Epilogue
MELLIE
Four months later…
“You’re all clear.”
I smile at the doctor. This is officially my last follow-up appointment since Cray Cray and Peach kidnapped and beat me. It’s also my wedding day.
Finally.
“Told you,” Becs says from the chair reserved for family.
While I was in a coma, lockdown was lifted, and Becs and Marlene returned to the clubhouse full-time.
Pilot also moved in his girlfriend, Kerri.
Apparently, Lyric almost losing me made the brother question why the two of them were still only meeting up occasionally.
The three women, along with Savvy, Patti, Lulu, and Star, will stand with me during the ceremony.
“You did,” I say.
“Well, I'll let you get going. I know today is a big day for you.”
“Thank you for everything, Doc.”
“You’re welcome.” He opens the door but pauses to glance over his shoulder. “Oh, tell Pilot I’ll be ready to go on Friday.”
I don’t know the full details of what Lyric or the club paid the good doctor, and I don’t want to know. Some club business needs to remain club business. That’s nothing new, and I’m good with it. I wouldn’t be marrying Lyric if I weren’t.
“Ready to go?” Becs asks.
“So ready.”
“I can believe Lyric wouldn’t let you stay in a hotel last night,” she comments as we step onto the elevator a few minutes later.
“You do remember what happened last time we were supposed to marry, right?”
She swats my shoulder. “Of course, I do. All that bullshit is done and over with, though.”
“You know as well as I do that the Shadow Sixes aren’t the only threat out there.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.”
I climb into the passenger seat of her Range Rover, and we drive home in relative silence. One would never know that a wedding is about to take place.
“They better be done setting up the runway,” I say as we enter the clubhouse.
“We are,” Lyric says as he practically pounces on me.
I try to push him away but fail miserably. He lifts me in his arms and presses my back against the wall.
“That’s my cue to go check in with Copper,” Becs says with a laugh as she walks away.
“You’re not supposed to see me before the ceremony,” I scold.
“How’d it go at the doctor?” he asks, ignoring my statement.
“Lyric, put me down,” I demand. “I need to go get ready.”
He rocks his hips, and I moan when I feel the pressure from his hard cock. “What. Did. The. Doctor. Say?”
“I’m all good,” I say in a breathy tone. “No more follow-ups.”
“And the other thing?”
I smirk. “You make it sound like you’ve had to be celibate for four months.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the slow, passionate lovemaking we’ve done,” he says. “But I’m ready to fuck you senseless.”
“You can fuck me senseless after you make me Mrs. Jenkins.”
He whirls me around in a circle before setting me on my feet and kissing me quickly. Then he smacks my ass.
“What’re you waiting for? Go get ready.”
My laughter fills the air as I make my way to the spare room. Last night was the first night I slept in this room in months, and since Lyric wouldn’t give the okay for another hotel stay, I insisted we at least not share a bed the night before our wedding.
“I was starting to worry,” Savvy states when I enter the room.
“Nothing to worry about,” I quip. “I’m here, and all is well.”
She grins. “Good. Go shower so I have enough time to do your hair and makeup.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I linger under the hot spray longer than I should, and the bathroom is full of steam when I step out and wrap myself in a fluffy towel. I return to the bedroom, and the rest of the women have arrived. Savvy is busy doing Patti’s hair while Becs, Marlene, and Kerri do their own.
Hoping they don’t spot me, I cross to the closet where my dress is hanging from a hook over the door, still in the garment bag.
“Don’t even think about it,” Savvy snaps, and I groan.
“Oh, c’mon,” I cry. “It’s my fucking wedding dress. It’s crap that I can’t see it.”
“It’s not crap,” Kerri says with a grin. “It’s sweet. Lyric wants it to be a surprise.”
“I’m going to tell Pilot to do the same to you, and then you tell me how sweet it is,” I grumble.
“Quit your bitchin’,” Lulu teases. “If you can trust Lyric with your life, you can trust him with a dress.”
“Have you seen his wardrobe?” I counter. “Denim and leather. That’s all the man knows.”
Star throws her head back and laughs, and I am reminded of how lucky I am. I have friends and family who stood by me through the worst moments of my life. Even when I had no clue who they were, their love and loyalty never wavered.
“There’s a silk set of PJs over there on the bed,” Savvy says, changing the subject. “Lyric wanted you to be pampered and comfortable until it’s time to put the dress on.”
“And when will that be?”
“The ceremony begins in two hours,” Marlene reminds me. “Pastor wants us to have you out on the runway five minutes beforehand. You do the math.”
The math leads me to one hour and thirty minutes. Finally, fucking finally, I’m allowed to slide the zipper of the garment bag down. My eyes land on the gown, and I gasp.
“This is…” My hand flies to my mouth as I fight back tears.
“It’s the same one you originally had,” Savvy confirms. “In fact, it’s the exact dress.”
I whip my head around to face her. “What? How? That dress was cut off of me.”
“Lyric was a man on a mission,” Lulu says. “He found a seamstress who was able to fix the damage, and between bleach and white dye, the majority of the blood is gone.”
“The majority?”
Marlene walks toward me and lifts the dress off the hook. After taking it out of the garment bag, she flips it around to show me a small red stain that will be hidden by the bodice’s satin trim.
“It’s Rowdy’s blood,” she explains, tearing up. “Lyric knew you’d want a piece of him with you today.”
Some people might think it’s gross or macabre, but to me, it’s perfect.
“He thought of everything,” I whisper, blinking back tears so I don’t ruin my makeup.
“He really did.”
The girls help me put the dress on and lead me outside to the runway. Zombie is standing next to the asphalt strip about a hundred feet from the arch Lyric, and I will be married under.
“You ready to do this?” he asks, bending his elbow so I can thread my arm through.
“I’ve been ready since the seventh grade,” I reply honestly. “I do have a confession to make, though.”
“Dammit, no,” he groans. “No last-minute confessions, no drama, no nothing but me walking you down the aisle to Lyric.”
I laugh at him. “It’s nothing like that.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve been waiting all day for the other shoe to drop,” I admit. “Marrying Lyric is like the last piece of the puzzle that is my life sliding into place, and I’m terrified that something will go wrong.”
“Has anything gone wrong yet?”
“Well, no.”
“You’re only a few minutes away from saying ‘I do’. I think it’s safe to say that the other shoe isn’t fuckin’ droppin’, sweet cheeks.”
“What if I trip and fall?” I whisper yell.
“Do you really think I’d let that happen?” He doesn’t wait for me to reply before continuing. “No, I won’t. Nothing is going to stop this wedding, I promise you.”
Zombie’s reassurance is like a miracle drug. My worries fade away, and my entire being focuses on the love of my life.
“You look stunning,” Lyric says when Zombie hands me off to him.
I grin. “Thanks.” I rise to my tiptoes and lean close to his ear. “Thanks for the blood,” I whisper.
“No way was Rowdy gonna miss this,” he says.
“Will the two of you shut up?” Pastor complains. “I’ve got a wedding to perform.”
Less than ten minutes later, Lyric and I are pronounced husband and old lady.
The reception is a giant party, and we dance our first dance to “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by Jasmine Thompson. When we finally leave the clubhouse, I glance at the sky and blow a kiss to the stars.
“We did it, Rowdy,” I whisper. “And not a single thing went wrong.”