Epilogue
Parker
This is the biggest moment of my life, and I, not once, imagined it with a two-year-old girl climbing me like a tree. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but I would love to see my old lady’s face more.
I’m literally handing her our Property of the Presidents jacket after waiting an entire fucking year for her to accept it. Of course I knew when we gave it to her the first time she would demand to work her way to a brotherhood patch on her own. She wanted to become a sister before our property.
It’s kept me awake on plenty of occasions. After many conversations with the others, I’ve come to the realization and reluctant acceptance that it had nothing to do with me or our relationship.
Cassie earned her patch for herself, by herself. And this proposal…couldn’t be more perfectly imperfect.
“Raven, honey,” I coo, trying my damnedest to pluck her tiny self from my shoulder. Where the hell is her mother? “Violet? AH!” I screech like a child when a slobbery finger jams in my ear. Cassie’s watery laugh makes it better, but I’m not about to ruin our big moment.
“Mads, take the reins,” I beg and pass the jacket to him. “You little—” My voice turns into a playful growl as I bend at the waist and tickle the little toddler monster until she’s a giggling, flailing ball of silliness in my arms.
Maddox
With our niece’s laughter mixed with Parker’s soft tone only reserved for baby Raven in the background, Koa, Ripley, and I get down on one knee.
“Starlight, will you do us the honor of being our old lady?” I almost beg Cassie, but I keep it cool and show her the jacket she denied a year before.
Cassie sniffles, places her fingertips to her mouth, and nods. “Yes. YES. OH MY GOD YES!”
She snatches the jacket out of my arms and hugs it to her chest. We’ve kept today a secret for a long, long time.
“One more thing,” Ripley interrupts her excitement.
Koa’s turn, and damn does he have a way with words. “Cassidy Sterling, will you be our wife, our future? Be our pet, kitty, baby, and sweet girl for all eternity? You will be even if you don’t accept, obviously. So maybe make it easier on us and let us stalk you in our home?”
“OH MY GOD! YOU DID IT! YOU REALLY DID IT! YES!” Somehow she doesn’t care about the possessive turn of Koa’s question. Honestly, it probably got her hot and bothered, solidifying the fact that we are absolutely unhinged for Cassie.
One thing about our future wife is she’s never short on sharing her happiness. Everyone will bask in her light because she shines like a fucking star.
Just before she can tackle us with hugs and kisses, the club explodes in a roar that makes me jump to my feet. I’m too late to grab her before Jake, Ticket, and Coin hoist her into the air and fucking crowd surf her.
“PATCHED! ENGAGED! CLAIMED!” everyone chants, excited about our relationship of course, but celebrating the end of Cassie’s prospecting days. She met her goals, and she’s ours. Everything we’ve ever wanted, we have.
Ripley, Koa, Parker and I jump to our feet. Parker with our niece hanging off his arm and Ripley with our tiny baby strapped to his chest. Each of us is excited, but protective of our old lady. Our eyes drop to our little one and wait for Rip to cover his ears before bellowing, “CAREFUL!”
Cassie (Starlight)
Dear diary,
Remember that dream I’m always going on about?
The one that begged me not to run away from the hard stuff?
Well, I’m finally here.
I have four over-the-top possessive men who make it gloriously obvious how obsessed they are with me every day. They show me off, knowing that at the end of every day, I’ll be with them and nobody else. I’m a sister of the Shadows. An Old Lady. And a mother!
I know what you would say if you weren’t just a sheet of paper…I told you so.
You were right. Because I fought, never lost sight of who I was, and demanded I be treated the way I deserved, I am now living my dream.
I can’t wait to tell you about my ferocious little man. Cyan is a whole new dream I never considered.
Write to you tomorrow…Parker’s now on the banning birth control BS too so I need to go handle that.
Love you to pieces.
Sincerely,
Starlight