Chapter Twenty #4
The news switches to coverage of Valerie’s situation, and Montana sits up straighter, the popcorn in his lap almost slipping with his eagerness. “Hey, everyone, shut up! Shh!”
“Valerie Drake, the woman whose case sparked this investigation, has been transferred to a minimum-security facility while Warden Garver’s prison undergoes extensive renovations and investigations.
Drake, who killed her abusive husband in defense of her son, helped authorities gather crucial evidence against the Cartel from inside the prison system. ”
The screen shows footage of Montana visiting his mother, both of them smiling as they sit across from each other in a bright, clean visiting room.
“Drake now has unlimited visitation rights with her son and has been granted special privileges in recognition of her cooperation. Several high-profile attorneys have taken an interest in her case, and there’s talk of a significant sentence reduction.
Hollywood has also come calling, with multiple studios interested in optioning her story. ”
Cheering erupts around the clubhouse as brothers slap Montana in the back, while he continues to eat his popcorn with a shit-eating grin.
“Movie deals,” Clover says, grinning at Montana. “Your mom’s gonna be famous.”
Montana chuckles. “She deserves every bit of good that comes her way after what she’s been through.”
“Think they’ll want to include the club in the movie?” Rhyan asks, bouncing in her seat.
“Fuck, no!” Alpha says firmly. “And we’re keeping it that way. The less the outside world knows about our involvement, the better.”
But honestly, I’m not really focused on the news or the media circus or any of it.
My attention keeps drifting to Clover, who’s curled up next to me on the couch, Dracula purring in her lap.
She’s wearing one of my T-shirts and a pair of shorts, her hair in a messy bun, looking absolutely perfect without even trying.
We’ve been married for almost two weeks now, but we’re still wearing the cheesy Vegas wedding rings we bought on impulse. They’re cute and symbolic, but they’re also cheap trinkets that won’t last forever.
Clover deserves better.
She deserves something permanent, something real, something that shows the world exactly how much she means to me.
Which is why yesterday, I took Sadie with me to the best jewelry store in the city and bought Clover a real engagement ring and wedding band.
The engagement ring is a stunning solitaire diamond that catches the light from every angle, and the wedding band is a delicate channel-set design that complements it perfectly.
And tonight, I’m going to give them both to her.
Tonight, I’m going to propose to my wife properly.
I catch Sadie’s eye across the room and give her a subtle nod. She grins and reaches for the remote, aiming it at the television.
“What are you—” Alpha starts to say, but Sadie has already hit the power button. The television goes dark, followed immediately by all the lights in the clubhouse.
“What the fuck?” Dutch’s voice cuts through the darkness.
I lean in against Clover, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Be right back,” I whisper, standing before walking off.
“Power must have gone out,” Haven says, the confusion in her voice makes me smile as I make my way to the center of the clubhouse floor just as the spotlight blazes to life in the center of the room, illuminating me as I drop to one knee.
The opening notes of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” begin to play over the sound system, and a disco ball descends from the ceiling, sending sparkles of light dancing across the walls.
Another spotlight finds Clover, her hand to her mouth as she starts laughing, though she is absolutely radiant right now. “What on earth are you doing?” she asks, standing and making her way over to me.
I pull out the ring box, opening it to reveal her engagement ring, and her eyes widen, then instantly begin to tear up.
“We got married on a whim in Vegas, and it was the most spontaneous, fun, and romantic night of my life. But there’s one thing I didn’t get to do.
” I take a deep breath, looking into her beautiful eyes.
“Clover Marie Evans, will you marry me? Again?”
“Phoenix,” she whispers, tears streaming down her face while she nods frantically. “Yes, of course. Yes!”
Grinning, I slide the ring onto her finger, and it fits perfectly. “Good, because I already have our wedding rings too.”
That’s when Maverick steps out from behind the bar, and I have to bite back a laugh. He’s wearing a full Elvis costume, white jumpsuit, cape, the works, and he looks absolutely miserable about it. I honestly can’t believe I was able to talk him into it.
“Oh my God, Mav!” Clover bursts into laughter, the kind of deep, belly-shaking laughter that fills the entire room.
The lights come back on, revealing that everyone was in on it. The whole club is grinning at us, and Sadie has tears in her eyes.
Maverick clears his throat, his voice taking on an exaggerated Elvis accent as he steps up to the two of us. “You ready to do this? Once you do, there’s no going back?”
Clover tilts her head at Maverick, trying to fight back her smile. “Mav, technically, we’re already married. So you trying to talk me out of a marriage that has already happened is kind of a moot point, don’t you think?”
He chuckles, leaning in closer. “Yeah, yeah… but I have to do that brotherly thing and make sure you’re ready for all this. You know, watch out for you on your big day. Be supportive and all that.”
I grin as Clover smiles so wide at him, then leans in, pressing a tender kiss to his cheek.
“I love you. Thank you for always looking out for me. For always being the best big brother I could have ever wanted…” She turns, her eyes meeting mine lovingly, then she glances back at Maverick.
“But I’m sure. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life, Mav.
Phoenix is my guy. I love him with every inch of my being,” she says, making my heart race hard and fast.
God, I love her more than I have ever loved anything in this fucking world.
Maverick smiles, nodding his head like that was all he needed to hear. “Well then, I didn’t get all dressed up for nothing. Let’s do this.”
Smiling, I grab Clover’s hand and move her to stand in front of Maverick as he pulls out a piece of paper. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today—”
“Wait! You’re doing the ceremony?” Clover bursts out laughing, interrupting Maverick.
He grins, tilting his head with a genuine smile this time. “My wedding gift to you, Clo.”
I grip her hand tighter as her bottom lip trembles, and tears begin to slide down her face. Maverick simply smiles, seeing how much this means to her, and he continues with the ceremony. “We’re gathered here today to unite this asshole and this precious angel in holy matrimony. Again.”
Everyone laughs, and I smile even though he’s called me an asshole.
“I can’t believe you agreed to this,” Clover says, still giggling.
“Yeah, well, I’d do anything for you, Clo. But Phoenix owes me big time for this,” Maverick grumbles, but there’s humor in his eyes. “Phoenix, do you take Clover to be your wife, to love and protect, and apparently wake up for glucose checks for the rest of your life?”
“Fuck, yeah, I do,” I say firmly.
“Good man,” Maverick grumbles, then continues, “Clover, do you take Phoenix to be your husband, to love and cherish and drive absolutely crazy with your beautiful stubborn streak?”
“I do,” she says, beaming at me.
“And just make sure you do drive him absolutely fucking crazy for me, will you? Because I really need you to drive that stubborn streak ho—”
“Mav!” Sadie chuckles, shaking her head at him. “Pot kettle on the stubborn streak, don’t you think?”
I smirk as everyone in the clubhouse laughs.
He groans, rolling the tension from his shoulders, then signals to Rhyan, and she walks toward us holding Dracula.
Clover’s eyes light up seeing our adopted feline friend being brought toward us, a ribbon tied around his neck with our wedding rings attached.
Hers shines brightly against the glistening disco ball, and mine, a simple black band in the shape of a chain, represents how my life is now linked to hers.
Clover smiles, petting Dracula on the head as I untie the rings, and Rhyan stands with them in her hands.
Maverick exhales and hesitates like he knows this part is meaningful. “All right, you know how real rings bind you to each other…” He pauses. “Clover, there’s still time to back out.”
Clover chuckles, turning to Maverick, and she grins. “No chance in hell.”
Maverick raises his brow, turning to me. “Phoenix, you wanna back out, brother?”
I snort out a laugh, smiling at him. “You’ve got more chance of Clover backing out than you do me, Mav, and she’s not going anywhere.
I’m not going anywhere. I’m sorry to tell you, brother, but I am actually your brother-in-law.
For better or worse. Whether you like it or not. You just gotta suck it up.”
Clover fights back her smile as hushed chuckles around the clubroom make Maverick straighten his shoulders. He stares right at me, a fierceness in his gaze, then he nods.
Once.
Clean and precise.
“That is all I needed to hear.” A slow smile crosses his face as he turns to Clover.
“Then, by the power vested in me by the internet and this ridiculous costume, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Again.” Maverick’s Elvis accent drops away as he adds, “This doesn’t mean I want to come into your room to you having no panties on all the time, okay? ”
Everyone’s brows furrow, confused by the joke, but Clover doubles over laughing.
She throws her arms around Maverick, pulling him into a fierce hug. “Thank you,” she whispers. “This means everything to me.”
Maverick’s expression softens as he hugs her back. When they separate, he extends his hand to me. I grip it firmly, and he pulls me in for a bro hug.
“Take care of her,” Maverick says quietly.
“Always,” I promise.
As the club erupts in cheers and congratulations, I pull Clover into my arms and kiss her deeply. She tastes like happiness and forever and everything I never knew I needed. But everything I will always want.
“I love you, Mrs. Evans,” I murmur against her lips.
“I love you, too, Mr. Evans,” she whispers back. “Now and always.”
The disco ball keeps spinning above us, casting light and shadow across the faces of our family, our chosen family, the people who would die for each other without question. We’ve been through hell and come out the other side stronger.
And now, with Clover’s hand in mine and her real wedding ring sparkling on her finger, I know we’re ready for whatever comes next.
And I know there’s still so much to come.