As Dawg escorted Emma into church with a hand to the small of her back, his eyes immediately landed on the large man standing next to the club’s private bar with his ol’ lady.

And it wasn’t just Jewel that accompanied him. It was Ivy and, even more surprising, Diamond.

What the fuck was going on?

As they approached the bar with the huge DAMC logo hand carved out of wood above it, Jewel greeted, “Hey, Emma!”

“Hi,” Emma answered back with a smile. She hadn’t wiped that smile off her face since she got the idea in her head that this meet was about Lily.

Dawg’s gaze slid to Diesel and, of course, D’s expression didn’t give him shit. His face might as well had been chiseled in stone.

Jewel came around the bar to give Emma a quick hug, then turned toward Diamond. “This is my sister, Diamond. She’s also Slade’s ol’ lady. You haven’t met them yet. They’ve been busy setting up a new business for the DAMC.” She gave her sister a wicked smile. “And other stuff...”

Diamond approached with a laugh and enveloped Emma in her arms, giving her a hug, too. “Welcome to the sisterhood.”

Dawg was pleased as hell that the DAMC women were so welcoming and being friendly and open. Emma would eventually fit in perfectly with them. And it would be nice to have the women help her out with Lily when needed, like being available as babysitters for when he and Em would need some private time.

There wasn’t one DAMC woman he wouldn’t trust. And he was sure that wasn’t the norm in most MC’s since women could be catty bitches. He’d seen it first-hand just how brutal they could be at Heaven’s Angels. He’d broken up cat fights before over stupid shit. Like a fucking tube of lipstick. Any dancer that continued to cause problems found her ass outside looking in.

“Glad you’ve decided to stick around,” Ivy said, giving Emma a wide smile. “We can’t wait to meet Lily.”

Jewel and Diamond murmured their agreement.

Dawg let his gaze roll over the redhead wondering why Jag hadn’t knocked her up yet. “Know you fucked up the betting pool,” he told Ivy.

She smirked. “Wasn’t me.” She waved a hand toward Jewel. “Jewelee fucked it all up.”

“It wasn’t me!” Jewel exclaimed. She jerked a thumb toward D. “I can’t help that he’s a beast in bed.”

“What the fuck,” D muttered. “Was on birth control!”

“Yeah, but all the sex you demand gave me a UTI, and I had to go on antibiotics which screwed up—”

Diesel slammed his hand on the bar, making the women jump. “Ain’t here to talk ‘bout your insides.”

Ivy dropped her head and turned her face away, but it was hard to miss her body shaking with laughter.

Diamond smiled, announcing loudly, “Your Ass-holiness has spoken!”

“Diamond, shut the fuck up,” D grumbled with a frown.

She saluted him and rolled her lips under, her blue eyes twinkling.

“Well, D, you called us all here for a reason, so get to it,” Ivy said.

“You mean, you don’t know, either?” Dawg asked her, surprised.

Before Ivy could answer, D spoke up. “Wanted ‘em here for your woman.”

Dawg’s stomach sank, and he glanced at Emma who had suddenly paled. He moved next to her and threw an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. She automatically put an arm around his waist and tucked her hand inside his cut, planting it on his gut. When she lifted worried eyes up to him, he gave her a reassuring squeeze.

“Well, baby, now you got them both worried. Will you spill what’s going on and stop leaving us hanging?” Jewel asked her man, the impatience thick in her voice.

So, Jewel didn’t know either. Fuck.

“Maybe she should sit down on one of the couches,” D suggested but his words were quickly drowned by all three of the DAMC women screaming, “No!”

“No one’s sitting on those couches,” Diamond said, shuddering.

“They need to be burned,” Ivy agreed.

“Whatever,” D muttered. “Got bad news.” At Emma’s gasp, D lifted his hand. “Lily’s all right. But there was a bad car accident.” D’s dark eyes met his. Dawg knew what was coming next... “Husband didn’t make it. My guys are in the country an’ was ‘bout to make contact when they heard. Not thinkin’ the girlfriend’s goin’ to fight my men takin’ custody of her an’ escortin’ her back to the States, but need your permission anyhow, just in case.”

D’s gaze dropped from Dawg to Emma as he waited for her answer.

The whole time D was talking, Emma had become stiff. Now, she still stood frozen in place, clinging to him. He adjusted his hold on her to make sure she didn’t drop to the floor.

The women’s worried eyes were also glued to his woman. Then it hit Dawg why they were there... In case she needed support while dealing with the news. D must have thought the women could help.

It was hard to imagine that the man would care enough to think that through. But sometimes he surprised them all.

Dawg also realized D had purposely blown quickly through the explanation and wondered when it would hit Emma that her estranged husband was dead.

Though, it didn’t take long for D’s words to sink in...

“Oh my God, he’s dead?” Emma whispered in a shaky voice.

The DAMC women watched her carefully, as if ready to step in if they were needed. Dawg never loved them more than at that moment.

Emma’s shiny blue eyes landed on Diesel. “You said he’s dead?”

“Yeah,” D grunted. “Lily ain’t hurt. Wasn’t in the car. Was with the girlfriend.”

“I...”

“You okay, baby girl?” Dawg pressed a kiss to the top of her head and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Painful shit, I know, but you gotta give D’s crew permission to take Lily from the girlfriend an’ bring ‘er home. Got me?”

Dawg couldn’t imagine the girlfriend would resist. There would be no reason for the woman to want to keep Lily, especially now that the girl’s father was dead.

Em looked up at him, tears brimming in her eyes but not falling. Not yet. Her brain was still processing the information. “I... I want to go. I have a passport. I can fly to wherever they are and get her.”

“No,” Diesel said firmly with a shake of his head.

“But—”

“My crew’s there. Gonna get her home ASAP, got me? No reason to delay ‘er return so you fly all those fuckin’ hours to be there. She’ll be safe with ‘em.”

She glanced up at Dawg again, worry in her red-rimmed eyes.

“Yeah, baby girl, she’ll be safe. Promise.” He had enough confidence in D’s men to make her that guarantee.

She pressed shaky fingers to her lips. “Oh my God, she must be upset.”

D’s eyes flicked to Dawg’s, but he spoke to Emma. “Don’t know ‘bout the crash. Just that she’s comin’ home to you. Gonna leave that discussion to her mother. Got me?”

After a long pause, Emma whispered, “Yes.”

She pulled away from Dawg and walked across the room with one hand on her hip and the other pressed to her forehead, leaving a cushion of space between her and the rest of them.

Ivy gave Dawg a questioning look, and he answered her with a slight shake of his head. Emma might need the space to help her process. If she broke down, he’d let them go over and comfort her.

Emma turned on her heel and headed back in Dawg’s direction, the tears finally spilling over. “Oh Lord, I hated him for doing what he did... but I didn’t wish him dead!”

“Shit happens,” Diesel grumbled. “Ain’t your fault that the asshole don’t know how to drive in a foreign country.”

“But—”

“Ain’t your fault,” D repeated, cutting Emma off. “Get over it.”

Jewel let out a hiss. “Baby...”

D’s dark eyes landed on his ol’ lady, his face an angry mask. “Bastard stole her kid. Cheated on ‘er. Took the kid to another country with no plans on ever bringin’ her back. Fucker don’t deserve a drop of fuckin’ sympathy.” He turned his attention to Emma and raised an eyebrow. “Don’t deserve one fuckin’ tear either. Didn’t give a shit ‘bout your feelin’s. Didn’t give a shit ‘bout your daughter’s, either. Don’t you fuckin’ give a shit ‘bout ‘im. Give ‘im the same damn respect he gave you, got me?”

Emma’s gaping mouth snapped shut and she wiped a hand across her eyes, sweeping away any stray tears. Dawg could see her visibly brace herself, pull her emotions together, and give the club enforcer a sharp nod in answer.

Dawg agreed with everything D said, but Diesel could be a little cold on the delivery, even though it was truth that Emma needed to hear.

Emma shouldn’t shed one more fucking tear over her husband since he probably never shed one over her loss. And he probably didn’t care that she had shed bucket loads once her daughter was taken.

“What about the death certificate?” Dawg asked carefully, knowing once Emma had that, things were going to get a lot easier for her and Lily.

“Walker said the Embassy was notified, so that’ll be taken care of. Will make sure Kiki gets copies for the legal shit.”

“When will she be here?” Emma asked, moving back to Dawg and gripping onto his cut so tightly Dawg noticed her knuckles becoming white. He wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck and gave it a squeeze.

“Friday.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “What time? Where?”

“Will let you know when. Will have ‘em bring ‘er straight to the warehouse.”

“I’d rather be at the airport waiting!”

“No,” D grunted.

“But it’s my daughter!”

“An’ it’s my mission,” D barked. “Gonna do it my way, got me?”

Emma sucked in a breath, probably to give D hell, but Dawg squeezed her neck again, so she nodded instead. “Yes, okay. Sorry. I...”

“Nothin’ to be sorry ‘bout, Em,” Dawg assured her in a low, comforting voice. “Know you’re anxious. D knows you are, too. Right, D?”

Diesel grunted.

“He definitely knows,” Jewel spoke up. “He probably felt the same way when the fucking Warriors snatched me.”

“You have no clue,” Diamond muttered.

“He was a mental case,” Ivy agreed.

D slammed his hand on the bar again. He opened his mouth to probably bellow and deny everything the women just said, but he snapped his mouth shut, shook his head and headed toward the door with a pissed-off look on his face.

As he passed Dawg, he grumbled, “Will let you know.”

Dawg nodded. “Thanks.”

D grunted again and quickly ate up the real estate to the exit.

“Emma,” Jewel began as she came around the bar, heading in the direction of her ol’ man. “We’re all here if you need anything. It could be the smallest, most stupid thing ever, but if you need it, need us, we’ll help. I promise you that. We’re all here for you and Lily. We all do for each other. And you’re one of us now.”

“What Jewelee’s saying is one hundred percent true, Emma. Don’t hesitate to ask any one of us for anything. And not just the three of us. Kiki, Sophie, Jayde, Bella and even Kelsea. Any of us. We love Dawg, he’s family. And even though this MC is made up of men, they might not say it out loud, but us women are just as important. We’re the glue,” Diamond said.

“What the fuck,” Diesel muttered from across the room.

“He knows it’s true,” Jewel added with a smile. “He’ll just never admit it.”

“Whatever, woman. Let’s go!” D bellowed.

Jewel snorted. “He’s really a loveable teddy bear.”

D pushed outside with a grumble and once Jewel followed him out, he slammed the door shut.

Ivy and Diamond looked at each other and burst out laughing.

“Somebody’s going to get one of her favorite ‘lessons,’” Diamond snickered.

“All right, I’ve got to get back to the pawn shop,” Ivy announced.

“Hold up,” Dawg said, lifting a palm. “Gotta know, Ivy, should I be putting a Benjamin down on you as next up?”

Ivy’s gaze landed pointedly on Diamond and then on Emma. “I don’t know. Should you?” She wiggled her eyebrows.

“Are you two at least tryin’?”

Ivy’s face fell flat at his question.

Oh fuck. He just stuck his boot in his fucking mouth.

“I gotta go,” she mumbled as she pushed past him and Emma to rush out of the door.

“Stay here,” he ordered Emma, then followed Ivy out into the early afternoon heat, making sure the back door was secure behind him. He caught up with her before she got into her Dodge.

“Hey,” he grabbed her arm and swung her to face him.

Damn. She was crying.

“Ivy,” he murmured. “Sorry. I fucked up. Was just teasin’.”

Ivy swiped at her face. “I know.”

He opened his arms and Ivy melted against him, shoving her damp face into his chest. “Didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Wanna talk ‘bout it?”

A muffled, “No,” came from between the flaps of his cut. She sniffled, then said, “We’ve been trying. Believe me. Jag didn’t buy a four-bedroom house for nothing. Yeah, we wanted an art studio for him to do his drawings, but we didn’t need a house that big for only that. I’m not sure why I’m not getting pregnant. Doctor said there’s nothing wrong with me or Jag. But I don’t want to disappoint him since he wants kids. Hell, I want kids with him.”

“Ain’t gonna disappoint him. He loves you, baby. So fuckin’ much. He wanted you forever. Fought for you. Even if you two never have any babies, he’d love you ‘til the day you die. Even after that. He’ll haunt your ass.”

Ivy did a combination sniffle-snort. “I know, but I want to give him this. He loves Zeke. He’s thrilled for D. And I know we’re not supposed to know yet, but Hawk and Kiki... It’s hard to watch everyone around getting knocked up but not us.”

Dawg brushed a tear off her cheek. “You’ve got time, baby. Just enjoy the process.”

Ivy pulled back and looked up at him, red nose and red eyes to match her red hair. “I’m happy for you, Dawg. I’m glad you finally have someone. Emma’s great, and, even though she’s not from our world, I think she’s perfect for you.”

Dawg pressed his face into Ivy’s hair and nodded. “Love ‘er, Ivy. Know it’s crazy. Fell fast an’ hard. Never loved a woman before. But she smacked me right between the eyes.”

She patted his chest then curled her fingers into his T-shirt. “All you guys go down hard. But you only do it when you find the right one. Going down fast and hard just means Emma’s the right one.”

“Yeah,” he grunted.

“Heard what you’re doing. Giving up everything for her.”

He grimaced. “Not everything an’ not just for her...”

“Yeah, I know. Word’s out about your daughter.”

“Figured it wouldn’t take long.”

“Everybody loves you, Dawg. Seriously. Everybody’s rooting for you, too. If anyone will make it happen, it’s Kiki. She loves this club like she was born into it. She’ll fight long and hard for you. For your daughter.”

“Know it, Ivy. Diamond was right. You women are the glue to this club. D will deny it, though he knows it’s true. I won’t. Caitlin’s mother may not like me bein’ in an MC, but I want Caitlin to be ‘round all of you women. Know why? ‘Cause you’re all strong, capable women who have backbone an’ determination. You take shit from us an’ then turn ‘round an’ hand us our fuckin’ asses on a plate. You teach us to respect women. We might be hard on you all an’ bossy but it’s ‘cause we care an’ wanna protect you. You’re ours. All of you. An’ you know we’d lay down our fuckin’ lives for any of you.”

Ivy pulled back in his arms and reached to cup his face. “Emma’s a lucky woman.”

Dawg smiled. “I’m the lucky one.”

Ivy smiled back. “That, too.”

“Stop stressin’ ‘bout babies. They’ll come when the time’s right.”

She sighed, brushing her long hair out of her face. “I hope so.”

“Know so.” He released her and she moved to her car.

With her hand on the door handle, she said over her shoulder. “Can’t wait to meet your daughter.” Then she got into her Charger and the car roared to life.

As Dawg watched her drive away, he whispered, “Me, neither.”