Epilogue
ROOK
One year later
I never thought I’d be the kind of man standing at the end of an aisle in a suit, waiting to marry the love of my life. But here I am.
The sun is setting behind the Iron Reapers clubhouse, painting the sky in streaks of orange and gold.
Bikes are lined up in neat rows across the lot, chrome gleaming.
Most of the club is already inside, waiting.
Piston stands beside me as my best man, arms crossed over his chest like he’s still trying to figure out how the hell we got here.
I adjust the cut over my black button-down and glance toward the doors.
Any second now. My mind drifts back to that rainy night so long ago.
I was seventeen, cold, starving, and ready to fight anyone who got too close.
Piston could’ve thrown me back out on the street.
Instead, he brought me home, fed me, and gave me a family I never expected to have.
For years, I waited for the day he’d realize I wasn’t worth the trouble.
He never did. And now I’m about to marry his daughter.
The doors open. Scarlett steps out, and the rest of the world fades.
She’s wearing a simple white dress that hugs her body just right, with her own cut draped over her shoulders.
Property of Rook is stitched across the back in bold letters.
Her dark hair falls in loose waves, and she’s smiling at me like I’m the only thing she sees.
Piston lets out a low breath beside me. “Jesus,” he mutters. “She looks just like her mother did the day I married her.”
I don’t take my eyes off her. “She’s perfect.”
Scarlett walks toward me on her own. She didn’t want anyone giving her away. She said she was choosing this, choosing me, and she wanted to walk to me herself. I loved her even more for it.
When she finally reaches me, I take her hand and pull her close. “You’re late,” I murmur, just loud enough for her to hear.
She smiles up at me, eyes bright. “Worth it.”
The ceremony is short. We don’t need anything long.
We’ve already been through enough. When it’s time for our vows, I keep mine simple and honest. “I spent most of my life thinking I didn’t deserve good things,” I tell her.
“Then you came home and proved me wrong. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
I’m gonna spend the rest of my life making sure you never forget it. ”
Scarlett’s eyes shine as she says hers. “You saved me in more ways than one,” she says softly. “And I’m gonna spend the rest of my life reminding you that you’re worth every bit of love you’ve been given.”
When the preacher tells me I can kiss my wife, I don’t hesitate. I pull her in and kiss her like we’re the only two people on earth. The club erupts behind us, cheers, whistles, and someone, definitely Tessa, yells, “Finally!”
Later, after the food, the drinks, and the speeches, the music starts up and the lights are dimmed. I pull Scarlett onto the small dance floor we set up in the middle of the lot. She’s barefoot now, her heels long forgotten, but the Property of Rook cut still on her shoulders.
She rests her head against my chest as we sway slowly to the music. My hand rests on the small of her back, holding her close. For a while, we just dance in silence, letting the noise of the party fade into the background.
Then she tilts her head up to look at me. “I have something to tell you,” she says quietly.
I glance down at her, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
She hesitates for a second, then smiles, soft and a little nervous. “I’m pregnant.”
For a moment, I just stare at her, not sure I heard her right.
Scarlett laughs softly at the look on my face. “I found out a month ago. I was going to wait until after the wedding to tell you, but… I couldn’t hold it in anymore.”
I stop moving. My hand slides from her back to her stomach on instinct, even though there’s nothing to feel yet. My throat feels tight. “You’re serious?” I ask, voice rough.
She nods, eyes shining. “Yeah. I’m serious.”
I pull her in tighter, burying my face in her hair for a second as I try to get my shit together. Pregnant. My wife is pregnant. With my kid.
A low, shaky laugh escapes me. “Fuck,” I mutter against her hair. “I’m gonna be a dad.”
Scarlett pulls back just enough to look at me, smiling. “You are.”
I cup her face with both hands and kiss her, slow and deep, right there in the middle of the dance floor. When I finally pull away, I rest my forehead against hers. “You sure you’re okay?” I ask. “With everything that happened… with me getting shot and—”
“I’m fine,” she says, cutting me off gently. “The baby’s fine. I’m healthy. We’re okay.”
I nod, still trying to wrap my head around it. My hand stays on her stomach like I’m afraid she’ll disappear if I let go. “I love you,” I tell her. “So fucking much.”
“I love you too.” She smiles and brushes her thumb across my cheek. “You’re gonna be a really good dad, Rook.”
I don’t know about that. But I know I’m gonna try like hell.
I pull her back against me and start swaying again, slower this time. My hand stays on her lower back, protective without even thinking about it.
After a minute, I speak again, voice low.
“You know… that scared kid who got dragged into Piston’s truck all those years ago never thought he’d have this. A wife. A kid on the way. A family that actually wants him around.”
Scarlett tightens her arms around me. “You deserve all of it,” she whispers.
I close my eyes and hold her closer, the sound of the music and the low chatter of the club fading into the background.
For the first time in my life, I’m not waiting for everything to fall apart.
I’m standing in the middle of everything I never thought I’d get, with the woman I love in my arms, my ring on her finger, and our kid growing inside her. And I’m never letting go.