Page 29 of Always My Fate

Daniel gave another strong kick, almost like punctuation. Peaches smiled faintly, rubbing her belly.

“See? Even your son agrees. We Langdons don’t hide. We fight smart.”

She held his gaze, intelligence and unyielding independence shining clear in her eyes. Bed rest or not, the club family needed her.

And she refused to disappear.

***

Blackie

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the front porch as Blackie stood at the head of the makeshift table they’d dragged outside. Rook, Oaky, Gunny, and two solid patches sat around him. The meeting was deliberately kept at the house. Blackie wasn’t leaving Peaches’ side for anything short of all-out war.

“All right, you sorry sacks of shit, listen up,” Blackie growled, arms crossed over his cut. “This Roscoe-MDMC bullshit has officially crossed into ‘I will skin you alive’ territory. They tagged the warehouse with my brother’s signature. They’re comin’ for me personally, which means they’re comin’ for my family. That shit ends now.”

Rook leaned forwards. “We’ve got extra eyes on the house and the kids’ routes. Prospects are sleepin’ in shifts in the backyard.”

Blackie nodded sharply, then looked at each man in turn. “Good. But we’re not just playin’ defense. Oaky, I want you to run logistics from the clubhouse. Check back in with Myron and see what he’s found so far. You gotta keep the businesses locked down and the old ladies coordinated. Don’t forget to loop Peaches in as needed. She’s determined to do what she can from the bed. Gunny, you’re floatin’ between here and town, and if any trouble smells off, you handle it fast and dirty.”

He paused, then turned to Rook. “Rook, you’re takin’ lead on the next counter-move. I’m trustin’ you to coordinate with Horse down in Belle. You two work together on shuttlin’ extra manpower and settin’ up a sting on the southern routes. Horse has proven himself over and again, and I want him runnin’ point on the ground there. You got my full authority to make calls on the fly.”

Rook blinked, clearly surprised by the level of trust. “You sure, Prez? I can run it by you first—”

“No,” Blackie cut him off, voice firm but steady. “You’ve earned this. I’ve been watchin’ you step up while I’ve been glued to Peaches’ side. Same with Horse. He’s built somethin’ real in Belle. I’m not gonna micromanage you two from this porch. Handle it. Keep me in the loop on the big shit but make the decisions. That’s what good leadership is, trustin’ the brothers who’ve bled beside me.”

Gunny let out a low whistle. “Look at you, Prez. Actually delegatin’ without havin’ a coronary. Growth looks good on you.”

Blackie shot him a middle finger, but there was no heat in it. “Fuck off, old man. I’ve learned the hard way that tryin’ to carry everything myself leads to a buncha bad fuckin’ decisions. I ain’t makin’ that mistake again. Peaches and Daniel need me here. The club requires strong brothers in the field. So that’s how we’re doin’ this.”

He planted both hands on the table, leaning forwards, eyes hard. “We hit back smart. No reckless moves that pull me away from my woman. But when we find these MDMC ghosts or my traitor brother, we end it. Permanently. Questions?”

The men shook their heads, respect clear in their expressions.

“Good. Get to work. Rook, call Horse and get the ball rollin’. I want updates tonight.”

As the brothers dispersed, Blackie stayed on the porch a moment longer, staring out towards the road. The weight of leadership felt different now, heavier in some ways, lighter in others. Trusting his men didn’t make him weaker.

It made the whole club stronger.

He turned and headed inside to check on Peaches, the fire in his chest burning steady and controlled.

They were ready.

***

Blackie stepped into the bedroom, shoulders tight from the meeting. The moment he locked the door, the tension shifted into something hotter, more urgent. Peaches was watching him from the bed, her curls loose and that green gaze full of understanding.

He crossed to her in seconds, filled with an urgency that seemed to always ride him these days. “C’mere, darlin’.”

He climbed onto the bed carefully, pulling her into a deep, long embrace.

They spent the next few minutes talking about the strategy the Freed Riders were going to implement against their foes. Blackie stayed close, wrapped around her with one arm under her head and the other hand resting on her belly, feeling Daniel’s steady kicks. The room was quiet except for their slowing breaths.

“Roscoe and those MDMC bastards are comin’ hard,” he said quietly, voice thick with vulnerability. “Targetin’ me personally. The thought of them gettin’ anywhere near you or the kids while you’re like this...it scares the shit outta me, Peaches. And Daniel...another boy comin’ into this world while there’s blood in the air. What if I can’t keep him safe? What kind of father am I, bringin’ him into this?”

Peaches turned her head, cupping his scarred jaw. “You’re the father who stays. The one who’s delegatin’ more, trustin’ his brothers, and still sittin’ right here with me. That’s the man Daniel will know.”

Blackie swallowed hard and pressed his forehead to hers. “You dragged this lone wolf into a family and made me want to be better. I’m terrified of failin’ you and this boy...but I swear I’ll burn the whole goddamn world down before I let anyone take this from us. You, me, the kids, Daniel, this legacy we’re buildin’. It’s everything.”