Claimed by Shadows (The Shadowmen #2)

Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“SKYSCRAPER” BY TOMMEE PROFITT, GRACE GRUNDY

IRIS

T he next few weeks pass in a blur of visits and time spent healing at Serene Haven. Hunter gives me his credit card so I’m able to buy some floaty boho style dresses that serve a dual purpose. As well as allowing me to start reclaiming my old style back, a style I loved and was a fundamental part of myself, it means I can hide my stomach, which has definitely started to show. Not much, but enough to perhaps rouse the guys’ suspicions, and I’m not ready to tell them. Not yet.

Rowan let slip that they installed cameras in my room and bathroom, so after we came to the compromise that he could keep the one in my bedroom but the one in the bathroom had to go, I’ve been careful to only get changed in there.

I don’t know why I want to keep my baby a secret from them. I just worry that they might be disappointed maybe, or disgusted, and perhaps a part of me likes having this secret all to myself. Well, almost. Julia knows and has been encouraging me to tell them, when I’m ready of course, and I will. Just not quite yet.

The day comes for Ember to be released, and although I’m sad, I’m glad she’s reached a place where she can go start her life with her stepbrothers. We’ve spent countless hours discussing the merits of multiple men in the bedroom and swapping tips, much to the amusement of Johnny, who takes notes, the fucker.

He’s been working on Rufus and Joe, and I swear he’s got the gangsters wrapped around his little finger. He came to breakfast one morning looking flushed and a little shocked, telling me that he’d been left a gift outside his door by the pair, but refusing to go into any kind of details about what it was.

Rufus looked smug as fuck though, and the look of adoration and gratefulness Johnny gave him made my eyes burn. He really does deserve his happy ending.

A week or so after that, I stride into Julia’s office for my usual session. She beams at me, indicating the big comfy chair I usually favour.

“Good morning, Iris. I have some news,” she says, and butterflies take flight in my stomach. A few weeks ago, they’d have spikes on their wings, leaving me nervous and queasy, but not today. Nope, today I feel a sense of excitement. “I think you might be ready to go home, given all the progress you’ve made, especially with your three beaus.”

I blush as she gives me a knowing look. It’s no secret that I’ve been using the private visiting room to reacquaint myself with my guys and their bodies, with Julia’s full support and encouragement of course. I’m also having very few nightmares or flashbacks, and I do feel so much more settled.

I chew my lip. “What if the flat brings back bad memories? Of the night I was taken?” I run my hand through my hair, stopping my hands fidgeting from in my lap.

She thinks for a moment, taking her time to really consider my worry, which makes me feel validated. “Well, as you know, I’ve been seeing Hunter and the twins for their own sessions,” she says, and I nod, warmth filling my chest that they too have been getting the help they need. “And although I am not at liberty to discuss what they’ve told me, they have given me permission to assure you that they have been making some changes, to help you feel more settled when you return.”

A lump forms in my throat, and I have to rapidly blink away the moisture that gathers in my eyes. I had no idea they’d been doing anything like that, that they’d even think of that.

“In that case, I think maybe you’re right and I’d like to return home,” I say, my lips splitting in a wide grin before a fluttering in my stomach underneath my dress has the corners of my lips wilting.

“Maybe it will finally lend you the confidence to tell them about the baby?” she suggests gently, and I nod once more, my hand going over my stomach to brush the slight bulge.

I had my three-month scan here four weeks ago and have the printout hidden in a bag in my room. I sobbed when I saw my baby for the first time, hearing its heartbeat was unlike anything else I’d ever experienced.

“Yes, I hope so,” I whisper, and she gives me a sympathetic look.

“It’ll be fine, Iris. Those three young men are devoted to you. They’ll support you in this,” she assures me, reaching out and taking my free hand in hers. “You just have to trust them, which I know you already do.”

I take an inhale through my nose, breathing out through my mouth, and make a commitment to myself and my child that I will tell them.

“When can I be released?” I ask, my voice stronger, and she gives me a smile.

“It’s up to you, but as early as this afternoon. I know they planned to visit, so you could even surprise them, if you like?” There is a twinkle in her eyes that has a peal of laughter falling from my lips.

“That sounds perfect,” I agree, standing up and ready to rush to my room and start packing. “Thank you. For everything.”

She stands too, walking up to me and holding out her arms. She leaves it up to me, and I don’t hesitate, stepping into her embrace and wrapping my arms around her in a fierce hug. My eyes sting, that lump back in my throat.

“You are so strong, Iris. Don’t forget that out there,” she murmurs, placing a light kiss on my hair before we both step back and drop our arms.

“I won’t,” I tell her, giving her a watery smile before spinning on my heel and striding from the room, ready to start this next chapter in my life.

“HOME (WITH MACHINE GUN KELLY)” BY X AMBASSADORS & BEBE REXHA

HUNTER

We pull up to Serene Haven to find Iris on the front steps, bags surrounding her and Rufus at her back with Julia to the side of her.

“Is she coming home?” Roman asks, bouncing in his seat, his voice threaded with excitement.

My lips tug up into a wide smile when I realise that he’s right, seeing her shining eyes and the huge grin on her face. Roman doesn’t even wait for me to stop the car fully, yanking the door open and leaping out.

“Fucks sake, Ro!” I yell, using Iris’s name for him before slamming on the brakes, but he’s already gone, bounding up the stairs like a damn puppy and pulling her into his arms. Her laughter rings out as he spins her around, and I can’t even be mad at the fucker because the joy on her face makes my chest so tight I think it might burst.

Rowan at least waits until I’ve parked, both of us opening the doors and getting out, heading towards Roman, who has his lips fused to Iris’s in a kiss that would make a whore blush. Bloody degenerate.

“So, you’re ready?” I question as I come up beside them, Roman finally ending the kiss.

Iris looks up at me with dazed eyes, blinking like she’d forgotten where she was for a moment, and I chuckle, the afternoon sun hot on my skin.

“If you’ll have me?” she finally asks, her voice like the softest breeze, caressing my skin in a pleasurable shudder.

“As if there was any question, Peaches,” I reply, shoving Roman out of the way so I can take her into my arms. She fucking melts into me, and it’s a feeling that will warm me to my dying day.

“I love you, husband,” she whispers, and I shiver, loving my title on her kiss-swollen lips.

“I love you, wife,” I whisper, lowering my lips to hers and finally giving in to the urge that plagues me every time I’m near her.

She tastes like the sunshine that surrounds us, like home and family and everything that I love, given the scent of Roman clings to her too. I keep it short, knowing that Rowan will want to greet her and I want to get her things in the car as soon as possible so we can finally bring her home. I can’t wait to show her everything we’ve done.

A fizzle of nerves zaps up my spine, worry that she might hate it floating through my mind, but I tell that bitch to shut the fuck up. There’s no room for negativity right now, not with my beautiful wife in my arms, on her way home.

“Roman and I will load the car while you say hello to Rowan,” I tell her, stepping to the side and grabbing her suitcase and duffle bag. “Rufus, you got your bike?” I ask the tatted gangster, and he nods, looking back over his shoulder into the interior of the building.

“I was gonna stick around here for a bit if that’s okay?” he questions, his brows lowered and shoulders tight as if he’s worried I’ll say no. I know why he wants to stay, him and Joe having formed an attachment to one of Iris’s friends, Johnny.

“No problem, we’ll see you back on the estate tonight?” I wait for his nod, then watch as he heads back inside, a smile tugging up my lips.

“Who knew the great Hunter Anderson, leader of the feared Shadows, would also be a matchmaker,” Roman teases as he grabs a bag and we head to the truck.

“Fuck off,” I grumble, but there’s no heat to my words. I’m glad that Rufus and Joe have finally found a third. They’ve been fooling around for a while, but I know they’re both too dominant to be on their own and need someone to look after. To dote on. I have a feeling Johnny is just the person for that, and if their extracurricular activities last night were anything to go by, both of them requesting the night off to deal with something and coming back bloody but full of dark smiles, they’re in deep. I hope he liked his presents.

Roman and I put the bags in the car, shutting the boot and jogging back to Iris, Rowan, and Julia, who are saying their goodbyes.

“We’ll have weekly catch ups over video calls, okay?” Julia tells us, pinning each of us with a look that tells me she won’t take no shit from us and we will do as she says.

“Yes, ma’am,” I answer for all of us, and her lips twitch.

“Excellent. Now off with you so it’s not too late by the time you get home.” Her voice is thick and there’s a glimmer in her eyes, as there is in Iris’s, so I wrap my arm around my wife’s shoulder, Rowan taking her hand, and we lead her to the truck, helping her inside.

Something inside my chest settles as the twins seat themselves either side of her. My family is back together again and all is right in the world.

Well, a niggle tells me that statement is not quite true. There is one member missing, and before it was just Iris who noticed his absence, but now… Well, now I find myself worrying about the dark-haired Russian, hoping that he’s not doing something stupid that puts him in harm’s way. Again.

Or so help me I will fucking bend him over my knee and spank him until he can’t sit down for a week.