Epilogue
Nine months later
Rose placed a bookmark on the page she’d been reading just as Brick entered the bedroom. Her doctor said she’d give birth either this week or the next. Brick had persuaded her to take a break from work. Rose initially disagreed, but after discussing it with Nancy, here she was.
Nancy told her she’d hire a part-timer while Rose was on maternity leave. Her job would be waiting for her after she gave birth.
Nine months had passed since Donny died. Rose still thought of him and his sacrifice. Sometimes, she burst into tears for no reason despite the fact she and Donny had never been close. Donny lived his life, constantly moving from one hustle to the next, never tiring. She hoped wherever he was, he was happy. At peace.
Matters with the Black Dogs MC had been far from resolved, but ever since the day Donny died and Brick killed more of their men, the rival MC had stopped stealing the Ruthless Reapers MC’s shipments. Brick told her the Black Dogs were at war with another group.
“I got something for you,” Brick said. He had just dropped off Stefan at the daycare center. He pulled out a pint of cookies and cream ice cream from a brown paper bag.
“Gimme,” she said, setting her book aside.
Brick handed it to her, along with a spoon. Then he lifted the covers and slid next to her in bed. He watched her for a few moments.
“You’re a saint,” she said, digging into the pint.
Rose sometimes felt like a waddling whale, but Brick always told her she was beautiful. He didn’t care that her body was changing. In fact, her husband had only grown extra protective and growly around her. Rose didn’t mind the extra attention. She found it hot when Brick reverted to his gruff, caveman mode.
“Thank you,” she said. She looked at the pint and groaned, not realizing she’d finished it in less than twenty minutes. She had odd food cravings lately, especially in the middle of the night. Brick always went out and got her what she wanted. He was sweet that way.
“What do you have planned for the—” Rose couldn’t continue. She gasped as a bolt of pain suddenly hit her in the stomach. Brick gripped her hands, expression concerned.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” he asked.
Rose lifted the sheet and they both discovered her water had broken. Brick quickly recovered before Rose did. The next thing she knew, he pulled out a packed bag from under the bed. They were ready for this, she realized. Another contraction hit her, and she gasped.
Brick opened the bedroom door, yelling, but she couldn’t quite process the words. Her husband helped her out of the room and down the stairs. She was surprised to find Razor waiting outside the clubhouse. He was at the wheel of her new Blue Chevrolet. Brick bought her the car five months ago for her birthday.
Once Brick bundled her inside the car, he joined her. He was on the phone with someone. He ended the call and looked at her. “Prudence says she’ll pick up Stefan from the daycare.”
“Thank her for me,” Rose said. During the entire ride to the hospital, she gripped Brick’s arm so tightly she was bound to leave bruises. Brick didn’t seem to care. Once they arrived at the hospital, he found a wheelchair for her and ushered her in while Razor found a parking spot.
From there, it was a whirlwind. The baby couldn’t seem to wait. A nurse spirited Rose to the delivery room, and hours later, she was in her own room, holding baby Sam in her arms. Brick stood next to her, and he couldn’t stop smiling.
“Look, baby. Sam has your eyes,” he said.
“And your nose,” she added. Brick kissed her quickly on the mouth, and she smiled at him. Brick harbored fears he wouldn’t be a good father to their kid, but she told him time and time again that all his fears were unfounded. After all, Brick had been so good with Stefan. Having another kid would be a walk in the park—at least she hoped it would.
“Want to hold him?” she asked him.
Brick nodded, and she handed him their son. Brick didn’t get to hold Sam for long because Razor soon entered the room, along with King and Prudence.
“Congratulations,” King told her.
She and the President of the MC didn’t get along well at the start, but ever since she and Brick had gotten engaged, King’s attitude had slowly changed. Maybe he finally realized Rose wasn’t going anywhere and his own wife was good friends with Rose.
“Stefan?” she asked Prudence.
Razor and King crowded around Brick and looked delighted by Sam. These MC men might be all rough and tumble most of the time, but deep down, she knew they were softies.
“Grizzly’s babysitting him and my son,” Prudence said. “How are you feeling? I heard it was a fast pregnancy.”
“It was. Thank God,” she said. The both of them laughed it over.
Eventually, Prudence, Razor, and King had to leave to make way for incoming visitors—more MC members. The nurses looked irritated by the commotion and chaos, but since the Ruthless Reapers MC practically owned this town, they could say nothing. Besides, it was still visiting hours and the bikers were relatively harmless.
Once their visitors had left, Brick settled on the armchair next to the bed. He gazed lovingly at his son. “Finally, they’re all gone,” he mumbled.
“I don’t mind. Look at the gifts everyone bought us,” Rose said, glancing at the teddy bears and congratulatory balloons and flowers decorating her room. The gifts injected the bland hospital with life. She felt all warm inside. Before Brick rescued her and Stefan, she felt incredibly alone. Now, everything had changed. Rose had found herself a good and caring man, and she even had a son with him. Rose also inherited a big family with the MC. She couldn’t ask for anything more.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Brick asked, gently handing Sam back to her. He gave Sam’s head a kiss. Smiling, Rose told him.
The End