“Joslyn?” Travis groans over the phone, and I sit up straight, concerned. Wilder is sitting beside me, looking confused.

“What’s the matter, Travis?” My words rush out, and I am sitting at the edge of my seat. This past month I have gotten very close to Travis, Tristan, and my dad. We all spend a lot of time together and usually have dinner three times a week.

I love having my family around. I have also gotten to know Wilder’s mom, and we will be hanging out tomorrow, along with Amelia, Adeline, and Brittany.

“I have the flu,” he croaks out, his voice sounding weak.

I stand up. “Where are you?”

“Just left the ER.”

“Wilder and I will be by to pick you up, and you can stay here. I will take care of you. I am also ignoring the fact you went to the ER without telling me.”

“Alright.”

I hang up and look at Wilder. “Travis is sick, will you pick him up while I get everything ready here?”

Wilder eyes me, but I just smile sweetly, ignoring the fact he hates Travis being around me. Travis jokes flirtatiously with me, and Wilder cannot stand it, which makes Travis do it ten times more often.

“Baby, he is a grown-ass man. He can take care of himself,” he grumbles, looking way too cute.

“Don’t pout, Baby.” I smirk and kiss him. “We all know who I belong to.”

His expression darkens at my words, and he pulls me to him with a fistful of my ass. The other hand is stroking my hair, and he kisses me. This kiss is a claiming one.

This past month has made Wilder and me extremely close, and I have never been so happy in my life.

“Fine,” he says and walks out the door. I laugh.

* * *

Wilder and Travis show up an hour later, and Travis is looking absolutely awful. He is pale and sickly. Wilder hands me his medicine.

“I have the room set up upstairs.”

Wilder rolls his eyes at me, and I smack his ass, wanting him to behave.

Travis stumbles into the bedroom, and I have some of Wilder’s clothes on the bed. “Change and I will bring you some soup.”

Wilder shuts the door a little too hard, and I suck in my lip trying to stop my laughter. Am I such a bad person that I love this?

I walk downstairs and grab the soup I made for Travis from the stove. “Where is my soup?” Wilder asks.

Not able to contain it, I snort and hand him his bowl, which I already set out. He smiles and takes it, kissing my cheek. “Thank you, Baby.”

I walk back upstairs and knock on Travis’s door. “You dressed?”

She pushes open the door, and Travis is lying there shirtless. The stupid fucker is testing my last nerve. He does shit just to piss me off when it comes to Joslyn.

I give him a death glare as Joslyn sets the food on the table, and when she walks away, he winks. The fucker didn’t act that sick, but the moment he walked into my house, he was on death’s door.

He pisses me off. If he weren’t my cousin, I would beat his ass worse than I already do.

Joslyn sits down on the edge of the bed and tries to hand him his soup, but he shivers dramatically. “I don’t think I could hold the bowl,” he says in a feeble voice.

He is asking for it.

“Sure.” She starts to fucking feed him, and Travis stares at me the whole time, a gleam in his eye.

Every second seems to drag on until he is done, and when she turns her head, he smirks. I point my gun at him. He wags his eyebrows, not fazed in the least.

She covers him up and gives him his meds and a glass of fucking water. “Let me know if you need anything, get some rest.”

I take the bowl from her and almost pack her out of the room. She just laughs. The little shit knows exactly what he’s doing and how much it pisses me off.

I walk into the kitchen, only to be pushed against the wall. My face is pressing against the wall, and I laugh when Wilder kisses my cheek.

“I fucking want you. Here. Now.”

“Yes,” I say breathlessly, and he pushes my pants down. I turn around and finish the job for him, while he strips out of his own clothes.

He stops and stares at me, eyeing my body. Everywhere he looks, my body lights up with goose bumps breaking out across my skin.

Wilder presses my back to the wall, and I wrap my legs around his waist. His fingers slide inside and I hiss, tossing my head back.

“Fucking soaked.” He nips my neck and I shiver, twining my fingers in his hair.

He removes his finger, replacing it with his dick, and I hold my breath. I will never get over the feel of him like this, this connection.

“Mine,” he hisses, and my eyes roll back in my head, which falls forward and rests on his shoulder.

“Yours,” I agree, and his grip tightens before he fucks me hard against the wall. I love every second of it.

I just stare at her, her eyes closed and her body resting against the wall. Her hair is slipping from her ponytail, and her skin is flushed—she is way too fucking beautiful to be real.

But she is, and she is mine

We haven’t used a condom ever since the night we forgot to use one, so she could be pregnant, right now, with my baby.

Joslyn has transformed in front of my eyes. She has laughed more every day, smiled more, and babied everyone around us, especially the dick Travis.

“Carry me,” she says, falling forward, her head on my shoulder.

I laugh, thoroughly pleased that I exhausted her. I walk past the couch and grab the blanket, wrapping it around her naked back in case Travis walks out.

Joslyn snakes her hand off my back to the back of my head, running her fingers through my hair. She is sweet and kind, she is like an angel.

I love her, I fucking love her, and she will be the only woman I ever love.

“This would be so pretty on you!” Wilder’s mom hands me a shirt. I agree the top is very much my style.

“Thank you, I will get it.”

She beams at me.

Darla is absolutely adorable. I liked her from the moment I met her. I met her before I left a couple of months ago. She came into the bakery often to restock her cookie jar.

Darla is the mom everyone wants to be—she is sweet as pie—but she has a temper on her. Someone ran into her, and I thought she was going to punch them in the face.

Two prospects have been following us around. They are stationed outside the clothes store, which will probably get them in trouble because they are supposed to keep us in sight, according to Wilder.

My stomach growls for the tenth time since we walked into this store an hour ago. I am not much for shopping, but these girls are hardcore shoppers. Amelia has a whole cartful for herself and her daughter Tiffany. Brittany is shopping for herself, and I know she’s picked out some clothes for me.

I probably should just give her my debit card and let her have at it; I’d rather be looking at cookware.

Darla arches an eyebrow at my stomach, laughing. “You guys ready to eat?” she calls to everyone, and they all yell back, “Yes!”

We all pay for our stuff and go to the food court. My mouth waters at the thought of a bacon cheeseburger with extra, extra pickles.

I hurry to the table and sit beside Darla. I take a huge bite of my burger, ready to cry at how good it is.

“Are you pregnant?”

I stop midbite, staring at her. She has a hopeful look on her face. I set the burger down and contemplate what to say. “I’m not sure,” I whisper.

Her eyes widen, and she smiles. “Finish eating, I will go grab some tests.” She all but runs off, tugging along a prospect.

My stomach clenches. What if I am pregnant? Breathe, Joslyn, don’t freak out. Not yet. This is something we were expecting; we wanted this. If it’s true, then it will be perfect.

“Where is she going?” Amelia asks and I shrug. I don’t want a lot of people to know in case I’m not, leaving me to deal with having to tell everybody.

The moment she gets back, I walk into the bathroom, and Darla and Brittany follow me.

“Here.” Darla hands me the test, which has a digital screen, and my hands are shaking as I take it.

“Pregnancy test?” Brittany asks, staring at the test and then back at me. “You think you’re pregnant?”

“I’m not sure.” I press the box to my chest and go into the booth. I look at the instructions, and it’s really straightforward: just pee on the stick. I got this handled.

I do what needs to be done and open the door, setting the test on the counter. We all look at the wall.

The alarm goes off on Brittany’s phone, letting us know it’s time to look. I grab the test and my whole world stops at what it says.

Pregnant.

Tears fall down my face and I touch my stomach, and Darla reads it. She and Brittany scream and run to me. I am surrounded by hugs, tears falling along with mine.

The door opens and the rest of the women come in. “She is having my grandbaby!” Darla screams, and the other girls scream, joining in the hug.

“A new MC baby!” Amelia yells and we all laugh.

I sob, hugging every one of the girls. This is what family is all about. “Wilder is going to freak!” Brittany says and I nod. I cannot wait to tell him.

“Let’s get her home, so she can tell my boy.” Darla hugs me once more.

I think I just got lucky with an amazing mother-in-law. We all file out of the bathroom, wiping our tears, to come face-to-face with guns.

I gasp at the sight of our prospects lying on the ground and three men standing in front of us. Darla pushes me and Brittany behind her. Adeline pushes Amelia behind her.

“What do you want?” Darla asks, her voice calm and collected.

All three men appear to be of Mexican descent. The one on the right smiles, and his teeth are grimy looking. “We came with a message.”

The one in the middle bends over, looking at Amelia. He winks and Adeline pushes her against the door.

“What’s the message?” Adeline asks.

“Tell the guys in charge we are here, ready to take over your town.” He steps closer to Adeline. “Fight if you want, but tell them the women and children are the first to go.”

They laugh, walking away from us. We all hurry back into the bathroom, locking the door. Amelia is already on the phone with Lane, explaining what’s happening.

I don’t know what is happening right now. I just can’t believe all of us—women and children, mind you—were threatened.

That affects the Devil Souls MC too, because Shaylin is married to a Devil Souls member and they have a daughter, Tiana.

“They outright threatened the kids,” I hiss.

Amelia is staring at the wall. “Don’t I fucking know it. My daughter is the president’s daughter, that’s a double fucking target.”

“War is happening,” Darla whispers, looking at me and Brittany.

Brittany rolls her shoulders, fixes her blouse, and smiles. “War is what they will get.”

One thing I know is that we will go down swinging.

Adeline looks at every woman in the room. “They threatened the women in the club too, they just sentenced themselves to death.”

* * *

“Get to the fucking mall!” Lane yells, running out of the clubhouse. The other guys follow me.

What the fuck happened?

The mall?

My heart fucking stops in my chest. What if she is hurt? My life would be over in a split second.

We thunder out of the gate, rushing to the mall. All of the guys around me are pissed off, and I can tell they are scared.

We can handle a fucking lot of shit, but our worlds being threatened?

That tortures a man.

The ride to the mall is the longest fucking one yet, and we pull up outside the place. Lane doesn’t get off. He motions for us to stand still.

“Son, fucking tell me she is okay,” Smiley says.

My dad looks like he is about to pass out beside me. My mom, my woman, and my fucking sister.

Six more bikes pull up. It’s the Original Guys, including Walker and Tristan. “What the fuck is going on?” Walker yells and steps off of his bike.

“If you will sit fucking still I will tell you,” Lane yells back before he collects himself. “The cartel made their move.”

“How?” Derek growls.

“They knocked out the prospects and told the women to give us a message. The message was they are here and ready to take over the town. Fight, and the women and kids are the first ones to go.”

Another bike pulls up with a sick Travis.

“Let’s get our women and then we can fucking chit chat.” I cannot fucking stand it anymore. I need Joslyn here in front of me to make sure she is okay.

“We go straight to the club.”

We get off our bikes and walk into the mall. “Where are they?” I walk to the right of Lane—-as vice president, that is my spot—-and on my right are Derek and Travis.

“The bathroom off the food court.”

We all walk a little faster because they are right up ahead. We head for the bathroom.

The prospects are awake now, propped up against the door, and I know they are going to be thrown out on their asses because they left the women exposed. Second chances are not happening here.

Lane rips the prospects’ patches off their cuts right then and there. “Leave,” Lane tells them and they leave.

“Amelia, I am here,” Lane calls through the door.

The door flies open, and we all run into the bathroom. Joslyn is standing next to my mother, and I run to them. “You guys okay?” I ask my mom, and my sister nods before my father swarms them both.

“Wilder.” Joslyn face plants into my chest and her dad stands beside me.

“You okay, Sweetheart?”

She nods, her fists clutching my vest. “I’m fine. Wilder, I have to tell you something.” She reaches behind her and hands me something.

My eyes get to the word “pregnant.”

“Yours?” My voice cracks.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispers with a blinding smile.

I kiss her forehead, pulling her to me. My head is against the top of her head, my hand pressed against her stomach.

“You’re going to be a grandpa,” Mom tells Dad and he looks at me, shocked, then at Jos. Walker says, “What?”

“I can’t wait to be an aunt!” Brittany jumps up and down in those fucking heels she wears.

“Congrats, bro.” Travis smacks my shoulder, and Joslyn narrows her eyes at him.

“Why are you out of bed?”

“Babe, like I would stay in bed with all of this shit going on?”

She shakes her head. “Back to bed!” She points at the door. How fucking cute is she when she pretends to be mad.

“I will soon, Mom.”

She smiles and laughs, and I look down at her belly. My baby is in there. I feel someone staring at me—Mom is looking at both of us with tears rolling down her face.

My mom has been wanting grandchildren since the moment the idea popped into her mind. She couldn’t have any kids other than me, and when the opportunity to get Brittany arose, she didn’t hesitate. Brittany became her baby girl, and Mom and Dad spoiled her rotten, even though she was sixteen at the time.

I cannot believe I am going to be a fucking dad. Let’s all pray that it’s not a girl; I am not sure I could handle that shit.

I cannot believe I just told him right in front of everyone, but with everything going on, it seemed like a good idea. His reaction was everything I’d hoped it would be and more. I will never forget the expression on his face when I told him. He was so happy.

For me? It has not sunk in yet. The moment I found out, my friends and I had guns pointed at our faces.

“Come on, Sweetheart, we are headed to the club.” Wilder pulls me close, and other guys are doing the same with their women. Lane is in the front with Amelia, and Travis is standing beside her. Brittany is behind her with Derek on one side and Maverick, one of the Original Guys, standing on the other. Smiley, Adeline, and Tristan are behind her. Darla is behind them with her husband and Konrad beside her. I am pulling up the rear with Wilder and my dad. The other guys are just standing around us.

They are making sure we are safe.

This wasn’t planned; they all just lined up like this.

This is family.

We all walk together to the entrance of the mall, ignoring peoples’ strange looks. The bikes are parked outside and, at the back of the parking lot, I see a blacked-out van. My heart sinks. Am I just paranoid?

Screeching tires come next, and they quickly move toward us. Wilder pushes me behind him, and Walker wraps himself around me. All the other girls are in similar positions as their men move to protect them.

Wilder pulls the trigger, and one of the guys with the guns falls out of the van. Travis starts shooting out the tires, and Tristan hits the front of the van, making it stop. Konrad rushes to the van and throws open the door, shooting the person inside.

Everything is happening in slow motion. Wilder is standing over me like a sentinel, and Walker is covering my body with his.

“Konrad, Maverick, throw them in the prospects van and drive it to the clubhouse they are around the street!” Lane yells as he stands up with Amelia pressed against his back. Derek is lying on top of Brittany, and Darla is hidden under her husband.

Adeline is pressed against Smiley’s back, and I see pure panic on her face. This has rattled her, and I am sure I will be in the same boat once I’ve had the chance to think about what the heck just happened.

“To the bikes!” Lane yells, and Wilder pulls me off the ground, hiding me from view. Everyone around me is hurrying to the bikes. “You’re in front of me,” Wilder says.

What does he mean?

He climbs on and settles me on his lap so I am straddling him on the bike. “Is this safe, Wilder?”

He grinds his teeth. “Baby, we need to hurry to the club. I will not leave you exposed against my back.”

I understand now and, making myself as small as possible, I hunch down and lay my head against his chest. He wraps an arm around my back and uses the other to move the bike.

“I need you out of here, Baby,” he whispers in my ear and turns on his bike. The others also crank up their ignition, and I see all the girls are in similar positions. Brittany is next to us, riding with Derek. She winks and snuggles closer to Derek, who is trying to fight a smile. She is loving riding with him right now. She has wanted him for a long time, and right now she has him exactly where she wants him.

“Let’s ride!” Lane yells, and we all follow him. The van is behind us with the guys that shot at us. The other Original, my dad, Travis, and Tristan are surrounding the van on their bikes.

The wind is whipping around me like crazy. We are going really fast, and the wind is intense. Wilder must sense it and puts his hand over my face, protecting me from the wind.

God, I love that man.

Wait, I love him? Did I really just say that?

But I have to admit it’s the truth. I love him so much that it consumes every part of me.

Now we have someone threatening our very existence.