Page 79 of Cries of Cassie

She walks around giggling about tall giraffes after a few beers. Literally every walk home from the clubhouse after midnight is filled with chatter about how tall a giraffe is and if they even live in Michigan.

Mads chuckles, nuzzling my ear. “No fucking clue. But I agree, get her a giraffe. The little one would love it. Oh, speaking of⁠—”

“SISSIE!!!!”

Cassie whirls around with eyes as wide as saucers. “Holy fucking shit! I mean—Damn it. UGH!” Her face turns red with frustration at herself, but she manages one of her cleansing breaths and sprints to Violet’s little sister. “OPAL!!!”

Our woman and her best friend’s six-year-old sibling collide in the biggest hug I have ever fucking seen. “Shit, we need to step up our game,” I mutter, nudging Ripley who nods seriously.

While Cassie has struggled with emotional regulation, Ripley is back to his usual brooding, unhinged, sweet self. Although there’s a shadow that crosses his face when he thinks no one is looking that me and the guys are keeping an eye on. I’m sure Cassie’s noticed too but she hasn’t pushed. Patience.

“Raven’s here too!” Opal shouts.

Just like that, the woman and child run out the garage doors. I think we, and all the brothers, stand there a little stunned in the aftermath of all that happiness, but hell, we shove each other out of the way so we can get another hit of that sunshine. Our north star.

“MOMMA!” Opal drags Cassie over to a woman I’ve only ever researched. For Cassie’s safety of course.

The smile on Cassie’s face makes me want to burn the fences to the ground. Everyone in her family will always be welcome. Any time. No matter the hour as long as she keeps smiling.

“Blue?! Tell me you didn’t come all the way out here for me!” Cassie envelopes the blue-haired woman in a tight hug that lasts long enough to tell me there’s a deeper connection than I thought. Blue lived a hard life…and that’s just what I read. I can’t imagine the reality she suffered.

I tune the women out when Maddox slaps Parker and Ripley upside their heads when they start growling and glaring at Blue’s husbands. Violet and her three men also crowd around, making my chest pinch with that familiar urge to pull my gun out and drag my old lady back to my side.

“Do you see how many there are?” Parker snarls, gesturing to the seven men around the three women, baby, and child.

Ripley shakes his shoulders and hands out. The shock I feel when he lays a palm on Parker’s shoulder takes my breath away.

“Now when Cassie goes out dancing, because she will, you can vet the men we’ll be guarding her with,” Ripley argues, sounding…sane.

I feel the color drain from my face at the concept of her leaving the compound. Ever. Which is why the topic of a tracker is still on the table no matter what Cassie says.

Maddox gets their attention with a loud whistle, gesturing for Opal to follow him. The little one glances up at her mom first, who nods, then she makes eye contact with all four of her dads before skipping over to him.

In her twinkly, tiny voice, she says, “Yes, Mr. President?”

“I think my heart just melted,” I mutter breathlessly.

I literally hear Parker gulp.

And Ripley? Well, he stomps right up to Cassidy and tells her, “How do I take your IUD out?”

Closing my eyes in request for patience, I watch Mads turn Opal to look out over toward the homes. And there stands a great big playground. “I had that set up today.”

“No WAY!” she screams much like her pseudo sister and bolts off in that direction. Before anyone can call her back, she turns on her heel and runs right into Maddox’s legs. “Thank you, Mr. President!”

“You’re welcome, rugrat. For you, baby Raven, and for all the other kids who come along.” He doesn’t specify whose kids, but we certainly hope some of ours will be chasing Opal and Raven through the small grassy field someday.

Judging by the pure love and longing in Cassie’s eyes, I don’t think we’ll have any argument over that topic.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Ripley (Ripper)

“RIP STOP!”

Destroy it! Take it down! It doesn’t belong here! ENOUGH! ENOUGH! ENOUGH!

“RIPLEY!”