Mine Now (The Phantom Vipers MC)

53. Epilogue

Epilogue

Blake

It’s been six months since Craig nearly killed me. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember his hands wrapped tightly around my throat or the way I felt when my last breath left my lungs.

It's a terrifying feeling, knowing that you are coming to the end of your life and no matter how hard you fight, you still aren’t strong enough to save yourself.

Charlie hasn’t asked about her dad at all. We never told her about that night, and she never brought up why I was hurt. None of the other folks around the clubhouse have said anything to me either. It's like they all are as ready as we were to be done with him.

While I sat in that room, resting my throat and gathering my bearings, Sam and I got closer. Anytime the guys have to go on a ride or out of town, we hole ourselves up with the kids and play all sorts of games. I can’t really remember a time that I didn’t belong to this family in this house. That I had a friend that would literally risk her life for me without question. I have never felt so full of love before.

Sure, there are tons of people in and out. But everyone bands together in their time of need. Everyone is always there for one another. It's not something I ever experienced.

As soon as I recovered and was well enough to walk around, I made Hunter drive me back to my hometown and check on my mother.

The guys from the club all banned together to help restore my mother’s home, and they even got her a new car. Now, it is all back to what it should look like and that gives me some peace of mind.

Charlie has made the best of friends, and I have honestly never seen her happier. We moved her school down here, and she is thriving..

One year later…

Hunter

Another year without my beautiful daughter. Another year of sorrow and heartbreak.

Except this year is different. With Blake and Charlie in my life, my entire world has seemed like it has changed. “Which one is going to be my room?” Charlie bounces down the hall of the new house we are in the process of buying.

I laugh and let her drag me along with her. “Well, there are two to choose from so how about I let you choose?”

She gasps and claps and runs into the nearest room. Blake is already in the master bedroom, giving it another look over before we sign the paperwork.

Charlie checks the closet and how much dance space she has from one end to the other of the first room, and then she runs across the hall toward the second room. I watch her do the same thing when Blake comes out of the room with a huge smile on her face.

I pull her into my arms as she gets closer. “What are you so happy about?” I raise my brow.

“I want to show you what I just found.” She leans into the room Charlie is in and calls for her to join us. When we walk into the master bedroom, Blake walks us over to our closets and then walks inside.

I stay outside because why does everyone need to be in the closet at the same time? But then she calls me in with her. She is on her knees at the back of the small space, and she pulls a piece of wood from the wall. “What in the world are you doing? The house isn’t even ours yet.” I laugh.

She shakes her head and moves the wood to the side, grabbing the flashlight off the floor. “Look in there. It's a secret room!” She beams up at me and then begins to crawl through to the other side.

I squat so I can watch her safely cross to the other room and then she leans down and shines the light on my face. I shield it with my hand. “Jesus, woman. What is in there?”

She shines the light around the room and disappears out of sight. “There is a huge safe in here. It almost looks like an underground bunker. But I mean, we aren’t underground.” She laughs.

“Okay, well, come back through because I want to talk to you guys about something.” I have been planning this event all week long. The exact words I want to say to them. The right movements. I am so nervous I could vomit right here, and these ladies are on an adventure.

Blake holds out her hand for me to help her up once she is fully through the hole and I laugh when she is covered in dust. She looks down at herself and blushes. “What can I say?” she shrugs. “Going on an adventure is dirty sometimes.”

I keep a hold of her hand and pull her out into the master bedroom, making sure Charlie is following close by.

I let out a long sigh and direct my attention to both of them. “Actually, Blake, you stay here. Me and Charlie have to have a serious conversation.”

“Umm, okay.” She laughs.

I stick my hand out for Charlie, and we walk into the living room.

“Okay sweet girl. I have a question for you.”

“What is it?” she whispers.

“You know your mommy and I have been really happy together, right?”

She nods.

“What do you think about if I asked her to marry me? Would you be okay with that?”

She gasps and jumps into my arms. “You would be my new daddy?”

Tears spring to my eyes, and I squeeze her a little tighter. “If you will allow me to be.”

She leans back and kisses me on the cheek and then gently pulls my beard. “I would like that very much.”

I lift her into my arms, and we walk back to the bedroom where Blake is waiting for us. She sees the tears in my eyes, and a concerned look forms on her face.

I set Charlie on her feet and kneel down on one knee. Blake gasps, placing her hand on her neck. I clear my throat and grab her hand. “Crash, this past year has been like heaven for me with you and Charlie in my life. I have lived a life of so much sorrow that I had forgotten how to be happy until you literally hit me out of nowhere.” She swats my shoulder.

I chuckle. “My point here is, you are my light at the end of my tunnel. My true soulmate, and I can’t imagine spending another second of my life without you having my last name.” I grab the ring box from my vest pocket and open it up for her to see.

Tears spring to her eyes, and she swipes them away.

“Will you be my ol’ lady?”

She sinks to her knees and hugs me around the neck. “A thousand times yes!”

I fall backward with her on top of me and then Charlie climbs on top of her. “I want to dog pile, too!” she yells.

Once we get done roughhousing on the ground. Everyone stands up, but I stay down on one knee and grab Charlie’s hand next. “I am not done yet, ladies.”

Charlie jumps up and down with excitement.

I lean down and kiss the top of her hand like a princess. “Charlie. Taking your mother as my ol’ lady, means that you are a part of the package, too. You get to become my daughter. If your mother will allow it, I would like for you to have my same last name as well." She looks at her mother, who nods her head.

“I want to make a promise to you here and now. No matter what happens in our lives or what life wants to throw at us. I will always cherish your love. I will respect you, and love you, and take care of you as if you were my own flesh and blood. I promise to love your mother with my entire being and protect you both from what lies ahead. You both will be my number one priority in life.” I pull another ring box from my other side of my vest and hold it open for her to see. “This ring symbolizes my promise to you, little one. You can wear it as often or as little as you like, but I want you to grow up knowing that from this day forward, you will be my little girl.”

Blake sobs behind me, and Charlie starts to tear up as well. But I mean every word. I love both of these women with everything that I am. How I have ever lived without them is a wonder to me.

Charlie lets me slip the ring on her finger and holds it up to the light and to show her mother. “It’s beautiful, baby.”

“I’m like a princess!” She turns to me and jumps into my arms. “Thank you, Daddy!”