Fallout

by Lila Rose

  Jerimiah took my hand, helping me off his ride before he climbed off himself. We placed our helmets on the bike, knowing no one would mess with them or even come on to the compound property to thieve them… well, unless they wanted to be hunted and harmed.

  Walking into the common room, I noticed it was busy. Brothers and most of the old ladies were mulling around either drinking, talking, playing pool, or eating. Leanna was there, walking around with a food tray in her hand, offering it out to anyone who would take some.

  “Is it some type of special day and we didn’t get the memo?” I asked.

  “Fuck,” Jerimiah clipped low.

  “Did you show her?” Dad asked, coming out of nowhere.

  “Charlie, I said I wasn’t doin’ it until later.”

  “Show me what?” I asked.

  Dad’s eyes flashed, then he backed up a step. “Blame Roda and Leanna. It was their idea to throw this.”

  “Throw what?” I asked, honestly confused.

  “What are you doin’ here then?” Dad asked Jerimiah, ignoring me.

  “Had to talk to Pick. Then I was gonna show her.”

  “Would someone tell me what I’m obviously supposed to see?” I demanded, throwing my hands to my hips.

  Jerimiah sighed. He turned to face me, stepping right in front of me. He ran a hand through his hair, and chuckled. “Darlin’, I was gonna surprise you with it this afternoon, but now I’ll just have to tell you.” He shot Dad an annoyed look.

  “The women,” Dad snapped, making it clear it wasn’t his fault.

  “What were you going to show me?”

  “Our house. We’re moving in together this weekend.”

  “Our house?” I whispered.

  “Yeah, babe. A few weeks ago, we were on a ride and you said you’d like to live in that area since it was close to your dad. I found us a house there. One Charlie assured me you’d like.”

  “But… but…” My eyes flicked to my dad and then back to Jerimiah. “…Dad needs me at home.”

  Dad scoffed. I faced him, and Jerimiah slipped in behind me with his arms curling around me, one at my chest and waist. His usual embrace. Claiming.

  “Honey, I’m your father, and the noises I hear sometimes are ones no father should hear.” Dad flushed, but I was sure I was brighter than he was, while Jerimiah threw his head back and roared with laughter.

  “They’re moving in together. She ain’t seen the house yet, but she agrees,” Dad announced. Not that he really had my answer, but after hearing what he’d just said, I was keener to move out than I ever had been.

  Cheers went up. Leanna came to us first and gave us both a hug since Jerimiah was still at my back. Roda and Blackie approached.

  “Still not sure why we’re celebrating this,” Blackie grumbled. “They’re practically living with each other already. It’ll just be minus Charlie.”

  I felt Jerimiah chuckle at my back. “I’m not sure either Blackie. Not that I don’t appreciate it,” he quickly added when both Leanna and Roda glared at him.

  Roda huffed. “Life’s too short, gotta live it big, and why not do it with a party? Celebrate the shit outta everything I say.”

  “Here, here,” someone shouted.

  It was later, while I was sitting on Jerimiah’s lap on one of the couches talking to Manda who was on Muff’s lap, when Pick, Billy, and Josie came up to Jerimiah. Manda and Muff had been inseparable. Any chance they got, they spent it together. I was happy to see not only one of Jerimiah’s brother’s so content, but my best friend too. She was so damn happy that she called me all the time about it.

  “Gotta ask a favour, brother,” Billy said. He pulled Josie close to his side with an arm around the neck. His fingers brushed against Pick on the other side of Josie. Pick grinned. He never did that much, but it did show more when he was around Billy or Josie.

  Jerimiah stood, placing me on my feet, his hands going to my waist. “What’s up?”

  “We’re heading out of town for a while. Goin’ up to stay in Halls Gap at Dive’s old place. Need someone to manage the bar.”

  Jerimiah stiffened. I glanced up at him. He was shocked by the offer. “Me?” he asked, and I grinned, matching Josie’s smile.

  “Yeah, brother.” Billy chuckled.

  “You’ve done a business degree at uni. Know you can handle things,” Pick said.

  “Shit. Well, yeah. I could do that.” Shock was still evident in his light tone. “Thanks for trustin’ me,” he added.

  “She’s pregnant,” Lissa, Dallas’s woman and a friend of mine, yelled. “Shit. Shit, sorry. Sorry, I have a habit of telling people.”

  The brothers went wild over the news, while most of the women had tears in their eyes.

  Pick and Billy chuckled, while Josie beamed in the middle of them. After the noise settled, Josie reassured Lissa, “Don’t worry. We were going to say something tonight anyway.”

  “Does Nancy know?” I heard someone ask.

  “Yes. She was the first person we told.”

  Pick snorted. “Surprised you didn’t hear her screaming from here.”

  The brothers laughed. Nancy was Josie’s adoptive mum. I had the chance to meet her when Josie and Nary took me to Ballarat. It was after things had cooled down with Switch, and also after Parker and Lan had caught the guy who’d been beating strippers. Apparently, it was a guy who was messed in the head, something about his mum being a stripper and him hating her for showing people her body. In turn, he hated all strippers.

  Everyone had been both surprised and relieved that not only had the guy been caught, but that it wasn’t a direct attack on the club. Jerimiah had told me they’d dedicated hours to finding the guy, and the whole time they’d focused on enemies of the club, completely missing the real threat. It was clear they’d been pissed by misdirecting their efforts, but still, it was over. And while I knew little about club business, I knew enough that the relief had been felt by all.

  Someone’s phone rang, others went about their business, but for some reason, I focused on whose phone it was.

  Parker’s.

  “Yeah?” He stood. “What?” His body solidified. “I’m on my way.”

  “Brother?” Jerimiah called.

  “A group of people entered Lan’s home and beat the fuck outta him before his neighbour,” his jaw clenched, “came to help him. Now he won’t go to the goddamn hospital. I’m heading there to talk some sense into him.”

  Worry formed in my stomach.

  “I’m coming,” Jerimiah said.

  “So am I,” Muff said.

  “You got us too,” Billy said.

  Parker gave them a chin lift and started for the door. Jerimiah turned me in his arms. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, sure. Go. Help him talk with Lan. He seemed real pissed, Miah.”

  “He is. Not sure what’s goin’ on with those two. You all right to hold off seeing the house until later?”

  “Of course. Your brother needs you.”

  His eyes warmed before I had his mouth against mine in a hard, searing kiss.

  Much later, when Jerimiah came back to the compound without Parker, he interrupted my chat with Della, Handle’s pregnant woman, with a kiss to my neck.

  Smiling, I glanced up at him. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, darlin’. Ready to see our house?”

  “I sure am.” I looked back to Della.

  She grinned. “Go. We’ll finish this another time.”

  “Thanks,” I said, reaching over to give her hand a squeeze. She was sweet. Had been through hell, but she’d found her freedom in Handle, and they were going to have a baby together.

  Walking to the ride, Jerimiah asked, “What were you two talking about?”

  I shrugged. “Life, happiness, work.”

  “Work?” he sai
d, while helping me with my helmet.

  “Yeah, work. I’m tired of waiting tables, Jerimiah.” The look of relief on his face had me laughing. “So,” I drew out. “I asked Samuel if he needed a bookkeeper or an assistant, since I’d done an accounting course at uni. I hadn’t mentioned it when I’d been interviewed because at the time, we needed the extra cash earned by the tips I made.” His face screwed up. “Samuel’s a nice guy, my Miah, one who knows who I belong to.”

  “Damn right,” he clipped. “What did the dick say?”

  “He’s going to give me a try as his assistant. Means I’ll be working behind the scenes.”

  “Thank fuck.” Jerimiah grinned.

  “Thought that would make you happy.”

  “Nah, darlin’. It’s just you.”

  I gushed as my body filled with warm fuzzy feelings. My man was sweet. “And you know, even if I didn’t like the house, I wouldn’t care because I’d have you by my side. You’re all that matters.”

  But of course, Jerimiah knew me well, and in the end, I did love the house. Which I showed him how much in nearly every room.

  Epilogue

  Poppy

  A year later, I was at the bar with Mena on one side and Manda on the other, while they had their men crowding their backs and talking. My man was on the other side of the bar serving drinks. Pick and Billy decided to keep Jerimiah on as a manager while they set up another pub in a suburb on the other side of the compound. The businesses were thriving, which was good since Josie ended up pregnant with twins. She gave birth a few months ago to a boy named Theodore Richard Alexander, Theo for short, and a girl named Peyton Nancy Alexander. Both Pick and Billy changed their last names to match their woman’s and children’s. No one was sure who the father actually was between the two of them, and honestly, it was hard to guess when you saw the babies. Not that it mattered to anyone, as long as they were happy, and they were.

  Della and Handle were gifted with a baby girl too. Her name was Ashley Kaidion. Della and Handle married in a beautiful garden ceremony just before she was born.

  Everyone around us was happy in life. I couldn’t believe the amount of peace in, not only at the Hawks compound, but Venom’s as well. Blackie and Dodge hadn’t joined clubs, but it didn’t mean we weren’t all close still. If they needed Jerimiah’s club at their back, they had it. No questions asked.

  My eyes caught on the door opening. Lan, Parker, and Easton strolled in. Parker had his head thrown back in laughter. He was another person who used to always seem so straight-laced, even pissed at the world, but he’d been pissed for other reasons. Not only him, but Lan also. Well, until—

  “Poppy,” Manda called, clicking her fingers in front of my face, bringing me out of my thoughts.

  “Yeah?”

  “I said, Muff and I are getting a place not far from you.”

  I gasped. “Oh my God. Really?”

  She laughed. “Yes. He’s it for me.”

  Excited laughter bubbled up and out. “Aren’t you glad you moved back?”

  “Hell yes.”

  “Darlin’,” Jerimiah called. I faced him.

  “Did you hear the news?” I asked.

  He chuckled. “Yeah, baby. Muff told me he was gonna ask your girl to move in with him.”

  I narrowed my gaze. “And you didn’t think to tell me.”

  His brows rose. “Darlin’,” was all he said. Still, I knew what he meant. It was bro-code. He grinned. “Got drinks to serve, but give me your hand.”

  My hand moved on its own, placing it in his over the bar. When I felt something slide on my finger, I looked down. My heart skipped a beat and tears filled my eyes. I glanced back up at my man. “Yes,” I whispered.

  He chuckled again. “Haven’t even asked yet, my Poppy.”

  “Doesn’t matter, my Miah. The answer will always and forever be yes.”

  His eyes heated. “First kiss here. Had to be here for this.”

  “I know.” I nodded, my bottom lip trembling. I loved the thought of that, but it didn’t matter where he proposed, because I’d be filled-to-the-brim blessed no matter.

  “Love you, darlin’,” he whispered.

  Getting to my feet, I kneeled on the seat and reached over, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Love you more and more each day, my Miah.”

  “She said yes,” Manda squealed loudly.

  Fang

  Many, many years later.

  “Dad,” Nate called from down at my side. Our son. Loved our boy just as much as I did his ma. He was eight years old. It took us a few years of trying for Poppy to finally fall pregnant, and due to the sickness, pain, and nearly losing her, it had worried me so much I told her one was enough. Thankfully, she’d agreed. “Can I go and play outside with Hannah?” Hannah was Muff and Manda’s girl, a year younger than Nate.

  “Are there any brothers out there?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yes.”

  “All right, but keep an eye on Hannah.”

  He straightened, taking on the responsibility. “I will.”

  He took off running, meeting a smiling Hannah at the back door. I saw Koda, Dive and Mena’s boy standing there too. He gave me a chin lift. Thirteen and already a biker in training.

  We were in the compound to celebrate Texas’s birthday, as well as him being patched fully into the Hawks. He’d put things off for a few years to get his tattoo business set up.

  Things had been goddamn amazing. Of course, there’d been a few hiccups along the way, some that put fear into us, but we all pulled through.

  “Yo, Fang,” Alvin called with a wave. He headed right for his sister and dad, hugging them both hello. It took some time, because Alvin had demons to work through about helping his mum, for everything to settle between the three of them. But he was finally back in the fold. Though, he never asked to be patched in to either Venom or Hawks again, which was good as Blackie or Dodge didn’t want to take him in.

  “She’s not fuckin’ doin’ it,” Talon snarled as he passed my way in a stride. His woman quickly followed with a scowl on her face.

  “She’s responsible and old enough to do this, Talon Marcus.”

  He stopped, turned and got in Zara’s face. “I nearly lost my girl. Lost her. I will not have her fuckin’ leavin’ to go overseas.”

  Shit. It was obvious he was talking about Maya, and I couldn’t blame him for not wanting her outta his sight after what happened.

  Zara sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know, honey. I do. It’s scary, but teaching her to fear the what-ifs isn’t the way to go.”

  “Christ,” he bit out. Then he sighed, running a hand over his face. “If Swan’s going for sure, I’ll think about it again.”

  Zara smiled, kissed her man, and then ran off to where some of the women were gossiping.

  An arm wrapped around my waist. I lifted mine and Poppy snuggled in close.

  “You happy?” she asked.

  “Can never not be happy with you and Nate in my life.”

  “Good answer, Hulk.”

  I curled her in further, so her front was flush with my own. “Love you, my Poppy.”

  “Love you, my Miah.”

  Leaning in, I took her mouth, and…

  “Gross. Mum, Dad, stop kissing,” Nate called. We glanced over to our son, who was already caked in mud. “I’m never doing that with a girl or a boy like Uncle Beast and Knife and Uncle Parker—”

  “Nate,” Charlie called. “Don’t you worry about that stuff yet, son. And no matter which way you go, we’ll all love you.”

  And that was the damn truth right there.

  Coming this year (I hope)

  Lan, Parker, and Easton’s story

  Also by Lila Rose

  Hawks MC: Ballarat Charter

  Holding Out (F
REE)

  Climbing Out

  Finding Out (novella)

  Black Out

  No Way Out

  Coming Out (novella)

  Hawks MC: Caroline Springs Charter

  The Secret’s Out

  Hiding Out

  Down and Out

  Living Without

  Walkout (novella)

  Hear Me Out

  Break Out

  Romantic Comedy

  Making Changes

  Making Sense

  Trinity Love Series (m/m/f)

  Left to Chance

  Love of Liberty (novella)

  Paranormal

  In the Dark

  Death (with Justine Littleton)

  YA

  Senseless Attraction (FREE)

  Connect With Lila Rose

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