Epilogue
Three years later
Stone.
N ever would I have believed that the call, that had interrupted me watching the Montana Longhorns game all those years ago, would have influenced my future. A future that is so unbelievably good that I can barely keep a stupid smile off of my face. Sasha is growing up into a beautiful, well-adjusted girl. Strong-minded with just enough attitude and confidence, I’m sure she’ll never let anyone take advantage of her empathetic nature. I can’t take credit for how well balanced she is. That’s all Oriana. Every day, I question what I could have possibly done in my past to warrant the blessing of having her in my life. Maybe this is only a dream, and I’ll wake up from a drug infused stupor. The club, Smoke, Oriana and Sasha just a crazy assed trip. I hope to fuck it isn’t.
My love for both my girls is so deep, so strong, that when I look at them… Jesus, I can barely think straight, never mind see through the misting of my tears. And now that Oriana is pregnant, a precious baby boy due in eight weeks, the fear of something coming and taking it all away, is real.
I’m not stupid. I understand the life I lead. Dunne and the Death Valley Irish are no longer a threat, but when you take out one lot of vermin, it’s only a matter of time before another comes crawling out of the woodwork to try to infest your world. But believe me, I’ll be waiting.
I’ll protect my world, my family and our future by any means required. No one is ever taking them away from me.
Smoke.
Life is a little easier without the shadow of Dunne and the DVI looming over the Young Outlaws, but my position as Prez is still as ball-breaking as ever. At least at the end of the day, I get to go home to Tenley.
The cabin we share ended up being bigger than I originally intended when it was just me. It’s still on YOMC grounds because it’s safe and secure. Our cabin is not far from Stone and Oriana’s, but with enough distance so they don’t hear Tenley. She must have bottled it up when still under their roof, because I had no idea until we got into our own place that Tenley…well, she’s a screamer. When we fuck, she lets rip like a banshee, letting the whole world know exactly what we’re up to.
It wasn’t long before Tenley became restless. Her need to get back to work was obvious. I’ll admit I wasn’t happy; my overprotectiveness increased to a level that even I knew was ludicrous. So, I agreed to a compromise. Tenley switched to freelance. A lot of her work was done on the internet and video calls. She wasn’t confined to the grounds as such, but to placate me, she agreed to take a brother with her when she does need to leave the grounds for meetings. It’s not that I don’t trust her. Far from it. It’s all the other fucking assholes I can’t tolerate. I’m sure, in time, I’ll become more relaxed on that score.
The one thing that raised its head recently, making me wonder if we had any longevity in our relationship, was when the subject of kids came up.
Tenley is as broody as fuck since Oriana became pregnant. It’s not like I’m in the throes of youth anymore. I’m not even sure the swimmers are still packing enough punches to get to the destination needed. But fuck me. Some things are just meant to be, I guess, because two nights ago, a very scared, teary-eyed Tenley, dropped the bombshell that, after missing her last period, had taken a test which, if accurate, indicated that she could very well be pregnant. It wasn’t until that moment I realized, more than anything, I wanted to be a dad again. I was ecstatic. Two more tests later, and we were having our own private celebration.
Did I question if this had been an intentional slipup by Tenley? Not for one minute, because she had been a mess, worried that it would end us. Even if she had planned it, I can’t say that I gave any fucks.
I’d always been a little jealous of Stone and Sasha’s connection. Not that I don’t have it with Scarlett, but our relationship was, up until a couple of years ago, under wraps. So, I feel like I missed out on so much, because of my fears after losing Violet, but I only have myself to blame.
I’ll admit, for a while, seeing her with JB pissed me off no end, but after a pep talk from Tenley, telling me to ignore the past, check out how they are when together, I saw things in a different light.
JB adores her. Damn, he risked his life for her and not once, but twice. He saved her from what would have been so much worse than she’d already had to endure. Scarlett? She’s always beautiful, so much like her mother, a ray of sunshine. But with JB, she’s the Aurora Borealis. Dynamic flickers of brilliance that light up the entire sky.
To know she’s happy, safe and loved is all any father wants, and now I realize that JB is the one to provide that. Because of that, I accept him wholeheartedly.
Johny B
Fuck. The last three years have been incredible. I won’t deny that leaving Florida and my brothers wasn’t easy, but finally being with Scarlett, soothed that ache until it became nothing but a collection of awesome memories.
If ever there’s a need for the Nevada chapter to make a call on our Florida brothers, I’m always the first to volunteer, and Smoke, accepts that I need to keep a connection with them. At least once a year, Scarlett and I take a two-week vacation to the area. We take one week of recreation at the sun-drenched beach of either Clearwater, Daytona or Cocoa Beach. No disruptions, no drama, just the two of us and sex so hot that it nearly burns the house down. God, my red-headed woman is an absolute siren, in and out of the bedroom.
The second week we spend with Cannon, Mammoth and the rest of the club, which is always at a faster pace, and usually leaves us needing another vacation to get over all the craziness. The Florida guys can sure host one hell of a party. They all love Scarlett, and welcomed her with open arms, even though some of them, at the beginning, were a little salty about me patching over to Nevada. It wasn’t long before their opinions were changed, because once they saw us together, how stunning she was, and amazed at how she’d curbed my man whore ways and stolen my heart, they were smitten with her, too.
From the moment Smoke gave his approval for me to date Scarlett, I had wanted to claim her as mine. However, I agreed wholeheartedly with Smoke when it came to the importance of Scarlett's vocation. She’d worked hard over the past few years, secured a lucrative internship with a reputable firm, and I wasn’t going to ruin that for her. So, I waited. It wasn’t like I had much to worry about when it came to any of the other brothers trying to advance on what is mine. It’s common knowledge now that she’s Smoke's daughter, and therefore a no go, which definitely went in my favor.
Now that Scarlett has her own business, specializing in corporate law, she’s also knowledgeable in Criminal Law, which comes in handing for the club, there’s nothing holding us back.
After a nervous, but determined, conversation with Smoke two weeks ago, Scarlett agreed to become my old lady. My need to make it legal in my brothers’ eyes is unfounded, but to me, crucial. I want Scarlett to recognize she is it for me, and a lawful marriage attests to that.
So yesterday was the day that, at last, I could shout to the world Scarlett is mine. We married at the Washoe County Courthouse in Reno early in the morning, and then after the legal stuff was done, we were escorted back to the club by a convoy of bikers. It sure was one hell of a sight to hit the streets of Reno. Our commitment to one another declared in front of our family on club land, our makeshift aisle lined with gleaming, highly polished motorcycles, engines roaring while I waited for my beautiful bride to meet me at the makeshift altar.
Scarlett, a vision dressed in the softest of pink fabric, that stopped just above the knee, biker boots and a shiny new black leather cut, that stated ‘Property of JB’ on the back. I’d sewn the patches on with my own hands. My woman was more beautiful than anyone could believe, and as she met me at the end of the row of my brothers, with the forest as our backdrop, I struggled to catch my breath. All of my Florida and Nevada brothers were there to witness our special day, along with a handful of guys from other chapters of the Young Outlaws.
Cannon stood boldly to my side in the role of officiant, a quick gesture with his hand to call for silence and one by one, the engines became still so the ceremony could begin. The celebration that followed was out of this world and, at Scarlett’s request, the fucking and general debauchery was done respectfully behind closed doors. The partying went long through the night.
We weren’t going to hang around the clubhouse, we’re leaving early this morning, knowing that, although the majority of members were now sleeping off yesterday’s celebrations, it was the lull before the storm. The frivolity is most likely to go on for at least another two days before things calm down to some kind of normality.
Leaving for our honeymoon was a sensible decision.
Yesterday had been the second-best day of my fucking life, but now, laying here with Scarlett wrapped around me, the heat of her body soothing my heart and soul, this is it.
This is everything.
The plans we’ve made, and our life together is all I need. Love, babies, happiness and no longer having the fear of the Death Valley Irish hanging over us or our Young Outlaws family, our future looks exceptional.
And I wouldn’t want to change a single damn thing.
The end.
If you’ve enjoyed this book, why not try UNLAWFUL #1 of the YOMC Florida trilogy.