“You really mean that.”
“Every word.”
She’s quiet for a long moment. Then she nods. “Okay. We announce tonight. But we get the paternity test done right after.”
“Deal.”
“And if it’s him?”
“Then we raise that baby knowing it’s ours. Mine, Ghost’s, Titan’s. Yours. It doesn’t matter whose DNA it carries. It matters who loves it. Who raises it. Who protects it.”
She kisses me again. Deeper this time.
A knock on the door interrupts us.
“Come in,” I call.
Ghost and Titan file in. They both stop when they see Bonnie in my lap.
“We interrupting?” Titan asks with a grin.
“Yes,” Bonnie says, sliding off my lap. “But I’ll leave you boys to your meeting.” She heads for the door, pausing to look back at me. “Tonight then?”
“Tonight,” I confirm.
The door closes behind her. Ghost and Titan take the chairs across from my desk.
“So,” Titan says, leaning back. “What’s the plan, boss?”
I look at my two closest brothers. The men who’ve had my back since the beginning. The men who love the same woman I do.
“First,” I say, “we’re making some organizational changes. You’re both doing VP-level work. Time to make it official.”
Ghost raises an eyebrow. “Both of us?”
“Both of you. The club needs strong leadership. I can’t do this alone.” I lean forward. “Ghost, you handle intelligence and strategy. Titan, you handle enforcement and security. You both report directly to me. You both have equal authority under my command.”
They exchange glances.
“That’s not how it’s usually done,” Ghost says carefully.
“We’re not usual. And these aren’t usual times.” I’ve been carrying around the two new VP patches for a week, waiting for the right moment. “What do you say?”
Titan grins. “Hell yes.”
Ghost is quieter, but he nods. “Honor to serve.”
I slide the patches across the desk. “We’ll make it official at church tonight. Same meeting where I announce Bonnie’s pregnancy.”
“She agreed to go public?” Titan asks.
“She’s scared. But she agreed.” I lean back. “We’re also getting a paternity test done after the announcement.”
“Makes sense,” Ghost says.
“What happens after we know?” Titan asks.
“We keep it to ourselves. Let everyone think the baby’s mine.” I look at both of them. “It’s strategic and strengthens my position as president. Shows legitimacy.”
