I lie on the couch in Deke’s apartment, looking up at the ceiling. If he doesn’t stop treating me like glass, I’m going to hurt him.

Brewer lies at my feet. He hasn’t left me for any long period of time. He must have his doggie sense and knows that I was hurt and wants to protect me.

“I love you, but if you don’t stop this shit, I’m going to plan your murder.”

Deke pulls me into his lap, my most favorite place on the planet. “You love me, huh?”

Well, hell, guess I just threw that one out there, but I did have a near death experience, even if he doesn’t like to bring it up because it makes him all twitchy. I get it. Of course I didn’t see me, but I lived it.

“Yeah.”

“Good, because I love you, too.” He pulls me to his lips and kisses me softly, yet deeply and possessively.

Yeah, I love this man.

“You sure your mom’s up for this?” I ask, flitting around Deke’s parents’ kitchen, putting out the food for the party that will be starting in the next thirty-five minutes. Emery’s helping and Deke’s supervising again, because he has a dick.

Asshole.

“She wanted it, she’s gettin’ it,” he responds.

Angel’s tests came back, and they came back good. Her remission is something for us all to celebrate. I’m not knocking that one little bit. It’s just that she’s still pretty weak, unable to lift things or exert too much energy at a given time. It’s taken a toll on her body, yet her spirits are damn good. I have all the confidences that she’s fought it for good. However, there’s always that chance, and the doctors say she has to routinely get checked, but I feel good about things.

Even Deke is lighter, one less thing off his shoulders. Anything that takes the weight off him, I’m more than happy for.

“Mom gets something in her head, it’s hard to change it,” Emery responds, setting a platter of cold cuts on the table. “She wants all her family around to celebrate this, so we’ll give it to her.”

I smile. “Right.”

“How are you feelin’?” Emery asks, and I smile over at her.

“Wonderful.”

Never been better is more like it.

People file in while I deal with guys wanting to start fights. Being the hostess with the mostest isn’t an easy task, but I fight through it.

Luckily, my brain decided to stay with me after the near drowning. Sometimes, it takes me a few more minutes to remember something, but I can’t complain. The only thing that really gets me, though, is my reflexes aren’t as good. I’m working with Charlie in the gym to beef those up.

I quit Schade’s place, but I still work at X, and I’m happy about it.

Bristyl, Cooper’s woman, helps dole out the food and keep it filled. I realized quickly she’s a kickass woman. Leah, her friend and Green’s woman, also came and helped.

Laughter catches my attention. It’s because it’s Deke’s. A deep, low rumble, but it’s there.

He’s here with his family, laughing. I can’t ask for anything more than that, besides waking up every morning in his arms.

We were lucky in the house department. I didn’t even fight him on the purchase. I just made sure the inside was nice and a home. A real home. That’s what I wanted out of this. A place that we could grow. A place that reminds me of a time when my parents were alive. And a place to give us both peace. We found it.

This room filled with people who love my man, who care about me, is what life’s about. My family left me because of a twisted woman. I’ll never have my mother and father back, and missing them will be a daily occurrence until my last breath. But being surrounded by the Ravage MC fills a part of me that’s been a void for so long.

Deke has given that to me. He has pulled me into his life through the ups and downs, continuing to stand by my side. He’s given me so much, and I’ll spend my life giving back to him.