Magnum: A Dark Knights MC/Dirty Angels MC Crossover

by Jeanne St. James

  Even being an aunt to Lily or Emmalee’s children would eventually never be enough.

  Her eyes didn’t leave his face as he slid his big body into the seat across from her with a grunt. Before either of them could say a word, a waitress rushed up. “Coffee?”

  With only a nod as his answer, she turned his coffee cup over and filled it. Magnum didn’t thank her or even look at her, he only stared at Cait.

  Cait gave the waitress a quick nod, a small smile and a soft thank you before she rushed away. Then she focused on the man across from her.

  And her heart tore apart once again.

  Because at that moment, seeing him, being so close to him, getting a whiff of the scent that was Magnum, she wanted to tell him she’d be fine with not having children. That he’d be enough for her. That their love for each other would be all she’d ever need.

  She put her hand out on the center of the table and waited.

  She closed her eyes when his large, warm hand enveloped hers. “I’ve missed you,” she whispered.

  His fingers squeezed hers. “Same.”

  That gave her the courage to say, “I love you.”

  She hoped he’d say, “Same,” but he didn’t. Instead he just grunted a, “Yeah.”

  Her eyes opened at his single word answer.

  His dark brown eyes held something she didn’t recognize. “Done a lot of thinkin’.”

  “Me, too,” she said.

  “Done a lot of soul searchin’, too, Cait.”

  She stayed quiet.

  “We’re so goddamn different. So wrong for each other.”

  Was he here to break her heart even more than it already was?

  “You’re book smart, beautiful and young. I’m street smart, old and definitely not anything to look at. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you—”

  “You’ve already told me that—”

  “Just let me say what I gotta say, Cait.”

  She shut up.

  “Need to get it all out on the table.”

  She nodded and said nothing, only squeezed his hand, encouraging him to continue.

  “At twenty-five, got your whole life ahead of you. Done a lot of shit in my life you haven’t done yet. Don’t want you to miss out on a fuckin’ minute of it.”

  “You can do it with me,” she whispered.

  He closed his eyes and pushed his broad back against the bench seat. “Cait.”

  She shut up again. But the waiting was hard.

  He opened his eyes again and held hers. “Wanna do it with you.”

  She frowned. What?

  “Wanna do it with you,” he repeated more slowly. “Just need to be sure you know it ain’t gonna be easy.”

  Her heart began to beat wildly.

  What?

  What was he saying?

  “It ain’t gonna be easy,” he repeated.

  Her eyebrows knitted together. “Are you making sure I understand that, or you?”

  “Both. Being with you’s gonna be easy for me. Givin’ you what you deserve, won’t. But will do whatever I can to make you happy.”

  “What are you saying?” she asked on a hitched breath.

  “If I’m in, Caitie, I’m all fuckin’ in.”

  “Wait. You’re in?” What was he saying? He needed to be clear about what he was saying!

  “No.”

  Her heart sank into her stomach. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held on tighter.

  “I’m all fuckin’ in, baby. All of it.”

  She stared at him for one slow breath, then another, wrapping her head around what he just stated. “Are you sure? You’re old and shit, let’s not forget that.”

  His chin jerked back, he blinked at her, and then he threw his head back and burst out laughing.

  Holy shit, that was the best sound she’d ever heard. A smile pulled at her lips as she covered their clasped hands that they held at the center of the table with her other one.

  “What changed your mind? Your blinding love for me?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

  “Somethin’ your fuckin’ father said.”

  Her smile flattened. Oh shit, did Dawg threaten him? Is he doing this against his will? “What did he say?”

  “He said at his age he’s done havin’ babies. Also said that if Emma wanted another one, he’d give her whatever the fuck she wanted. That’s how much he loves her. Said that was the difference between him and me. Said maybe I didn’t love you enough to do the same... Took a couple days to let those words sink in and when they did... realized I do.”

  He did. He loved her enough... But... “Stacy—”

  “Stacy ain’t you. Never was. Never will be, baby. Was a good woman, just not the right one. Made a lot of mistakes in my life, havin’ babies with her would’ve been one.”

  Holy shit. “So, you want babies with me?” She wanted to launch herself across the table at him and squeal like a crazy woman. She forced herself to remain in her seat and take a calming breath instead.

  “Wanna make you happy. Babies make you happy, then we’ll negotiate how many and how soon.”

  “But again, you’re old as hell, we can’t wait that long. How are you going to throw a ball with our kid if you’re using a walker?”

  “Damn, woman,” he mumbled. “Don’t make me rethink this.”

  She shot him another smile.

  “Need a promise, though, before I approach Dawg.”

  Again, that smile quickly disappeared. “You need to approach him?” Unbelievable. After all that happened? After all Magnum did for her?

  “Still DAMC property, baby. Gotta do this from scratch if we’re doin’ this. Gotta do it right this time to keep the peace.”

  She opened her mouth and he lifted his free hand to stop her. “Don’t even fuckin’ say it.”

  That property crap always made her grind her teeth. “I was only going to ask what the promise was.”

  “Bullshit.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m assuming he’ll say yes. Okay, so what’s the promise?”

  “You bear my babies, gotta promise me you’ll never cut me off from them. Not ever, Cait. Even if you end up hatin’ my guts for whatever reason.”

  “I’d never hate your guts.”

  “Yeah, lotta women say that ‘til they do. You of all people should know what it’s like bein’ used as a pawn in that fucked-up game. Need you to remember that if shit ever goes sideways between us.”

  “Like I get tired of changing your adult diapers?”

  “Fuckin’ Cait,” he muttered, but then smiled.

  That smile was beautiful. And warmed her like the sun on a perfect summer day.

  He was giving them a shot. He loved her and was willing to start a family with her when she was ready.

  She never thought it would happen.

  It was.

  Holy shit!

  And if the DAMC executive committee didn’t vote unanimously on letting Magnum claim her, she was going in there and clubbing every single one of them.

  Or she’d just sic the sisterhood on their ol’ men. That threat might scare them more. Because none of them wanted their women pissed at them. Not a single one.

  The power behind the sisterhood was insane. And she belonged to that sisterhood.

  Soon she might belong to a second one. She had no idea how the Knights’ women got along. But if they didn’t, she’d work on building what the DAMC women had. Because there was strength in numbers, and they were all dealing with stubborn alpha male bikers who liked to remind them they were their property.

  And they were oh so fucking wrong.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed two men stop at their table just out of arm’s reach.

  Magnum’s gaze rose. So did hers and she frowned. Who the hell were they and why did they look pissed?

  “What’s a pretty white girl like you doing with a dirty n—”

  “Hey!” she screamed too late to cut the man off, but at least she had drowned
out his nasty slur. The blood rushed into her ears at what he’d called Magnum.

  “No good man’s gonna want you after having that between your legs,” the other sneered. “White trash bitch breeding with a mon—”

  Magnum only had to shift sharply in his seat and the men quickly moved on, almost stumbling over each other in their rush.

  She shot to her feet and screeched, “You assholes—”

  He reached across the table, grabbed her hand and yanked her back into her seat. “Sit down, Cait.”

  She glanced at him in surprise. “But—”

  “Sit the fuck down,” he said under his breath, since all eyes in the diner were now on them.

  She flung her hand in the direction of the entrance where the two men disappeared. “You can’t just let them... I can’t just let—”

  “That shit ain’t nothin’ new.”

  “But they called you a... a...” She couldn’t even wrap her head around it. What decade were they in? Who said that kind of shit nowadays?

  His nostrils flared and his jaw shifted. “Think that’s the first time I’ve been called that?”

  Cait closed her eyes, knowing now it wasn’t. What the fuck was wrong with people? “How can you just sit there?” She expected more anger out of him than he was showing. Either he was hiding it well or he was used to it occurring. And if it was the latter...

  “What do you want me to do? Punch them the fuck out right here in the diner? Wanna watch me get hauled off in front of you? Cuffed like an animal?”

  “It doesn’t bother you?”

  “Babe, it’s not the first time I’ve been called that. Not the second. Hell, can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been called that. Ain’t gonna be the last, either.” He leaned forward, his knuckles planted on the table. “But, yeah, it bothers me. The day it don’t is the day I’m dead. Best reaction to that is no reaction. Those fuckers were tryin’ to get a rise outta me by insultin’ me and insultin’ you. Create a reason to call the pigs. Or a reason to draw me outside for them to jump me. By me still sittin’ here with my ‘pretty white girl’ they fuckin’ failed. And, baby, that’s the best fuckin’ revenge.”

  She reached across the table, grabbed his fisted hand and interlaced their fingers. The contrast between their hands was startling. His so huge. Hers so tiny.

  He could have pounded those two men into oblivion.

  She gave his fingers a squeeze. “You could’ve taken them both.”

  “Yeah. But by doin’ that they aimed to take me away from you. You get that?”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “For what?”

  She jerked her chin toward the door behind him. “For them. For anyone who thinks like that.”

  “Never apologize for someone else’s ignorance. Told you we’re different. You just got a taste of it. Gotta think long and hard over this, Caitie. We have kids, they’re gonna be brown like me, they’re gonna deal with that shit. Hopin’ they won’t, but know they will. Gonna be called all kinds of fuckin’ names. Wish the world was a better place but it ain’t.”

  Then it hit her. “Any kids we have will have the protection of two clubs.” She held up two fingers. “Two.”

  “Two clubs can’t protect them from ignorant comments. But, yeah. And you know if we have a baby girl, she’s fucked. Gonna be a virgin her whole life. Any asshole who risks touchin’ her may stop breathin’. Just a warnin’.”

  “You’re still breathing and Dawg once said the same thing about me.”

  “Sure he said it a lot more than once. Wasn’t for you beggin’ for my fuckin’ life, I might not be breathin’. Should thank you for that.”

  “It was worth it.”

  “Was it?”

  “Well, it will be. Can we go back to your place now or do you need to approach and get permission?” she teased.

  He reached toward where he kept his phone in his pocket. “Lemme call Daddy Dawg and ask ‘im.”

  Her eyes shot wide. “Don’t you dare!”

  He grinned.

  Her mouth formed an O and her eyes went wide. She laughed. “Are you going to call him Dad?” A little snort escaped her as she laughed even harder. “Oh, please, you need to call him Dad.”

  “Seriously want me dead?”

  She giggle-snorted again. “No, but...”

  “Cait...”

  She tried to stifle her laughter but she couldn’t get what her father’s reaction would be to Magnum calling Dawg “Dad” out of her head.

  Magnum wedged himself out of the booth and held out his big hand. “C’mon, woman. Everyone’s starin’.”

  She accepted it and rose to her feet. “They’re just looking at my handsome ol’ man.”

  “Least you didn’t add the ‘d’ on the ol’,” he said as he threw some cash on the table and helped her into her coat.

  “Day’s not over yet.”

  “D likes givin’ Jewelee lessons. Might need to start givin’ my woman some, too. Write up a lesson plan.”

  Those “lessons” gave D and Jewel three beautiful girls. “If school’s in session, remember I still have my plaid uniforms.”

  “Know what you looked like as a teen. Know even better what you look like now. You ain’t fittin’ in those uniforms, baby, and that’s a good thing.”

  “Is it?”

  He slipped his hand from the small of her back to her ass and squeezed as he led her out of the diner. “Fuck yeah.”

  He escorted her back to her Toyota, noticing he’d parked his sled next to her car. She shivered at the thought of being a backpack on his Harley right now.

  “Normal” people didn’t ride their motorcycles in November. But true bikers rode until the weather made it impossible. Sometimes even then.

  Her soon-to-be ol’ man was a true biker.

  They stopped at her driver-side door. “So, now what?” she asked, wondering what happened from there. She wanted to do nothing more than go home with him that minute.

  He pulled a single key on a ring from his front pocket and held it up by one finger in front of her face.

  Her heart skipped a beat. He didn’t have to say what that was. She knew.

  She fucking knew.

  “Now you head to your apartment, grab some shit and head home.”

  Home!

  She snatched that key out of his hand, causing him to grin. “And where are you going?” she tried to ask calmly, though her body was humming with excitement. She was impressed her words only had a slight tremor to them.

  “Shadow Valley. Asked Z for a special meetin’.”

  She lost her breath.

  “Gotta be there at eleven thirty.”

  She yanked her phone out of her coat pocket and glanced at the time. “It’s eleven now!”

  “Yeah.”

  “Yeah? It’ll take longer than a half hour to get there!” she yelled in a panic. She tried shoving him toward his bike, but he didn’t even budge. “You need to go now!”

  His grin widened. “Baby, they’ll wait.”

  “But I can’t!”

  His eyebrows shot up. “Then expect you naked and ready in my bed by noon.”

  “At this rate you won’t be there by noon.”

  “Knowin’ you’re waitin’ naked in my bed? The fuck I won’t.”

  She leaned into him and fisted the thermal fabric at his chest, pulling him toward her.

  His eyes became serious as his met hers. “You sure ‘bout this?”

  She didn’t even hesitate when she whispered, “I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life.”

  His nostrils flared and he nodded slightly. “Yeah. Same.”

  Same.

  Tears started to well, but they were happy ones this time. “I love you so much,” she said on a shaky whisper.

  “Same, baby.”

  She went up on her toes as his head dropped and his mouth crushed hers. She grabbed both sides of his face, holding him there as long as he allowed it.


  Eventually, he pulled away and stepped back, giving them some space. “Gotta go.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” she said as he opened her door for her and she climbed in. He nodded as he shut it and then tapped the roof of the Camry.

  She waited until he mounted his bike, started it and rode out of the parking lot.

  She followed him out and then she drove home.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Holy shit, it was happening.

  It was happening!

  The tall, black woman heading in her direction, pushing a stroller, was stunning. Same dark skin, same dark eyes.

  It had to be her.

  Cait squeezed her eyes shut for a second. It had to be.

  Ever since Hunter gave her the information—every single day for the past couple of weeks—she’d come to this park a few houses down from where Magnum’s daughter, Aaliyah, lived. Hoping, just hoping, to cross paths with her “by accident.”

  The woman who was headed toward the park bench Cait was sitting at could be a model. So stinking gorgeous.

  She was surprised to find Magnum’s daughter didn’t live far from them, just north of Pittsburgh.

  Now she just needed not to screw this up.

  She nervously used her foot to roll the stroller in front of her back and forth.

  They were simply two mothers with two babies finding companionship in the park.

  Fuck.

  Her stomach flipped and she was tempted to gnaw off every one of her fingernails as the woman got closer.

  She could screw everything up. She could say one wrong word...

  “Hi!” the woman greeted, her expression open and friendly.

  Cait wanted to puke. “Hi,” she forced out.

  The woman tipped her head toward the other side of the bench. “Do you mind? It’s gorgeous out today.”

  “No, please. Have a seat.” Cait’s pulse thumped in her throat.

  The woman, who appeared the same age as Cait, settled on the bench and pulled her stroller to face her, just like Cait had done with Asia’s.

  “Do you like that brand of stroller?” the woman asked.

  “I... I love it.” What’s your name? Cait’s brain screamed. “I’m Cait, by the way.”

  “Aaliyah. But most people call me Liyah.”

  “Beautiful name.”

  Aaliyah leaned toward Asia, who was contently sucking on her own fist, and smiled. “She’s beautiful. She’s got the chubbiest cheeks. How old is she?”