Epilogue
River
I smiled at the customer as I handed over her bag. The woman had come in an hour before to “browse.” She’d started by looking through our baby section, telling Avery that her niece was having a little girl in a few months and she wanted to check out our selections so she could report back to the girl.
But then, she’d just had to look at our more intimate selection because her son was getting married, and she wanted to maybe bring her future daughter-in-law in to shop for their honeymoon.
It wasn’t much longer before she was in our eighteen-and-over-only section, where she’d then selected a few personal items—and a few things for her husband’s pleasure as well. The poor woman had been beet red as she’d placed her purchases on the counter for me to ring up.
And only after the other customers had left.
I thought it was adorable, but unnecessary. There was no shame in coming in just for those items, but it seemed like a good percentage of our clientele was embarrassed to shop for such things. At least, the first time or two. By the third or fourth time they returned to Womanland, they had no qualms about going straight to the restricted area—or even asking one of us what products we would recommend.
In the three years since Womanland had opened, we’d gotten great support for the store not just from the locals in Creswell Springs, but from our online customers as well. Lyric’s female family members always came in to shop whenever they were in town to visit. When his cousin Arella and her husband Jordan had come in just a few months before, the actress had tweeted that she’d found the cutest outfit for her toddler daughter, and we’d gotten swarmed with people looking for the same outfit for their little ones. We’d sold out of everything in the store within two weeks, and our suppliers hadn’t been able to keep up with the demand for a while.
“I’ve also included a twenty-five-percent-off coupon for your next purchase with us,” I told her as she took the bag. “It’s good in any and all of our departments.”
If it was possible, she turned an even brighter shade of crimson as she mumbled a “thank you” and practically sprinted out of the store.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Avery burst into giggles, and I couldn’t hide my own laughter as Mila came in through the back door. She’d gone over to have lunch with Lyric an hour before, but I knew she was really going to the preschool down the block where her boys spent half the day. That was a recent development, and she was still not completely okay with them being with something other than Lyric or her mom when she couldn’t bring them to work with her.
“Okay, one—what’s so funny?” Her gray eyes fell on me, and she put her hands on her hips. “And two—and I stress the most important question—why are you on your feet? I told my brother you would be in the office doing the bookwork, and now I find that you’ve made a liar of me.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Oh, please. I’ve been up here a total of ten minutes, and most of that was for entertainment purposes. I was watching that poor woman on the security monitor flit from one section to another, and then she went into the restricted area and I knew it was going to be amusing.” An angry kick hit me right behind my belly button, and I rubbed my hand over where my son was making himself known, trying to soothe his attitude. That boy was going to be just as much of a hell-raiser as either of his grandfathers.
“See!” Mila scolded, pointing her finger at me. “You’re in pain.”
“Of course I’m in pain!” I yelled back, frustrated with her. No one gave me any peace these days. I was three weeks out from my due date, and everyone was constantly growling at me to stay off my feet and take it easy. I needed to be productive, damn it. Sitting around doing nothing was more exhausting than anything for me. “This kid is as big as his fucking father. I have to have a C-section because he’s so damn big.”
My best friend’s face turned contrite. “I just want you to be careful. Your doctor is on vacation and won’t be back until two days before your scheduled C-section.”
I nearly stamped my foot, but I stopped myself just in time, remembering the last time I’d done just that. It had only been the week before, and when I’d stomped it down, I’d peed a little. Thankfully, I kept a change of clothes in the office, because this little dude liked to play soccer with my bladder—and not in the cute way some mommies-to-be had to constantly go to the bathroom. It was more of a tidal wave effect, and not even using panty liners helped some days.
Breathing deeply through my nose, I tried to count to ten to calm my irritation. I’d been irrationally grumpy at times during the entire third trimester, but I tried my best not to take it out on those I loved the most. Mila was lucky she was one of those people, or I would have already picked up whatever was closest to me and hurled it at her head.
Unfortunately for my husband, whom I loved the most in the entire world, that didn’t save him from me throwing things at his ginormous head. “I’m fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “But if it makes you feel better, I will return to the prison that you call our office and finish up the stupid…” I’d taken one step in the direction of the office and felt a puddle suddenly pour out of me. “Shit. He did it again. I can’t go anywhere without pissing all over the place.”
“Um, I don’t think that’s pee,” Avery mumbled in a horrified voice as she stared down at the floor.
Mila ran over, her eyes looked frightened as she bent to examine the puddle I’d just embarrassingly made. Tears filled her gray eyes as she looked up at me. “I think your water broke.”
“Why are you crying?” I demanded. “All you do is cry anymore. I’m sorry I yelled, okay? God.”
“I’m crying because I’m scared for you!” she shouted. “And because I’m pregnant, you jerk.”
“Oh,” I whispered, tears filling my own eyes. “Are you okay? How far along are you? Does Lyric know yet?”
“I’m good,” she said as she straightened. “And yes, Lyric knows. He knew before I did. I’m only like six weeks, and yes, it’s fucking twins. Again. I swear, this is the last time, so one of them better be a girl, because it’s all the kids that man is getting to pop out of my vagina. He’s getting snipped! I already made the appointment. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Um, should I call someone?” Avery asked hesitantly as she stood, anxious, beside me. “I mean, you’re still leaking. It’s not stopping.”
“It’s fine.” I waved her off. “I haven’t even started having contractions yet. I can finish the books. Just let me change and put on one of those adult diapers Kingston gave me as a gag a few weeks ago.” He was trying to be funny at the time, but I’d actually appreciated the thought. Now I could finish the books before I had to go to the hospital.
As I turned to go back to the office to get my fresh clothes and the diaper, I called over my shoulder, “And do not call my husband yet. He’s doing a back piece that has a lot of detail to it. I don’t want him worrying about me when he needs to concentrate on that.”
In the bathroom, I cleaned up and then returned to the office to finish up the bookwork. Every now and then, I would feel pressure, but it was fine. The contractions hadn’t really started, so I wasn’t worried.
When I was done, I shut everything down and walked out to the front of the store. Only to stop in my tracks as the first pain hit me so hard, it nearly brought me to my knees. “Fuck!” I screamed, bending in half and causing the customer in the store to stop and stare at me.
“It’s only been half an hour,” Mila was saying into the phone when I could breathe again. “Right, okay. We’re leaving for the hospital now.”
Hanging up, she pocketed the phone. “Lyric is calling everyone. Maverick will just have to reschedule the back piece.” Putting her arm around me, she guided me toward the exit. “Avery, lock up. I’ll let you know when baby Rocco makes an appearance.”
“Good luck, River,” she called.
I could barely breathe, let alone answer her. That pain
had been no joke. Not even when I’d had the miscarriage had the pain been so intense, and I’d thought that had been the worst pain of my life. I’d been wrong. So, so wrong. This was worse on an entirely different scale of agony.
“My doctor,” I cried when we were on the road to the hospital. “She’s on vacation. Who’s going to deliver the baby?” My panic was starting to set in, and I began to gasp for breath. “Oh my God! Why didn’t I go to the hospital when my water first broke? I need a fucking C-section. Mila, drive faster.”
She reached out and caught one of my hands in hers. “River, babe, calm down. The stress is bad for you and Rocco. Everything is going to be fine. I promise. Just take a few deep breaths with me. In…and out. Deep air in…slow breath out.”
I followed her instructions and felt some of the panic ease. Rubbing my hands over my stomach, I began talking to my son. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to be calm for you and your daddy, but I’m not doing a very good job of it.”
Ever since we’d found out we were pregnant, I’d tried to keep a positive attitude. It had taken so long for us to conceive that I’d wondered if it would ever happen. When I got that positive test, I’d worried about having another miscarriage, but things had progressed so beautifully that it had felt more like a dream. Then I’d turned into a grouch at the beginning of the third trimester, and about six weeks ago, Maverick had started freaking out about everything, constantly worried about me and the baby.
I got it. He was scared of something happening to one or both of us. I secretly thought it was adorable, even though I acted annoyed by his overwhelming overprotectiveness. I thought if I was the calm one, then Maverick wouldn’t have any reason to stress. But suddenly, I wasn’t calm at all.
At the hospital, Mila pulled up to the women’s center and jumped out. After running inside, she returned a moment later with a man who was pushing a wheelchair. He was at least thirty, with arms bigger than even my husband’s. Opening the passenger door, he gave me a grin as he lifted me effortlessly and placed me in the wheelchair.
“The fuck you doing, picking up my wife?” Maverick’s deep voice boomed as he and his dad walked quickly toward us.
“Mav!” I cried, pulling his attention to me. There was murder in his eyes until they landed on me. “I’m in labor.”
He bent to kiss me. “It’s okay, baby. Don’t worry. Everything is going to be okay.”
Seeing how calm he was eased a little more of my panic. “Promise?”
“I promise, baby.” He kissed me again before rubbing his hand lovingly over my stomach and straightening. To the male nurse, he growled, “I’ll push my wife. Just show us the way.”
It took less than twenty minutes to get me into a room, examined, and for the doctor on call to have the team of nurses prep me for the C-section. By then, Mav’s mom and my parents had arrived.
“What’s taking so long?” Dad grumbled as he paced the width of my private room. He kept combing his fingers through his hair, disheveling it more and more, giving him an almost deranged look with his face so pale. “She’s in labor. They should be doing something.”
“They are,” Mom hissed at him. “We’re just waiting for them to come get her. You need to relax, because you’re freaking our little girl out right now.”
He blanched then walked over to my hospital bed where I was already hooked up to monitors and an IV. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’m just…”
“I’m sorry we won’t be able to have our date tomorrow night,” I told him in hopes of distracting us both. “I was really looking forward to dinner together.”
“Me too, sweetheart.”
I reached for his hand, and he readily took mine, holding on to it tightly. His was sweaty with nerves, and my heart melted. In the past three years, our relationship had come a long way. It had been slow to start, just a father-daughter date every couple weeks to begin with because I’d still been so angry with him. But he’d worked hard to earn back my trust and heal the broken pieces of my heart.
“I’m disappointed because I won’t be able to tell you that Mav and I decided on Rocco’s middle name.” I looked up at my husband, who winked down at me. “We thought Rocco Colton-James Masterson sounded too good together not to give it to our son.”
Dad sucked in a sharp breath at the same time Uncle Spider did too.
“You…” Dad paused to clear his throat. “You’re naming him after both of us?”
“Well, he already acts like both of you,” I said with a small laugh. “I figured it was only fitting to give him both of his grandpas’ names.”
“River, I don’t know what to say,” he said in a choked voice. “I—”
The door opened, and the doctor came in with two nurses. “Are we ready to have a baby?” he asked as the nurses started unhooking the machines I was plugged into that monitored Rocco.
“Definitely,” Maverick told the man. “The sooner, the better.”
My panic began to take over again. Seeing it, Dad bent and kissed the top of my head. “You’re going to be fine, little girl. Maverick won’t let anything happen to you. Be brave,” he whispered. “We’ll all see you soon. Okay?”
I nodded, fighting tears.
“Love you, River.”
“I love you too, Daddy.”
Hours later, after everyone had gone home for the night, I sat up in bed with Maverick beside me helping me hold our son for the first time. I was in some major pain, but the medication made me not care. Maverick was helping me hold Rocco because I was all kinds of loopy, and I didn’t want to risk dropping my precious baby boy.
“He’s beautiful,” Mav whispered. That was how he’d been talking since Rocco had been placed in his arms earlier. As if he were afraid to raise his voice any louder for fear of scaring our son.
But he didn’t need to worry. Rocco was already fearless. Other than crying when he was first pulled from my tummy, he’d been calm and wide-eyed. Mom had joked that he was taking the world in and finding it all rather boring, but I thought she was pretty spot-on.
“He looks just like you,” I told him as I traced my finger down Rocco’s cheek. The baby made a humming sound deep in his throat, and I couldn’t help falling a little more in love with my son.
“Nah, I see a little of you in him too, babe. See this nose?” He was still whispering. “That’s your nose. And those eyes? I think they’re going to be green and not gray like mine. And this chin? I would know this chin anywhere.”
“Yeah?” I asked hopefully.
He touched his lips to the tip of my nose. “Yeah, baby.”
I rested my head on his shoulder and turned my gaze back on our little miracle. We sat there quietly, taking in Rocco’s perfection for the longest time. When something wet dripped down my face, I rushed to wipe it away and realized I was crying.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Maverick asked in a pained voice, but still whispering.
I laughed a little and scrubbed at my cheeks. “I’m just so happy.”
He groaned and pressed his lips to my forehead. “Me too, River. Me too.”
Turn the page for a sneak peek at the next book in the Angel’s Halo MC Next Gen Series, Her Shelter, featuring Max and Delaney.
Her Shelter
Angels Halo MC Next Gen Book 6
The beautiful, ethereal creature ran across the road on my way home one night. I nearly hit her and ended up wiping out in the process. A little dazed, I ran after her…
And found her in the woods. Dirty and cold from living on the streets for weeks—but still so breathtaking, I was sure I was dreaming her.
Delaney is deaf, scared, and on the run from her uncle.
But now that I’ve found her, I won’t let anything hurt her ever again.
She makes me feel something I’ve never felt before. This tightness in my chest causes the beast within me to snarl unless she’s beside me. She becomes my obsession, my reason to get out of bed in the morning. She makes me want to be…better. For her.
; I’m never letting this girl go.
No matter who tries to take her from me.
Her Shelter Prologue
Delaney
Hunger twisted in my stomach, gnawing on my insides, making it hard to focus on anything but the empty feeling. I couldn’t remember the last thing I’d eaten, and even then, it had been a small serving from the soup kitchen in Oakland.
I hadn’t gotten to finish it because I’d thought I saw one of Uncle Tony’s men outside the shelter, and I knew I couldn’t chance being found.
My uncle wasn’t a good person. There was a reason my parents had never talked about my dad’s sister and her husband. But when they died, I had no choice but to go live with them. When the social worker dropped me off, sticking around to make sure I settled in, Aunt June and Uncle Tony had been so nice and welcoming.
The moment she left, however, things had changed drastically.
I shuddered, not just from the chilly spring night air on my bare arms, but from the memories of having spent the last eight years under the same roof with those two evil monsters. I was ten when my parents died. We’d been on vacation in Belize when a gas line had exploded.
Our hotel was right on the water, only a quarter of a mile from the gas line. Dad and Mom were standing on the balcony of our hotel room enjoying cups of coffee when the explosion happened. I’d just walked out onto the balcony, already begging them to take me down to the beach.
Dad saw what happened and jumped up, scaring me more than the sudden loud noise. There wasn’t time to react, but he’d tried so hard. He pushed Mom and me into the hotel room, using his own body to protect us from the blast.
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