Chapter Thirty-Four
MARLEY
The rest of the day flies by. Conference calls, brainstorming sessions, approving mock-ups for the new campaign. By the time five o’clock rolls around, I’m exhausted but satisfied.
This is what fulfillment feels like.
Not just a job, but a career I’m building myself, something I can be proud of.
My phone rings as I’m packing up my laptop. Victoria’s name pops up on the screen.
“Hey, Vic. What’s up?”
“Hey, girl. Quick question. Are you free Saturday afternoon?”
“I think so. Why?”
“Baby shower planning. I need your creative eye, and honestly, I need someone to save me from the boys. Koa wants to hire sumo suits, and Deek thinks we should have a bouncy castle.”
I laugh, the image perfectly absurd and perfectly them. “A bouncy castle at a baby shower?”
“That’s what I said! Please come save me. Two o’clock at the clubhouse?”
“I’ll be there. Bring wine?”
“Please. Even though I can’t drink it, I’ll live vicariously through you.”
After we end the call, I shoot Nitro a text letting him know about Saturday. His response is immediate.
Nitro the Nice Uber Guy: Perfect. I’ll be in Chapel most of the day anyway. Club business.
Me: Everything okay?
Nitro the Nice Uber Guy: All good. Just need to finalize some things with the gold shipment. Nothing for you to worry about, Small Town.
The gold business. Right. The gray area that still makes me a tiny bit uncomfortable, but that I’ve learned to accept as part of loving a man in an MC. They’re not dealing drugs or hurting people.
By the time I get home, Queenie and Millie are laughing in the kitchen, surrounded by cooling racks of cookies that smell as if I have gone to heaven. Millie looks happier than I’ve seen her in months, her smile genuine and relaxed.
“Marley,” she calls when I walk in. “Try this one. New recipe. Salted caramel chocolate chip.”
I take the offered cookie and bite into it. Sweet, salty, rich, perfect. “Oh my God. Millie, this is incredible.”
She beams, and I notice the way her eyes dart toward the door because she’s hoping someone else might walk in. Someone tall, broad, and currently a prospect who’s too noble for his own good.
“Is Will coming by later?” I ask casually, watching her reaction.
Her cheeks flush pink. “I don’t know. Maybe. He texted earlier asking if I needed a ride home.”
Queenie and I exchange a look. We’ve both been watching Will and Millie dance around each other for months now, and it’s simultaneously sweet and frustrating.
“You should tell him how you feel,” I suggest gently.
“I can’t,” Millie says immediately, her expression closing off. “His patch comes first. He’s made that clear. And I respect that. The club is his family, his future. I won’t mess that up for him.”
“But what if you’re part of that future too?” Queenie asks wisely.
Millie shakes her head. “It’s complicated. My dad provides the club with the gold. If things went wrong between us, it could mess up their business relationship. Will won’t risk that. And honestly, I don’t blame him.”
My heart aches for both of them—two people who clearly care about each other, held back by circumstances and honor.
“For what it’s worth…” I say softly, “… sometimes the complications are worth it. Sometimes taking the risk leads to something awesome.”
Millie gives me a sad smile. “Maybe. But Will has to want to take that risk too. And right now, he doesn’t.”
Before I can respond, the front door opens, and Nitro walks in, already loosening his tie. “Something smells amazing.”
“Millie’s cookies,” Queenie announces proudly. “Try one.”
He does, and his eyes widen. “Millie, these are incredible. You could sell these.”
“That’s the plan,” she says shyly. “Once I save up enough to open my bakery.”
“You’re still working on that?” Nitro asks, genuinely interested.
“Yeah. It’s slow going, but I’m getting there. Another year or two of saving, maybe. Or I might try to get a small business loan.”
Nitro and I exchange a glance. I know exactly what he’s thinking because I’m thinking it too. But before either of us can say anything, Millie’s phone buzzes.
“That’s Will,” she says, reading the text. “He’s outside.”
“Tell him to take it easy driving you home, you’re special cargo, my dear,” Queenie insists.
“I will. Thank you for today, Queenie. I had so much fun.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. You’re family.”
Millie’s eyes get a little misty at her words, and she hugs Queenie, then me, before heading out.
The moment the door closes, I turn to Nitro. “We should help her. With the bakery.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” He pulls me against him. “Small business loan through Blackwell? Or should we give her the money?”
“Loan,” I say firmly. “Millie’s proud. She’d never accept a handout. But a loan, with fair terms, from a legitimate business? That she will accept.”
“God, I love your brain.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ll have Sarah draw up the paperwork this week.”
“Don’t tell her it’s from you specifically. Let it come from the company’s small business initiative.”
“We don’t have a small business initiative,” he says.
“We do now. Consider it my new pet project.”
His smile is warm and proud. “You’re going to change the world, Small Town.”
“One bakery at a time,” I agree.
We spend the evening with Queenie, the three of us eating at the little Italian place, then come home to watch old movies, and it’s absolutely perfect. Simple, domestic, and everything I never knew I wanted. When Queenie finally heads to bed around ten, Nitro pulls me onto his lap on the sofa.
“Happy?” he asks, his arms wrapped around my waist.
“Deliriously,” I admit. “You?”
“More than I’ve ever been.”
Later, as we’re getting ready for bed, Nitro receives a call from Sin. I listen to his side of the conversation, piecing together club business I’m now privy to as his Old Lady. The gold shipment went smoothly. New security measures are in place. Everything is running like clockwork.
When he ends the call, he finds me already in bed, wearing one of his old T-shirts that’s become my favorite.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Perfect.” He strips down to his boxers and slides in beside me, immediately pulling me against his chest. “Sin and Victoria are doing great. Baby’s healthy. Vicks is glowing, apparently.”
“She is. I saw her last week. She’s absolutely radiant.”
“That’ll be us someday,” he says quietly.
I freeze. “Us?”
“If you want.” His hand splays across my stomach, warm and possessive. “Not now, not for a while. But someday, when we’re ready, I want that with you, Marley. Kids, a bigger family, the whole thing.”
My heart feels like it might burst. “I want that too… someday.”
“Good.” He kisses my shoulder. “Because I’m planning on keeping you forever, Small Town. Hope you’re ready for that.”
“Forever sounds perfect, City Boy.”
We fall asleep like this, tangled together, and I dream of the future.
Of baby showers and birthday parties and Thanksgivings around a too-small table.
Of Queenie teaching our kids to bake, of Nitro playing his flute while our children dance.
Of growing old together in this house, surrounded by love and laughter, and the family we’re building one day at a time.
***
The next evening, we’re at the clubhouse for what Sin promised would be a ‘quick meeting’ but has turned into a full club gathering. The main room is packed with brothers and women that belong to the club, the energy electric and celebratory. Something’s happening, but Nitro won’t tell me what.
“You’ll see,” is all he says, his hand warm on my lower back as we navigate through the crowd.
Victoria is glowing in the center of the room, Sin beside her with his arm around her waist. She’s really showing now, her five-month baby bump visible under her fitted dress, and she’s never looked more beautiful.
“Brothers!” Sin calls out, and the room falls silent immediately. “Victoria and I have some news we wanted to share with our family.”
Victoria’s smile is radiant as she places her hand over her belly. “We’re having a boy.”
The room erupts. Cheers, whistles, brothers clapping Sin on the back, club girls surrounding Victoria with hugs and excited squeals. I find myself caught up in the joy, hugging Victoria tightly.
“Congratulations,” I say into her ear. “You’re going to be an amazing mom.”
“Thank you,” she whispers back. “And thanks for being here. For being part of this family. It means everything.”
When I pull back, there are tears in both our eyes. This woman, whom I met months ago during the worst crisis of our lives, has become one of my closest friends. Watching her journey from undercover detective, to Sin’s Old Lady, to expectant mother has been beautiful.
“A boy!” Queenie states from her seat of honor near the bar, where she’s been holding court all evening. “Oh, Sin, your mother would be so proud.”
Sin’s expression softens at the mention of Maria Moretti, now Captain Moretti, who’s been working on rebuilding her relationship with her son.
It’s slow going, but they’re trying.
“She is proud,” Sin says. “She told me yesterday.”
The celebration continues, and I watch my found family with a heart so full it aches.
Bear brings out a cake Millie made, decorated with blue frosting and tiny motorcycle booties.
Deek makes an inappropriate joke that has everyone laughing.
Will hovers near Millie, who’s helping serve cake, their hands brushing as they pass plates.
I find myself standing next to Millie at the dessert table, both of us watching the chaos with fond smiles.
“This is beautiful,” Millie says softly, her eyes on Victoria and Sin, who are wrapped in each other’s arms, glowing with happiness. “They’re so in love.”
“They are,” I agree. “They’ve been through hell and came out stronger.”
Millie is quiet for a moment, then asks, “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”