Chapter Nineteen
Lila
Life is good.
When we first moved inside the compound, I thought it would feel like a prison…walls closing in, freedom gone. But it’s the complete opposite. I’ve never felt more free.
Bree’s thriving at the private school half an hour away. She comes home each day so excited to tell me what she’s learned.
Micah is out and about every day, always off with someone. Tank showing him bikes, Skip sneaking him snacks, Spike showing him the ins and outs of club life. Which I wasn’t too happy about, but Micah loves it, so I let it go.
The men even brought in a nurse for several weeks to teach them all how to care for Micah properly. I’ve never ugly cried as hard as I did the day I found out.
Micah loves it here. He still grumbles that he hasn’t beaten Foster at chess, but he challenges him every single day, anyway.
And me? I’ve never been happier. Never more in love.
Max proves every single day that he meant what he said about wanting us as a family. He shows up, he’s present, and he’s steady. It took time for us to really know each other on a personal level…to see each other’s scars and habits and small, quiet truths…but even that can’t eclipse the connection we’ve had from the very beginning.
Even now, the clubhouse swarms with our family here to celebrate my birthday. Never has anyone thrown me a party since I was a little girl.
I never thought birthdays could feel like this.
The clubhouse is full. Laughter echoes off the buildings, the smell of grilled food drifting around the air, music humming low in the background. Balloons are taped to the doorways, not perfect or fancy, but clearly done with love. Bree helped the girls decorate, and judging by the crooked streamers, she was in charge.
“Happy birthday, Mama!”
Bree shouts, racing up to me with a handmade card covered in glitter. She nearly spills the plate of cake she’s carrying, but Max catches it just in time.
Micah sits with Foster at the corner table, both with their chessboards on their screens. Foster is grinning like he’s winning, but Micah has that stubborn gleam in his eye. It won’t be long before Foster’s grin disappears.
Tank and Skip argue good-naturedly about something, like always. Maverick is telling some story that has half the room groaning and the other half laughing. And Spike…Spike stands at the grill, Riley at his side, Asher on her hip. Both of them glance around now and then with smiles as they look at our family.
Max slides an arm around me, pulling me close. He presses a kiss to the side of my head, his voice low just for me.
“Happy birthday, baby. Hope you know how loved you are.”
My throat tightens, but in the best way. A year ago, I didn’t know if we’d make it. Didn’t know if my kids would ever be safe. And now…this. A home. A family. A love that feels unshakable.
I look around the place, at the people who’ve fought for us, laughed with us, become ours. At my daughter, my brother, my man.
For the first time in my life, I don’t just feel celebrated.
I feel whole. Complete.
“Birthday girl,”
Patch says, stopping in front of me.
“Hey, Patch,” I smile.
He’s a quiet man; I don’t see him around much. But he’s always kind, always steady.
“I normally don’t give these out until the wedding,”
he says, handing me a neatly wrapped present.
“But I just couldn’t wait. Happy birthday.”
“Thank you, Patch.”
I grin as I take the gift, feeling oddly touched.
Before I can peel off the paper, Skip sidles up beside us, grinning like he already knows the punch line. He starts laughing before I even have the thing unwrapped.
It’s a book.
Surviving the Silent Rider: A Guide for Women Who Fell for a Biker of Few Words and Too Many Muscles.
“Oh, that’s great,”
Skip roars.
“Do you have a collection of these in your library, Patch? Let me see, Lila.”
Laughing, I hand Skip the book. Clearly, there’s a story here I don’t know. Everyone’s either smiling, laughing, or shaking their heads.
Everyone except Max.
“Give it to me,”
Max says, hand out, voice flat.
Ignoring him, Skip flips the book open to a random page and starts to read aloud.
Skip clears his throat dramatically, holding the book high like he’s about to deliver Shakespeare.
“Chapter Four: Communicating With Your Silent Rider. Step one. Don’t expect full sentences. A grunt can mean anything from ‘I love you’ to ‘Pass the remote.’ Learn the difference.”
The room bursts into laughter.
“Give. Now.”
Max growls, stepping forward.
Skip sidesteps, grinning like a kid who just stole candy.
“Look, it was right. Oh, this is gold. Listen to this part. Step two: If he says more than three words in a row, treasure it. You may never hear that much again.’”
Even Patch cracks a smile.
Max reaches for the book, but Skip twists away, reading louder.
“Bonus tip…never ask him what he’s thinking. Odds are, it’s either ‘food’ or ‘sex.’”
The whole room roars. I’m laughing so hard I have to hold my side.
“Skip.”
Max’s voice drops low, dangerous. He makes another grab, but Skip ducks behind Tank, holding the book out of reach.
“Don’t be sore, brother,”
Skip teases, flipping another page.
“Ah, here’s my new favorite. ‘Remember: muscles may look intimidating, but underneath, your Silent Rider is basically a big, broody teddy bear.’”
The men howl.
Max finally lunges, snatches the book out of Skip’s hand, and snaps it shut with a glare that should kill. He tucks it under his arm like contraband.
“No one else reads this,”
he mutters.
“Too late,”
I laugh, wiping tears from my eyes.
“I heard enough.”
“Don’t worry,”
Patch says with a rare smile.
“If he burns it, I’ve got more copies ready for you.”
The men chuckle, but Skip isn’t done. He leans back in a camping chair, smirk wide and reckless.
“Hey, Max,”
he calls.
“Don’t worry, brother. I’ll read her the bedtime stories from it if you’re too…quiet.”
The place explodes with laughter…right before Max launches forward like a shot.
No warning. No hesitation.
Skip yelps, bolts out of his chair, and takes off down the path with Max sprinting after him, cussing under his breath. The compound shakes with laughter as the two run around each house. Skip sidestepping…always just out of Max’s reach.
I lean into Patch, still giggling, my cheeks sore from smiling.
“Do they always act like children?”
Patch only shrugs, amused.
“They’re Shadows. This is the good kind of chaos.”
***Max***
“Good evening. I’m Ashley Moore, and we begin tonight in Palm Springs, where a well-known restaurant owner is behind bars.
Benjamin Gumphrey, the owner of House of the Sun, a popular Italian restaurant, has been arrested after several former employees came forward with allegations of sexual harassment.
According to police, the complaints include inappropriate comments, unwanted advances, and what they describe as a hostile work environment. Investigators say more victims may still be out there and are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
House of the Sun, which has operated in Palm Springs for more than a decade, is closed until further notice pending the outcome of the investigation.
Court proceedings are expected to begin in the coming weeks. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.”
“You did it,”
Lila whispers, her smile soft and disbelieving.
“You guys actually did it.”
“It was mostly Foster,”
I admit, grabbing the remote to turn the TV off. The room slips into silence again, shadows warm and close. I pull her against me, her naked body molding into mine like she was made for this. For me.
Her skin is soft against mine, and I can’t stop touching her…running my hand down the curve of her back, threading my fingers through her hair, anchoring myself in her warmth. The chaos of the world, the pain, the blood, the fear…it all falls away when she’s here.
She tips her face up, eyes shining in the low light. “Max…”
It’s not just my name. It’s a vow. It’s a need.
“I love you, baby,”
I murmur against her lips, voice rougher than I mean it to be.
“More than anything. More than I knew I could.”
Her fingers brush my jaw, gentle, and then she’s kissing me. Slow at first, then deeper, pulling me under like a tide I’ll never be able to fight. And I don’t want to. I want to drown in her.
The way she clings to me, the way she melts and moves closer, it’s more than passion. It’s trust. It’s home. Every sigh she gives me, every soft sound, every touch of her hands across my chest tells me she’s mine, completely. And I’m hers.
All the fear, all the rage, all the hollow places in me fill with her light. And when I move over her, when I claim her with everything I am, it isn’t just love. It’s redemption.
We’re not just surviving anymore. We’re living.
***Bree***
I have a new family. A really big family, with big, scary-looking men all around me. No more monsters can hurt me now.
When Uncle Micah found out what happened, he was so mad. He hates not being able to get out of bed and move around. He was mad because he couldn’t protect me.
Now he’s on a mission. He and Uncle Foster spend every day together so Micah can learn how to protect people from behind a screen. That’s so cool. Like a superpower.
My leg is better. The scary monster shot me…that’s what my daddy said. But he also said I don’t have to worry anymore. He’s here to protect me. Him and all of my new family.
My old daddy is in jail. Uncle Maverick said he did a very bad thing, and now he has to be punished. Just like I get in trouble when I do bad things.
I know it’s harder being in jail than being grounded. He’s still my dad, and even if he doesn’t love me anymore, I still love him. Just…not the same way I love my new daddy. He’s the best.
I always thought me, Mama, and Uncle Micah were a happy family. We always laughed and had fun together. But now it’s even better. Me and Micah…
who I claim as my brother now…get to spend every day with our parents. Parents who love us so much.
So yeah, maybe we were happy before…but now?
Now we’re the happiest family in the whole entire world.
I know it’s the truth because Daddy said so.
Daddy said families aren’t supposed to be perfect. They’re supposed to be forever. And mine finally is.
I have the best…family…ever!
THE END