Epilogue
A Few Years Later
California sunrises really are magnificent.
Light bathes the hills, casting long streaks of colors across the valley and lake far in the distance. Colors of blue mingling with purple and shades of oranges. It’s gorgeous.
I sit in the lounger on the patio of Leo’s getaway house, which sits about a couple hours away from the city. Perfect place to stay for a weekend away from the chaos. Or to have alone time before catching up with the rest of the Forgotten Demons for our annual ride along the coast.
The sliding doors open next to me, and I smile up at Leo who’s fully clad in his leathers; chaps and all. Just as I am. Both of us already wearing our club vests. We wanted to get an early start before meeting with the others.
“It gets more beautiful every time I see it,” I whisper as I look out at the horizon.
“That’s what I think whenever I look at you,” he murmurs, dipping down to kiss my neck.
A giggle comes out of me. I’ll never tire of his smooth, suave lines.
“Think I’m like a sunrise?” I ask.
He hums, stepping past me as he places his hands in his pockets. I watch how the light falls over him, casting a warm glow on his features. “You’re more brilliant than a sunrise.”
“Well, mister…” I smile, emotion wrapping around me as he turns back to me, gentle and open, “…you’re a dawn I always look forward to waking up witnessing.”
“Now who’s being smooth?”
“Learned it from the best.”
He smiles. My heart soars and clenches at the same time, knowing how long it took to get to this point of openness. The cold mask Leo had worn daily was gone, no longer burying him down in that deep well.
There were still some bad days. Some were good.
Some were chaotic, and stressful. Just like some days I could easily get out of bed, and others I needed KITT.
But some were calm. Most were happy, content, and hopeful in moving forward.
Even as the head mafia bosses of New York. We didn’t leave; those plans long gone.
My past self would never believe it.
Honestly, I didn’t hate it. I had the Crew.
Chiari. Bobby, even Matteo. I had the entire staff of the Italian Lily who were constantly under my protection.
I had Leanne. I had Trix. But most of all, I had Leo.
My dear husband who still whispered his devotion to me every day.
The man who was still healing, like myself, but together.
“We should get going, if we want to meet up with them on time,” Leo says.
I look out once more at the beautiful sky, and smile.
“It’s like watching a sunrise. I don’t know what I’m going to get…but there’s going to be light. And I don’t want to miss a second of it.”
“Autumn?”
I blink back tears, smiling as I shake my head. “Just an old thought.”
I grab Rhonda, getting up from my seat. My arm crutches are what I use most days, but they’re a bitch to travel with. So, Rhonda it is.
Leo’s hand lands against the small of my back as we head through the house, locking up as we come out to the driveway where our two motorcycles sit.
Leo’s riding one of his Larry Knucklehead choppers that he keeps out in California for longer distances.
It’s silver and gold with long braids hanging from the handlebars.
My own is a custom soft tail Harley that Rudy, Chesty, and Animal built for me.
It has two wheels in the rear, much like a trike with the rest of the body a soft tail frame.
I can’t ride a two-wheeled bike without injuring myself further, so extra wheel it was for me to ride on my own.
I loved it. It was a replica of Leo’s prized soft tail, colors and all, which I got running again.
I gaze back at the house. Leo tilts my head over to look at him, forest green eyes flecked with gold and browns meeting mine. “We’ll be back again.”
My heart flutters. Those butterflies I only get for him flourishing.
“I know. Hey…” I place my hand on his chest, and he grabs my hand, stroking his thumb over my skin, “…are you happy?”
Leo smiles gently. “Yes, my dear Watson. Are you?”
“More than I thought I ever could be.”
His hand goes to my neck, gently cradling it as he kisses me. I sigh against him, clutching at his vest and that happiness makes me float.
We’re interrupted by the sounds of rumbling engines, splitting the morning silence. We pull apart as the Forgotten Demons pull into the long driveway, lined up with mischievous grins.
“Told you, they’d be smooching!” Animal yells over the noise.
I roll my eyes, while Leo glares at them. “We told you we’d meet later.”
“Wanted an early start before meeting up with the rest of the club,” Sombra answers.
“Morning too beautiful to waste!” Chesty yells, grinning large.
“Vamos, Cage Madness!” Enigma calls, revving his engine.
Laughing, I look out at the entire Crew.
Jameson, Sombra.
Isaac, Pretty Boy Bond.
Rudolph, Ringer.
Owen, Iron Buffalo.
Waylon, Chesty.
Julio, Enigma.
Drew, Animal.
Lastly, I glimpse up at The Spartan. My mobster. My husband. My everything.
He smirks, before we put our helmets on, getting on our bikes as the rest start riding out to the road.
My motorcycle and Leo’s add to the noise of the roaring engines, vibrating through my body.
The world is overwhelmed by the thunderous sounds, and my grin gets bigger as I ride out with Leo behind me.
We come out of the driveway, onto a road that winds its way back down the coast. I speed up the bike, catching up to the group as the engine roars beneath me as I steer around a bend and into the glorious light of the sunrise.
I briefly glance over as Leo rides up beside me, straddling his chopper with ease. My favorite sight.
We ride alongside each other. The feeling I always get from riding, whether as Leo’s backpack or on my own, flourishes—freedom.
Opening the clutch with my dear Leonardo at my side, I say with a grin,
“Let’s ride.”
The End