“If she doesn’t, next time I will snap her neck,” Emilee hissed in a deadly tone.
Storm went on Emilee’s other side. “There won’t be a next time, right, Misty?”
Misty shook her head.
“If there is”—Prez got eye to eye with the kitten—“I’ll skin you myself.”
Misty nodded, more tears rolling down her face.
Maddy and Tara appeared, each holding a baby. Maddy had Little D in her arms. Their looks of shock made me smile.
Storm nodded at me.
I placed my hand on Emilee’s. “Let go, baby. I have an announcement to make.”
She released the kitten. Misty crumpled to the floor, gasping and coughing.
I tugged Emilee away, then hugged her. “You did good, my perfect Em.”
She shook in my arms, from the adrenaline pumping in her veins, no doubt. But she’d be all right.
I kissed her, running my thumb along her cheek. Ending the kiss, I turned us to face the bar. “Most of you know Emilee is my woman and the mother of my child. But I’ll say it loud and proud, I claim her. She’s mine. Nobody better fuck with her.”
Fists hit tables as my brothers went wild.
Emilee curled into my arms. “Go ahead and tell them.”
“Are you sure?”
“After what I just did to that bitch, I’m positive. I want everyone to know you’re mine, and I’m yours.”
“Damn, I love you.” I kissed her hard, then reared back. “One more thing, we’re engaged to be married!”
Clapping and whistling ensued.
Both babies cried from behind us.
Maddy brought Dante to Emilee. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for both of you. Now we get to plan another wedding!”
Emilee took the baby into her arms and kissed him. “Thank you, but we don’t want anything big.”
“It can be whatever you want, sweets.” Maddy hugged her. “You were a badass, putting that kitten in her place.”
Emilee laughed nervously, bouncing Dante to soothe him. “I just reacted.”
Storm appeared with Birdie in his arms. “Congrats, brother.”
“Thanks, Prez.” I watched as my fiancée talked with Maddy and Tara. The joy over our engagement wouldn’t last long though. I needed to tell Emilee about her dad. I wasn’t worried if she could handle the news anymore. Emilee proved to me she could handle anything. When put to the test, she’d find her inner strength to do what needed to be done.
And I would always be by her side to catch her if she fell.
18
Emilee
I focused on Dante’s denim-blue eyes as I processed Danny’s news. My dad was alive. He was in bad shape, but he wasn’t dead as I’d been preparing to hear.
Danny kept a hand on my knee and his arm around me on the sofa. His touch reached into my soul, comforting me from the inside out.