Chapter 20
Chapter
Twenty
AFTERMATH
C apone called Church as soon as my kickstand was down and Kensi was whisked away by the Ol’ ladies. They’ll be busy for a while so we have time before we need to be at the beach.
Everyone is in attendance today, including the Prospects and the table is full for this meeting. Knight and Seth are standing against the wall with Torch’s twin brother, Jax. Last I knew, Jax hadn’t decided if he wanted to become a member or not, but with him here, it means he’s made his decision and Torch will be sponsoring him. Kensi’s dad is here too, which has my attention. Why is a non-member in Church?
“How did you get us out?” I ask, instead of asking the real question why Donovan is here. Yeah, he’s going to be my father-in-law in a few hours but he’s still on the legal side of the law.
“Well, that’s the thing.” Capone lights up a cigarette and exhales before continuing. “I didn’t get you out. Donovan did.” He points to Donovan leaning against the wall. He’s wearing faded blue jeans and a hoodie. Completely different than his normal attire of business suits and dress pants.
“What? How?” I lean forward and rest my hands on the scarred table. “Please don’t tell me he went back to work for those suits.”
Capone taps his cigarette ash in the ashtray, “No, he didn’t, but he did agree to help them bring down this ring. I’ll let him explain more.”
Donovan moves forward so he is addressing the whole room. He looks tired with dark circles under his eyes and his neatly styled salt and pepper hair is sticking up all over the place. “When I called Capone to help find that missing girl, I got a tip from someone working at the Sherrif’s office in Orange County on where she might have been. I followed the tip to discover Sherrif Long and several of his deputies were involved with the Mexican Cartel. When they failed to deliver security to the Cartel, the Cartel demanded several women of certain types. They had to be young, smart and naive. Once the quota for women was filled by Long and his cronies, they thought they’d be free of the Cartel. Well, as you all know, that’s not how it works. So, Long got a brilliant idea to try and pin this Cartel shit on you guys and planted Lynn in Nadia’s dance studio.
“Only Long didn’t realize the obsession Lynn has had with the Royal Bastards. She particularly had her sights set on Aftermath, not realizing I was Kensi’s dad. We don’t know why she targeted you and Kensi but here we are. She’s in custody with an ass-kicking by my daughter.”
“What does this have to do with the FBI though?” I ask. I don’t want him going down that rabbit hole, not only for Kensi’s sake but the asshole is growing on me and I don’t want anything bad happening to him.
“At first, the FBI thought I was the local sheriff abducting these women, which is why they broke into my house and took Kensi and me. When we escaped and came here, I helped Red and Bones uncover who really was behind it and agreed to work with them to bring Long down. But I also told them I want my pound of flesh in Mitchell for hurting my daughter.”
“The director wasn’t too keen on letting an ex-agent and current agent battle it out, but she’s cool like that and will allow me to have my time in the ring with that prick. They owe me this and more for how they treated me since Kensi was missing years ago. That’s it. I’m done with the FBI and want to help rescue women like you all do. That’s my purpose in life. To be here for my daughter and our little family and help you guys do what you do.” Donovan leans back against the wall and releases a deep breath.
I’m shocked by all this information but pleased that Kensi will still have her dad in her life. That he won’t sell us out to further his career. That in itself tells me what kind of man Donovan is.
“Do I still have to call you Sheriff or can I call you Pops?” I ask standing up and facing Donovan. I’m being a smartass but it’s also a serious question. I’ve never had a father figure in my life before.
Donovan steps to me with his arms crossed over his chest. “You make my daughter happy, Aftermath. But if you fuck up like you did, Pops or not, I will blister your ass.” He pulls me in for a long hug and I fight back all the emotions flooding to the surface.
“Thanks, Pops.” I hug him back and take my seat.
“Now that the biggest issue is out of the way, we have a new member to prospect and a wedding to get to. Everyone, say hey to Jax. He is officially a Prospect for the Royal Bastards MC.” Torch flings a cut at Jax who catches it and immediately puts it on.
“Thanks,” Jax responds, running his hands over the leather.
“Does this mean Rose will become an Ol’ Lady?” Trigger asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
“If and when Jax patches over, yes, Rose will become his Ol’ Lady. Shit,Trigger, they’re fucking married.” Torch slaps his palms on the table.
“Just making sure things won’t be weird around here.” Trigger shrugs.
“No weirdness. They’ve been here plenty of times over the last few years and there is zero desire between Rose and me, you fuckhead.” Torch slaps Trigger on the back of the head and everyone laughs.
Capone slams his gavel onto the table, shutting everyone up. “Now that fucked up shit is out of the way, let’s get Aftermath to the beach to marry his Tiger. We’re all riding our bikes out there together. Knight, Seth and Jax will be bringing all the ladies and kids in the SUVs. We’ll get you hitched, go to the Royal Casino to celebrate and send you two off on your honeymoon.” Capone slams the gavel three times on the table and we all file out of Church together.
We arrive at the beach an hour later. The SUVs are already here with the Ol’ Ladies and the kids. I don’t see Kensi or Nadia, but they’re probably in the tent to the left of the area.
The sun is just setting over the horizon, creating a purple and pink backdrop. Luckily the weather has held out and there is only a small crisp in the air for New Year's Eve. Not too cold and not too hot.
The Ol’ Ladies were here earlier and set up chairs and an altar for Kensi and me to be married under. Two dozen chairs, twelve on each side, face the Pacific Ocean lined with white lace and purple satin. Kensi didn’t want a big wedding, just our close family.
In the front row on the right is my mom and she is wearing an elegant silver gown that sparkles when she walks with her hair done up in a stylish twist and gold hoop earrings. Pearl, Trigger, Tiny with his kitten Peanut, and Syvannah are sitting behind my mom. Derange, Jezebelle and Seth are behind them.
To the left Zack, Kensi’s dad, will sit once he brings her down the aisle. He is wearing a pair of black dress slacks and a silver dress shirt that matches my mom’s dress. Kensi didn’t want to invite her mom and little brother, which I understood. Sitting behind Zack are Capone and Danyella with Nina. Then Blayze and Monica are on the other side of Nina. Torch and Daisy are near the back with Knight, Jax and Rose.
Pretty Boy, Bones, Knight and Exleigh are standing up in the back, keeping an eye on our surroundings and the kids in the wedding occupied. Dagger is in his spot at the front of the altar, preparing to marry us.
Music begins playing and Red walks down the aisle, taking his place to the right of the altar. Mara Jean and Naomi walk down the aisle wearing purple dresses and dropping flowers as they go. Next comes Jaxson bringing the rings wearing a little Royal Bastards cut, a white shirt and dark jeans.
Nadia comes after Jaxson, wearing a long strapless purple gown that fits her like a second skin. From the flame in Red’s cheeks and the heated look in both their eyes, we might be welcoming another baby soon.
Once Nadia takes her place to the right of the altar then I take my place at the front and stay turned, facing the ocean. Red is standing next to me, both of us are in our cuts, a clean white t-shirt underneath and black tight-fitting jeans with our boots.
The music changes to Just Pretend by Bad Omens and I listen as bodies rise. Once the tempo kicks in, I turn to find Kensi standing at the end of the aisle. Her white satin gown clings to every curve of her beautiful body. The sides of her dark hair are pinned out of her face and her mesmerizing blue and green eyes are sparkling with mischief and love.
The sight before me takes my breath away. Kensi walks down the aisle toward me with her head held high. One hand is looped through her dad’s and the other is clutching her bouquet.
She moves toward me with grace and elegance. As I watch her make her way to me, it hits me hard. Everything I love about her isall wrapped up in a tiny, yet mouthy package that isn’t afraid to speak her mind and love with all her heart. My eyes tear up and my heart is hammering inside my chest at my beautiful bride-to-be.
Kensi and Zack reach us and I step forward. He releases her hand with fresh tears in his eyes. “You take care of my Lil’ Kay or I will hunt you down and castrate you.” People near the front row hear Zack’s threat and they let out a low chuckle.
“I will love her more than my own life,” I vow. Zack kisses Kensi on the side of the head and places her hand in mine. Then he takes his seat in the front row.
We turn to face Dagger and Kensi lets out a squeak of awe. The setting sun is casting beautiful shades of deep purples and pinks. As Dagger gives us our blessing and honors us as husband and wife, a lonely ray of sunlight breaks through the clouds and shines onto our family before disappearing. A blessing in disguise.