by Colbie Kay
“We gonna fuckin’ party now or what?” Dodger, one of Snake’s members, asks.
“Let’s do it!” Chayser jumps from his seat.
Bear laughs. “We better go get the Ol’ Ladies.”
Everyone begins leaving the room when Hanger calls my name. He waits until it’s just the two of us. “Gritt said you’re taking the little girl.”
I smile proudly. “We are. We’ve turned in all the paperwork and are just waiting on inspections and shit. Thanks, Prez, even though Jorga was pissed at me. You helped make her dream come true.”
“You’re welcome, Brother. I’m happy for you two.” Hanger reaches over and lays his hand on my shoulder. “You need anything, come to me, got it?”
I nod. “Got it.”
He slaps my shoulder. “Let’s go get our women before this shit gets outta control.” He chuckles. “I’m getting too old for this shit.”
As I’m following him out the door, I ask, “Who’s ever too old to party?”
He laughs harder. “Just wait, Tink. Get that little girl of yours, and you’ll understand.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Hanger yells over the rumbling of his Harley, “You’ll see,” and pulls away with a shit-eating grin on his face.
After months of waiting, several trips back and forth from Arizona, an abundance of paperwork, and a lot of money spent, we are finally bringing Harmony home. We’re sitting in Gritt’s office at the clubhouse, waiting for Sister Noelle to walk through with our daughter.
My heart is thundering in my chest, and my palms are sweating. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my entire life. It’s surpassed the day I married Lucas.
“Babe, you okay?” Lucas whispers.
“I’m nervous and terrified and so unbelievably happy.” I smile with tears pooling in my eyes.
He takes my hand in his and kisses the top of it. “Me too. Today our lives change forever.”
As the last word leaves his lips, the door opens, and Gritt enters, followed by Sister Noelle holding Harmony. Lucas and I both jump from our seats. “Hey, baby girl.” Lucas steps up to her first. She wiggles, trying to get out of Sister Noelle’s arms and into Lucas’s. Harmony is most definitely a daddy’s girl already.
Sister Noelle hands her over to Lucas. He kisses her cheek, and with his free arm, he pulls me into his side. Running my hand over her head full of dark locks, I kiss her temple. “Are you ready to go home?” Harmony whines a little, trying to get to me, once she’s in my arms she holds my neck tightly, hugging me.
Sister Noelle smiles, but it appears forced. Her eyes shine as if she’s holding back from crying. When you’re at the church with all of the nuns and children, you can see how much the nuns love these children. “She is yours now, so take care of her. I know you will provide the loving home that I could have only wished for her.”
Tears trickle down my cheeks. “She will have the best life, I promise.”
Sister Noelle quickly kisses Harmony on the cheek. “Goodbye, sweet girl. Be good for your mommy and daddy.” I watch as she wipes her cheeks and rushes out of Gritt’s office.
“Is she going to be okay?” I ask Gritt with a sinking feeling in my stomach. It feels like we are gaining this beautiful gift while ripping it away from her.
“She gets attached as do all of the nuns, but she seems to take it the hardest when it’s time to let one of the kids go. She’ll be fine.”
I bite my lip while my brows knit. “Okay,” I reply, but something inside of me says it’s more than just Sister Noelle being overly attached.
Gritt’s eyes are still on the closed door. “You two ready to get on the road?” Without waiting for a response, Gritt opens his office door, and we follow him out.
As Lucas is helping me get Harmony into her car seat, he tells Gritt, “Thank you for everything.”
He tips his head up. “Take care of her.” After the last word leaves Gritt’s lips, he’s racing toward his Harley.
Lucas gets into the driver’s seat while I slide into the passenger side and ask, “What was all that about?”
“I have no idea.” Lucas starts the car to begin the long journey home.
We’re only about thirty minutes from Wichita when my phone rings.
Jorga glances at the screen. “It’s Hanger.” She answers, “Hey, Hanger. What’s up?”
“We’re about thirty minutes away, why?”
My eyes dart between her and the road. “What’s going on?”
Her eyes widen. “Hanger says he needs you to get to the club now.”
“Tell him I’ll be there as soon as I drop you and Harmony off.”
She repeats what I said then informs me, “He said no, just to bring us. You don’t have enough time to drop us off. He needs you right now!”
“Fuck!” I push down on the gas pedal. “Tell him we’ll be there soon.”
I hold Harmony tightly in my arms as if I’m protecting my daughter from the unknown while quickly striding into the club. “Stay at my side, Jorga,” I demand. A rush of emotion bombards me: fear, anxiousness, nervousness, and, most of all, confusion. I don’t like having Jorga and Harmony with me if shit’s going down with the club, and I’m pissed that Hanger would even tell me to bring them. My head turns left and right, scanning to find anything out of the ordinary, searching for the danger before we’re hit with it.
“Surprise!” is shouted all around us.
Harmony begins to fuss from the loud noise, but I hold her closer and try to calm her down.
“What’s going on?” Jorga asks, just as shocked as I am. Everyone is here: all of my brothers, their Ol’ Ladies and kids, Jorga’s parents, my mom, and Grady.
“It’s your surprise baby shower.” Dancer approaches and starts gushing over how beautiful Harmony is.
Jorga gasps, “Did you do this?”
Dancer beams. “I had help.”
Everyone takes turns congratulating us and loving on Harmony. The kids have welcomed Harmony into their group without question. While she’s sitting down and playing with blocks and other toys, my mom stands next to me.
“I am so proud of you.” My mother’s gaze meets mine. “Are you sure I’m not intruding at your house?”
I throw my arm around her shoulders and give her a side hug. “No fuckin’ way, Mom. We need you more now than ever. Jorga and I don’t know shit about being parents, but you raised me, and I didn’t turn out too bad.”
“Lucas is right,” Jorga joins in the conversation. “You raised one amazing man. Don’t ever think you are intruding on us. We want you there.”
Grady speaks nervously, “Tink, there’s something you should know. Your mom and I—”
I cut him off, “I’ve known for years, Grady, but it’s about time you two got your shit together.” Grady proudly smiles while my mom blushes. “Now that she’s under my roof, you can come to pick her up and take her on an official date, but don’t have her out too late.”
“Tink!” my mom shouts.
Grady doubles over guffawing, “I’ll do that.” His laughter simmers. “I love you, kid.”
“I love you, too. You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a father, and I’m happy it’s you. I’ve always been happy it was you, Grady.”
The Ol’ Ladies interrupt our moment, forcing Jorga and me to sit at a table. They begin carrying present after present to the table. “What is all of this?” Jorga questions. “You guys did not have to do this!” Jorga’s grateful stare meets mine. I see the tears brimming her lids, and I take her hand in mine.
“We wanted to,” Zoey responds. “We’re family.”
“That’s right, Babe, we’re family made.”
Thank you to my family for all of your support.
Clarise thank you for your talent and giving me the perfect cover for this story.
Maria: You know how much I love you and once again I couldn't do this without you.
My betas; thank you for
always giving me the feedback I need and loving my stories.
My readers: thank you for continuing on this journey with me. I couldn't do this without all of you. Every time one of you says you love one of my books gives me the courage I need to keep putting my stories out there. Keep reading and I'll keep writing!
Blogs: thank you for everything you do for me and the entire Indie community. We would be lost without all of you.
Colbie Kay always had a love for reading and wanted to pursue writing. In 2015 she made that dream come true when she published her first book. Since then she has become a stay-at-home mom, writing full-time and bringing her passion to life through the words she creates.
The most fulfilling part of being an author for Colbie is to take readers into a fantasy world between the pages of her books. Becoming an author has also given her the opportunity to fill another passion of hers, which is traveling. She loves being able to attend book signings and meeting everyone that shares her love of books.
Colbie has many more stories to share with you, so be sure to connect with her and keep up with what is coming next.
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SATAN’S SINNERS MC SERIES
City Lights
Quiet Country
Night Sky
Returning Home
Changing Lanes
Runaway Love
Finding Hope
Fate’s Falling
Tink’s Salvation
Fighting Demon
BEAUTIFULLY TWISTED
Love and Deception
THE BETRAYED (A ROCKER SERIES)
Saving Dawson with novella Saving Grace
Surviving Colton
GEORGIA PEACHES SERIES
(Co-Written with Chianti Summers)
Sweet Southern Secrets
Sweet Southern Satisfaction
Sweet Southern Summer
COBRAS MC SERIES
Double Crossed
SCENTSATIONS EMPIRE
Lily
AN ASSASSIN’S LOVE SERIES
(Co-Written with KB Bennett)
Tainted Souls
STANDALONES
Wishing in the Dark
***
Also Co-Written with KB Bennett
High Stakes