mail." She smiled at her sister, letting her know that nothing could hurt her anymore. "You guys should go eat and enjoy the party. I think some of the men are starting fires in the barbecues soon." She turned to Whip. "Let's go get a beer."
They walked away together. Whip patted her ass. Giddy with how she'd handled her sister, she put her arm around him and leaned against his side.
After getting them each a bottle out of the cooler, they joined Rick and Tracy at one of the tables. She'd barely sat down, and Bethy toddled over and lifted her arms. Without hesitation, she picked the little girl up and put her on her lap.
With acceptance came ease. Tracy and her family had welcomed her without judging.
She no longer was afraid of holding the kids or doing something wrong. The children loved the affection, and she'd found out they were easy to entertain.
She looked over at Whip, talking with Rocky—letting him have a sip off his beer bottle. Contentment left her crazy for her husband. Seeing him with the kids, she wanted to experience that with their children.
Her throat squeezed, and she smoothed Bethy's hair down in the back. Her own children.
She could be pregnant.
They'd stopped using condoms the scariest night of her life.
Whip, sensing her looking at him or maybe that she needed him, turned his gaze on her. She smiled, all the wonderful emotions filling her.
His gaze softened, and he winked.
Her husband. Her man. Her new life.
Epilogue
Whip
PRIEST LIT A CIGARETTE and leaned back in the chair at the head of the table in the meeting room. "As of yesterday, Cusclan Motorcycle Club has fallen to half their original size. The Feds nailed over a hundred members, linking them to crimes spanning the last five years. They picked up almost a hundred more members for outstanding warrants."
A roar went up around the table. Across from Whip, Paco grinned at him. The raid came after the Feds were given an anonymous tip about the marked bullets.
Tarkio put out an announcement to every motorcycle club in the PNW and inner-PNW about the underhanded system Cusclan put in place, giving them ample time to get rid of the weapons or rebore the barrels of the guns, getting rid of the marks.
At the end of the investigation, the bullets used in the crimes were linked back to the weapons they found in the hands of Cusclan Motorcycle Club members.
Thanks to Twyla stealing Big's pistol, Whip was able to take the pressure off the club and serve some retaliation for his parents' murders.
Once the room quieted, Priest continued. "Because we had the jump on merging with Moroad within the prison system, we'll be able to stay one step ahead of the others as they serve their time."
Whip crossed his arms and hooked his hands under his armpits. The power back within the club put them in good standing to hold on to their territory.
"In other news, Paco will be gone next week. He's taking Josie and the baby up to..." Priest looked down the table.
"Alberta," injected Paco. "I need someone to watch the house. Josie wants to have a ceremony for the baby with some big wigs on the reservation up there."
Hammer raised his hand. "I'll do it. Your place is close to Promise, so it'll be easiest if I stay there, instead of my apartment."
"Chrischris needs his Firebird towed from his old place to the new house on Thursday," said Priest.
Aaron lifted his finger off the table. "I already committed to the job after Cami mentioned it at work. She's taking that day off to move her and the baby's things in with Chrischris."
"Let me remind you that Nelson Steel, now working for Tarkio, earned his patch while in prison. Walker has him under his watch. As many of you know, we've used his garage for many years while he's been under the state's control and provided protection while he serves his time behind bars." Priest looked at Curley. "We'll be pulling all the connections we have to try to get him released early."
"I'll make sure we supply the pressure." Curley wrote on the paper in front of him.
"Roddy and Wyatt need someone to fill in on the construction crew. Sign on with Roddy since Wyatt's busy with his daughter marrying Banks' son at the end of the month." Priest flipped a paper over. "Next Wednesday is the vote on the prospects. If you need to talk with them, make sure that