Chapter 16 Frost
FROST
FOUR HOURS EARLIER…
Ipull into the Saints Outlaws’ parking lot, and my eyes widen. The place is swarming with brothers. Guys are hauling chairs, stringing lights, and carrying armfuls of flowers. I kill the engine and sit there for a second, trying to process what the hell I'm looking at.
Vegas appears in the doorway and spots me immediately. He strides over, grinning like he just won the lottery. “About damn time you showed up,” he says. “We've been busting ass for the last hour.”
I hop out of the truck. “Man, I don't even know what to say.”
“Then don't say anything. Just get your ass inside and help.” He turns toward the clubhouse, raising his voice.
“All right, listen up!” Everyone stops what they're doing, turning to face him.
“Lose the monkey suits,” Vegas announces.
“We're wearing our cuts. This is a biker wedding, and we're gonna look like bikers, but it better look good, you hear me? Clean jeans, polished boots, no oil stains. I already cleared it with Amy.”
A cheer goes up, and I can't help but chuckle. “Wait,” I say, grabbing Vegas's arm. “What does Hope think of this?”
Vegas grins. “Amy said she'll handle the bride.”
That's all I need to hear. If Amy's handling it, Hope's in good hands.
“Now get back to work!” Vegas shouts, and everyone scatters, moving with renewed energy.
I step inside, and the transformation is already underway.
The bar's been cleared, tables pushed to the sides to make room for rows of chairs.
White and gold fabric drapes from the ceiling, softening the rough edges of the clubhouse.
Dozens of flowers are being arranged on every surface, and Colt's stringing fairy lights along the walls.
Chaos appears at my side, handing me a beer. “Hell of a day, brother,” he says.
I take a long drink as I watch our brothers work. Saints Outlaws’ members are treating this like it's a wedding for one of their own, and Death’s Gambit members move with purpose to make sure every detail is perfect.
I clink my beer against his. “To one hell of a day.”
This right here is what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself.
This is family.
I stare at my reflection in a mirror in one of the back rooms. Luckily, I packed a newer pair of black jeans.
After rolling up the sleeves on my white button-down shirt, I slide my leather cut over my shoulders.
It feels familiar on my back, and I look more like myself than I would in a suit.
For Hope, I was willing to wear whatever she wanted, but I like this better.
This is me. Rough, raw, and unfiltered.
I reach into my pocket to make sure the folded paper is there. I stayed up late last night to write my vows after Hope went to her parents. She doesn't know what I have planned. I want it to be a surprise.
Knock. Knock.
The door opens, and Chaos walks in, grinning like an idiot. “You look like you're about to puke,” he jokes. I flip him off. “There he is.” He crosses his arms as he leans against the doorframe. “Thought maybe you'd bolted. Wouldn't be the first time you ran from something good.”
I shoot him a look. “Not funny.”
“Little bit funny.” He steps closer, and his expression softens. “You good, brother?”
I exhale slowly, running a hand through my hair. “I'm nervous as hell.”
“Well, you should be. You almost fucked this up the other night with your dramatic ass.”
I can't help but laugh. “Jesus, tell me how you really feel, Chaos.”
“But you didn't,” Chaos says, his voice serious now.
“You fought for her, and she fought for you.
That's the only thing that matters.” I nod, swallowing hard.
“Hope's the one, Frost. You know it, I know it. Hell, everyone in this clubhouse knows it.” He claps me on the shoulder.
“So, stop overthinking, and go marry your girl.”
There's another knock on the door, and Eagle's voice calls through. “Hope's here! It's time!”
Hope’s here.
My heart slams against my ribs.
Chaos grins widely. “Let's get you married, brother.”
I take a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
The clubhouse is packed when I enter the common room. I take my place under the arch with Chaos right beside me, hands clasped in front of him, grinning like an idiot.
The brothers are seated in rows of white chairs, all of them have their cuts on over dark shirts and jeans. The door opens, and Amy marches in with Hope and her parents.
My throat closes up immediately, and I swear my heart stops.
Vegas intercepts them, and I can’t hear what’s being said.
All I can do is stare in awe at my future wife.
My dad takes Sharon’s arm and leads her to her seat in the front row.
She begins to dab her eyes with a tissue.
I give her a comforting smile, but I can’t help the way my gaze shoots back to Hope.
The lights dim, candles flicker on every surface, and the flowers frame the wooden arch above me. It's not what we planned, but it's perfect.
The music begins, and Amy walks down the aisle in a simple dress, her usual fierce expression softened… barely. When she catches my eye, she gives me a look that’s half warning and half approval, and I nod back. Message received: Don't fuck this up.
The music shifts to the wedding march, and everyone stands.
Hope's on her dad's arm, and she looks..
. fuck, she's stunning. The short white dress hugs her curves, the corset bodice laced tight, and she looks every bit like a biker's bride.
Her hair falls in soft waves over her shoulders, and her smile is radiant.
Her eyes find mine, and everything else fades. The brothers, the clubhouse, the music, it all blurs into background noise. All I see is her. She walks toward me, every step seeming to take forever, and I can't stop the tears that burn the corners of my eyes. My vision blurs, and I blink hard.
I almost lost this, almost lost her. The other night, I let fear and doubt turn me into someone I didn't recognize. I almost threw away the best thing that's ever happened to me because I was too scared to believe I deserved it.
Hope’s here, though. She continues toward me, her own eyes glassy but locked on mine, and a smile on her face.
I’m the luckiest bastard alive.
As she gets closer, I see the way her hands tremble slightly as she holds her dad's arm. When she finally reaches the altar and stands right in front of me, I can't hold it back anymore.
Tears stream down my face, and I don't give a damn who sees. This incredible, fierce, beautiful woman is about to become my wife.
House clears his throat, and the clubhouse quiets down. He looks at Ted, his expression serious but warm. “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
Ted’s voice cracks when he speaks. “Her mother and I do, but also Hope.” He pauses, swallowing hard. “She's chosen Frost, and that's all a father can ask for, that his daughter chooses her own happiness.”
He turns to Hope, kisses her cheek, and whispers something in her ear that makes her smile through her tears. Next, he turns to me and extends his hand. I take it, and he pulls me into a brief, tight hug.
“Take care of her,” he says quietly, his voice thick with emotion.
“Forever,” I promise, my own voice breaking.
He nods, steps back, and Hope's hand slides into mine.
House looks at us, then at the crowd of brothers and family packed into the clubhouse.
“Marriage isn't just about love,” he says.
“It's about choice. It's about waking up every day and choosing that person, even when it's hard.
Even when you're scared, and life throws everything it's got at you.” He pauses, and a small smile tugs at his lips.
“And judging by the last forty-eight hours, life's already testing you two.”
A few chuckles ripple through the crowd.
House continues, “Did either of you prepare vows, or are we doing traditional?”
“Traditional.”
“I prepared something.”
Hope, and I speak at the same time. I reach into my pocket and pull out the folded piece of paper. My hands shake so badly that I almost drop it.
Hope's eyes widen, fresh tears spill over. “You wrote vows?”
“I did,” I confirm. Unfolding the paper, I stare at the words I wrote and take a shaky breath.
“Hope.” I swallow my nerves down. “I met you at a coffee shop in Spring Valley when a douchebag wouldn’t leave you alone.
You were holding your own pretty good, and it was your tenacity that drew me in.
” Her breath hitches. “You were there for me while I grieved my mom. Even when I ran back to New Mexico, you didn’t give up on me and gave me another chance.
You became my life. My home. My future. Everything I didn't know I needed until you were standing right in front of me.” I blink hard, tears blurring the words on the page.
“I've made mistakes. I let fear make me doubt what we have. I let it turn me into someone I'm not.”
Her hand tightens around mine.
“I'm done running. I'm done letting fear win.” I look up from the paper to meet her eyes.
“I promise to always communicate. To talk it out, even when it's hard. To never let doubt come between us again.” My voice breaks.
“I promise to choose you every day. To stand by you and be the man you deserve.”
I fold the paper with one hand, keeping her hand locked in mine. “The club, these brothers,” I say with a gesture to the crowd. “They're your family now, too. I promise to build a life with you that's full of love and laughter and all the chaos that comes with being part of this world."
“You're my everything, Hope. My heart… my reason for waking up every damn day. I love you. More than I ever thought I could love anyone.”
Tears streak down her cheeks. I tuck the paper back in my pocket, and take both her hands in mine.
Her eyes go wide with panic. “I-I-I don't have anything written down.” She looks at House, then back at me. “I didn't know you were… I thought we were just doing the stan—"
“It's okay,” I say softly, squeezing her hands. “Traditional vows are fine.”
“You make me feel safe,” she gushes. “You make me feel seen, that I matter and I’m enough for you exactly as I am.
” She swallows hard. “I was scared, too, you know.
Scared of feeling this much and scared of trusting someone this deeply.
Terrified that if I let myself fall, I'd lose myself completely.”
“You never asked me to be anything other than who I am,” she continues.
“You never made me feel small or less than.
You just... loved me. Even when I was a mess and when everything was falling apart.
You're my home, Deacon… My person… My choice. Forever. I choose you,” she says, her voice stronger now.
“Every single day. No matter what. No matter how hard it gets or how scared we are or how much we both screw up.” She laughs through her tears.
“And we will screw up. We already have, but that's okay because our love is worth fighting for.”
I stare into her eyes and see her promise is true, same as mine.
“I love you, Deacon Stone,” she whispers. “Always and forever.”
I squeeze her hands so hard I'm afraid I might hurt her, but she just squeezes back, smiling through her tears.
“Well, shit,” House says, his own voice a little rough. “That was beautiful.”
A few brothers chuckle, and I hear someone sniffle.
House clears his throat. “Rings?”
Chaos hands me Hope's ring, a simple band with small diamonds that catch the light and pairs with her engagement ring. My hands shake as I slide it onto her finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” House says, and I repeat him.
Amy passes my ring to Hope. She takes my hand, sliding the thick silver band onto my finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” House instructs, and Hope repeats.
Hope's eyes meet mine, and the rest of the world shrinks around us.
House’s voice booms through the clubhouse. “By the power vested in me by the State of Nevada and the Saints Outlaws MC, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He pauses to look directly at me with a smirk. “Frost, don't fuck this up.”
“Kiss her already, dumbass!” Chaos yells from beside me.
I don't need to be told twice. I pull Hope into me, sliding one hand to the small of her back and cupping her face with the other. Her hands grip my cut to tug me closer.
I press my lips to hers. It's not gentle nor sweet. It's searing, desperate, and full of every emotion I've held back, the fear, the love, the relief, and the promise of forever.
Dipping her back in my arms, her body arches against mine, and she gasps into my mouth. Her fingers tangle in my hair, and I deepen the kiss, claiming her, showing her exactly how much she means to me.
The clubhouse erupts in cheers, whoops, and whistles.
“That's my boy!” Chaos shouts.
“Save it for the honeymoon!” someone else yells, laughing.
I don't stop kissing her, though, because she's mine now. My wife… My forever.
I'll never let her go.