Epilogue
Worley
Three days later, the Viking Warriors MC is throwing our biggest party of the year so far.
Patched members and their families are here.
Our friends from town join us. Emily made a two-tier cake with purple roses just like the one from Christina’s birthday at Angie’s.
Oh, she has dozens of matching cupcakes, too.
A day Willow Creek never thought it would see happened today. Angie closed the restaurant. A sign saying Closed for a Family Matter is taped inside the front door. She helped cater all the food.
Our brothers from all the surrounding states came. Shep and his guys from Texas are here. No, he didn’t bring the jerk Harley liked with him.
We’re celebrating for two reasons today.
Nick called early this morning. He has Harley.
Oh, she’s mad and fighting him, but he’s not letting her out of his sight.
He didn’t go into full detail about things.
He’ll call later with that. Jude and Smoke are escorting him and Harley to Slone Security’s headquarters in Missoula, Montana. Jack and Coty remember stopping there.
Chief and Scotch are tracking Josiah Edwards. I’d like to get my hands on that lowlife. Not only did he leave his wife and son without an explanation, but he also left Harley on her own two days ago. That’s another man who should never show up in Tennessee.
Sean Gilbert didn’t die. Jay and I won’t go to prison for murder.
Cops found him and rushed him to the ER.
Our hospital airlifted him to Nashville.
Christina said even before Jay and I beat him within an inch of his life, that Sean was unrecognizable.
He definitely was by the time we finished with him.
After surgery, while he was still unconscious, the cops fingerprinted him. He may have hidden his looks for years. Can’t hide fingerprints. Sean Gilbert was arrested immediately for domestic violence. Ciara also pushed for the attempted murder of Christina Shaw.
The McLeods are beyond happy today. Well, they’re sad that Maci and Ember will head back to college this evening. They graduate in May. We’ll celebrate big that day, too.
“Ready?” Mack puts his hand on my shoulder.
“Beyond ready.” I stand and follow him to the Church doors.
He nods to Jack. Jack motions for the live band to stop playing.
Oh, Maci got her wish. We have a newly built stage in the front corner of the Den.
Bryan Dawson signals his band. Since this was a private party, Grayson convinced The Dawson Boys to play for us today.
Don’t worry. We’re paying them. It’s nowhere near what they’d make for a concert, though.
Besides, Harrison’s family wasn’t missing this.
“Welcome, brothers, families, and friends.” Mack gets everyone’s attention. “Christina, you wanna join us?” He motions for her to come to us.
My smile widens with every step she takes. She stops when the toes of her boots touch mine and smiles up at me.
“Ready, love?”
“Yeah, big guy. I am.”
She turns to face everyone with her back against my chest. I wrap an arm around her waist.
“None of us ever thought this day would come. Yet, here we are. Worley Bird has his wings clipped.” My best friend isn’t funny today, or ever. I don’t care how much laughter is going around the room.
“Seriously, though. I’m proud to say my friend and brother claimed Christina Shaw during our last Church meeting. The vote was unanimous. We’re here today to make it club official.” Mack takes the leather cut from Jack and hands it to me.
She turns to face me as I hold her property cut up. “Never forget this is forever.” I tap my road name on the bottom rocker. She’s forever mine. I turn it so she can see her name on the front.
“Chrissy.” She rubs her fingers across the letters.
“Hope that’s okay.”
She blinks up at me. “You gave me back my name, Darin. It’s more than okay.”
I hold the cut open. “Well, if you really want this old biker, all you gotta do is slip this on.”
She grabs my cut and pulls me down to her. Yeah, I let her do it. “Oh, this old biker is darn sure mine.”
Our brothers and families laugh and clap. She releases me and quickly slides the cut on.
Mack clamps a hand on my shoulder. “Congratulations, brother, but you have to deal with them before I can officially announce it.”
Four men stand in front of us.
“You remember what I told you?” Jay asks.
“I do.” And I don’t doubt for a minute that he’ll do it.
“My brothers and I will help him.” Harrison stands next to Jay, arms crossed. “We’ve missed our aunt. We want her happy.”
“I’ll never hurt her. I’ll protect her with my life,” I vow.
“You’ll bring her to our family celebrations.”
“Yes, if she wants to be there, I will.”
“No, Worley.” Harrison stands firm. “It wasn’t a question. We lost our dad. We want to see both of his sisters as much as possible.”
“We have years to make up for,” the younger brother, Jeremy, says. The older brother nods. Their mother stares with wide eyes.
No one knows exactly what happened to their father. Marcus Shaw was an undercover cop. He went missing on his last deep case. After five years, his department claimed him legally dead.
“I understand.”
Harrison turns to Jay. “That goes for you, too, Jay. Bring your mother to see us.”
“Absolutely, cuzz.” Jay gives him a firm nod.
“Aunt Chrissy, you sure you want this man?”
“Yes, Harrison. I love him, and I love all of you.” She walks over and hugs her four nephews.
“Then go ahead.” Harrison kisses her cheek.
Christina comes back to me. I nod to the four men. Her nephews are freakin scary. They’re the one thing she asked me for, though. She wanted to see all of her family again. So, I got with Jay, and we made sure Harrison and his brothers were here today.
“Viking Warriors, family, and friends. I’m more than pleased to announce Christina Shaw as Darin Worley’s Ole’ lady. She now has the respect and protection the position carries.”
A round of cheers and whistles goes around the room again.
Christina turns to face me. She reaches up and places her palm against my cheek. “I love you, Darin. Thank you for giving me back my family.”
“I love you, too, Chrissy. I will for eternity.”
How this beautiful woman became mine is a mystery.
But this old biker will never forget how precious this gift is.
I’ve officially claimed her. I place my hands on her hips and pull her to me.
Yep. She’s wearing those black jeans today.
There’s something else I need to claim. I move a hand to the back of her head and claim her lips with mine.
Claiming her isn’t going to be enough for me. I’m going to give her time to heal. I’ll be by her side every step of the way. If my brothers are shocked today, just wait until Christmas time. They’re going to see this old biker on his knee in front of her with a ring in my hand.