Epilogue
Nova
Three Months Later
When Creed said this was going to be a huge party, I didn’t realize how many people would be here until we started talking about food and drinks.
I’m just glad we’re having a beautiful sunny day with above average temperatures so everyone waiting in the parking lot outside the compound with me and Layla are comfortable without needing jackets.
Laney’s been a great help. She brought a large canopy to set up on the grass on the other side of the parking lot as the garage, and a bunch of people donated toys and games for the kids who came with their parents and grandparents.
I honestly didn’t realize there were kids associated with the club until I saw Ace’s list of all the people invited today.
I count five or six kids under eleven or twelve and another three or four who’re teenagers.
I don’t quite know who belongs to who, but I’m doing my best to match names to new faces.
Frank is here with his girlfriend, Holly, and it’s easy to pick out her daughter under the tent since the little girl has the same jet-black hair and startling blue eyes.
The youngest two kids are related to Patch, but I can’t remember which of his two older sisters is the mom.
I do know neither of the women are married, and from what Patch has said about the teens’ dad, everyone’s better off without him around.
Mrs. Murphy is here too, and it’s startling how much Patch looks like his mom.
She’s definitely got an easy-going personality, because she doesn’t even blink at the club girls who are already helping themselves to the wine coolers Laney brought.
Lyssa’s stepped into Tasha’s place as Head Bunny and she’s been great at stopping any bickering or jealousy with the four new girls who’ve been coming to the clubhouse regularly enough to be considered official Bunnies.
I’m still learning those girls’ names and stories, but Lyssa and I have become good enough friends for her to tell me she’s over her infatuation with Crusher and now divides her time between Titch and Whizz even though Titch still has a couple of months before he’ll be a patched-in member.
Which is why Titch is out here with Nix and the two new prospects, Skidder and Bull.
All four men are about to get themselves in trouble, though, if Cutter comes out and sees them checking out his daughter.
The MC’s doctor came back two months ago, bringing his daughter with him, and there’s been some…
disagreement about how close the Kings are allowed to get to her.
I have a feeling it’ll all come to a head sooner rather than later, but at least for today, we’re all going to get along.
I whistle sharply, catching Nix’s attention, and one glare at him gets the message across. It takes him only seconds to pass it along to the other men, and then Olivia Wilder is safe to enjoy the party without being harassed.
The sound of the clubhouse doors opening catches everyone’s attention because it’s what we’ve all been waiting for.
Church today has every single member of the Kings, including ones who’d moved away, and I didn’t meet until today.
Four of them have old ladies, and I’m hoping to get to talk to them a bit more once the party really starts going.
Right now, however, we’re all waiting as the men come out, every single patched brother, led by Creed.
They join the rest of us and then turn around.
There’s a split second of silence and then Patch steps out, wearing his Kings of Ruin vest with the full set of patches, and the crowd explodes.
Layla manages to hold back for a full minute, letting Patch soak in the praise, and then she runs toward him.
I laugh as he picks her up and spins around. I know her tears are happy ones, and I can barely contain my excitement because I know what’s coming next. It’s the whole reason I’ve got my phone out and am recording every second of this.
Sure enough, Patch puts her down and then immediately drops to one knee, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the small black box he showed me last week.
“Layla Reed, we’ve already been through hell and back together, and I proved more than once I’m willing to die for you. Seems like it’s only right to make this officially ‘til death do us part.”
The crowd roars with approval as Layla nods, more tears pouring down her cheeks. “You already know my answer.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes!” She throws her arms around his neck and crushes her mouth against his.
Before the kiss can become inappropriate for public viewing, Patch pulls back and slides the ring onto Layla’s finger.
My sister squeals and starts flashing the rock around as Creed appears nearby, catching Patch’s eyes.
My man gives the younger one a short nod of approval and Patch beams before turning back to Layla and the people who are now crowding around him to offer their congratulations.
Creed goes around the group instead and comes over to where I’m standing, still recording.
When he slides his arm around my waist, I stop recording and put my phone back in my pocket, intending to send the video to Layla later.
Now, I just want to enjoy the moment. I look up at Creed to find him watching me.
“What?” I ask.
He keeps studying my face for a few more seconds before saying, “Nothing.”
His grip on me tightens and he moves me in front of him, putting my back against his chest and his arm around my waist. His hand slips under the front of my shirt to rest on my stomach and the feel of his palm on my bare skin sends a shiver through me.
“You know,” I say softly, “this fake arrangement between us got a little out of control.”
His laugh rumbles low in his chest, a vibration that makes desire coil in my belly. “Is that right?”
I tilt my head and look up at him as best I can. “You gave me a biker family, a room in your clubhouse, and matching trauma. Feels pretty real to me.”
He grins, tapping the tip of my nose with his finger. “Sweetheart, you fixed my men and started giving orders months ago. Stealing half my closet was just the next step. Things have been real for a while.”
I turn toward him and reach up to wrap my arms around his neck just as he bends his head to kiss me.
It’s a slow, thorough kiss and I can hear some people commenting around us, but I don’t care.
His tongue strokes mine deliberately and I can feel him getting hard despite the clothes between us.
A mix of pride and possessiveness fills me.
This amazing, strong man is my home and I’m his.
Unexpected? Definitely.
Unconventional? Sure.
Real? One hundred percent.
THE END
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