The Biker's Fate Chapter 230

Kim

I WAS GUIDED into Dani's apartment by the hammy hand of Mack on my lower back. "I can walk into a condo all by my little self, bud," I snapped.

He chuckled, dropping my bag on the floor and I hugged Dani. Darien peeked out from the kitchen with a grin. "Don't forget about me."

I smiled and hugged her as well before Mack pulled her in for a kiss.

"This is our prison for a while, huh?" I asked.

"Well, it's yours," Darien retorted. "I'm along for the ride.

"Nice try, baby," Mack said.

She groaned. "It's ridiculous that we're locked down. We aren't the ones being threatened... no offense Kimmie."

I raised my hands. "None taken."

"How's the baby?" Mack asked, laying a hand over her round belly.

"Baby's fine, honey. It's Mama who's a little irritated."

"Harper down?"

"Yes, Harper's down. Stop managing me, Logan."

He chuckled. "I have to go."

Before he could, however, the tiny little patter of bare feet on the hardwoods sounded as the curly red-headed fairy that was Harper MacKenzie Reed flew at her daddy. Mack caught her before her head connected with his knee and lifted her to his chest. "I thought you were takin' a nap."

"Daddy," she whispered, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck.

"And this is why she gets away with murder," Darien breathed out.

"Oh, but she's so cute," Dani exclaimed.

"God, she's going to be pregnant before she hits high school if we're not careful."

Mack covered Harper's ears and warned, "Darien."

"This is on you, Mr. Pushover."

I bit back a giggle watching the little family. Mack kissed his daughter's forehead and released her ears to whisper into them as he walked her back down the hall.

Darien flopped onto the sofa and settled her hands on her ever-rounding belly. "He has to learn to say no to her, or we're screwed."

Dani giggled, sitting beside her. "It's kind of funny to watch."

"Yes," I agreed. "Big bad, built like a truck, Mack... taken down by a red-headed sprite... well, two of them, to be exact."

Darien sighed. "If he wasn't so good in bed, I'd—"

"You'd do what?" Mack challenged as he walked back into the room.

"Nothing, because the fact you're so good in bed trumps everything else."

"Good answer." He chuckled leaning down to kiss her. "Harper's down again. I'll see you later. Love you, baby."

"Love you, too," Darien, Dani, and I said in unison and then dissolved into giggles.

"Y'all are crazy," he said, and left.

"Anyone hungry?" Dani pushed off the sofa.

"Me," I said, and Darien agreed.

"Sandwiches good?"

"Perfect," Darien said.

I rose to my feet. "You sit, Dare. I'll help Dani."

"I won't say no to that," she said with a grin. I joined Dani in the kitchen and we whipped together sandwiches, arriving back in the living room to find Darien asleep on the sofa.

"Ohmigod, I wish I could sleep like that," Dani whispered. I gave her a sympathetic smile and she scowled. "Oh, bite me."

I giggled. "Come on, let's let her sleep. We'll go out on the balcony."

She grabbed the baby monitor and we stepped out into the cool afternoon, sitting at the little bistro table overlooking the water.

"So, you gonna tell me about the ring?" Dani asked.

I stared down at the rock and smiled, filling her in on the events that led up to it.

"So, it's a promise of a promise?"

I giggled. "I love how you get me."

"Are you going to pull your head out of your butt?"

I squinted as I stared out at the Willamette. "I don't know if I can. I love him, but marrying him is just way too much pressure."

"I get it, honey, but it won't be the same as your parents."

"I know." I faced her again. "I just want it to be like your parents."

Dani laughed. "Or, how about wanting it to be what works for you? After Steven, did you think I'd fall for someone like Austin?"

"Hell no."

"Exactly, hell no. But he loves me more and better than any other human being on earth, and that goes for my mom and you know how much she loves me."

I grinned. "This is very true."

"Besides, he knows... divorce is not an option—"

"But murder is," I finished for her.

"You know me too well."

"I feel like the Olympics was a turning point for us," I said. "We were away from our world, forced into one with just the two of us... after the Games of course... and we could just focus on us. It was amazing. He was amazing."

"More amazing than when you're here?"

I shook my head. "Different amazing. God, Dani, I love him so much it scares me, but the thought of not being with him scares me more."

She squeezed my hand. "I think you just kind of answered the question."

"Yeah. I'm going to marry him," I conceded. "I just need to sit with it for a bit."

"Totally get it." Her voice was full of controlled glee... okay, controlled was stretching it.

I rolled my eyes. "Go ahead."

She jumped out of her chair and started dancing around the patio. I couldn't stop a laugh when she bumped into a planter, but she started up again, looking like an idiot. A beautiful, sweet, and wonderful idiot who adored me.

She hugged me, kissing my cheek and cupping them like a mother would. "I'm so unbelievably proud of you, Kim. Seriously. Your life has been a challenge and you've maneuvered through it with a dignity and sweetness that would be hard-pressed for most. You deserve him, honey. You deserve happy."

I blinked back tears and smiled. "Thanks, Dani. Love you."

"Love you more."

Cash's squeal through the baby monitor broke our sisterly moment, so we headed back inside and left Darien sleeping while we took care of the kids. I was actually looking forward to the day when my friends would help take care of mine.