Chapter Twenty-One
T hree Weeks Later
Daisy stared at her reflection in the mirror. The dress she’d been given was stunning. The straps fell off her shoulders and lace covered her chest and arms. It was so soft against her skin. It was also tight to her breasts, kind of pushing them together, before flowing out and down. It looked stunning. Angel had outdone herself.
In the past three weeks, not only had Lash removed all punishment, he allowed all of them a full week of sleep. There were no interruptions, no jobs, no humiliation. They could all just be, which she did appreciate. It felt good.
Then of course, he presented them all with their fully patched-in leather cuts, including her, Rachel, and Constance. They were official females of the Skulls. They didn’t have a road name, as that would come in time.
Anthony had been teased that he should be called either Beast or Monster. Daisy didn’t know which name would stick. He’d always be Anthony to her.
“Are you ready?” Tabitha asked.
It was her and Anthony’s wedding. Angel and Lash refused to have another wedding come and go without any celebration. On the day she was taken, Angel was getting her to purchase all the necessary groceries so she could start cooking. She did the same trip three days ago, because Angel decided to wait until her bruises had healed. Unlike Luke who had a few broken bones, and was on several courses of antibiotics as the nails used were filthy and covered in disgusting things. She only had cuts and bruises.
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
Everything was so surreal to her. She was getting married, and just this morning, she had taken a pregnancy test. She was never late. Never, ever, apart from one time, when she had gotten it a day late.
This time, she was a week late, and she took the test. If one test was accurate, she and Anthony were about to have their first baby.
There was a knock at the door, and Lacey rushed over to answer it.
Whizz stepped in, her true father.
“Oh, my,” he said, taking a look at her.
“Do I clean up nicely?”
“You’re stunning.”
Lacey stood with Whizz and they had that smile, one she thought showed they might be happy, mixed in with a little pride.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“You are so beautiful,” Lacey said, rushing to her. “I know I have thought of this day for a long time, but I never thought it would be like this.” She let out a sniffle. “I’m sorry. I am just so happy. Look at me, I never thought I would cry at a wedding, but now, for my own daughter.”
Daisy went to her parents. They were her true parents. They had taken care of her, loved her, fed her, cleaned her, never forgotten about her, and she loved them.
“I love you,” she said. “I love you both, and I don’t know if I have ever said this, but thank you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for ... being there for me. Just, thank you.”
Whizz touched her cheek. Lacey kissed her cheek.
“It has been our pleasure. You are our daughter,” Whizz said.
She was not going to cry.
“I better go before I cause more of a scene.” Lacey sniffled into her handkerchief. “Come on, girls, it is time for us to go.”
She watched as Tabitha, Rachel, and Constance left.
She would have gladly had all the girls of the Skulls be her bridesmaids, but she had to keep it real to those that were by her side the longest. They were her girls.
Daisy looked at Whizz.
“Are you wanting to run away?” Whizz asked.
“No.”
“Really? You want to stay married to ... him for a lifetime?”
She giggled. “Come on, Dad, we both know there was never going to be anyone else. He’s my man.” She smiled at him.
“And if that man puts a smile like that on your face, you know for sure he is the right one.” Whizz sighed. “Come on, I know they’re all waiting. Anthony is even dressed in a suit.”
He had asked her what she wanted him to wear at their wedding. Him, dressed in his leather cut, or dressed in a suit. She asked him to do both, and then left it to him.
They walked out of the room and made their way through the clubhouse. It was cold outside, but Angel had insisted on having the wedding at the Skulls’ clubhouse. It wasn’t the first time a couple had gotten married there, and she doubted it would be the last.
The moment they stepped out into the cold, and she saw the Skulls and Chaos Bleeds, it filled her with such happiness. This is what she wanted.
She caught Anthony’s eye, and yes, he wore a suit, a pair of pants, a crisp white shirt, along with a tie, but over the top was the leather cut of his jacket, with the Skulls patch.
The club was part of him, just as it was part of her.
The music started, a classic wedding march, and with Whizz by her side, they walked down the aisle. She didn’t look at anyone else. There was no way she could be pulled away from Anthony’s gaze.
Angel had also gotten a priest to officiate their wedding.
Anthony stepped close and held his hand out. Whizz took her hand, kissed it, and then placed it within Anthony’s.
“You take care of her,” Whizz said.
“Always.”
She took a deep breath, and then she was in Anthony’s arms. She handed the bouquet of flowers to Tabitha and turned her attention to the love of her life. Placing her other hand in his, she stared at him as the priest started the ceremony.
They had come a long way, from being the dirty, unkempt girl and the silent boy who liked her to read. They had grown together. Where he wouldn’t talk to anyone but her, and she dreamed of taking care of him—and now, being married, starting their life together.
It was time for Anthony to say his vows.
“Daisy, you’re the love of my life. My soul mate. From the moment I met you, I knew you and I were destined to be together. There was no one else in that room. I know you remember being dirty, your hair not being brushed, and your clothes not being washed.”
“I didn’t do that, okay?” Lacey said. “I starved the girl because I couldn’t cook, but she was always washed.”
This came with a few laughs. Daisy was not offended. Lacey had never starved her, but they did have plenty of takeout menus pinned near the phone in case of an emergency.
“I didn’t care. I loved your smile. You looked at me, you saw me, but you weren’t afraid of me. You didn’t care that I belonged to an MC club. You didn’t tell me to leave you alone. You started to read, and your voice was like magic to my ears. I know I want to hear you for the rest of my life. I can’t promise we’re going to have it easy or that there are never going to be moments when it isn’t hard. Life is hard, and we know marriage is hard work, but I promise, you’re the only one I will ever love, the only one I will ever want. I give my life to you, my heart to you. Always, in life and in death.”
Tears filled her eyes, and it was time for her to speak.
“You’re the love of my life,” she said. “When I’m with you, you make all the bad stuff go away. You don’t judge me. You don’t expect anything from me. You push me to be the best I can be, and I love you for it. You don’t make me hide who I am. You embrace me. You and I have been through a lifetime together, and I wouldn’t change anything. It has brought us closer. I know it’s not going to be easy. We’re Anthony and Daisy—stubborn, hardheaded—and we know what is best for each of us.” This brought a laugh. “But I know that together, it will work out in the end. When I need you, you’ll be there, and when you need me, I’ll be there. That’s how we work. We have each other’s back. We know what we want and we work to make it happen, always. I’m yours, Anthony, in life and in death.”
The priest quickly pronounced them husband and wife, and the reason being they were no longer waiting to kiss.
They were already husband and wife, had been for a little over a year now, with their anniversary occurring when she was in the hospital.
The moment they broke the kiss, a chorus of applause erupted. Daisy smiled and then went to her tiptoes so her lips were against Anthony’s ear.
“I’m pregnant.”
He picked her up in his arms and spun her around.