pavement.”
“That’s… that’s… you can’t do that!” Miriam cried.
Then, because one didn’t feel like enough after what she’d done not only to Zach, and not only today, but to all the kids she’d forced to suffer through hell for years because of her own greed, I reared back and punched her again. And that one shut her the hell up.
I turned on my boots and started back toward my guys, who’d both risen to their feet. When I was within earshot, I heard Zach mutter, “That was awesome.”
“My woman,” Cord mumbled when I got close, his smile full of pride. “Fierce and wild. Wouldn’t want her any other way.”
I really liked hearing that.
“Let’s go home,” I said, pulling Zach against my side as I started us toward Cord’s truck. “I’m starving and exhausted, and I think I might need to put ice on my hand.”
As we walked, I saw Zach’s head move from the corner of my eye. When I turned, I saw he was looking up at Cord just before he announced, “My mom’s a badass.”
“Yeah, son,” Cord agreed on a chuckle. “She certainly is.”
“Watch your language,” I scolded playfully, giving my boy a squeeze. “And don’t think just because you suffered through a kidnapping today that I’m gonna take it easy on you. You’re grounded from here to eternity for nearly giving me a heart attack.”
At that, my guys both laughed.
Because they knew I was totally full of it.
Epilogue
Cord
Six months later
“Get the lead out, dollface,” I hollered toward the hall. “We’re gonna be late.”
“I’m coming!” Rory’s sharp snap carried back, and at the sound of it, Bill and Zach let out a small chuckle. “Just hold your damn horses!”
Honestly, I didn’t give a damn if we were late. And I didn’t care if Rory threw all the attitude she had at me—which was a lot. Nothing could ruin my mood.
I came to Hope Valley with all my earthly possession fitting into a duffel bag. I had no family, no home. Then I met my dream woman standing behind a bar.
She was wild and spirited. She was full of fire and could pour a Guinness perfectly. Her bright blue eyes danced when she smiled, and her laugh was the best sound I’d ever heard.
Now I had more than any man could possibly dream of. My home was a perfect countrified house that sat on a huge ranch with stunning views as far as the eye could see. My rings were on that dream woman’s finger, she’d taken my name, and just like that, she’d given me a family. I had a son, a wife, and two nutty, albeit well-meaning, in-laws. With them and all our friends, I was surrounded by more love than I could have ever thought possible. And that love was going to continue to grow as soon as I could knock my woman up.
I was a kid who’d grown up nothing. Now I had everything.
“I’m ready! I’m ready! Sorry, I couldn’t find my earrings!”
Rory exited the mouth of the hall, a little clutch tucked under her arm while her head was cocked to the side so she could slip the diamond stud I’d gotten her as a wedding present into her ear. At the sight of her, I was transported back to that night all those months ago.
“Jesus, dollface,” I said on a growl, hooking her around the waist just as soon as she was within reach and pulling her in to me. “You look gorgeous.”
Her eyes danced as she looked up at me. “You don’t look too bad yourself, stud.”
Leaning down, I brushed my lips against hers and whispered, “Have I mentioned yet how much I love you?”
“Maybe once or twice.” She giggled. “But I haven’t gotten tired of hearing it yet.”
“With all my heart, baby.”
“Agh! Gah! That’s it, I’m waiting out in the truck!” Zach shouted, throwing his arms up and stomping toward the door. “All day, every day! It’s not right! I’m gonna end up needing therapy!”
The screen door slammed shut on his continued rant, and Rory’s head fell back on a deep belly laugh at his dramatics.
“You think he’ll tell all of that to the judge when we go in to finalize his adoption next month?” she asked once her laughter had dulled to a chuckle.
“No doubt about it. But I’m not worried.”
“And why’s that?”
“’Cause that judge’ll take one look at us and see two people who aren’t afraid to share their love, and he’ll know we’ll give that kid the best life.”
Bill came up just then and clapped me on the back. “Just wait ’til he discovers an appreciation for girls. Next thing you know, you’ll be findin’ him in the hayloft of our barn with his jeans around his knees, ruttin’ away like a—”
“Gah, Dad!” Rory shouted, slapping her hands over her ears as I felt all the blood drain from my face. “Enough! I don’t even wanna think about that!”
He let out a whoop of laughter before turning to the screen door and hollering out, “Hey, Zach! I
got ’em back for you, son!”
And our boy returned, “Thanks, Pop!”
“You’re absolutely terrible!” Becky chided, smacking her husband on the arm.
“See if you ever get another bacon cheeseburger when you come into the bar,” Rory grumbled, glaring up at her father.
“Sorry, dumplin’,” Bill said, kissing her forehead. “It’s a grandpa’s duty to team up with his grandson to make his mama and daddy’s life a nightmare.”
Then he looped his arm around his wife’s neck and led her out of the house, leaving Rory and me with a second to ourselves.
“I don’t think I’m ever gonna get that image out of my mind,” she murmured, glaring at the door with a look of disgust on her face.
“I’m right there with you, dollface.” I followed Bill’s lead, pulling my woman close and guiding her out.
“But I kinda love it,” she continued, her head tilted back, those bright blue eyes on me. “Having them team up against us like that? I love that Zach has that, and I love that we were the ones able to give it to him, you know?”
“Yeah, baby,” I whispered, smiling down at the love of my life. “I know.”
Rory
An hour and a half later
The second the scissors in my hand sliced through that big red ribbon, the crowd standing at the base of the stairs exploded into cheers and applause.
Hope House was officially open, and over the next few weeks, we’d be bringing in kids in need of a good home, love, and care. I got lucky finding Zach, but there were so many other children out there who didn’t end up the same. Cord had been looking out for the other kids who’d been living in the Caswells’ house, and they’d fortunately fared better than what they had before. And hopefully, with the opening of Hope House, we could help even more.
It looked like most of Hope Valley had come out for today’s ceremony; then again, the entire town had rallied at my family’s back to help make this dream come true. The donations the Hope Foundation received from those we knew had rocked me to my very core.
But what I’d said to Mrs. Niedermeyer all those months ago had been true. One of the wonderful things about living in a small town was that we looked out for each other. We went to bat for each other. And these people had gone to bat for me and my family.
My eyes scanned through the sprawling crowd. I looked to Eden and Lincoln, Nona and Trick, Tempie and Hayes, Gypsy and Marco. I looked to my mom and dad. I looked to Joe Silvester, Mrs. McClintock, Roxanne. I looked to all the men from Alpha Omega and all of the police officers in attendance. I looked to Dusty and to Edward Pierce from Child Welfare Services. I looked to all of the people who held a piece of my heart, not only for what they’d done to make this happen but because of who they were. Good, kind, loving people.
“This is awesome,” Zach whispered, coming close to my side. I looked down to see him staring out at the crowd in wonderment. “I can’t believe you did this.”
“We did this, honey,” I returned, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. “All of us.”
I felt Cord’s arm wrap around my waist as his heat pressed into me, his strength filling me up. As I turned to look up at the man of my dreams, tears welled up in my eyes.
“You’re magnificent, you know that?”
“Cord,” I breathed, leaning even deeper into him.
“Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Oh yeah, I thought as I lifted up on my toes to give my husband a kiss in front of the whole town while still holding my son’s hand. This is so totally bliss.
The End.
Thank you so much for reading, and don’t forget to leave a review.
Keep reading for a sneak peek of Xander and Sage’s story
Out of the Darkness
Sneak Peek of Out of the Darkness
Prologue
Sage
It could be argued by some that a shitty life was what led me down my current path, that it was bad parenting and poor decisions that made me tuck tail and run. But the people who would argue that were outsiders. Assholes who didn’t really have a clue what they were talking about.
I didn’t tuck tail and run. I made the conscious decision to start over. Simple as that.
My father might have been a big, burly, rough-around-the-edges, nonconformist with a penchant for being a bit of a conspiracy nut, but he was the farthest thing from a bad parent there ever was. He’d lived for two things only: his Harley and his little girl, and from the time I was big enough to wrap my little arms around his waist, I lived to be on the back of his bike. There was nothing better than the feel of the sun on my face and the wind whipping through my hair.
To most people, men and women alike, he was scary as hell, but to me he was a gentle giant. I’d had the hard biker wrapped around my little finger since the moment I came squalling into this world, and he’d made me his little biker princess.
The worst day of my life was when he got locked up when I was sixteen, but that didn’t mean our connection broke. We wrote letters, he called, and I went to see him as often as I could. He was still my big biker teddy bear and I was still his little biker princess, and nothing was ever going to change that.
My mom, however, was a different story. She never dug the biker life. My dad might have worshipped the ground she walked on but love and family weren’t enough for her. She wanted it all, and not having it made her bitter. And that bitterness grew and bloomed when Dad was sent away.
It had been hard for me, watching him dote on the love of his life, all the while knowing he wasn’t the same for her. He deserved so much better than my mother. Unfortunately, he hadn’t realized that until it was too late.
The truth was, the reason I left my old life behind was because of my mom. I was sure she loved me in her own way, or that was what I kept telling myself for the eleven years it was just the two of us, but her bitterness had grown infectious. I hated how I felt when I was around her. I hated that she could make me feel small and insecure with only a handful of words. And worse, I hated how she used men to get her everything she wanted. I couldn’t stick around and watch her take advantage of those poor, unsuspecting shmucks anymore, so I bailed on the crappy studio apartment I’d been calling home for the past few years, turned in my notice at my dead-end, boring-as-hell job, packed my shit, and loaded up my car.
I had no idea where I was going or what I’d do when I got there, but I had a full tank of gas and I’d decided wherever that got me was the place I’d call my new home. I was my father’s daughter, after all. I didn’t need a plan. I just needed the wind in my hair and the sun on my face.
I drove the badass ’67 Mustang my dad had lovingly restored and given to me before he’d gone inside. The convertible was a sleek black with two white racing stripes and was my most treasured possession. I drove with the top down the whole way, and when my baby hit empty I hit beauty as far as the eye could see. I’d never experienced anything like Hope Valley, Virginia in all my twenty-seven years.
Rolling hills leading to breathtaking mountains that kissed the stunning blue skies. The main drag was something you’d expect to see of a small mountain town in a Hallmark movie. The sidewalks were made of board planks, giving the place a kickass old-timey feel. Planter boxes lined several of the shop windows, all filled with brightly colored flowers. Even the windows along the second story of a large, cool-as-shit historic building had boxes brimming with flora. Most of the buildings looked to have been built in the early 1900’s but were all perfectly maintained.
There was a town square, complete with a gazebo and a clocktower. A freaking clocktower. How cool was that? From what I saw as I made the slow trek through, this little slice of heaven had everything a girl could need. There were clothing boutiques, a hair salon, grocery store, a couple cute little cafes, restaurants, and even a bar called The Tap Room, which was an awesome name.
My first stop—after fueling up my baby, of course—was a small coffee shop called Muffin T
op.
I was a hardcore caffeine addict to the point my dad had teased that it was actually coffee I had running through my veins. Sadly, I couldn’t make a decent cup of joe to save my life, so wherever I decided to call home needed to have a place that made excellent coffee.
As gorgeous as the town was, if the coffee tasted like crap, I was going to push on and see where I landed next, so I didn’t delay putting this place to the test.
And it passed. With flying colors.
Not only did the coffee shop with the best name ever serve the best coffee I’d ever had, the pastries were simply to die for. And when I told the woman behind the counter as much, she smiled so big I thought she’d tear her face in two.
She’s been open and friendly in a way I found somewhat surprising. I was of the mentality that a book should never be judged by its cover. But sadly, I knew from experience that there weren’t a lot of people out there of the same opinion.
I was a biker chick and I wore that like a badge of honor, mainly because, to me, it was. Ripped jeans, Harley tees, motorcycle boots, tons of silver and leather, the former as jewelry, the latter as jewelry and clothing. I never went anywhere without a full face of makeup, and I wore my long, mahogany locks in fat, loose curls with plenty of volume up top.
I’d walked into Muffin Top after hours on the road with the wind in my hair, making it wild. I was in a pair of short, frayed jean shorts, black flipflops, the straps of which were lined with silver studs, a vintage Lynyrd Skynyrd concert tee of my dad’s that I’d altered to fit me, meaning the neck had been cut out to drape over my left shoulder, showing off my lacy black bra strap, and the hem was knotted it at my waist. My wrists were covered in bangles, and I had a tangle of long necklaces strung around my neck.
I’d gotten so many nasty looks from girls all my life that I was completely immune to them. But Danika Parrish, the woman who ran Muffin Top, gave me a top-to-toe look and declared, “Thought you were my kinda chick when I watched you roll up in that fine car. Now I know you’re my kinda chick, seeing you in that shirt.”
Stay With Me (Hope Valley Book 5) Page 25