Chapter 58
Crisp November air carried the scent of fresh pine, new paint, and the faint sweet curl of woodsmoke drifting up from the courtyard.
I stood right in the heart of the brand-new facility, stretching out behind the main clubhouse.
Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over frost-dusted orchards, letting winter sun spill bright across pristine white beds and gleaming monitors.
Carved proud above the heavy oak doors was the sign we’d all worked so hard for: The Iron Angels Maternal Wing.
It took a little longer to build as shipment of supplies got delayed, but we finally done it.
Today I wore my custom scrubs, stitched with Head Midwife in silver thread across the shoulders.
This wasn’t just a clinic anymore – it was home.
But as I lined up glass jars along the counter, a secret little smile tugged at my lips.
This place would save lives, yes… but it was also about to pull off the most dangerous, wonderful matchmaking job the territory had ever seen.
Standing by the reception desk, looking every bit like she didn’t quite know what to do with her own long, elegant limbs, was Maeve.
We’d qualified together, both midwives now.
I’d recruited her straight from the county general hospital, where she’d always stood out – striking, graceful, and tall enough to look most men straight in the eye.
Back when after the girls gave birth and Pres gave me and Rage a holiday, she’d stepped in with exactly what we needed.
And when Pres heard how she’d handled it, he’d kept his promise: got her supplies, got her place here, and I’d watched from the very first day as she walked in like she belonged.
And right behind her, completely frozen where he stood, was Tiny.
That six-foot-nine mountain of a man, who could smash through brick walls without blinking, was turning every shade of red possible just watching her.
The biker who’d carry a grown man like he was nothing stumbled over his own feet just to hand her a box of saline.
Exactly the same way he had back at the hospital. Exactly like he was starstruck.
The second I saw that look, I knew exactly what I had to do. That was why I’d picked her.
“She’s perfect for this,” a familiar low rumble vibrated right through me, and strong arms wrapped firm around my waist from behind.
Rage stepped up close, his Enforcer leathers pristine and polished, the silver cross on his chest glinting bright. He pulled me flush against him, his beard brushing soft against my neck.
“She’s an incredible midwife,” I agreed softly, turning my head to look up into those dark eyes I loved so much.
I ran my fingers gentle along the line of his jaw.
“But she’s also my secret project. Have you seen how Tiny slows down every time she walks past?
How he finds any excuse to be near that door? ”
A deep dark chuckle rumbled right out of him, warm against my skin. “He’s been polishing his bike outside the clinic three times a day since she arrived, sweetheart. The man is completely lost. Does she know you’re doing this?”
“Not yet,” I whispered back with a wicked grin, kissing him quick before pulling away. “But I’ve got Rose and Ivy on side. Once the three of us work together, no biker in this territory stands a chance.”
Rage shook his head, smiling. “God help us. If you can work magic for them two, then I say go for it.”
Just then the main doors opened, and Rose and Ivy slipped inside. Rose left the babies with Pres; Bones was already spoiling his and Ivy’s son out in the porch.
“Alright Tamer,” Rose murmured, a knowing playful glint in her eyes. “Ribbon cuttings in ten minutes. Why’d you want us here early?”
I tapped my finger to my lips, glancing through the glass to where Maeve was quietly organising supplies, moving with such natural grace. “We’ve got a new member of staff joining the payroll. And more importantly… we need to make sure Tiny and Maeve end up exactly where they’re meant to be.”
Ivy’s jaw dropped open, then broke into the brightest delighted smile. “Oh my gosh yes! He’s been moping round like a lovesick puppy for weeks! She is perfect for him.”
“Count me in,” Rose grinned back. “If I schedule her for the late-night stock checks, he’ll volunteer to walk her round the perimeter every single time. I’ll make sure Leo clears the ledger, so no one questions it.”
We shared a look that said we’d already won.
Then Pres’s deep voice boomed out across the yard, calling everyone to gather.
I took a steadying breath, smoothing down my top. Rage stepped right up behind me, a solid wall of strength, his hand resting light but sure at my back.
Then I saw him. Death had arrived, and he’d brought a girl with him.
His mum and dad too, come to celebrate. But the girl with Death…
she was sharp, angry, her gaze cutting through everyone like she was looking for something to break.
I warned Rage straight away – keep her away from the babies.
Michael and Gabriel were already unsettled just feeling her temper.
But then she turned on Rose, after she hugged her family.
The girl was jealous believing Rose was trying to sleep with him, no matter how much she said he was her cousin, the girl never listened, she even raised her hand as she screamed in Rose’s face, and I saw a side of Pres I’d never seen before.
It made my blood run cold, but I understood it all the same. This was why they called him Reaper. He hadn’t been handed this club on a plate – he’d fought for every inch of it. Everyone here had their own scars, their own way of surviving… but that day I truly saw what made Pres, Pres.
The girl didn’t get another chance to cause harm. I never asked exactly what happened next, and I never wanted to know. I only knew you don’t threaten the family this club has built.