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Those past few months, I felt renewed and invigorated. No longer holding myself back, I finally let people in, the ones who had stood by my side for so long—Cece and Seph specifically, but just getting involved more was eye opening. All that time, I had kept myself outside of the club, thinking of myself as an inherited responsibility for the brothers.

For so long, I had been told that I was no good, was treated as invisible or an enemy, then a victim. Hiding from the pity, I was really hiding from myself. I wouldn’t have wanted me as a friend, so there was no way those women really cared about getting to know me.

I was not fixed. There was no such thing when one had gone through trauma. What I did know now, though, was that it wasn’t my fault. I never asked my husband to beat me. I wouldn’t have married him had I known, started a family with him.

The club didn’t keep us around out of pity. They adopted us. They were a family, and they never once considered Eliot or me as anything less. I was the one who held us back, apart. Once I stepped back in and let my walls down, I was welcomed with open arms, and my life had never felt so full.

Daylight passed in a flurry of setting everything up. Cece, Seph, and I bossed the men around until everything looked perfect. The party was in full swing, drinks were flowing and bellies were full. Off to the side, the girls and I took a minute to watch the festivities. Our chairs were clustered together, with Birdie in the center, racing between us under Cece’s watchful eye.

“Oh, my!” I gasped before trying to smooth my expression. Leaning toward Cece, I whispered in case anyone was listening.

“Don’t look now, but I think Bash and Fee are off to make you another grandchild.” I nodded in the direction the two were creeping off in, their hands linked and eyes locked on each other.

“About damn time!”

“Dam!” Birdie chirped, and we all laughed.

“Oh, no, sweet girl. Come give Gigi some cuddles.”

“Dam Gigi!” She giggled before running over to Cece, who wrapped her in her arms, pressing loud kisses to the girl’s red curls and pink cheeks.

“What about you, Beth? Do Lilah and Scythe have any plans…” Seph asked, and I smiled.

“Whatever is meant to be will happen. Right now, they want time alone together. Those two can’t get enough of each other. I have to admit, it’s not something I ever thought I would see.” I took a sip of my water to stop the tears I could feel rising. “Anyway, I’m just happy for Eliot. That he’s finally embracing life, not holding everyone at arm’s length. Since Lilah, he’s flourished.” The girls nodded enthusiastically.

“It’s been a rough year, but there have been some amazing things to come out of it,” Seph replied, her eyes heavy. Reaper’s injuries were the worst out of anyone’s, and his recovery hadn’t been easy.

Club morale had been down as well. Everything looked bleak after Crow’s attack; losing Tommy, the amount of injured brothers. Since then, it had been a healing year for everyone

“How are you doing, Seph?” I asked, reaching out to grab her hand.

“Oh, you know. Some days, I’m fine. Others I’m a mess. If I could just hold onto my mad, it would be easier. But emotions are never easy.” She turned to look at Reaper, who was sitting with his bad leg stretched in front of him, his cane off to the side.

“I’m just so happy he survived, that his recovery has been as smooth as it’s been. If I lost Reaper, I don’t know what I would do. We’re two halves of a whole. A life without him wouldn’t be the same.” I pulled Seph into my arms, and soon, Birdie was rushing over to squish between us.

“No sad! Kisses.” I pulled Birdie into my lap, and she took turns kissing my cheek and Seph’s to cheer us up.

“Thank you, Birdie. I feel all better now,” Seph said, before pulling the little girl into her lap.

“Can you believe how far Charlie has come?” Seph asked as we watched her lead a horde of bikers over to her throne.

“Do I want to know what’s happening?” I asked. Cece rolled her eyes affectionately.

“She had a bet with the boys about whether she would follow through with law school. Looks like she wants to do a victory lap.” We watched as Charlie seated herself in the chair, conducting the brothers to lift her above their heads, before proceeding to walk a victory lap around the backyard. Claps and cheers rang out as Charlie passed, waving her arm at the crowd like she was the queen.

“Can you imagine what it will be like when she’s let loose on white-collar corporate schmucks? She’s gonna eat the men alive,” Seph stated proudly, and we all nodded. A loud laugh had us all turning to watch Bull and Logan, arms around each other next to Roxie, Match, and Star.

“Times have changed. It’s a beautiful thing. Seeing everyone come together like this. Now more than ever, we need the reminder,” Cece murmured.

“Speaking of changes, what do you all think of the new guys? That older gentleman, Rome? He seems real sweet, soft-spoken for such a big guy.” Cece locked eyes with me as she spoke, her gaze pointed. A few brothers from other charters had moved here. After everything that happened with Crow, the boys wanted to beef up the headquarters. We now had five new brothers living at the clubhouse—Wesson, Vin, Zane, Bax and Rome.

I had helped get their new rooms set up and was at the clubhouse for their official welcome party. Rome and I had hit it off unintentionally. He was a widower, his wife passing from cancer several years earlier. He wanted a new place, a change of pace.

“He’s very polite,” I replied, not willing to say anything more. But I knew the flames in my cheek were all the answers they needed. I was enjoying his company—as a friend, or maybe something more.

“Uh-huh. Well, Mr. Polite is on his way over here, so get yourself together, girl,” Seph told me and I whipped my head around just in time for Rome to come into view.

“Hey there, ladies. You all enjoying the party?” he asked the group, but his warm brown eyes were on me. His hair was salt and pepper, with a full beard and tan skin. He was tall and well-built for a man in his sixties. More than once, I had found myself staring at his broad chest.