No one speaks.
“Good. Church adjourned.”
Brothers start filing out. Some clap me on the shoulder as they pass. Others nod in respect. But I’m not paying attention to them.
I’m looking at Bonnie.
She’s still standing there, hand on her stomach, looking fierce and beautiful and absolutely perfect.
I cross to her. Cup her face in my hands.
“I love you,” I say. Not caring who hears. “I’m madly in love with you.”
Her eyes go soft. “I love you too.”
I kiss her. Deep. Thorough. Claiming her in front of everyone still left in the room.
When I pull back, Ghost and Titan have moved to stand beside us. A united front.
“There’s something else,” I say to the remaining brothers. Maybe ten of them still lingering. “Something you all need to know.”
Bonnie looks at me. Questioning.
“We’re doing this,” I tell her quietly. “Now. No more hiding.”
She takes a breath. Nods.
I look at the brothers. At Jackal standing near the door watching this all unfold.
“Bonnie is my wife,” I say clearly. “But she’s also Ghost’s and Titan’s old lady. All three of us claim her. All three of us will raise this baby. That’s how it is. That’s how it’s going to be.”
The room goes dead silent.
Miller’s eyebrows shoot up. Barnes looks confused. Rodriguez just stares.
And Jackal—Jackal’s face has gone completely blank.
“We’re claiming her publicly,” Titan adds. “Making it official. Anyone got a problem with it, now’s the time to speak.”
No one speaks. They’re too shocked.
“She’s ours,” Ghost says quietly. “All of ours. The baby is ours. We’re raising it as a family.”
“That’s—” Barnes starts. Stops. “That’s not traditional.”
“Nothing about this situation is traditional,” I say. “But it works for us. And that’s all that matters.”
The brothers exchange glances. Uncertain. Uncomfortable. But not hostile.
“Congratulations,” Miller finally says. “I guess?”
A few others echo the sentiment. Awkward. Stilted. But acceptance nonetheless.
They file out slowly. Leaving just us four and Jackal.
Bonnie leans against me. Exhausted but relieved. “That went better than expected.”
“Yeah.”
