Epilogue
Ipull into the MC compound, parking next to the other Tombs Security SUV, what looks to be Tav’s bike, and, as per usual, Pops’ pickup that is parked across two spaces.
“This better be good,” Ana grumbles as I help her out of the SUV. “I’m starving and this is seriously cutting into our dinner time.” I nod in agreement.
We were just leaving Roman’s office with a plan to stop off for the Kung Pow chicken Ana is “dying for” when I got the alert that we were all needed. I have no idea when we stopped meeting at the office and started meeting at the clubhouse. It was insidious, much like how my family has inserted ourselves into the DRMC. I shake my head at that. It was all Dayz’s fault, really. Not only is she an Ol’ Lady, but, thanks to her skill set, she is now the unofficial part time enforcer of the Devil’s Rose MC. Freeing Rhodie up to take his rightful place as his brother’s VP. A place Marx had been holding until he could find a replacement for his brother’s role. Who would have thought it was going to be a tiny neurodivergent woman?
Shaking my head, I take my wife’s hand and lead her into the common room, which is looking pretty full right now. My whole family and most of the MC brothers are here, some at the bar, some sitting at the dining tables. My sister and Rhodie are on the couch, across from Pops, who seems to have commandeered a lazy boy. I tip my chin up at Marx, who is busy smirking at me across the room. Clearly he knows what’s going on and it’s making me tense, because it most likely has something to do with my family.
Ana plops down at the table, looking around at everyone talking and laughing with each other, the scowl on her face growing by the second. She’s been a little irritable the past couple of days, but I’m putting that down to how busy she is at work. The Bratva are working overtime trying to track down their drugs.
They aren’t the only ones with a lot on their plate, though. Savage’s Death Riders have been having more problems with Hammer. He’s been fucking with them by masquerading as them, taking some of their runs. It makes me wonder whether Savage would ever just cut loose of the Death Rider’s ties and patch over to Devil’s Rose MC. It seems like it would solve a lot of problems. Let Hammer have his little name and club until we all destroy him.
DRMC and my siblings have been busy working all other angles we can think of to trace the missing girls and put a stop to the auctions, but it’s a little like the Hydra. You cut off one head, two more grow. There is no end to the number of despicable men wanting to rise and take the lead.
“Ok, what the hell was so important we had to come all this way? I’m missing out on my Kung Pow chicken!” Ana grumbles, just loud enough to draw attention. Tav clears his throat before stepping up to the front of the room, standing next to Marx.
“I, well, Marx has an announcement, and I wanted you all here for this.” Tav smiles out at us and I frown, catching Pops’ eye. We both squint at each other in confusion. Dayz is ignoring the goings on, instead choosing to play tonsil hockey with Rhodie. Jules comes out from the kitchen to help Debs pass out cookies. The woman came for a holiday but seems to have now become the full-time cook here at the clubhouse.
“Ok. Well, what is it?” Ana asks, clearly impatient. She waves her hands in the “hurry up” gesture and I trap one of her hands in mine, kissing the back of her knuckles. She melts into me, momentarily forgetting that she’s hungry. And pissy.
“Ok, listen up, you fuc-” Marx’s eyes dart to Debs before he clears his throat, “I mean, you folks,” He looks at Debs again, who beams at him and gives him two thumbs up. Nodding, he carries on, “I would like to welcome our newest prospect to the Devil’s Rose MC family, although you all know the cheeky asshole. Welcome Tav!” He whacks Tav on the back and hands him over a cut that says “Prospect” on the front.
My eyebrows fly up, a little shocked that he never mentioned anything to me. But, thinking about it for two seconds, I realize that this is the perfect place for my little brother. Tav is a golden retriever. Yes, he has us, but he’s always been a soft-hearted soul who loves and needs people in his life. I’m over the moon that he’s going to have so many people that have his back as fiercely as he has theirs, and the patch to go with it.
Everyone around him goes crazy. Heavy leather boots stomp, whistles ring out, the brothers and the Tombs all clap and offer our noisy congratulations and Ana … bursts into tears.
“Um, Ana, you ok babe?” I stroke her back, unsure what the hell is going on. The room hushes, and Tav comes over to squat in front of her.
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong Kiwi Sis?” He started calling her that once we got back from Roman’s cabin. Neither me nor Ana actually realized how much my family loved her and were scared she was going to run out on them too. Since everything settled down, they’ve all just doubled down on their love for her and for Debs. Between them and the MC, our family has grown exponentially.
“Nothing is wrong. I’m just so damned proud of you Tav. You’re going to make a damned good brother because you are a damned good brother,” she splutters out before sobbing.
“Um, thank you?” Tav says, eyeing her as he backs away before mouthing “what the fuck?” at me.
“What’s wrong with her Gus? What did you do?” Dayz’s accusing tone hits my ears and I spin around.
“I didn’t do anything! I don’t know what’s wrong,” I’m getting a little concerned. This isn’t Ana. I sit next to her, then lift her from her chair onto my lap, wrapping her up as she continues to cry and snot all over me.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Pops’ voice breaks through the strained silence. I hope whatever is “obvious” to him isn’t anything fucked up. But it’s Pops, so you can never be too sure.
He looks around at the room of blank or slightly concerned faces.
“There are communists in the funhouse.” He says with all the confidence of a man who is absolutely off his rocker. Marx raises his eyebrow at me, and I shrug. Everyone else is squinting at each other as if we’re trying to solve a riddle.
“There are COMMUNISTS in the FUNHOUSE.” He says again, slower this time to really drum home what he’s saying. Or not saying as the case may be.
“Old man, what the hell is that meant to mean? Are you talking about the Bratva?” Marx says in his voice that sounds like he’s been gargling glass.
Pops eyes him, before huffing, rubbing a hand down his face and trying once again.
“There are communists in the funhouse. Japan is attacking.” What the actual fuck? “The English have landed. Granny is coming in the red car. The painters are in. Shark week, bloody Mary, the crimson wa-”
“Fuck’s sake, I’m not on my period. I’m PREGNANT!” Ana yells out, stunning the old man into silence. My brain stumbles over the words she just spoke before coming online with a vengeance. I look down at her and my face may display shock, but I can feel warmth blooming in my chest at her announcement. She’s looking down at her lap, her fingers twisting, avoiding my gaze. I don’t know what the hell is going on around us, but all I see is her, and I need her bright green eyes on mine. Tipping her chin with my big rough finger, her eyes peek at me, glistening with tears, and I see apprehension.
“Baby, are you sure? You’re having my baby?” I gently caress her cheek before dropping my hand to her soft, rounded tummy.
Holding my eyes, she nods. “I took six tests. Mum confirmed they were all positive.” Her eyes dart to Debs, who has her hands clasped under her chin, a huge smile on her face. I notice that she’s cuddled into the crook of Pops’ arm. Pops, whose eyes are glistening with tears as well.
“Oh Ana, my little wife,” I whisper, “Our love made a baby. Thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on me and making me the happiest man in the world.” She beams up at me, a cheeky smile on her face.
“Thank you for fake marrying me,” I swat her on the ass.
“It was real, Ana, it was always real. I love you, Wife.”
“And I love you, Husband.” I sip from her lips before throwing my head back and crowing.
“We’re having a baby!”