Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
AINSLEY
Owen's babbling wakes me just after dawn.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma," he calls through the monitor, his voice bright and happy.
I smile, my eyes still closed, and feel Knox shift behind me. His arm tightens around my waist for a moment before he presses a kiss to my shoulder.
"I got him," Jax murmurs from the other side of the bed.
I hear him get up, the soft pad of his footsteps as he leaves the room. A few minutes later, Owen's delighted squeals echo through the house.
Knox chuckles against my neck. "He's in a good mood."
"He always is in the morning," I say, turning to face him.
His hazel eyes are warm, his hand coming up to cup my face. "How'd you sleep?"
"Good," I say honestly. "Really good."
He kisses me, slow and tender, and I sink into it, my hand resting on his chest.
When he pulls back, he brushes his thumb across my cheek. "The girls are picking you up around ten. You excited?"
I nod. "Yeah. I am."
"Good," he says. "You deserve a day with them."
By the time I'm showered and dressed, Jax has Owen fed and playing on the living room floor. I walk in to find both of them on the floor, Jax stacking blocks while Owen knocks them down with gleeful determination.
"Da-da-da!" Owen squeals, reaching for Jax.
Jax grins and scoops him up, blowing a raspberry on his belly. Owen shrieks with laughter, and my heart swells.
This is my family.
Knox walks in with coffee, handing me a mug. "They'll be here soon."
"I know," I say, taking a sip. "I'm ready."
When the Old Ladies arrive, they come in like a whirlwind.
Tessa is the first through the door, her energy infectious. "Girls' day! Let's go!"
Lucy follows, smiling warmly. "You ready, Ainsley?"
Hadley, Erica, and Scarlett pile in behind them, all talking at once.
I laugh, setting my coffee down. "I'm ready."
Jax stands, Owen still in his arms. "Have fun, baby."
I kiss Owen's cheek, then Jax's lips. "I will."
Knox wraps his arms around me from behind, pressing a kiss to my temple. "We've got Owen. Don't worry about anything."
"I won't," I say, leaning into him for a moment.
Then Tessa loops her arm through mine and drags me toward the door.
We end up at a cute little brunch spot downtown, a place with mismatched chairs, vintage decor, and the best mimosas in Jackson.
The table is loud, full of laughter and overlapping conversations. I sit between Tessa and Lucy, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.
"So," Hadley says, leaning forward with a grin. "How does it feel to officially be one of us?"
I blink. "What do you mean?"
"You're an Old Lady now," Scarlett says, smiling. "You're part of the family."
My throat tightens. "I am?"
"Of course you are," Erica says gently. "You've been part of this family since the night you showed up. We just had to wait for you to realize it."
Tears prick my eyes, and I blink them back. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Lucy says, squeezing my hand. "Just know that we've got you. Always."
Tessa raises her mimosa. "To Ainsley. Welcome to the sisterhood, bitch."
Everyone laughs, and I raise my glass, clinking it against theirs.
"To the sisterhood," I echo.
After brunch, we hit a few boutiques downtown.
Tessa insists on buying me a new dress, a soft, flowy thing that makes me feel beautiful. Lucy picks out a onesie for Owen that says "Future Heartbreaker," and Hadley finds a leather jacket that she swears I need.
"You're an Old Lady now," she says, holding it up. "You need to look the part."
I laugh, but I try it on anyway.
When I look in the mirror, I barely recognize myself.
The woman staring back at me looks strong. Confident. Like she belongs.
"You look amazing," Scarlett says, smiling.
"I feel amazing," I admit.
We end the day at a nail salon, all of us getting manicures and pedicures.
I choose a deep red polish, and Tessa grins. "Very Old Lady of you."
I laugh. "Is it?"
"Absolutely," she says. "You're one of us now."
As we sit there, feet soaking in warm water, the conversation turns deeper.
"Can I ask you something?" I say, looking at Erica.
"Of course," she says.
"How did you know you could trust Steele? After everything you went through?"
Erica's expression softens. "I didn't. Not at first. But he was patient. He didn't push. He just... showed up. Every day. And eventually, I realized he wasn't going anywhere."
"That's how it was with Cole too," Tessa says. "I kept waiting for him to leave. To realize I was too much. But he never did."
Lucy nods. "Tiny was the same. He just kept showing up. Kept proving he was safe."
I look around at all of them, my heart full. "That's what Jax and Knox do. They just... show up."
"That's what real love looks like," Hadley says softly. "It's not grand gestures. It's showing up. Every day."
I nod, tears slipping down my cheeks. "I'm so glad I found you all."
"We're glad you found us too," Scarlett says, reaching over to squeeze my hand.
By the time we get back to Perdition, it's early evening.
The bar is buzzing with energy, music playing, brothers gathered around tables, the familiar hum of club life.
But something feels different.
The energy is tighter. More tense.
I spot Jax and Knox near the bar, and my stomach flips.
Jax sees me first, and his face lights up. He crosses the room in a few long strides and pulls me into his arms.
"Hey, baby," he says, kissing me deeply.
"Hey," I say, smiling against his lips.
But when I pull back, I notice the tension in his shoulders. The way his eyes keep flicking toward the back hallway.
Knox appears beside us, his hand sliding around my waist. He kisses me too, but it's distracted. His jaw is tight.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
"Yeah," Jax says quickly. "Everything's fine."
But I don't believe him.
Knox's phone buzzes, and he glances at it, his expression hardening.
"I need to take this," he says, stepping away.
I watch him go, my stomach sinking.
"Jax," I say quietly. "What's going on?"
He hesitates, then pulls me closer. "Nothing you need to worry about right now. Just... club stuff."
"Club stuff," I repeat, not buying it.
He cups my face, his green eyes intense. "I promise, baby. We've got it handled."
I nod, but the unease doesn't leave.
Later that night, after Owen is asleep and we're back at the house, I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong.
Jax and Knox are both quiet, their usual easy banter replaced by tense silence.
I sit on the couch, watching them move around the kitchen, and finally, I can't take it anymore.
"What's going on?" I ask.
They both stop, exchanging a look.
Knox walks over and sits beside me, his hand finding mine. "Justin's been spotted. Close."
My blood runs cold. "How close?"
"Too close," Jax says, sitting on my other side.
I feel the panic rising, but Knox squeezes my hand.
"We're handling it," he says firmly. "You're safe. Owen's safe. We're not letting him get to you."
"But—"
"No buts," Jax says, his voice gentle but firm. "We've got you, Ainsley. Whatever comes, we face it together."
I look between them, my heart pounding. "I'm not running."
"We know," Knox says, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "And we're not letting you."
"We fight together," I say, my voice steady.
Knox's eyes blaze with pride. "Together."
Jax leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. "Always."
They hold me between them, their arms wrapped around me, and for the first time since I heard Justin's name, I feel like I can breathe.
Because I'm not alone.
I have them.
And we're going to face this together.