Epilogue
Logan
The sound of retching jolted me awake. I bolted upright, my heart racing as I realized Akira wasn’t beside me. Panic gripped me as I rushed to the bathroom, finding her hunched over the toilet.
“Babe, what’s wrong?” I knelt beside her, gently pulling back her dark hair.
Akira wiped her mouth, her usually vibrant brown eyes glassy. “I’m fine, Logan. Just a little nauseous.”
“We should get you to the hospital. I can call in a favor, get you seen right away.” My mind raced through possible diagnoses, years of paramedic training kicking in.
She shook her head, a weak smile crossing her face. “Really, it’s okay. I don’t need a doctor.”
I frowned, unconvinced. “Akira, you’re throwing up. That’s not nothing.”
“Logan,” she said, her tone softening as she took my hand. “I’m pregnant.”
The world stopped. My breath caught in my throat as her words sank in. “Pregnant? We’re… we’re having a baby?”
Akira nodded, her smile growing stronger. “We are.”
Joy exploded in my chest. I pulled her into my arms, peppering her face with kisses. “I love you so much. I can’t believe it -- we’re going to be parents!”
But as quickly as the elation came, dread followed. “Oh shit. Your dad is going to kill me.”
Akira laughed, the sound music to my ears. “Logan, relax. Dad might look tough, but he’s a softie deep down. He’ll be thrilled.”
I wasn’t convinced. Wraith’s stoic face and intimidating presence flashed through my mind. “Babe, we’re not even married yet. He didn’t seem thrilled with the fact I asked you to marry me. Now I have to tell him we’re having a kid before the wedding has even happened?”
“Trust me,” Akira said, cupping my face. “Mom and Dad will be over the moon. This baby is a blessing, and they’ll see it that way too. Especially since I was the only one they were able to have.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. “If you say so. But maybe we should move the wedding up, just in case?”
Akira laughed again, and I couldn’t help but join in. As I held her close, I realized it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. We were starting a family, and nothing could dampen the pure joy of the moment.
The shrill ring of Akira’s phone shattered the moment. She pulled away, grabbing it off the bathroom counter.
“It’s Kasen,” she said, her brow furrowing as she answered.
I watched her face, looking for any clues as to what was going on. When her eyes widened and her breath caught, I knew something had happened. Good or bad? That much I couldn’t say.
“We’ll be right there,” she said, ending the call. Her gaze met mine, a mix of hope and worry swimming in their depths. “Venom’s awake.”
“That’s great news, right?” Unless being in a coma for so long had caused any other issues to arise.
“Yeah, but…” Akira bit her lip. “Kasen sounded off. We need to get to the hospital. I have a feeling this isn’t an entirely joyful occasion. I feel like something is wrong.”
I nodded, springing into action. “I’ll grab your clothes. You hop in the shower.”
As I helped Akira get ready, and quickly washed off and changed, my mind raced. Venom had been in a coma for months. The doctors had been at a loss. The surgery had gone well, but due to his age and the damage caused by the bullets, he’d been moved to ICU. And then he hadn’t woken up.
The fact he was now conscious again should have been cause for celebration. So what else was going on that made the people around him worry or sound tense?
“Here,” I said, handing her a pack of saltines as we climb into the car. “Nibble on these. It’ll help with the nausea.”
Akira took them, her hand finding mine as I started the engine. Now that I knew she was pregnant, we’d be taking the car for a while.
“What if something’s wrong?” she asked.
I squeezed her fingers, trying to project a calm I didn’t entirely feel. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We’ll find out more when we get there.”
The drive to the hospital was tense, and as we pulled into the parking lot, I spotted a cluster of familiar bikes. “Looks like the whole club’s here.”
Akira nodded, her face pale. “But only Ridley and Dawson are allowed in to see him. So if everyone came…”
Yeah, something was definitely going on. It seemed none of us could catch a break. The Dixie Reapers had recently faced the fact one of their own hadn’t died as they’d believed and then had caused a ton of trouble. Knowing Tinker had been the reason Venom and Justin were shot had to be weighing heavy on them. I wasn’t sure how much shit they could handle right now, yet the universe seemed to like piling it on.
So much for sharing our good news today. It didn’t seem like this would be the right time. Unless we were wrong, and something amazing had happened.
We hurried inside, finding the ICU waiting room packed with leather-clad bikers. I spotted Dawson pacing near the ICU doors, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by palpable anxiety.
Suddenly, the doors swung open. Ridley emerged, tears streaming down her face. My stomach dropped as Dawson rushed to her side. They spoke in hushed tones, none of us able to hear a word of what they were saying, but I could see the color drain from Dawson’s face.
Beside me, Akira stiffened. “Something’s not right.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “We don’t know anything yet.”
But the words felt hollow, even to my own ears. As we watched Dawson’s face crumple, and I realized he was fighting back tears, I couldn’t shake the feeling our world was about to be turned upside down once more. And now that I was marrying the daughter of a Dixie Reaper, their world was also mine. So what impacted them, would carry over into my own home.
Ridley’s shoulders slumped as she turned to face the rest of us. Her usually vibrant blue eyes were dulled with pain, her petite frame seeming to shrink under the weight of what she was about to say. She took a shaky breath, and I felt my heart hammering against my ribs.
“It’s Venom,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s… he’s lost his memories. The doctors can’t explain it, but he doesn’t remember us being together, or our kids, or anything from the past thirty-five years. When I told him I was Ridley, his wife, he denied it, saying Ridley was just a teenager living in Florida.”
I felt Akira’s hand tighten in mine, her body trembling against me. The tough, no-nonsense Venom -- the man who’d once been the VP of the Dixie Reapers -- gone in an instant. Although, if he thought he was in the past, then he likely believed he was still the VP. I could only imagine how hard it hit him to see the gray in his beard and hair, to realize he was much older than he thought. Assuming they’d even let him see a mirror.
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, struggling to process the news. Around us, the other Reapers reacted with a mix of disbelief and anguish. Some swore, others stood in stunned silence. Tempest turned and walked out, but the heaviness of his steps told me he probably wanted to put his fist through something.
I didn’t think any of us had expected this sort of news.
Ridley continued, fighting back tears. “He looked at me like I was a stranger. Our whole life together… it’s just gone.”
I wanted to say something, anything to comfort her, but words failed me. How did you console someone who essentially lost their spouse while he was still breathing? Torch moved closer to her, pulling her into his arms. She sobbed against his chest for a moment.
Just then, a doctor in crisp scrubs approached our group. His presence silenced the murmurs of shock and despair.
“I understand you’re all concerned about Mr. Venom’s condition,” he said, his tone professional yet sympathetic. “I’m only able to speak with you about this because his family has given permission. While the memory loss is significant, I want to assure you that this type of amnesia can be temporary. His body went through a lot. Not only did he nearly bleed out from the initial bullet wounds, but the surgery took longer than expected. Both shots weren’t neat through and throughs but left behind a lot of damage.”
He glanced around at all of us, his expression turning grim. He glanced at Ridley, who gave him a quick nod.
“We didn’t tell anyone at the time except his wife. Mr. Venom coded on the table twice during surgery when he first came in. We were able to bring him back both times, but as you know, he went into a coma and didn’t wake up until today. Physically, he’s doing better. He’ll need therapy to fully regain the use of his limbs after lying in bed for so many months, but there’s no reason he can’t go back to riding his motorcycle and doing whatever else he’d usually do.”
“So he might remember?” Ridley asked, her voice raw with emotion.
The doctor nodded cautiously. “It’s possible. If it does happen, I can’t say if it will happen in a few days, a few months, or longer than a year. For now, we’re keeping him under observation. If all goes well, we’ll likely move him to a different room by tomorrow night. I’ll be handing his care over to a different doctor, so they’ll be the one to determine when he can go home.”
Torch cleared his throat. “Thirty-five years ago he was single and living in a room at the clubhouse. The entire compound has changed over those years. How much of a shock will all of that be to his system? Will it cause a setback in his recovery?”
The doctor folded his arms, a thoughtful look on his face. “That’s not really my area of expertise, but yes, it’s possible it could shock him to see all those changes. Since you can’t exactly go back in time thirty-five years, it’s best to prepare him as much as you can.”
“Like photos and having his brothers come see him? Everyone has aged in thirty-five years,” Dawson said.
“It’s probably a good place to start. I think you should speak with his neurologist, as well as a psychiatrist to get a better grasp on how this might impact him. In the meantime, I’ll do what I can for him until the other doctor takes over his care.”
The doctor excused himself, and I watched as everyone seemed to be at a loss as to what to do next. Even I wasn’t sure where to even start… but the doctor had been right. When it came to this sort of situation, memories could return almost immediately or not for a long-ass time. If they returned at all. The Dixie Reapers were in for a long, hard road.
* * *
Akira
I squeezed Logan’s hand, drawing strength from his steady presence. The weight of everything that had happened settled on my shoulders, but I knew we needed something positive right now. Taking a deep breath, I turned to face our family.
“I wasn’t going to do this today because I didn’t think it was the right time, but I’ve got some news. I think we could all use something positive right now. So…” I glanced at Logan before facing them again. “Logan and I are having a baby.”
The reaction was instantaneous. My mom’s face lit up, her eyes brimming with joyful tears. “Oh, sweetheart!”
She rushed forward to embrace me, hugging me tight. I wrapped my arms around her to hug her back and basked in her warmth. But when I looked at my dad, my heart skipped a beat. His gaze was locked on Logan with murderous intent. Shit. Had he been right about my dad being pissed? I’d seen that look on my dad’s face before… usually right before someone got their ass beat.
“Daddy,” I said quickly, stepping between them. “I know this is a surprise, but --”
Before I could finish, I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the tension in his body. For a moment, he stiffened, then slowly, I felt him start to relax. His arms encircled me, and he let out a long sigh.
“I’m happy for you, baby girl,” he mumbled into my hair, his voice gruff but sincere. “Both of you,” he added, glancing at Logan over my shoulder.
Relief washed over me. “Thanks, Dad.”
Dawson cleared his throat. “I think this calls for a celebration. My dad might not remember the last thirty-five years, or me for that matter, but he’s awake and that’s a step in the right direction. And now there’s going to be a new baby. Half Reaper and half Angel.”
I rolled my eyes. “Dawson, this isn’t some paranormal show. You’ve watched too many episodes of Supernatural . My kid is a human.”
There were murmurs of agreement, and soon we were all heading to the nearby café. Dawson even managed to drag Ridley away from the hospital. As we settled around a large table, I couldn’t help but feel a swell of gratitude. The chatter of my family and friends surrounded me, a comforting blanket of noise.
Logan leaned in close. “You okay?”
I nodded, blinking back tears. “Yeah, it’s just… life’s not perfect, you know? But as long as we’re all together, nothing else matters. I have to hold out hope that Venom will remember everyone, and Ridley will have her happy ending again.”
He kissed my temple, and I leaned into him, watching as our ragtag family laughed and shared stories.
“I’m sure things will work out,” he said.
“If that were you… I don’t think I could handle having you wake up and have no idea who I was. I can’t only imagine how much pain Ridley is in right now.”
I noticed Ridley sitting quietly at the end of the table, her eyes distant and her smile forced. My heart ached for her. I squeezed Logan’s hand before standing up and making my way over to her.
“Hey,” I said softly, sliding into the seat next to her. I took her hand in mine, feeling the slight tremble in her fingers. “Ridley, I know this has to be both the best and worst day for you. Venom woke up when you were worried he wouldn’t, and now he doesn’t remember your life together. I can’t begin to understand how much you’re hurting.”
She turned to me, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. “How can he not remember me, Akira? We’ve been together a little over thirty years, and it’s all just… gone.”
I leaned in closer, my voice low and urgent. I had an idea that might perk her up and give her the hope she needed right now. “Listen to me. If Venom doesn’t remember you, then this is your chance to make him fall in love with you all over again. Don’t think about what you may have lost. Just consider this another chance to experience all those firsts again. The first time you went on a date, or kissed… For Venom it’s going to be new once more, so think of this as a second chance at another happy ending with him.”
Ridley’s eyes widened slightly. “You really think so?”
I nodded. “From what I hear, you claimed Venom and that’s how you ended up together. Instead of sitting here crying, show him that strong, take-charge woman he fell in love with. If he’s regressed to who he was thirty-five years ago, then you need to be the Ridley he fell for.”
“You’re right.” She swiped at her tears. “I’ve been thinking about this the wrong way.”
“Your love story didn’t end when he lost his memories. It’s just taken a different path.”
I watched as the idea took root, her expression shifting from despair to determination. A small but genuine smile tugged at her lips.
“You’re right,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “I did it once, I can do it again. Venom doesn’t stand a chance.”
I grinned, squeezing her hand. “That’s the Ridley I know.”
As we rejoined the conversation, I caught Logan’s eye across the table. He gave me a questioning look, and I nodded, silently telling him everything was okay.
Bull cleared his throat and glanced over at Logan. “Since we’re not just celebrating the fact Venom woke up, but also you and Akira becoming parents, you should invite your club. The Swift Angels should be here too.”
Logan raised an eyebrow. “You sure? I know things have been tense…”
Bull nodded. “I’m sure. It’s time for a new chapter, for all of us.”
“He’s right,” Savior said. “Besides, you may be patched into the Swift Angels, but you’re marrying a girl who’s just as much a Dixie Reaper as the rest of us. She knows how to ride, can fix her bike, handle herself in a fight… She may not have a patch, but she’s a Reaper by blood. Which means you’re family now too.”
As Logan made the call, I looked around the table. The Dixie Reapers, my family, wore faces with a mix of emotions -- joy over my pregnancy and upcoming wedding, anxiety over Venom’s condition. And yet, they would get through it. They always did.
When the Swift Angels arrived, there was a moment of tension. But then Dawson stood up, pulling over extra chairs. “There’s plenty of room.”
I watched in amazement as the two clubs merged, sharing stories and laughter. I returned to my spot beside Logan and his hand grasped mine under the table. I leaned against his shoulder.
“Look at this,” I whispered, my heart full. “A new era is starting, right here. We’re going to be okay, all of us. Together.”
Logan kissed the top of my head. “And to think all this started with a sexy Reaper’s daughter standing in the Swift Angels clubhouse… having no idea a paramedic decided right then and there she would be his.”
“Love you, Logan. I can’t imagine having anyone else beside me. We may be different, but we’re perfect together. And I think the Dixie Reapers and Swift Angels will be good together too. For the sake of Dawson’s children and ours, they have to be. Because like it or not, our two worlds have blended.”
Despite all our differences, we’d found harmony. It wasn’t perfect, but what family was?