Epilogue
Jack
I’ve always enjoyed Christmas with my family. The last two were through video calls. I was a fool for leaving and staying gone as long as I did. The roaming days are through for me. I’m not ready to be club President yet, but I’m settling down.
It’s been three weeks since Lily woke up. Mom and Nana wouldn’t let her do too much in the kitchen this year. It can take six to eight weeks for a punctured lung to heal completely. She says she’s fine, but we’re not taking any chances.
It’s Christmas Day. Santa has come and gone. Kids run around playing with their new toys. It’s just after two. Everybody’s full and happy. I know I sure am. Everyone’s here today, even the club bunnies. Yes, Jenny’s pissed, but I don’t rightly care. Every time she gets within ten feet of me, one of my brothers steers her in another direction. After today, she’ll have no choice but to leave me alone.
“Vikings!” Dad calls out. He’s in front of the doors to Church. We’re not having Church today. This is where he stands when giving club news inside. It’s too cold to use the stage in the backyard.
The Den quietens down except for the preschoolers. It’s kinda hard to get a two-year-old to sit still. Worley Bird stands behind Dad with a beautiful piece of leather draped over his arm.
“We have an announcement to make. Jack?” Dad motions for me to join him. I happily walk across the Den. “Lily?” He calls her from the kitchen doorway.
She narrows her eyes at me. She knew this was coming. We just didn’t tell her when. I smile and nod. What better time than Christmas? Her face explodes with happiness as she hurries through the crowd. I don’t think she fully understands what this means yet, but she wants it.
“Slow down, angel. I’m not going anywhere.”
She laughs and wraps her arms around my waist. I drop a kiss on top of her head.
“No takebacks,” she reminds me.
My niece’s words have become a joke with my family.
“Never,” I promise.
“The rumors are true. Today, we’re making it official. Three weeks ago, my son officially claimed Lily Harman as his ole’ lady. It was a unanimous vote among our brothers. As of this moment, Lily holds the status of Jack McLeod’s ole’ lady. Every member of the Viking Warriors MC and their families will honor her and show her the respect she’s rightly due.” Dad hands me Lily’s property of cut.
I turn the cut so she can see the club logo. “I love you, Lily. Nothing will ever change that. Never forget this.” I tap the property of patch and my road name, Ghost.
“I won’t.”
I hold the cut open, and she slides it on. The smile on her face is beautiful. I turn her around so everyone can see the back and claim her lips with mine.
“Welcome to the family, Lily!” At Dad’s shout, the room bursts into an uproar.
I end the kiss and hold my arm up. The room goes quiet again.
"Merry Christmas, Vikings. Enjoy your night. I’m taking my ole’ lady home."
More shouts and cheers erupt as we walk across the Den. I don’t look back. I know everyone is watching. I walk her to Dad’s truck and drive around to the guest house. My house now sits empty. I can’t live there anymore. I almost lost Lily inside those walls. We’re staying here until our new house is built further back on the property. Security and the property fence are in the process of being upgraded. An enemy won’t get through so easily again.
We haven’t found all the men involved in the attack that night. We won’t stop until we do. The two men in custody still aren’t talking. A trial date hasn’t been set yet. No one is stepping up to try and free them. They won’t fare well in prison. The one from Murfreesboro is cousins with the owner of the stolen motorcycle Jay found the camera on. Nick’s searching for more connections.
The freaked-out lady in the Toyota wasn’t a random driver that night. She works with Ariel’s Angels. She helped Drew move Nina around LA until the night we got her out. Nina’s in Willow Creek, hiding until we figure out her next step. Lily doesn’t know she’s here yet. We should tell her soon.
Lily’s nightmare has been silenced. She’s considering talking to a counselor about the abuse she’s been through. Joel Clark didn’t die that night. He suffered a brain injury and will be in a vegetable state for the rest of his life. His parents moved him to a care facility. He’s quiet. That’s what matters.
“We didn’t have to leave the party,” Lily says as we walk into the house.
“Yes, ma’am, we did.”
I pull her against me and walk her over to the Christmas tree. She loves Christmas lights. The more, the better. Her face lights up at every house with decorations we pass around town. Yes, we’ve taken long drives so that she can see them.
“Wait here.” I grab the blanket and pillows from the couch.
“What are you doing?”
I spread the blanket on the floor and arrange the pillows. I turn off every light in the house except for the Christmas tree. With her wrapped in my arms again, I lower us to the blanket. What better way to spend Christmas with her under a tree?
She sits up, slides her cut off, and turns it over. Her fingers gently trace over the logo. “It’s beautiful.”
“Mom redesigned the club’s logo.” Maybe it’s time she knows why.
“It’s for your sister.” Well, she’s figured that part out.
“Yeah.” I slide my finger along the design. “Ariel’s favorite color was red. It’s why there’s red trim and a burgundy glow around the emblem. The two A’s for Ariel’s Angels are hidden in the ribbons.” I point them out. “It has two sets of wings.” I touch each one. “The larger set is for my sister. The smaller is for her little girl.”
“Jack, I have to tell you something.” She looks up at me with tears in her eyes.
“What’s that, angel?”
“That day at the library, I Googled your sister’s name. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried.”
“You didn’t,” I assure her. “It’s hard for my family to talk about it. Nick monitors what’s online. Mostly, what’s there now are just the case facts.”
She runs a finger over the smallest set of wings. “She was pregnant.”
I take a deep breath and try to control my emotions. She knows about the baby. She saw part of my sister’s story. It’s why she was so sad, crying, and unaware of her surroundings as she walked through the library. We all saw it on the video, but I never asked her about it.
“She was about four months.” I can’t tell her more tonight. There’s more. A lot more. We didn’t know the baby was a girl. When the coroner told Mom, she named the baby Angel Magnolia. She deserved to be called more than the unborn baby.
As if sensing I’m at my limits, she lets the subject drop and places her palm against my cheek.
“I love you, Jack.”
“I love you too, angel.” I lean down and kiss her neck. She shivers. I love it when that happens.
“Why do you still call me that?”
I raise my head and stare into her eyes. She has no idea how much she means to me or what she saves me from.
“I told you before, I carry darkness. I’ve found even more since that day.”
“I love you, Jack. The darkness and all.”
She might regret saying that someday.
“I thought I lost you. Don’t ever leave me. If you go, you have to take me with you. I can’t survive this world without you.”
“Jack,” she whispers softly.
“You’re the only light in my darkness, angel. You’re burned into my soul.”
Her gasp turns into a moan against my lips. It’s true. It’s all true. I wouldn’t make it without her. If I ever lose her, the darkness takes me completely.
Thank you so much for reading Jack - Viking Warriors MC - Book 1.