After Us (Next Generation Book 6) Read online

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  IBSN: 978-1-989782-19-4

  After Us (Next Generation, #6)

  Copyright 2021, J.M. Walker

  FAMILY TREE

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  EPILOGUE

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  ABOUT

  Angel and Genevieve “Jay” Rodriguez

  (Grit, King’s Harlots #1/Grim, King’s Harlots #3)

  Angelica “Gigi”

  Ryder

  Meadow

  Asher and Meeka Donovan

  (Stain, King’s Harlots #2)

  Aiden

  Ashton

  Coby and Brogan Porter

  (Rude, King’s Harlots #4/For You, King’s Harlots #7)

  Zachary “Zach”

  Dale and Maxine “Max” Michaels

  (Numb, King’s Harlots #5)

  Piper

  Vincent “Stone” and Creena Stone

  (Rust, King’s Harlots #6)

  Luna

  Vincent Junior

  Greyson and Eve Mercer

  (Greyson, Hell’s Harlem #1)

  Jaron

  Tray and Zillah Lister

  (Tray, Hell’s Harlem #2)

  Beatrix “Bee”

  John and Beatrix “Trixie” Butcher

  (Hell’s Harlem Series)

  Cyrus

  Samson “Sammy”

  For more information, visit

  https://www.aboutjmwalker.com/books

  Jaron

  I craved her screams, her moans, her eyes telling me everything I needed to know about the woman I was in love with. Even though I had never voiced those words out loud, I didn’t need to. Piper Michaels knew exactly how I felt about her.

  My baby was currently growing inside of her. A life that both of us created. We had so much shit to talk about but first, every male instinct inside of me wanted to gloat that I was the one who got her pregnant. That I was the one who she would spend her life with. Even though we hadn’t discussed our future plans, she was waiting for me. Knowing she had been with several other guys before me, I was proud of the fact that she was carrying my baby. I only wished I could have claimed her long before I slept with anyone else. Not that I would ever call what I did sleeping. I was curbing an itch that I couldn’t reach. Piper had been the only one who could ever scratch it. She was the one I needed to satisfy this hunger. This need. This desire.

  Or so I thought.

  Truth was, it only made this hunger fiercer.

  More intense.

  She would be about six months pregnant now. I got random updates from my dad whenever he came to see me.

  The outside world changed when you were stuck behind bars. People went on with their lives, but prisoners? The only thing that changed was their appearance as they got older. But day in and day out, they followed the same routine. I tried keeping myself busy and out of trouble, but it hadn’t worked. Fights started. Lives were lost. Some were even my fault. It messed with my head, knowing I had a family to get home to. But the light I once felt, dimmed the longer I was away from those I loved.

  My cousins, Sammy and Cyrus Butcher, would also keep me informed as to how Piper was doing. Thankfully, Sammy didn’t beat around the bush as much as my father had.

  Bottom line, Piper was hurting.

  The pain she felt only made me strive to get out sooner for her. I tried my best to be a good boy and keep my nose clean. But being the vice president and son to the current president of Hell’s Harlem, you ended up knowing people.

  No matter how many fights I had been in, the memory of Piper’s smiling face kept me going.

  I didn’t want to ask about her, knowing it would just make me miss her that much more. But I couldn’t help it. I needed to know. Even though I felt it, I needed to hear the words that she was waiting for me and that I was the one. Her one like she was mine.

  “Please tell me how you feel,” she begged, her voice shaking on the other end of the phone.

  “I can’t, baby. I need to see you when I tell you. I need to look into your eyes as I confess how I feel.”

  A shaky breath left her. “I can’t wait for that day.”

  My chest tightened. “I know.”

  Truth was, I had fallen for her hard and fast. Even as a kid, I knew from the very beginning that I wanted her. She had been with friends. Both of us were young. Barely sixteen. She was nice to me while at times, I felt like an outcast because I didn’t hang out with them often. But much to my dismay, a twin set of boys were always with her. It was like they knew, so Ashton and Aiden made it so we could never be alone.

  But no matter how hard they tried to keep me away, it didn’t work. No matter where she was on this earth, I would find her.

  Take care of her.

  Love her.

  Piper was mine and I was hers.

  Forever.

  Piper

  It was finally time.

  I would be seeing Jaron Mercer again in only a matter of minutes. I had been stewing for the past few weeks. Probably driving everyone I knew absolutely crazy but my excitement got ahold of me.

  Every nerve ending in my body came alive at the mere thought of seeing him again. It had been so long since I touched him. Since I had seen his handsome face with the dark scruff on his strong jaw and his slate gray eyes that looked like they were reaching down into the deepest pits of my soul.

  It had been a long road between us. Everything was new. Fresh. Fun. Intense. So damn intense, one look from him and I was putty in his hands. He could tell me to jump and I would always give in. He knew it too. There was no sense in denying it. From the first look to the last kiss, I was his. He let the world know as well that I belonged to him. In every sense of the word. But even though that had been the case, we didn’t know each other. Not completely. Maybe we never would. But I wanted to at least try.

  It had been so long since I had seen him, I wasn’t sure where we went from here. Whether we could make it as a family or even a couple. Could we move forward? After everything that had happened in such a short amount of time, could we finally be happy?

  Leaning against my car, I waited. I checked the time on my phone, glanced around me. And waited some more.

  My eyes flicked to the large sign sitting on the side of the building.

  State Penitentiary.

  Just the name
gave me shivers. I never once in my life thought I would end up picking up a guy here. Let alone the father of my daughter and the man I was in love with.

  I sighed, checking my phone again.

  Sammy: He out yet?

  Me: Do you see him anywhere?

  Sammy: Geeze, girl. Just asking.

  My cheeks burned.

  Me: Sorry.

  Cyrus: Ignore him. You can have as much attitude as you want.

  Me: I love you guys.

  Cyrus: We love you too, kiddo.

  I stuffed my phone back into my pocket, ignoring the text coming into the group chat I had with the brothers. Cyrus and Sammy Butcher were twins and a few years older than both Jaron and me. They were his family and now they were automatically mine as well. They were good to me and my daughter. They didn’t have families of their own and at times I felt like I was taking them from having their own happiness, but they never complained. I often suggested they go out, have a good time, and not worry about me, but they shot those suggestions down rather quickly.

  “Jaron asked us to look after both of you, so that’s what we’re doing,” Cyrus told me.

  “Truth.” Sammy nodded. “Besides, I’m boycotting pussy at the moment anyway.”

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  He scowled but he never responded.

  “It means that there’s a woman he wants but she doesn’t want him back,” Cyrus explained.

  “She’s delaying the inevitable and I don’t know why.” Sammy shoved to his feet and stormed into the kitchen.

  That conversation had been a few months ago and I hadn’t heard of this secret woman since, but whoever she was, she clearly got under Sammy’s skin. I couldn’t wait to meet her.

  My phone dinged again, making me jump.

  Cyrus: You got this.

  I put my cell into my purse and threw the bag in the back seat of my car.

  Waiting for Jaron was enough to drive me mad. My body vibrated, my heart raced, my thoughts ran a mile a minute. So many questions bounced around in my head.

  Did he change at all?

  Did he still look the same?

  What if we no longer got along?

  Was he still as grumpy or worse?

  Did he still love me?

  What if we couldn’t make this work and had to go our separate ways?

  Letting out a hard sigh, I opened the back door and reached for my purse. I was antsy and needed to check my phone to see if there were any updates. When I saw that there weren’t, a lump formed in my throat. I just wanted him. I wanted him to come out, smile at seeing me and we could drive off into the sunset and live happily ever after. But I knew none of that would happen.

  As soon as I closed the door, the hairs on the back of my neck tingled.

  I inhaled a sharp breath, slowly turning around.

  Jaron stood just outside the jail, watching me. Waiting for that invitation he never needed. Ever.

  My eyes welled, my throat burning over the hard lump that had taken up permanent residence there so long ago.

  His dark eyes searched my face, studying me.

  I took a step forward.

  He did the same.

  We continued walking toward one another until we finally stood a foot away from each other. I expected to crash into him, but I was hesitant. So many questions bounced around in my head. I wasn’t sure if he felt the same. I needed to know.

  I couldn’t move. I tried to close that final distance between us, but I was stuck. Was this even real? Was he finally standing there in front of me? After all of this time? After so many months of being apart, this day had finally come. I wanted to pinch myself to see if it was a dream. I told my daughter earlier that morning that I was bringing her daddy home. Her eyes had lit up. Even though she wasn’t even a year old yet, she knew. God, did she know.

  Jaron’s dark eyes searched my face. His big body was stiff, rigid, like he was holding back from doing God only knew what.

  With a shaky hand, I placed it against his chest.

  His heartbeat thumped beneath my palm and I knew, God did I know, that his heart beat only for me.

  I looked up at him, the vision of him blurring in front of me. Gripping his hoodie in my hand, I pulled him closer.

  That was the only invitation he needed before he wrapped his arms around me.

  A sob escaped me as I latched on to him and tried pulling him even closer. But no matter how close we were, I still felt like he was far away. But it didn’t matter. I would help him. We would get through this and we would move on.

  Together.

  Tears fell down my cheeks, rolling off my chin and onto his black hoodie. I pushed my face into the crook of his thick neck and silently begged for him to take me away. We had so much to work through but first, we needed to work through us.

  “I fucking missed you,” he whispered into my hair, his voice thick. “I missed you so damn much, Piper.”

  Sobs continued wracking through me. I still couldn’t believe he was back in my arms. After all of this time.

  Jaron leaned back, cupping my face and swiping his thumbs under my eyes. He placed a soft peck on my forehead that only made the tears fall harder.

  “Are my boys here?” he asked, his voice cracking.

  “They parked their bikes over there,” I murmured, nodding toward the end of the parking lot. “They wouldn’t let me come by myself but wanted to give us a moment.”

  Jaron gave me a small smirk. “We need lots of moments, baby.”

  My breath hitched. “Yeah. We do.” I paused. “They’ve been taking care of us.”

  “Good. I’m glad.” Jaron leaned his forehead against mine. “You look good.”

  I smiled, wiping away the tears. “I still taste good too,” I told him, using the line I had used so many months ago when I had gone five weeks without seeing him.

  A deep chuckle left him, but it wasn’t like before. No. Something inside of him changed. The laugh appeared as if it were forced in a way.

  “I bet you do.”

  Cupping his nape, I ran my fingers through his dark hair. It had grown in some, especially his beard. And he filled out. A lot. He was big before but now he was outright huge.

  I leaned back, cupping his jaw. “I like the beard,” I whispered.

  His face was impassive, something flashing behind his eyes. Normally, he would have said something dirty but now the words failed on his tongue.

  My stomach twisted, unsure if I was happy about that or not. I didn’t want him to change but I knew that being in jail could affect a person. For better. For worse. Both. I wasn’t sure anymore.

  “Did you get everything?” I asked him, taking a step back.

  “I did.”

  Before I could walk away, he grabbed my hand, pulling me back into his arms. I gasped, slapping my hands against his chest. “Jaron.”

  “I need…” He blew out a slow breath. “I just need to touch you. I need you in my arms. I can’t explain it. I’m not even going to try.”

  “Okay.” I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Take all the time you need.”

  “How have you been?” he asked, brushing his thumb down the length of my jaw.

  I shivered at the soft contact. Especially coming from someone like him. He had never been a gentle guy. Not that I ever wanted that side of him anyway. I preferred when he was rough and took from me exactly what he wanted, knowing that I wanted it just the same. “I’ve been alright. I’ve missed you.” I ran my fingers through his beard, a tingle racing down my spine. “I really like this.”

  His eyes darkened. “Trust me, Piper. You’ll like it more when it’s between your legs.”

  And there it was. The dirty talk I always craved from him. I only smiled and pushed out of his hold before grabbing his hand. “Let’s go see the guys.”

  He nodded, pulling his hand from mine and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “Where is she?”

  “Oh.” I stopped, turning toward him.
“I was going to bring her, but she was fussy. I think she was stressed. Or she knew I was stressed. I’m not sure. But she didn’t sleep well last night.” And neither did I. It was all due to excitement, nerves, and fear.

  Excitement to see Jaron again.

  Nerves over how he would be. How we would be together.

  And fear of the unknown. Of what life would throw at us next.

  “Her mama was stressed.” Jaron kissed my cheek. “I get it.”

  I turned my head before he could pull away and brushed my mouth along his.

  His stiff body relaxed, melting into my touch. He cupped the side of my neck, pushing his hand into the back of my hair and crushing his mouth to mine.

  I breathed him in, taking the air that gave him life, down deep into my lungs.

  Before the kiss could turn into something more, he pulled back. Brushing his thumb along my bottom lip, he let out a soft sigh. “I can’t believe I’m here. Touching you again. Holding you. Kissing you.”

  “It’s felt like years since I’ve seen you.” I wrapped my arms around him, leaning my head against his chest. Others had spent longer without their loved one in their arms, but it was still too long without him at my side. I needed him more than I could ever tell him, and I knew that he needed me just the same.

  “I know, baby.” Jaron kissed me softly on the mouth. “I know.”

  Taking a deep breath, I released him and held out my hand. “Let’s go find the guys. Sammy has been on edge all weekend, waiting for this moment. He’s been worse than me.”

  “Nah, baby. It’s probably the pussy he’s been sniffing around.” Jaron placed his hand in mine and brought it up to his mouth before kissing my knuckles.

  “You know about her?” I asked, watching him.

  He nodded, his slate gray eyes flicking back and forth over my face. “I hear things and I’ve known Sammy my whole life. I remember the first girl he had a crush on. She was his teacher. Obviously, she didn’t want anything to do with him, but it still pissed him off. And it stemmed from there.”