Chapter 34 Chaos
Chaos
One Month Later
Sunrise casts a glow around Willa. Her beauty is framed by the ranch.
She kicks the toe of her boot against the ground, staring out at the land that was her father’s. Her dark hair blows in the gentle breeze, but she doesn’t hold it back. She lets it whip her face like any little movement will interrupt this moment.
She’s leaning against the fence that marks the property line, and I walk up, caging her against it.
“You sure you’re ready to leave?” I kiss the top of her head.
She’s been out of the hospital for a few weeks now and has recovered quicker than even the doctors expected, but still, I worry about the long drive, even if we are taking the truck. Havoc drove it to town a few days ago and dropped it off for us, riding my bike back to Vegas for me.
Willa might be healing quickly, but spending three days on a bike will push it, so we’re driving back the old-fashioned way.
“I’m ready.” She sighs, still looking out at the land. “Eden left yesterday.”
“I thought she was waiting until next week.”
Willa shakes her head. “I got a text from her in the middle of the night saying she was gone and that we can do what we want with anything left. I don’t think she could be in that house anymore.”
As much as I wanted to see Eden behind bars, paying for what she did to Willa, I respected Willa’s wishes to leave it alone. Our families fucked us up, and our siblings are a product of that as much as we are.
No one is innocent.
Tate and Gordon made a mess of the ranch—of us. And we’re left to clean it up.
At least Kincaid has helped smooth things over from a legal perspective. He made up a story that was easy to swallow, and his cop buddies happily accepted it.
As far as the town is concerned, Gordon and Tate were the only ones at the ranch when things between them went south. Gordon found out Tate tried to kill Willa, and when he confronted him about it, they turned their guns on each other.
End of story.
Kincaid wrote everyone else out of the picture, including Eden.
After all, she’s no longer a threat. Her anger and resentment died with her father.
Since that day at the hospital, Eden has been a shell of herself, hiding in the house and isolating. Which is why Willa offered Eden every cent in their father’s bank account, so Eden could travel and escape this place.
Now, Eden is gone.
I’m not surprised when there’s nothing left for her here. Not even the family ranch.
A week ago, Willa and I signed the documents finalizing the merger of Ironside Ridge and Elliott Ranch. We sold off all unnecessary assets to settle outstanding debts, and Will Harrison will help with the day-to-day operations. In return, we’ll allow their cattle to graze the land.
I’m still not sure what we’ll do with the ranch long term, but there’s time to figure it out. I have some ideas I want to run by Steel when I return to Vegas.
Even if I’m not here, I intend to use the land as Grandpa wanted—as a home for those who need it.
A safe haven.
While I have no plans for the land to officially become a Texas chapter of the Twisted Kings, it would be nice to create a landing spot for nomads or members who are passing through.
I don’t know what will come of this land, but I look forward to seeing Grandpa’s vision come to life in a new way.
When finalizing the merger, I excluded a section of land and gave it to Kincaid.
He has twenty-five acres now that he can do as he wishes with.
Grandpa never wanted him cut out; he just didn’t want Tate to get his hands on it.
As part of the will, there was a letter from Grandpa to me, encouraging me to mend things with my brother and give him what I saw fit.
We’ve had our differences, but this is his home as much as it’s mine. Besides, he plans to stick around and help Will run the newly merged Ironside Ridge. At the end of the day, we were wedged apart by Tate, but he’s gone now.
This war is over.
And with that, Willa and I can finally go home.
“We’ll be back,” I assure her, and she spins in my arms.
The sun crests the horizon when she looks up at me. The light in my life, in my arms.
“I know we will.”
“It’s strange being here, remembering how peaceful it can be.” I glance at the ranch around us.
“When there isn’t a shoot-out.”
“True.” I grin, cupping her face in my hand. “Even with all the bad memories, this is still where I met you.”
“Must be pretty special then, huh?”
“Extremely.” I lean down, planting a kiss on her perfect lips, and she melts into me.
Her arms wrap my shoulders, and as much as I want to pick her up and pin her to the fence, I’m careful because I know she’s still healing.
When I pull back, her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are pink.
“Are you ready to go?” she asks.
“About that…” I rake my hair off my forehead. “I had a long talk with Steel last night.”
“What’s wrong?” Worry floods her beautiful face, and I quickly shake my head.
“Nothing’s wrong. Actually, things are finally right. Which got me thinking.”
“Okay…” Nerves skitter in that one word.
“I’ve always put my club first, which will still happen from time to time. But right now, I need to put us first—to put myself first. There’s a lot of time to make up for. Steps we missed along the way. I want to do that without the club distracting us.”
“I already told you that you don’t have to choose between me and the club.”
“I appreciate that, princess, but that’s not what I’m saying.
I’ve spent my whole life running from my demons and using any kind of escape to facilitate that.
First it was the ranch, then it was the club.
Anything so I wouldn’t have to face what I was running from.
I gave my all, would have sold my soul. But for the first time in a long time, I’m ready to be a little selfish. ”
“I like the sound of that.” She smiles, brushing her fingers over the scruff on my jaw.
“You reminded me that there was a time I wanted more from life than to just wake up tomorrow. I talked to Steel and let him know I need to figure all this out. He gave his blessing for me to take some time off. I’m not leaving the club, just stepping back for a second and getting my head on straight.
I want some time with you—uninterrupted.
And not just that, I need some time to myself, to figure out what I want without the club holding me up.
I need to stand on my own. So I thought we’d travel, maybe drop in a few clubs along the way, and check in on things around the country.
But we could just take it slow for a minute.
Figure each other out again. See every state. ”
“Put our feet in every ocean.”
“Exactly.” I kiss her forehead. “I’ll always be a Twisted King. But for a second, I just want to be me.”
Tears brim in her eyes. “Steel was okay with this?”
“He understood.”
He didn’t even argue because brotherhood comes above all else. And that’s what he is to me—a brother.
“I’m so in love with you right now, Dean Graham.”
“Good.” I grin, pulling her close. “Because there’s one more thing before we hit the road.”
“Is there?” She hitches an eyebrow.
I pull back, holding her hands. “We’re gonna be at a lot of different clubs. Some more like Vegas than others. When we walk in, I want it clear you’re mine.”
“I am yours.”
“Officially.” I drop to a knee in front of her, and her eyes widen.
“Since the moment I walked away from you twelve years ago, I’ve been wandering aimlessly.
I left you, and by doing that, I left myself.
You’re my home, Willa. You’re my peace. My everything.
You reminded me that I have value outside of my name.
Outside of my patch. I plan to do the same for you every day for the rest of our lives.
Through the good, the bad, the messy, you’re mine, and I’m yours.
I want you to be my old lady and”—I reach into my pocket and pull out the diamond band I had custom-made for her—“my wife. Will you marry me, Willa Elliott?”
“Dean.” Her hands fly to her mouth as tears stream down her cheeks. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
I slip the ring onto her finger and then shoot to my feet, kissing her, careful not to hurt her when I dip her backward. For the first time in my life, I’m home because I have Willa, and that’s all that matters.
When we break apart, she holds her hand up, admiring the ring. “Does this make me Mrs. Graham or Mrs. Chaos?”
She giggles when I nuzzle into her neck.
“You know you’re chaos, princess. And I fucking love it.”
She can wreck my life all she wants. She’s the only one who puts it back together.