“Shh, baby girl,” Alaric warned with a stroke of Mia’s dark hair.
“Oops, sorry.” Mia made an apologetic face. She was still learning to be quiet around the quadruplets. “Can I carry Maddi?”
Big sister already had a clear favorite. Big sis vibes down pat, too.
“Sure.” Alaric gestured for us to go greet my mom while he supervised Mia and schooled her on proper lifting and cradling technique.
I fucking loved that he took the time and patience to show her these important practices.
Abayad bundled in my grasp, Slade, Zethan, and I went to the door.
Slade threw open the huge, solid wood door for us.
Mom stood on the doorstep, her arms crowded with a massive basket wrapped in clear cellophane. She didn’t know where to look at the three of us carrying the sweet little things. “Oh, my God. They’re little treasures.”
“Mom, I didn’t expect you for another two hours.” I herded her inside.
Wrapping crinkled as she navigated the huge basket through the doorway. “I was excited to meet my grandbabies.”
She tickled Belle’s nose and made my daughter’s eyes widen with alert at the stranger.
“Let me take that for you, Mrs. Heller.” Zethan picked up her suitcase, managing a baby in one arm and the luggage with no problem with his other.
“Here.” Mom held out the huge basket. Amanda Heller always went all out for gifts.
“Thanks, Mom. You didn’t have to.” I passed Abayad to Slade, and accepted the basket, stealing a glance at the goodies. Baby booties, bibs, jumpsuits, and custom-made t-shirts saying Biker Baby. Boutique whisky, cigars, chocolate, and other snacks for my men and me.
“Nothing but the best for my grandbabies.” Mom thought I was mad for falling for my enemy. She struggled to wrap her head around me becoming the Jackals’ old lady, let alone to four men at once. But she wouldn’t let that come between her relationship with her grandchildren, especially when we were all she had left. “It’s also a peace offering.”
“Mom?” I pulled back from the hug.
“I’m a grandma now.” She waved it away. “I don’t want there to be any hostility between your men and me.”
Meaning she worried that I would choose them and never let her see her grandchildren.
My men were incredible, and I wanted her to get to know them all. For her to give them the chance to prove what kind of men they were. I was pretty confident Amanda Heller would realize what amazing fathers and providers my men were for Mia and me. Leaders of their club, intelligent, ruthless businessmen who didn’t let competition fuck with them.
“You’re always welcome here, Amanda,” Slade reassured, slinging an arm around her back, and leaning down for a welcome kiss. “Regardless of our differences, we’d never keep our children from their grandparents.”
Air burst out of my mother’s mouth and her eyes watered. “I’m relieved to hear that, Slade.”
Slade. Not Slade Vincent. That was a start to moving in the right direction.
Ever since my mom discovered my brother’s treachery at killing the Wolves, her animosity toward my mates lost its fire.
A family divided by spilled blood. A family mended by revenge. A family healed by new blood.
“Oh, my God. Who’s this?” Mom tickled my baby boy’s cheek.
“This is Jackson,” Slade rumbled with pride, and I was grateful he left off the Blade name. “Say hello to your granny, little one.”
Mom took the baby and wept happy tears. “Four of them. Aaliyah, I don’t know how you manage.”
Slade threaded his arm around my back.
I nudged him in the side. “I make them change the diapers.”
Bikers didn’t get their hands dirty with the kids, but these ones did. I put my foot down. They weren’t leaving me to manage four babies alone.
