Epilogue Hawk
Three months later—
“Fuck. You look beautiful.” I practically salivated as I stared at the fierce, gorgeous goddess I planned to propose to on our date tonight. She didn’t have a clue what I had planned. Staring at the slight rounding of her tummy, I smiled at the son growing in her womb. My son.
Fuck. I nearly preened as ridiculously as the crow.
Knowing I was about to bring a kid into this world both terrified me and excited me. A part of me believed I was too fucked up after the childhood I had. That fear wouldn’t control me. The vile words spewed by the sperm donor who created me no longer influenced my life.
All that mattered now was the future and the woman I wanted to share it with. Us. Together.
And my club. The brothers I called family.
We had shit to deal with before we could fully heal.
But that wasn’t what I wanted to concentrate on today.
I took Callie’s hand, leading her to my bike. “I’ve got a surprise for you,” I announced as I placed the helmet over her head, ensuring she rode safely.
The ride down Hwy 95 to our location didn’t take long.
We rode to Lake Tahoe and stopped at a place the club bought next to the lake.
The house was a shared property big enough to host a few families for anyone who wanted to use it.
I booked the weekend and parked on the driveway as we arrived, excited to share it with Callie.
“You’re gonna love this place, sweetling. It’s right on the lake.”
Callie squeezed my hand as I led her up the steps of the porch and around the deck, only stopping once we reached the edge of the lake.
Cool water rippled in the gentle breeze sweeping across the endless blue crystals dancing on the surface.
The sun’s rays shimmered over it as I lowered to one knee.
Callie gasped as I held her hand.
“I’m not a guy with fancy words. This is about the best I can do for ambiance.”
She smiled. “It’s pretty good, Hawk.”
“I want you to be my ol’ lady. The woman who wears my property of Hawk cut and stands by my side. It won’t be easy, and club life isn’t for everyone. I think you got what it takes to be a badass biker bitch, babe.”
She laughed at that.
“I got you right here, babe.” With my free hand, I tapped my chest over my heart before reaching inside my cut to pull out a tiny black box. “You’re in my heart to stay. I fucking love you, Callie. You’re my ride or die. Tell me you’ll marry me, and we can ride this life together. Always.”
Tears pooled in her gray eyes. “Oh, Renner.”
Fuck. Hearing my real name made this fucking perfect.
“Is that a yes?”
“Will you turn into a crow again?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. If he senses you need his protection, then yeah, I fucking will.”
“Will you take me on rides on your Harley every week? And never leave our child and me?”
“Yes. This is forever, my goddess.”
“Then, yes. I love you, Hawk. You make me so happy.”
Yes!
I scooped her up into my arms, swinging her around as her laughter floated around us. My head lowered, and I captured her lips, deepening the kiss until she pulled away, panting for breath.
Caw...caw.
The crow approved. He dipped his chin, ruffled his feathers, and flew away. I knew he wouldn’t go far.
The crow and his mate bonded for life.
And my love, protection, and devotion would last until my death.
Cradling Callie’s face in my hand, I stared into her eyes, finding a completeness of soul I had always longed for.
Even a wild biker like me could be tamed. It just took the right woman.
I pulled out the engagement ring and slid the diamond onto her finger, grinning like a goddamn fool.
She swiped tears from her cheeks, gazing at me like I was her whole fucking world. The man she counted on. The guy who helped save her sister and rescued her from a vile predator. And soon, the father of her unborn child. So much love poured from her into me that I couldn’t speak.
Some moments were too fucking perfect for words.
“FUCK,” I CURSED, BOUNCING my leg as I waited for Crow’s sister to exit the pharmacy where she worked. Her shift should have ended about ten minutes ago, and she usually left right on the dot.
For the last two months, I’d been watching over her as my pres asked. He didn’t want us to interfere in her life. His pops had kept her a secret, and none of us knew why. Rook should have told his son if no one else, but he didn’t.
He died with that knowledge.
But then an envelope arrived with his handwriting on it and documents with her name on them, and Crow had to know if she was alive. I didn’t blame him. If I had any family left on this earth, I’d want to know they were safe.
Turned out Crow’s sister, a raven-haired bombshell named Gail was thriving, fucking gorgeous, and living in Carson City.
I hadn’t left since my pres sent me here, and I couldn’t lie to myself that the gig wasn’t a good one.
I got to spend my time stalking a sexy brunette, and I didn’t have to do shit but ensure she got to where she was going each day safely.
Didn’t hurt that she was easy on the eyes, either.
I stood outside for another half an hour, agitated as fuck, until she appeared. Her expression explained the delay. She’d had a rough day, and it showed.
Caw...caw.
I heard the crow as he landed on a nearby roof.
“Yeah, I don’t like to see her so stressed or tired either,” I muttered.
I tailed the SUV she drove to her house, parking down the street like I did every night.
Jogging to her place, I crept among the shadows, watching her park in her garage.
Thank fuck, there were plenty of trees and shrubberies to hide my big ass as I stalked her like this.
Didn’t need to spook her in the process.
I should have noticed something was off.
The crows landed on her roof, cawing like mad. Not just one. A whole fucking murder.
Shit!
When I heard her scream, all bets were off. I didn’t care about my orders. If someone was hurting that sweet girl, I would make them pay.
Rushing inside the garage, I followed her into the house. My gaze bounced all over, finding the mess someone left behind. All the furniture was tipped over, and shit spilled everywhere.
She turned on me, frightened, when she saw the gun in my hand. A second scream left those pretty plump lips, and I cringed.
Fuck. I just screwed this up.
Crow was gonna be pissed.