Page 31 of Always My Fate

She squeezed his fingers, feeling Daniel kick strongly between them. Joy and frustration warred inside her again.

“I’m enjoying this,” she said honestly, nodding towards the yard. “Seeing everyone together, the kids playin’...it fills me up. But I hate bein’ stuck here, Blackie. I should be out there makin’ sure everything’s runnin’ smooth, not givin’ orders from the porch like some invalid.”

Blackie started to speak, the protective scowl forming, but she cut him off gently, turning to look him in the eyes.

“I know you’re worried. I know Daniel and I are the priority. But don’t forget, I’m still me. I told Marlene to keep a close eye on Tammy. And earlier I messaged the group about making sure the care packages get delivered this week. I may not ride or run around, but I’m sure not useless. This club family needs me too. And, like it or not, I’m gonna keep on helping where I can.”

Blackie exhaled heavily, but she saw the flicker of pride in his eyes. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

“You’re the strongest damn woman I know, Peaches. Never doubted that for a second.” He rested his forehead against hers for a moment. “Just...don’t push too hard. For my sake. For Daniel.”

Peaches smiled, the joy winning out again as she looked out at their family, blood and club, all gathered in their yard.

“I won’t. But I won’t disappear either. We do this together, remember?”

Daniel gave another strong kick, almost like agreement. Peaches laughed softly and leaned into Blackie’s side, letting the warmth of the gathering and the strength of her resolve settle deep in her bones.

She might be limited right now, but she was far from sidelined.

***

Blackie

Blackie stepped off the porch and walked to the far side of the house, phone already pressed to his ear. The sounds of the party, kids laughing, brothers bullshitting, faded behind him as Horse’s voice came through the line.

“Prez, sorry to pull you away from the family time, but you need to hear this.”

“Talk,” Blackie growled, leaning against the siding.

“It’s Roscoe. Confirmed. One of our contacts caught him meetin’ with Ruiz, that MDMC mid-level piece of shit who survived Belle. They’re plannin’ something direct. Not just probes anymore. Word is they’re aimin’ to hit you personal-like, to draw you out. Your name came up multiple times. Roscoe’s feedin’ them exact details about your routines, the house, even mentionin’ Peaches bein’ on bed rest. They know she’s vulnerable.”

Rage exploded through Blackie like a fucking grenade.

“That motherfucking, backstabbing, piece-of-shit brother of mine!” he snarled, voice low and vicious so it wouldn’t carry to the yard. “I’ll rip his goddamn spine out and shove it down his throat! After everything, after I gave that worthless cunt another chance and another, and here he’s sellin’ out my family to those MDMC cockroaches? I should’ve buried him the last time he crossed me!”

Blackie paced the narrow strip of grass, free hand clenched into a fist. “All right. Here’s what we’re doin’. You and Duane lock down every route into Belle and Longview. Triple the watches on my house. I don’t care where you pull men from. Round up some prospects, patched brothers, I don’t give a fuck. Yank Gunny in if you need him. Talk to him about setting up a trap on the southern supply line and making it look weak. When those bastards come sniffin’, you can hit ’em with everything. But under no circumstances do you move without Rook’s say-so. I want options on my desk by tomorrow mornin’.”

He stopped pacing, staring out towards the backyard where Peaches sat on the porch, surrounded by their kids and club family. His voice dropped, still edged with fury but heavy with resolve.

“I’m not leavin’ this house, Horse. Peaches and Daniel come first. Always. Those five hellions runnin’ around need their momma healthy and their old man present. I’ll run this war from right here if I have to. You and Duane have my trust, use it. But if Roscoe or any of those MDMC ghosts get anywhere near my family, I will personally paint the fuckin’ county red with their blood.”

“Understood, Prez,” Horse replied, voice steady. “We got your back. Family first.”

“Damn right,” Blackie muttered. “Keep me updated. Every scrap.”

He ended the call and stood there for a long moment, exhaling through the red haze of anger. The threat was no longer creeping; it was breathing down their necks. His own blood had betrayed them.

But as he looked back towards the porch and saw Peaches smiling at whatever it was one of the old ladies said to her, hand resting on her belly where their son was growing, the fury settled into something colder. Sharper.

He would protect this.

No matter what it cost.

Blackie squared his shoulders and walked back towards his family, the vow burning like fire in his chest.

Always my fate. Always my fight.

***