Chapter 15
Jigsaw
Y esterday, I asked Comet to move some money from one of my accounts into his and to pick up the ring I’d ordered online late last night after Willow passed out in my arms. I trusted him with all my money, as the entire club did, and he promised to keep the ring secure at Roughstock’s house until the meeting.
This wasn’t a meeting about a charity ride.
This was my claiming of Willow in front of the entire club, and a proposal that she may not say yes to.
I wanted to marry her tomorrow, and if she agreed, the ranch house would make the perfect location.
We’d have to get a license first thing in the morning, and I had a chaplain from a friendly club ready to perform the ceremony.
I just had to get her to say yes.
I asked Roughstock for one concession that was normally not allowed.
He went with me to speak with Dawg, and once he gave approval, Roughstock made the call for me.
Ghost was allowed to watch Willow’s claiming ceremony, with the understanding that he can’t wear his colors during the actual event.
Once it was done, he was free to flip his cut right-side out, but if he wanted to wear it, he had to turn it inside out while I gave Willow her cut.
He agreed when Roughstock explained the requirements and stated he would ride over alone, asking his club to stay behind until the Sin Den opened at six.
I wanted my old friend, Marcus, to see how treasured and loved Willow would be here, and I wanted him to know she would never be alone again.
He might have been an ass to her, but I saw how much he loved her.
From letting her ride with his club to the Rally, to teaching her to fight for protection, to wishing she’d move from her crime-ridden city, he cared for his younger sister.
Willow and I got back to the house a little after two, so we didn’t have long before we needed to leave. The bag I’d requested was sitting on the front steps when we pulled up, and after parking the SUV back in the garage and going into the house, I opened the front door and picked the bag up.
“I got you something,” I remarked to Willow and handed her the bag.
She smiled and placed it on the kitchen island before digging inside. When she pulled the shirt out and held it up to read the front, she chuckled.
“Property of Jigsaw. Don’t even fuckin’ think about it?” She laughed as she asked about the imprint.
“I wanted to be sure there wasn’t any misconceptions about who you belong to,” I remarked. She placed the shirt on the island and stepped up to me, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“I don’t think there’s any misconception about who I belong to,” she whispered and pressed her soft lips against mine.
We didn’t have time for me to worship her the way I wanted, so with great reluctance and sheer willpower, I slowed the kiss until it ended.
She looked wounded by my resistance, but I’d worship her all night once we got home.
And if today went the way I wanted it to go, we’d have every night for the rest of our lives to share each other.
“Let’s get changed and we can head on over,” I suggested, eager to get there and see the ring up close.
It wasn’t gaudy, but it was beautiful. A simple silver band with a half-carat diamond. Classic, beautiful, and precious. Just like Willow.
We walked into our room, and she turned around and asked, “Can you unzip me?”
I lowered the zipper, letting my index finger trail along the opening as I got it to the lowest position.
She looked over her shoulder with lustful eyes, and I winked at her before turning around to grab a T-shirt from a drawer.
My jeans were the clean pair I kept for Sundays, so I wrangled my stiff cock out of the good jeans and carefully tucked myself into my regular jeans before pulling the zipper up.
Willow was on her side of the room, pulling a clean pair of shorts from the duffle that Ghost had brought over for her yesterday evening.
After I pulled my shirt and cut on, I turned and saw she was pulling her new shirt over her head.
When she pivoted to face me, the smile on her face was brilliant and made my heart soar.
Walking over to her, I brushed a piece of blonde hair from her shoulder and asked, “Are you ready?”
“Whenever you are,” she remarked, and I took her hand into mine and guided her toward the living room. She looked up at me and asked, “Should I take my bike?”
“Why don’t you ride over with me tonight, and you can take your bike over tomorrow.”
She exhaled and replied, “If that’s what you think is best.”
Willow went to take a step away, but I held onto her hand, stopping her from leaving. “I’m not trying to keep you from your bike. If anything, I love seeing your plump ass as you maneuver that sexy machine. But with this being a club event, I’d love for you to ride with me.”
“Okay,” she said then added, “I just don’t want it to become the type of situation where I never get to ride my bike because your club doesn’t want it, or something like that.”
“Hell no, darlin’. My brothers are impressed with your skills on the bike, I just wanted you close to me today, that’s all.”
She smiled, seeming to understand my reason for the request, and when she pushed up and placed a soft kiss on my lips, I exhaled some of the worry.
Taking her hand back into mine, I guided us out the front door, and after setting the alarm and locking the door behind us, I helped her down the stairs and out to my bike.
Willow climbed onto the back, and I saddled up in front of her before turning the loud motor over and letting it idle for a minute. She had her hands on her legs as she looked around the yard, but when I tapped her knee, she wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged her body closer to mine.
The entire drive over to the clubhouse, I thought about what I was going to do today, and not a single part of me was reluctant.
If anything, I was eager and wished it was already tomorrow, that we were married and she had my cut on her back.
Then and only then, did I think I would finally relax and stop worrying that she was going to leave when the Rally was over.
Remembering Ghost’s and Zodiac’s comments about her worries and fears of being left behind, I vowed to never let her think she was anything but the most important part of my life.
The parking lot of the clubhouse was mostly empty for a few brothers. After backing the bike into a space and turning the motor off, I climbed off the bike and helped Willow, making sure she didn’t burn her sexy legs on the scorching hot pipes.
The front door to the clubhouse was open, and when we walked inside, I saw the prospects were busy scrubbing the tables and floors, getting the Sin Den in tip-top shape.
Jackie, Paige, and Claire were sitting at one of the tables, laughing at something.
I knew if Claire was there, so was Comet.
I looked at Willow and asked, “Do you feel like sitting with the ladies so I can speak with Comet?”
Willow smiled and released my hand as she responded. “Go take care of business. I’ll be with my girls.”
I kissed her, and the sound of catcalls filtered through the empty bar. Lifting my middle finger to whoever it was that made the noise, I heard laughter again as I released Willow, giving her a tap on the ass as she walked away.
I saw Comet behind the bar, and with purpose, I walked to him.
He lifted his gaze and glanced at Roughstock’s closed office door.
He walked around the bar and patted me on the back as we walked to the office.
I pushed the door closed behind me as Comet walked over to a filing cabinet against the wall and opened it, pulling out a small black box and a leather cut.
Taking the cut from him, I held it up and smiled as I looked at the exquisite craftsmanship put into it. I handed it back to Comet and he returned it to the filing cabinet drawer as he headed me the little box.
I opened it and smiled down at the ring I’d chosen for Willow.
“It’s beautiful, brother,” Comet remarked as I closed the lid and handed it back to him. “Do you think she’ll agree to do it tomorrow?”
I chuckled. “She’s been described as unpredictable, so I think she’ll be more than ready to do it tomorrow.” I paused as worry began to fill me, then I added, “I hope.”
Comet clapped me on the shoulder. “It’s obvious Willow is head over heels in love with you, and I don’t know the whole story, but I think it needed to happen the way it did. It makes you appreciate her more than you would have if your old club would’ve accepted the two of you.”
We began to walk to the closed door as the sound of bikes approaching faintly echoed into the room. “Do you feel the same about Claire?” I asked him.
“I used to not, but honestly, I’m not sure if she and I would have fizzled out if she’d left with me when I asked her to. Am I still pissed at my father for his manipulations and getting her hooked up with her ex? Fuck yes, I am, but I’ve put all that behind us. You need to do the same.”
“Already done, brother,” I remarked as I opened the door, and we walked into the clubhouse.
There were over three times the number of brothers and ol’ ladies sitting around the clubhouse when we walked out, and Roughstock was coming through the back door as I closed his office door behind us.
He approached and lowered his voice. “Ghost is outside. Warhol will bring him in whenever you are ready.”
I looked to see who was missing then looked at my President. “Five minutes?”
He gave me a nod and turned to the back door as I walked away, giving Comet a look that said to get ready.
He returned to the office as I walked across the room and behind Willow.
She turned and smiled up at me before looking back to the ladies.
They were talking about Jackie’s crazy horse, Luna, and when I heard Willow say she wanted to ride her, my eyes grew wide over her head.
Jackie gave me a subtle nod, but I didn’t trust that horse any further than I could throw her big ass.
And the last thing I wanted was for Willow to get injured.
Cheyenne walked up to the table and gave me a nod, indicating everyone who was coming was here, so I exhaled and placed my hands on Willow’s shoulders.
She looked back at me, and I asked, “Could you come with me for a minute?”
She wrinkled her eyebrows but replied, “Sure.”
As she stood and followed me to the center of the room, the brothers in attendance began to move closer, and Willow looked around at what was happening with worry in her eyes.
I pulled her hand up to my lips as we stopped in the middle of the room.
Comet moved around until I knew he was standing next to Roughstock behind me.
“You know I love you, don’t you?” I asked Willow, and she nodded, glancing around the room before she brought her eyes back to mine.
I raised my voice and reached backward as I began to speak.
“I’m laying claim to Willow Tate and declare her to be my ol’ lady.
She has the full support of the Sinners Revenge behind her, and from this moment forward, she never walks alone again.
I will lay down my life to protect you, and I profess my allegiance and loyalty to you, here, in front of my brothers. ”
Her hands moved to cover her mouth as I brought the cut around and showed her the back. Tears filled her eyes as I asked, “Do you accept my claim?”
“Yes,” she announced, and I used one finger to motion her to turn around so I could put the cut on her.
She did as I requested, and as I slipped the cut onto her arms and she adjusted it, I felt the box being placed into the hand I’d slipped behind my back.
Lowering to one knee, I opened the box and waited for Willow to turn back to face me.
Her eyes tracked down to where I was kneeling in front of her, and she cried harder as I began to speak.
“Years ago, I made the toughest choice I’d ever had to make, and I walked away from you. Now, I can’t imagine my life without you, and even though our path was long and filled with pain, I want to promise you that I will never walk away from you again. Willow, will you marry me?”
She nodded as tears flowed down her cheeks, and I stood, pushing the ring onto her finger, and yanked her into my arms, smashing my lips to hers.
The cheers, whistles, and shouts of congratulations flowed around us as I released her and smiled.
Brothers began to walk up to her as the ladies stayed seated, giving Willow her chance to be accepted by the club.
The last person to walk up to her was her brother.
His cut was still turned around so his colors were hidden, and when Willow saw him, her chin wobbled and a new round of tears flowed as he pulled her into a deep hug, whispering something to her that had her nodding against his shoulder.
After he placed a kiss on her cheek, he turned to face me.
I thought I was going to get a speech about taking care of his sister, or the threat of hurting her and him ending my life, but I was pleasantly shocked when he extended his open hand, not a fist, and shook my hand.
“Always love her like she’s your world, and never let her stubbornness get in the way of your happiness,” Ghost said.
Willow slapped his shoulder as she walked around and pushed herself against my body. I kissed the top of her head before I looked down at her and remarked, “If you’re not busy tomorrow, I’ve got a chaplain on standby and a group of ladies ready to make your day perfect.”
“You want to get married tomorrow?” Willow asked, and I could see my brothers listening to the conversation.
I was beginning to think it was crazy when I noticed Ghost had a smirk on his face.
Willow turned to face me before she spoke.
Her smile filled her beautiful face when she said, “I wouldn’t have it any other way. ”
“Fuck yeah,” I yelled and pumped my fist into the air.
Ghost shook his head with laughter, and I knew he was thinking exactly what I was.
Unpredictable, but worth it.