Chapter Twenty-One #3
“They’ll be fine,” Haven says, sliding into the seat Phoenix just vacated. “Your brother’s a lot of things, but he’s not unreasonable. And he loves you too much to do anything that would really hurt you.”
“I know,” I say, but I’m still tense, still listening for raised voices from outside.
“Besides…” Haven continues with a slight smile, “Phoenix has proven himself. Multiple times. Even Maverick can see that.”
Twenty minutes later, they return, and I search both their faces for signs of damage. But Phoenix is almost smiling, and Maverick looks…
… peaceful.
Resolved.
“Everything okay?” I ask as Phoenix reclaims his spot next to me.
“Everything’s good,” Phoenix confirms, pressing a kiss to my temple.
Maverick settles into the chair across from us, accepting the beer Haven hands him. “Phoenix and I had a good talk,” he says simply. “We’re good. Somehow, I don’t know how the fuck he did it, but the bastard actually made me like him.”
Phoenix chuckles as I gasp, and the relief that washes over me is almost overwhelming. I feel like I can finally, truly relax for the first time in weeks, and I lunge forward, embracing Maverick. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I love you, Mav.”
He pulls back, smiling at me. “You did good, kid. Now let’s get some drinks and finally celebrate.”
Haven smiles wide, bumping into my shoulder as if to tell me, ‘See, I told you it’d be fine.’ “Yes! Navy, tequila shots all round!” she calls out, throwing her hands in the air in excitement.
Poppy smiles, popping her head out from nowhere. “Me too?” she asks excitedly.
“No!” Alpha and Haven both reply quickly.
“Oh, man,” Poppy whines.
We all laugh as the night continues. There’s more drinking, more celebrating, and new faces appear in the clubhouse, faces I recognize but don’t know well.
Luke and Logan Martinez, the brothers who helped gather intelligence during the Cartel war, are standing near the bar talking to Alpha and Loki, their expressions serious and hopeful.
“What do you think that’s about?” I ask Phoenix.
But before Phoenix can respond, Alpha calls for attention again.
The Martinez brothers step forward, their posture nervous but determined.
“Luke and Logan have asked to prospect for LA Defiance,” Alpha announces.
“After seeing how this club operates, how we take care of each other and fight for what’s right, they want to be part of it. ”
The response is immediate and positive with drunk clapping, whistles, and calls of approval from around the room. These men proved themselves, risked their own safety to help us take down the Cartel. They’ve already shown they understand what brotherhood means.
“Well then, you’re officially prospects,” Alpha says, shaking both their hands. “You’ll start next week.”
“Be prepared, Loki is a taskmaster of a prospect trainer. You guys are in for one hell of a ride,” Montana calls out, holding up his beer.
“No shit, dudes. We’ve had prospects who couldn’t hack Loki’s gnarly tough love. You grommets better buckle up.” Rip chuckles.
And Luke doesn’t bat an eyelid. “I think if we made it through the heat the Cartel threw at us, we can handle prospecting.”
“And if it’s harder, then we’ll stick through that too. Martinez boys don’t quit,” Logan adds.
“I think we made that pretty clear by how we fought back the Cartel when they tried to come for us. Whatever you wanna throw at us, Loki, we can handle it,” Luke states.
“Oh, yeah, we can handle it because we want this. We wanna earn our Defiance patches. Because the way you guys took down the Cartel, that’s worth being a part of. That is worth fighting for. So we’re in,” Logan adds.
Alpha puffs out his chest, a slow smirk crossing his face. “Well then, welcome to Defiance.”
A raucous round of cheering erupts around the clubhouse as we celebrate, followed by more toasts, more evidence that even in the midst of loss and change, new beginnings are always possible.
Eventually, in the early morning hours, the crowd starts to disperse and thin out. Brothers pass out on the floor, couples disappear into their bedrooms. Phoenix and I remain on the couch, not quite ready to leave this space where so much has happened, where so much has changed.
“Sadie wants to open the center next month,” I tell him, breaking the comfortable silence. “The one for the rescued bird children. She asked if I’d help with the social media campaign for funding.”
“That’s perfect for you,” Phoenix says immediately. “You’re brilliant at that stuff.”
“And she mentioned they’ll need someone to help with maintenance and building repairs. Someone good with their hands.”
Phoenix turns to look at me, eyebrows raised. “You offering me a job, Mrs. Evans?”
The name still sends a little thrill through me. “Maybe I am, Mr. Evans.”
“I can do that,” he says thoughtfully. “Work with kids who’ve been through hell, help them feel safe again, sounds like exactly the kind of thing I want to be doing with my life. Even if those miniature assassins do scare me a little.”
Chuckling, I smile. “Just think of them as other versions of Poppy because that’s kind of what they are.”
He jerks his head back, pulling a hilarious face at me. “Jesus! More versions of Poppy running around. All in the one building, and Sadie is going to be their teacher?”
I lean up and kiss him, soft and sweet and full of promise.
“Poppy and Haven are going to be there to help guide them too. Remember, these kids have been through a lot, and everyone is damaged in their own way. Some just more than others. I love you, baby, but even you’re not immune from emotional trauma,” I tell him against his lips.
He raises his brow, kissing me back, humming under his breath. “I love you, too, Reel Girl. And I see what you did there. Okay, I’m in. Let’s help these tiny assassins get back on their feet.”
I cuddle into him, and around us, the clubhouse continues its gentle wind-down.
Dracula has claimed his favorite spot on Ink’s lap, purring so loudly I can hear him from across the room.
Cassandra is attempting to teach Ink some complicated card game, their heads bent together in concentration.
Navy just sunk what looks like a winning shot against Theo, who’s protesting loudly about trick shots and unfair advantages.
This is family, I realize.
Not the family I was born into, though Maverick and I will always have that bond, but the family I’ve chosen.
The family that chose me back.
Phoenix and me, Alpha and Haven, all the brothers and their partners, even Dracula in his own feline way, we’re all connected now by something stronger than blood. By choice, by loyalty, by love forged in the fire of shared struggle.
“Alpha!” Haven calls from across the room, her tone clearly conveys that she’s had one too many tequilas. “When are we doing it, asshole?”
Alpha looks up, blinking a few times, the tiredness clear on his face. “Doing what?” he calls back from the other side of the clubhouse over the music.
“The fucking wedding, you idiot. Our wedding,” she says, raising her shot in the air with such force that all her drink spills out of it.
We all laugh as Alpha grins. He sets down his drink, stands, and walks over, wrapping his arms around her, making her squeal with the force. “How about next month? Right after we get the center opened?”
She stares up at him lovingly, although very drunkenly, as she sways in his arms. “Perfect,” Haven says, standing on her toes to kiss him.
Another loud cheer erupts around the room, even the brothers passed out on the floor seem to wake for the occasion before Poppy slams into their legs, embracing them tightly.
“Think they’ll actually make it to the altar this time?” Phoenix asks quietly.
“They better,” I reply. “I already have my dress picked out and the social media layout planned.”
He chokes back his laugh. “Of course you do.”
The night stretches on, comfortable, warm, and full of possibility.
Tomorrow will bring new challenges, I’m sure, it always does.
But tonight, surrounded by the people I love most in the world, watching new relationships bloom and old ones deepen, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time—genuine optimism about the future.
Phoenix’s hand finds mine in the dim light of the clubhouse, our fingers intertwining naturally. His wedding ring, our brand-new ones that flood me with so much excitement and love, feels cool against my palm.
And even though I love that we have new rings. Real rings. We still have our impulsive makeshift rings locked away for safekeeping. Those rings tell our story perfectly. How we were impulsive, unpredictable, maybe a little crazy, but absolutely, unquestionably all shook up and in love.
Vegas will always hold a special place in my heart.
Dracula chooses that moment to abandon Ink and make his way over to us, leaping gracefully onto the couch and settling himself across both our laps like he owns us.
“I can’t believe we brought this damn cat home with us,” Phoenix says, scratching behind Dracula’s ears.
“I can’t remember a time before we owned him.” I smile as the cat begins his rumbling purr.
Phoenix cuddles into me further, continuing to pet our cat, and he sighs contentedly. “I hate to say it, but you’re right, and this is the only time you’re going to hear me say this, but I think I love this fucking cat.”
Jerking my head back, my mouth drops open as I stare at him, and he glares at me. “Don’t make it fucking weird, Clo.”
Giggling, I say nothing, simply turn back, sinking into his arms, loving the fact that I’m married to the best man in the world, and we both love our pet cat.
What could be better than that?
Around us, our chosen family continues their partying, the club girls have started cleaning up, and turning off unnecessary lights.
Soon, Phoenix and I will head off to our room, to our bed, to our life together. But for now, I’m content to sit here in the gentle chaos of the clubhouse, Dracula warm and heavy across our legs, Phoenix solid and real beside me.
New beginnings.
That’s what tonight is about.
South and Ingrid are beginning their new chapter in New Orleans.
The Martinez brothers begin their journey toward brotherhood.
Ink and Cassandra are beginning whatever they’re building together.
Sadie begins her mission to help rescued bird children.
Alpha and Haven are thinking about beginning their married life, finally.
And Phoenix and me? We are beginning every day of the rest of our lives together.
The future is uncertain. It always is.
But whatever comes next, we’ll face it the way we’ve faced everything else, together, as a family, with fierce love and stubborn determination.
I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of home, low conversations, gentle laughter, Dracula’s contented purring, Phoenix’s steady breathing beside me.
This is what happiness sounds like.
This is what home feels like.
This is what new beginnings look like when you’re victoriously brave enough to embrace them.