a discussion, one-on-one.”
My eyes widen at Dante’s request because I’m still so nervous. “I think we should have a chat. What are you to my daughter, exactly?”
“I’m the man who will be marrying her.”
“Whoa. What in the fuck? Did he just really say that shit?” Widow blurts out, showing me that while his features have changed . . . his big mouth hasn’t.
“Did you have to say that?” I whisper-yell to Dante, who chuckles lightly.
“Let’s head into my father’s office where we can have a private conversation, free of eavesdroppers.” Make no mistake, I know Dante was referring to me about eavesdropping because he knows if I have the opportunity, I would do it.
I rise and lean across the coffee table to hand my father his recovery chip. I can imagine they have some sort of sentiment. He rises as Dante does and follows him out of the living room, leaving Widow and I to sit amongst ourselves.
“You’re going to marry him?”
“He thinks I will.”
“So, you won’t?”
“I don’t know. I do care for him immensely.” I confess, thinking about everything he’s been by my side for.
“When we came here I assumed you’d be a shell of the woman you once were. Instead, I feel like I’m talking to a completely different Amara. A stronger one.”
“I think I am a different woman. So much has changed, Widow.” I admit. “It seems like a lot has changed in the world we live in too. Care to fill me in? You said you have a son.”
Widow beams with pride. “Yeah, his name is Talon. He looks just like me, but damn if he doesn’t have his mother’s temper. Zoe adores him. She keeps telling her mom she wants to stay at our house all the time.”
“How adorable. You seem so happy. I’m . . . I’m so happy you’ve found your happiness, Widow, and I really mean it.”
“I know you do, ‘Mar. You’ve always been a bitch, but damn, you have a good heart.”
“Uh, thanks?” I laugh.
“I only hope this jackass will make you just as happy. He’s got this fancy-schmancy look about him that I don’t like.”
“Mmm, yeah. He treats me right, though. Dante spoils me.”
“Good. Shit . . . ‘Mar. I don’t know how to bring this up, so I’ll just shoot it straight. After you were taken I had some real hardcore thinkin’ to do . . . and after you, you know, I treated you like shit. I said some things I could never take back, and after thinkin’ on it all I know you did it for me. I don’t know why it was so hard to see back then, but I see it now, and I’m sorry for makin’ shit even more difficult on you.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t do it because I wasn’t ready, there was so much more than that. I knew Melody had been in Las Vegas and I knew about Zoe. I wouldn’t ever have been able to live with myself if you didn’t try to work it out with her, if you had stayed with me simply because we had a baby.”
“You know her and I were bound to blow up at some point. We were too hot-headed, fought too nasty. It never would’ve worked. But I’m just sorry about everything I said. I didn’t mean it, not really at least.”
“It’s alright. You’ve long been forgiven. Now, tell me what else has happened at the club.”
Widow proceeds to tell me about Dixon getting engaged to Indra and their new arrival. A baby girl named Khloe. Booger and Camila have a little boy named Ransom, who’s just turned four months old. Of course, there’s my niece, Luna, who’s six months old. Widow tells me Zane and Octavia are expecting a little boy too. That he’s due any day now and they haven’t picked a name for him. It’s crazy how our entire club can change in such a short amount of time.
Widow and I end up sitting out here in the living room and chat for an hour until Dante and my father come back in. Our talk went so well, but one glance at Dante and my father tells me they’ve both been hiding something from me.
“What’s wrong?”
“I . . . I didn’t want to tell you this, mija. Not until later. Not until you had seen your sister and brothers but I can’t live with myself if you don’t know.”
Widow widens his eyes and shakes his head from left to right, almost