I’ve always had dreams of being a demon slayer.Buffy always did make my teenage dick hard.
At that moment, Valkyrie stomps into the common room with her head held high.My daughter is hooked to her hip while my son marches next to her with a scowl on his face.His eyes flit around the room, and I can already tell he’s assessing the threats that may await them.Manic tags along behind them, his lips pressed firmly together as his eyes stay glued to the feisty redhead in front of him.
Kyrie ignores me entirely and shoves past me to get to her sister.My kids rush to their mother, surrounding her with their little bodies and filling her with love and light.I watch as Birdie’s eyes close, soaking in everything about them and allowing their presence to chase away her demons for now.
“Valkyrie,” I call.
She turns to me with sharp eyes, but I only lift a brow in the face of her hate.
“I’m going to send Birdie and the twins to my room.She’ll only feel safe if you’re in there with her.I’d like for you all to stay so we can figure out the best way to handle this shit.”This time, I turn back to Birdie.“You all are safe here.I know it’ll take time to prove that to you after our past together, but I’m good with that as long as you all are under this roof so I knowhecan’t reach you.”
My daughter turns in her mother’s arms and regards me solemnly.“Are you going to protect my mama, sir?”
That fucking vessel that’s spent seven years silent in my chest gives another hard thump at the tone of her words.
“I’m going to do my best, my little love.”
Her eyes widen as wonder fills them.“You know my name?”
Birdie cups her cheek and turns my daughter to face her again.“He doesn’t, baby.Remember when I told you that Dad was super busy keeping all these people safe?”Our little girl nods sadly.“I haven’t had the chance to talk to him about either of you yet, so how about I introduce you to your daddy?”
“Oh, Mama, I think I’d really like that,” my girl whispers.
“Well, then ...”Birdie turns our daughter back toward me and wraps her arm around her stomach.“Apollonos, I’d love for you to meet your daughter, Lovelyn.My little love, I’d like you to meet your daddy.”
I’m a big, strong, steady motherfucker, but when my daughter breaks away from her mama and barrels into me with tears in her eyes, I break the hell down.I drop to my ass with Lovelyn in my arms and bury my face into her hair, breathing in her childish scent.
After a few minutes, I lift my head and find my son.He’s watching me with his sister, ready to step in if he deems me a threat to her.I open my arm, showing him I have room for him too.He eyes the open spot as he bites down on his bottom lip.Legend wants to come to me, but when he peers back at his mom, I know it’ll take time.My son, myfuckingson, believes it’s his job to look after his mama.There’s something that makes me so fucking angry about that, and I don’t know who the hell to aim it at.
“Legend?”
He turns back to me.
“Whenever you’re ready, son.”
His little lip quivers before he gives a sharp nod and burrows closer to Birdie.I clench my jaw, ignoring the sorrow and apology that I feel pouring from Birdie when she witnesses it.I’ve shoved it down to focus on her and the twins, but the anger at her for keeping my kids from me still creeps under my skin.
Kissing Lovelyn on the head, I stand and anchor her to my hip.“Cyanide, help Birdie to my room.Malice, bring snacks and drinks.”
I turn away from her and head upstairs, worried I won’t be able to keep my anger leashed if I stay around her.
“Fucking prick,” Valkyrie mutters, and my lips twitch.
There was a time when it would have been Birdie calling me on my shit.
I’ll get her back there, though.Even if I have to make her hate me more to do it.
After we have Birdie, Valkyrie, and the twins secured in my room, I head into the chapel with the rest of the council members.We gather around the table, varying degrees of anger filling the room around us.Every person in this room loves Birdie and Valkyrie.They’re family to these men, and the thought of someone hurting either of them after the damage we had already caused doesn’t sit well with any of us.
Joker opens his mouth, but I shoot him a sharp look and shake my head as I pull the club burner phone out of the drawer and place it in the middle of the table.
I work my way through the contacts until I reach Cypher’s number and hit the call icon.
A few years ago, I talked to him and Bugsy about returning to Coral Cay permanently.I never wanted to force my brothers into a place they didn’t want to be, so when they told me they were happy on the road, I left them alone.They show up when they’re called upon, and that’s all that matters to me.Two years ago, Cypher asked Scorch, Munch’s ol’ lady, if she’d make him two property kuttes, shocking nearly everyone in the club.He’d always been vehemently opposed to having his dick tied to one person, and there he was locking himself to two of them.
We’re all captive to love in some form.
“Yo, Prez,” he answers breathlessly.
