I walked slowly past Vice’s fallen form, my steps steady and my pulse even. Leaving the warehouse, I exchanged a glance with King. He gave me a brief, approving nod, his eyes understanding everything I hadn’t said. The night around us was quiet again, tension hanging thick but controlled, the aftermath of violence lingering in the air.
Division Nine had forced our hand. They’d pushed too far, touched too much that was ours. But tonight, the message was clear: there would be no fucking mercy.
When we arrived home, it was barely three in the morning. I wanted to go straight home but decided to shower all the violence off before seeing my girls.
I was leaving one of the guest rooms at the clubhouse when Ash found me. “Need to get a car for Gavin. You have one ready to go?”
We kept a lot of backup supplies in case some of our clients needed to disappear immediately. A car wasn’t exactly something you could have a large surplus of, but I usually had one ready to go.
Sighing, I nodded and went with Ash to get the vehicle and take it to the safehouse. By the time we were done with all the legal shit to make it valid, the sun had been up for hours. I took Ash back to his house, then finally headed home.
The house was quiet when I stepped inside, the low murmur of the television mixing with Hannah’s soft laughter drifting from the living room. The gentle sound instantly loosened the lingering tension in my shoulders, washing away the sharp edges of my night.
I paused in the entryway, my gaze landing on the scene unfolding before me, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth as warmth spread through my chest.
Hannah was curled up on the plush, oversized couch, her legs tucked beneath her and one hand resting gently on Isa, who lay sprawled across her lap in absolute comfort. Isa’s dark curls were a tangled mess from her nap, her tiny fingers clutching Hannah’s sweater tightly, even in sleep. It was the kind of thing that made my heart ache in the best possible way. My two girls, safe and happy, exactly where they belonged.
Hannah glanced up, catching my stare, and her face lit up in a way that stopped my heart for a beat. Damn, she was beautiful. Her smile was radiant, brightening the whole damn room. I found myself moving toward her without consciously deciding to.
“Took you long enough,” she teased softly, tilting her head back slightly as I approached. Her eyes sparkled playfully, and she arched one brow in challenge.
I leaned down, bracing a hand on the back of the couch as I closed the distance. “You miss me, sweetheart?”
She rolled her eyes, trying—and failing—to hide the blush that spread across her face. “Maybe a little.”
My gaze roamed slowly over her body, lingering deliberately on the soft curve of her hips and the fullness of her breasts beneath her thin sweater. I felt a familiar stir of desire, hot and insistent, but something was deeper there now. A bone-deep sense of satisfaction that this woman belonged to me, heart, body, and soul.
Isa stirred in Hannah’s lap, making a soft, sleepy sound before settling back down. I chuckled, running a hand gently over my little girl’s dark curls. “Looks like someone’s worn out.”
Hannah laughed softly, shifting Isa more comfortably in her lap. “We spent the morning playing in the garden. She wore herself out on the outside playmat.”
I grinned, picturing Isa’s delighted giggles as she tried to catch the colorful toys that hung over her mat. I let myself imagine more days like this, filled with laughter and ease. With Hannah by my side and Isa growing up safe and loved. It was everything I’d never known I wanted, and now it was impossible to picture my life any other way.
“You look pretty damn exhausted yourself,” I pointed out, catching the faint shadows beneath Hannah’s eyes. I gently ranmy thumb across her cheekbone, tracing the delicate line of her face.
Her gaze warmed, and she leaned into my touch, a small, contented sigh escaping her lips. “Maybe a little. But it’s the best kind of exhausted. The kind that comes from having a day filled with joy.”
I leaned down, brushing my mouth lightly over hers in a slow, unhurried kiss. “Good. Because you’re going to have a lot more days like today.”
Her eyes searched mine, the playfulness fading into something deeper and more serious. “Promise?”
I cupped her face gently, my gaze unwavering, letting her see the truth in my eyes. “I promise, Hannah. Every damn day. You and Isa are my world. Nothing will ever change that. I love you both more than anything.”
She gave me a soft smile, her expression radiating trust and happiness. “We love you, too, Griffin.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest, and I felt the last of my lingering tension ease away. For the first time, there were no shadows lurking in the back of my mind, only contentment and peace.
And it was all because of Hannah and Isa—the family I never saw coming but knew I’d never live without again.
EPILOGUE
HANNAH
“Isa, baby, no. Don’t put that in your mouth!”
I lunged forward as our one-year-old tried to stuff the corner of her favorite stuffed bunny into her mouth for the third time in five minutes. Griffin beat me to it, scooping her up with one big arm and pressing a loud kiss to her chubby cheek.
“Nice try, princess,” he rumbled. “But we save chewing on bunnies for when Mommy’s not looking.”
