Page 25 of Always My Fate

She might be stuck in this bed, but she wasn’t exactly without value. Not completely.

Not ever.

***

Blackie

Blackie pulled Rook and Oaky into the back office of the clubhouse, away from the lingering party noise. The door clicked shut, and the easy banter from earlier vanished. He’d seen the look on Rook’s face when the secure message came through. It wasn’t good.

“Talk,” Blackie ordered, arms crossed tight over his cut.

Rook didn’t waste words. “Got fresh intel from one of our border contacts. It’s tied to your brother Roscoe. He’s been feedin’ information to what’s left of the MDMC. Not direct involvement, but enough to point them towards our weak spots. They’re targetin’ you directly this time, Prez. Word is they’re plannin’ something aimed at your family to draw you out—hit you where it hurts most.”

Blackie’s vision went red.

“Motherfucking son of a bitch!” He slammed his fist down on the desk hard enough to nearly crack the wood. “That worthless, backstabbing piece of shit! My own goddamn blood sellin’ us out to those MDMC cockroaches? After all the shit he’s already put me through? I should’ve put a bullet in that traitor years ago!”

He paced the small room like a caged animal, boots pounding the floor. Oaky and Rook stayed wisely quiet while the storm rolled through him.

“Those assholes think they can come after Peaches? After my kids? While she’s carryin’ Daniel and stuck in that fuckin’ bed? I’ll rip their spines out through their goddamn throats!”

Blackie stopped pacing, chest heaving, and jabbed a finger at Rook. “You double the watch on my house tonight. Prospects, patched members, I don’t give a fuck—rotate ’em in shifts. Nobody gets within a mile of Peaches or the kids without me knowin’ about it. Oaky, you coordinate with Duane and Horse in Belle. Tell them to lock that ranch down tight. If Roscoe’s involved, this is personal. I want eyes on every known associate of that rat bastard.”

He dragged a hand across his face, fury still burning hot but control starting to reassert itself. “I’m not leavin’ home. Not right now. Peaches, Daniel, and all my kids need me there. You two run point on everything else. I’ll handle strategy from the house. Any movement, any whisper about Roscoe or those MDMC ghosts—you bring it to me immediately.”

Rook nodded sharply. “We got you, Prez. Family first. We’ll keep the club tight while you stay with Peaches.”

Blackie exhaled heavily, the weight of the threat settling on his shoulders like lead. His own brother. Again. The betrayal cut deep, but it hardened his resolve.

“Go enjoy the rest of the party,” he told them gruffly. “Then get to work. I’m headin’ home to my woman.”

He left the office without another word, the roiling rage simmering beneath the surface. Roscoe and the MDMC had just made the biggest mistake of their miserable lives.

Nobody threatened his family and lived to talk about it.

***

Blackie locked the front door behind him and moved through the quiet house like a shadow, checking on every possible entrance, and the prospect posted outside before heading upstairs. The party had run longer than he wanted, but coming home to his family was the only thing that mattered.

He slipped into the master bedroom, closing the door softly. The lamp was on low. Peaches lay propped against the pillows, curls spilling across the sheets, one hand protectively resting on her belly.

“You’re late,” she murmured, a soft smile curving her lips as her eyes opened.

“Had to deal with some shit,” he rumbled. “Missed you, my queen.” He climbed carefully onto the bed and stretched out beside her, one big hand immediately sliding under her nightshirt to rest on the warm, taut skin of her belly. Daniel kicked right against his palm. “There’s my boy. Strong little fucker tonight.”

Peaches moved towards him, her hand sliding up his chest. “Tell me you didn’t ride home worryin’ the whole way.”

“Can’t lie to you, Peaches.” He leaned in, kissing her slow and deep, savoring how she melted into him. “It’s not that far a ride. But I’m here now. Right where I need to be.”

His mouth moved to her neck, then lower, pushing her shirt up so he could worship the heavy curve of her belly with kisses and reverent hands. “Goddamn, look at you,” he growled against her skin. “Carryin’ my son, all round and perfect and mine. You’re so fuckin’ beautiful it hurts, woman. Every time I see you like this it wrecks me in the best way.” He pressed soft kisses to her shoulder and the side of her neck, one hand never leaving her belly.

After a long, quiet moment, Peaches turned her head to gaze at him. “What happened at the clubhouse tonight? I can feel the tension in you.”

Blackie sighed, nuzzling her curls. “Some new intel. Tied to Roscoe, the piece of shit. MDMC ghosts are gettin’ bolder, targetin’ us personally. But I ain’t leavin’ you. Rook and Oaky are handlin’ the runs. I’m stayin’ right here with you and the kids. Daniel’s comin’ soon, and I plan to be here for every second of it.”

Peaches squeezed his hand on her belly. “We’ll face any challenge together. Like always.”

“Yeah,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion. “Together. When this boy gets here, I want him growin’ up knowin’ his old man fought for him every damn day. I want all our kids to see what real loyalty looks like. You and me...we’re just gonna keep on buildin’ somethin’ strong, Peaches. No matter what those bastards throw at us.”