by Nicole James
“Maybe too independent?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Cat.”
She smiled at him.
“You’re the only thing good and clean and right that I’ve ever had in my life. That I’ve ever been able to call mine, all mine—that I’ve ever wanted to call mine. You bring out the good in me.”
She studied his eyes. “I’ll always worry about you.”
He took her face in his hands and tilted her head up, his mouth hovering an inch above hers. “I will always be okay. And I will always come back to you. Baby, you’ve got to know that by now. Right?”
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “I should know that by now, shouldn’t I?”
He hefted her up in his arms, grinning as he smacked her ass. “Yeah, babe, you should.” He kissed her, then pulled back to ask, “Who’s your man?”
She grinned down at him, her arms wrapped around his neck. “You are.”
“I’m gonna remind you of that every day until you know it, until you feel it in your bones.”
She cocked her head at him and pretended to consider it. “I could get used to that, I suppose.”
He chuckled. “Smartass. Let’s go home.”
She nodded. “Home. And where’s that?”
“Anywhere you are, babe. Anywhere you are.”
EPILOGUE
Blood—
I rested my hands on the wrought iron railing of my balcony and looked out over the courtyard and the rooftops of the Quarter beyond. The scent of bougainvillea carried to me and I breathed it in. I loved this place. The Quarter had always had a rich history of music, food, architecture, and an atmosphere all its own. It was home—always had been, always would be.
The rumble of a motorcycle echoed up through the surrounding brick buildings as a Prospect for the club rode past. The club patrolled this part of town now. Black Jack was dead, his compound burned to the ground, and his stranglehold on this Parish broken.
Drugs and prostitution weren’t completely eliminated from the area, and probably never would be, but a dark, dirty part of it was gone for good. The club had kicked up their presence, intent on not letting another dirty player step up and fill Black Jack’s void. Not today. Not ever, if I had my way.
The Death Heads were long gone, too. Word was the national officers had believed Black Jack had turned on them, not realizing we’d had any involvement. There would still be turf wars to deal with in the future, clubs always wanting to push out their territories, but not today.
“Blood, you’re missing the game!” Ghost called from the living room where a bunch of my club—correction, my family—were gathered to watch the first Saints game of the season.
Skylar stepped out on the balcony with me, her infant snuggled against her chest. “You okay, Blood?”
I gave her a smile, my finger reaching up to tickle the tiny baby’s cheek. She clutched onto it with a tight grip, and Skylar and I exchanged a laugh. “Little Bit has a strong grip.”
“Her name’s not Little Bit, Blood. It’s Rebel.”
“Well, Miss Rebel, you keeping mama up at night?”
“She’s having a hard time getting her days and nights straight, that’s for sure.” Skylar yawned.
“Here, let me hold her.” I reached for the baby, and Skylar gladly passed her over to me. I cuddled her against my chest, her little butt supported with my forearm while I cradled her back with my big hand.
Dipping my nose to the top of her downy head, I breathed in that new baby smell. It was even sweeter than the bougainvillea.
“You look good with a baby in your arms.” Skylar smiled up at me. “Maybe you should get one of your own.”
My eyes lifted to hers. It wasn’t something I’d let myself consider until now. “Think so?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“Don’t know what kind of a father I’d make.” Not two weeks ago, the idea would have been preposterous, unthinkable. Now, not so much.
“If you have love to give, that’s all you need.”
I huffed out a laugh and teased her, something I was good at. “Yeah, babe. Think the Beatles wrote a song about that.”
She punched my shoulder. “Shut up.”
I smiled down at her, and she smiled back. The baby clutched my soft black t-shirt, her toothless gums gnawing on it and leaving a wet spot. As her tiny fist found her mouth, and she suckled on it, her tiny jaw working, I thought about how life sure could change on a dime. It hadn’t been long ago that I’d sat on this very balcony and thought about how something was missing from my life, how there was a part I thought would never be filled, how I thought I’d never get beyond the pain and damage of a tortured past I thought would haunt me forever. Somehow I was starting to put it behind me with the help of a good woman—a woman who was filling that gaping hole in my life and my heart.
I glanced down and saw a car rolling into the courtyard.
Cat.
She climbed from the vehicle and glanced up, spotting us. I could see her face soften with love as she took in the scene on the balcony—me holding a baby to my chest.
She smiled up at me, her face bright as the sun, and my heart flooded with warmth.
And for the first time ever I could see a future that contained more than just the club—a future with this woman. A future that looked bright as that smile she gave me.
Cat—
I climbed from the car after just having come from the clubhouse. My sister was still staying there, refusing to be far from Undertaker. It was the only place she felt safe. He was kind, patient, and wonderful with her, and I was so grateful to him, but I knew this couldn’t go on much longer. I’d already made plans to get her counseling, I was just going to have to take it slow. Undertaker had graciously agreed to let her stay as long as she needed.
He really was sweet with her, and it was a sight to see.
I closed the car door and looked up.
Blood stood on the balcony with Skylar. They both smiled down at me. I was glad the boys had come over to spend some time before some of them would be leaving town, heading back home. Blood needed it. He’d never admit that everything that had transpired had rocked him. But I knew better.
Everything he knew to be true had been shaken, turned on its head, and that took some time to adjust to. That was okay. I’d make sure he had that time.
Now, seeing him with that baby cuddled to his chest, so tiny that his hand covered her entire back from cute little tush to the base of her wobbly neck—it did something to me. A feeling like warm honey spread through my chest and melted my heart.
I wanted to give him that—a family of his own. Maybe one day he’d be ready. Maybe, judging by the way he grinned down at me, a look of contentment on his face, it would be soon.
I know it had all happened fast, a matter of weeks really, but I also knew, rock solid and true, down to the essence of my being that I loved that man. Already I couldn’t imagine a life without him, and I hoped I never would have to. He took care of me, watched out for me, protected me, and made me feel safe in a way I knew he always would.
That was just his way, and I loved that about him. I knew I could count on him to always be there when life went sideways and things went wrong. That moment we’d shared in the shower the first time I was in his place—he’d told me to hold on to the moment, to remember it when times got rough. And I would, but I also knew there would be many more precious moments to share, other moments I could remember and take out and hold onto when times got bad.
Life held promise now—the promise I’d hoped it would hold when I’d first moved to New Orleans. I’d wanted color in my life, and now I had it. I just hadn’t expected it would come with a man who wore colors of his own on the back of his leather.
I smiled. I was good with that… more than good.
I headed inside to drink a beer and watch the Saints game with my man and the people he loved and thought of as family—people who were fast becoming family to me as
well.
As I walked toward the stairs I looked up at Blood and lifted my chin to him. It was kind of our thing. He winked at me and lifted his chin in return.
And that was all I needed.
The End
PREVIEW OF UNDERTAKER
When Undertaker saved an innocent young girl from the clutches of a rival MC, he never expected she’d form an attachment to him, refusing to leave the safety of his clubhouse.
But the President of the Evil Dead MC had a club to run. What he didn’t have was the time or the experience to help Holly get past the traumatic experience she’d been through. Counseling was what she needed, and he would see she gets it.
The last thing Undertaker expected when that therapist walked through his clubhouse doors was a face from his past.
They’d met years ago when he’d been ordered into counseling as part of his parole. Eleven years locked in a cell does things to a man, but back then Undertaker hadn’t had time to deal with all his demons. He had a motorcycle club he needed to get back to, and an untimely death in the ranks had him stepping up to fill the spot of President and fulfill his destiny—one that didn’t include the fresh-out-of-college psychology intern who’d been put in charge of his case. She’d known nothing of his problems. How could she?
Besides, he’d scared her to death.
Now, a dozen years later, fate was coming around again, throwing them back together. But Allison Carter wasn’t that naïve girl anymore; she was all woman now.
And the President of the Evil Dead’s New Orleans Chapter was about to make her his.
Only problem was, he had to let one sweet girl down easy before he could pursue her hot-as-sin therapist.
It wouldn’t be so simple when trouble from his past threatened everything.
When an ex-con biker sets his sight on you, do you run?
No?
Not even if he comes with more trouble than you can handle?
If you enjoyed Blood, please post a review on Amazon.
Also by Nicole James:
OUTLAW: An Evil Dead MC Story (Book 1)
CRASH: An Evil Dead MC Story (Book 2)
SHADES: An Evil Dead MC Story (Book 3)
WOLF: An Evil Dead MC Story (Book 4)
GHOST: An Evil Dead MC Story (Book 5)
RED DOG: An Evil Dead MC Novella (Book 6)
JAMESON: Brothers Ink Series (Book 1)
RUBY FALLS – Romantic Suspense
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