Epilogue
Epilogue
brOOKS
My eyes stayed glued to Darcie as she talked with Grayson and Maddox. It had become a necessity after she’d been hurt. I needed to ensure she was safe at all times. I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact I’d almost lost her… twice.
When Bubba had called, Maddox took off without a second thought, ready to dive into danger for her. Grayson was only a few steps behind him when he noticed me.
I was frozen to the spot, my face white as a ghost. I couldn’t lose her. But my fear made me incapable of stopping it.
By the time Grayson had calmed me down, we arrived on the scene to watch her being taken away in an ambulance. Waylon was dealing with the cops and sent us to the hospital. I went willingly, needing to prove my worth in the relationship and verify she was okay.
Since that day three weeks ago, I hadn’t been able to let her out of my sight, or I’d break out into a cold sweat if I didn’t know she was with the others. I needed to get my shit together, and fast. I would be useless to her otherwise.
“Nope. Put it back,” Darcie teased, slapping Grayson’s hand as he tried to shove something into another bag.
They were going over the last of the supplies we needed. Waylon had also wanted to take the truck, but no one was willing to give up their bike to do it. So, in the end, we had to take only what we could carry.
Of course, for Grayson, that was turning out to be a challenging task.
“But I need it,” he whined, giving her his puppy dog look.
“No one needs four different types of shampoo and hair gel,” Darcie said, smiling at him. Grayson huffed, preparing to argue his point.
Maddox watched them, shaking his head at their antics as he rolled up his last shirt. He had the easiest task, since he didn’t have that much to begin with. He looked up and caught my eyes, searching them for a moment. Closing his saddlebag, he walked over and leaned against the workbench I was at.
“What’s on your mind, Cowboy? Are you thinking about our journey?”
I nodded, dropping my eyes to turn and organize the tools. It was a ridiculous effort to avoid talking, but I tried anyway.
“I wish I could tell you that the world we’re about to enter was safe, but I can’t. Plus, I’d be doing you a disservice if I did. I don’t want to insult you by saying you can stay here. I know you won’t consider it because I’d never be able to either. Long ago, I learned that promises mean nothing when it comes to ruthless men willing to do whatever it takes to keep their empire.”
He turned more, so our conversation was kept from the others. He waited until I looked up and could speak directly to me.
“I’m not going to promise we’ll all be okay or make it through this. There’s too much that I’ve seen and I’ve fought my way through hell and back for that girl, but I can say this with utter conviction. I will do everything in my power to protect our girl, even give my own life.” Maddox paused, glancing back at the woman who’d stolen our hearts. “She’s strong. She’s ready to face this. Darcie’s trained and grown into a true queen. She’s the true threat. These men we’ll be facing will be blindsided by her. I’m not saying not to worry, but have faith in her and us. Yourself included.”
I wanted to believe him, but I’d already failed at being there for her.
“I’m not like you. I froze last time. So I’m just going to get in the way. But even knowing that, I can’t seem to let her go.”
“Brooks, I’m not one for pep talks. I’m just going to say it how it is, okay?”
I nodded, bracing myself.
“How would you describe Darcie?” he asked, surprising me.
“Um, beautiful, kind, endearing, and strong. She’s overcome so much, and I want to shield her from any more pain.”
“Would someone like that love a man who ‘just gets in the way’?”
He narrowed his eyes at me, waiting for me to answer. I gaped, realizing what he’d done by using my own words against me.
“No, but that doesn’t mean I’m the best one for this.”
“You’re the best one for this because she chose you. If you want to shield her from pain, then get out of your own head and see the life waiting for you to live. If you don’t, you will do exactly what you don’t want to do. Hurt her. And to me, that’s a greater fault than not being just like me. She doesn’t need another me. She needs you, man.”
His words hit like a slap across the face, and I knew he was right. I was the one creating my own obstacles by being insecure and afraid.
“How do I deal with the fear?” I asked, standing straighter.
“Use it instead of letting it use you. How you do that will be for you to decide.” He turned, leaning against the toolbox again, staring at Darcie with a smile on his face.
I joined him, letting all the words he’d said sink in. I’d been stuck on the fear, unsure how to deal with it, letting it consume me.
Being afraid wasn’t a new concept to me. I’d been afraid of most things my whole life. But I’d also learned to conquer them.
When I couldn’t talk to my peers, I learned how to ride a horse, finding security and strength in the animals. Eventually, I grew confident in my ability and found a passion that led me to the rodeo. For eight seconds on the back of a bucking horse, I made fear my bitch.
I overcame my shyness with girls by practicing online. It helped me find a way to be myself without changing who I was. I gained the courage to try something new, leading me to meet and fall in love with Darcie.
Not having a family, I always wanted to belong somewhere. Meeting the guys, I gained brothers to support me and encourage me. I wasn’t alone anymore.
Taking a deep breath, I felt my body relax at the knowledge, reminding me how I’d found my own way every time. It didn’t look like your typical journey, but it was mine.
Being scared wasn’t new, so I just needed to find a way to tackle this for myself.
“Thank you. I’ll work on it. I’ll find my path.”
Maddox turned and wrapped an arm around me, squeezing my shoulder. The embrace felt nice, easing some of the fear out of me.
“I know I’m the new guy, but I’m here for you, man. If there’s something I can help you with, then let me know, and I will. I trained Darcie, so I can train you too, if you want.”
“That might be helpful. It will give me something to focus on, if nothing else.”
Maddox grinned, his eyes slanting with the motion. Something told me I might regret asking him, but I couldn’t deny it would be nice to feel stronger and more prepared.
“We’ll start when we stop next. Now, let’s grab those two before we’re late for our appointment. Bubba will ground us all then, and we’d get nowhere.”
Chuckling, I walked over with Maddox to Grayson and Darcie as they kissed against his bike. I already felt lighter and knew I owed Maddox for talking me off the ledge.
“Hey, lovebirds, we have an appointment to keep,” Maddox shouted, breaking them apart.
Darcie frowned at being stopped until Maddox’s words registered. Her eyes lit up, and she gave a little happy dance as she looked at us.
“It’s time?” she asked.
Nodding, I reached out to her. Little moments like this made me realize how much I missed her. I’d been unnecessarily holding myself back as a form of punishment.
She easily took my hand, falling into my arms as she grinned at me. This was what I needed to focus on. Not what I couldn’t give her, but what I did.
All four of us climbed into the truck with Grayson driving. The drive to the shop was quiet as we fell into silence. The parking lot was empty since it was Sunday afternoon, and most businesses were closed. Waylon had come in earlier to prepare for his departure. He’d talked with Slade, and they’d hired a temporary assistant to cover the shop while he was gone.
I knew it had to be hard for him to step away when he felt Slade was counting on him to man the store. But when Darcie needed him, Waylon didn’t blink when it came to a decision for us all to go with her.
Stepping into the tattoo shop, I swallowed some nerves, focusing on what this next step would represent.
“Waylon!” Darcie shouted, practically skipping as she entered. “I want to go first.”
He stepped out from the back office, a grin peeking out between his beard. “You sure about that, baby?”
“Yep. I’m ready.” She flopped down into the chair, turning her forearm over. Waylon sat down, pulling on his gloves as he got ready to work. The rest of us stood back to watch, and I wondered if they were as nervous as I was for my turn. I didn’t do well with needles, but for Darcie and them, I would suck it up and deal with it. This was an important step, after all.
When Darcie had told us about the bounty on her head and her decision to return home to face her father and the man that had sent her running, we knew we couldn’t let her go alone. She told us her plan to claim her legacy instead of hiding from it, tired of running from the past.
It wasn’t a question of joining her, but more of what it meant for us as a whole. It didn’t feel right to join the Mavericks, a club that had let Darcie down when she needed them the most. But the Brotherhood no longer fit either. We’d become more than that.
“Done,” Waylon said, wiping it before he put on some cream and gently wrapped her forearm.
Grayson went next, turning over the same wrist, not even caring that he was marring his skin and ruining potential modeling jobs. Darcie was more important than that.
Soon, Grayson was done, and Maddox went, leaving me standing as I watched. Even Waylon already had the mark; another artist had given it to him earlier today. I bit my lip as my foot bounced, my nerves coming to the forefront.
Darcie walked over, placing her hand on my knee. “If you don’t want to do it, it’s okay. I know you don’t like needles.”
I shook my head. “I’m doing it. It’s important.”
She kissed my cheek, stepping back so I could take my place in the seat. Sucking in a deep breath, I hurried over, focusing on everything else but what Waylon was doing.
I barely remembered breathing as the needle pierced my skin, my hand gripping the other side of the chair. It wasn’t until Darcie unfolded my fingers, taking my hand in hers, that I calmed. When it was over, I let out a huge breath, my lungs filling with oxygen as I remembered to breathe.
I glanced down at the tattoo that now resembled our group—a black outline of a crown with an R in the middle.
We were more than just the Brotherhood and the Mavericks; we were a family. A beautiful unity centered around one woman—our queen—merging to bring a new group into existence.
The Royals—united in blood, bonded in love.
With a sole focus of protecting our woman. Together, we were unstoppable, and that was a beautifully dangerous thing.
It was time for the Agonizer to pay for his sins and bow down to the Queen.
There was no escaping. The Royals were coming.