Home sweet home.
Blake pulls up next to Chills’ car as I turn off my ride. The two girls slowly hop out of the cage, then glance up at the giant warehouse converted clubhouse in awe as commotion captures my attention. I spin around and watch everyone racing outside—all my brothers, old ladies, and club girls greet me home with open arms.
“Welcome back. Thought you were gonna cause trouble for us for a moment there, fucker,” Wraith calls out, pulling me in for a back-slapping man hug.
My brothers surround me as I glance over to Jovie and Savanah, who are standing back, smiling and taking this all in as I celebrate with everyone the small victories we somehow manage to get, not only finding my freedom but fighting our way out of an attack. Honestly, this whole escape to New Orleans—besides meeting Jovie—has been a damn shit show.
“It’s so fucking good to be back. You have no idea. I never thought I’d say this, but I missed you ugly fuckers!”
“Hey! What about us?” Prinie asks, placing her hand on her hip. Her swollen belly pops out even more if that’s possible. Cherry and Chills raise their brows at me.
“Yeah, ladies, I missed you, too. And Prinie, you’re looking radiant, I must say.”
“You always were a smooth talker, Kevlar. See, Wraith, you need to say shit like that. And not… ‘Hey you seem bigger today!’”
Wraith gives me a glare. “Thanks, brother,” he mocks sarcastically while I smirk.
Jovie’s chuckling along with everyone, though there’s a quietness about her I’m not used to.
“Guys, there’s—”
“Before you start, Kevlar, there are some people here who wanna see you,” Zero interrupts.
My brows furrow as everyone parts, and Ethan walks toward me. Sadie’s holding his hand while he carries Lucas in his arms. My chest swarms with emotion. I wasn’t sure when I would see my kids again, let alone have them here at the clubhouse.
Ethan was so adamant about not bringing them here—ever.
Sadie spots me first, her gorgeous blue eyes widening in shock. “Daddy!” she yells loud in her adorable voice, then takes off running.
So do I.
Heading straight for her, my heart pounds in my chest until I reach my little girl. Lucas wriggles in Ethan’s hold, desperate to be let down. He jumps from Ethan’s grip and starts sprinting for me too. I drop to my knees just before Sadie reaches me, her tiny arms burst out wrapping around me so fucking tight. She squeezes me with everything she has, and I embrace her like this is the first time I’ve seen her in years. It’s only been a few days in reality, but honestly, I wasn’t sure when I would see her again. Add in the fact she’s here at the clubhouse, and it’s making this all too fucking emotional, especially after the attack on the highway. My kids mean everything, and seeing them now is making this all too fucking real.
“Daddy, I missed you.”
I pull back, gripping the sides of her face, just needing to look at her. “I missed you, too, baby girl.”
Suddenly, Lucas slams into my side, wrapping his tiny frame around me the best he can. “Dad… you wide your bike?” I grab my boy, pull him into me further, then lean in and kiss the top of his head. “Yeah, I did, little big man.”
“Me go for a w… w… wide?”
“Me, too. Me, too!” Sadie chimes while jumping on her tippy toes.
“One day, when you’re both a little bigger.” I love it when they’re excited.
“Daddy… I… I… I aytted all my bweakfast, and Uncle Efan said I could…” he takes in a quick breath, then exhales, “… pway with my Legos… hmm,” Lucas informs me as I stand, lifting him to sit on my hip.
Man, I’ve missed the little guy.
“Daddy?” Sadie asks while wrapping her arms around my leg.
“Yeah, baby girl?”
“I like being back at the club, I’ve missed being here.”
Warmth radiates through me as I run my hand over her soft ringlets. “I’m glad you’re here, baby. I’ve missed you being here, too.”
My eyes shift to Ethan, his expression is somber as he steps over to me. I shake my head, not really knowing what to say to him as he pulls me into a tight hug. It’s awkward with Lucas on my hip, and Sadie attached to my leg, but I wrap my free arm around him, embracing my little brother for the first time in a fucking long time. We’ve been at war with each other since I joined the club, since I chose love over the police force—over our family, over him.
But if I didn’t choose Emma, I wouldn’t have these amazing kids.
We both know that.
Pulling back, I nod. “Thank you. You can’t fathom what this means to me.”
Ethan exhales. “I’m doing this for them. They missed you. They need their father… I see that now.”
Shifting Lucas off my hip, he clings to my other leg as I peer over my shoulder. Cherry and Prinie are talking to Savanah and Jovie, but Jovie is not paying attention to that conversation, her eyes are solely focused in on me.
“Ethan, come with me. I want you to meet someone.”
He narrows his eyes as I walk, though very awkwardly with my kids attached to me like glue, over to Jovie. Ethan follows eagerly as Jovie stands taller, straightening out her clothing as if she’s meeting the damn president. She’s nervous around my family, that’s got to mean she cares.
“Ethan, Sadie, Lucas… this is Savanah, and…” I pause for a moment. I can’t help the telling smile that lights my face, “… Jovie.”
Ethan’s eyes shift from me to Jovie, then back to me again. Sadie and Lucas stay attached to me.
Jovie squats in front of Sadie with the brightest expression on her face. “I love your dress, Sadie,” Jovie gushes.
Sadie’s hand comes out threading her fingers through Jovie’s wavy, blonde hair. “You’re pretty.”
Jovie laughs as I smile at the interaction between my daughter and my, whatever Jovie is. “So are you.” Jovie bops Sadie on her nose.
Ethan glances at Jovie, raising his brow, then he grabs my bicep, pulling me to the side. Leaving Lucas and Sadie with Jovie and Savanah, Ethan scowls at me. “You’re looking at the blonde a little differently than normal… you and her, you have a thing?”
I glance over my shoulder at Jovie, who’s deep in conversation with both my kids. As I turn back, I exhale. “I don’t know… maybe.”
Ethan widens his eyes. “She’s the exact opposite of Emma.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
Ethan’s lips finally turn up in the corner ever so slightly. “No, big brother, I think it’s exactly what you need.”
“Okay, everyone, let’s head inside. We have some shit we need to discuss,” Zero announces.
I turn back to Jovie and my kids, taking Sadie’s hand in mine. Ethan takes Lucas as I tilt my head at Jovie and Savanah for them to follow us. I study Jovie’s face when she walks inside as it lights up in awe. I know the reaction, mine did the same the first time I entered the clubhouse. I was a cop back then, and I saw through different colored lenses. Now, I call the Houston Defiance clubhouse my home, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.