Epilogue
I glanced around the room, taking in the massive reception.
The day had finally arrived—our wedding day.
The months of preparation and waiting were over.
The ceremony had been everything I wanted.
Shadow had looked beyond handsome in his suit.
I was still stunned that he agreed to wear one. He did it for me.
He was still telling me how beautiful I was and how much he loved my wedding dress.
It was a mermaid design. His mom and sister helped me find it.
For the ceremony, I had Astrid as my matron of honor.
She complained she looked like a whale, but her belly looked great.
She glowed. My bridesmaids were Troian, whom I’d grown close to through all the mentoring she’d given and continued to give.
And my other bridesmaid was Leigh, from school.
She and I had grown our friendship during the last semester of classes. I’d introduced her to the other old ladies and the rest of the club. She was still rather private about her life growing up, but little by little, she told me more. Leigh fit in with us.
I was taking a break to drink some water and rest after dancing with the massive group of old ladies.
All the other clubs and the Dark Patriots that the Punishers were friends with were here.
They were lovely, though somewhat crazy women.
The biggest ones, who made me want to emulate them when it came to strong figures like Astrid, were two club princesses.
Shadow had to explain what a princess was.
It was wild to think that if we had girls, they would be club princesses.
The first was Harlow. She was married to Terror, the president of the Dublin Falls Archangel’s Warriors MC.
She had been a Marine like Astrid, but in her case, she was a sniper.
I thought that was so cool. Finding out she was the oldest daughter of Bull, the president of the Hunters Creek chapter, and the charter of the Warriors had been even more of a surprise.
Bull had stunned me and made me cry when he came to meet me as I was getting ready for the wedding.
He came bearing a gift. That’s when I found out he did this with every club bride on her wedding day, and not just in the Warriors’ clubs.
He’d presented me with a set of hair combs that matched my engagement ring perfectly.
I tried to tell him I couldn’t accept, but Troian told me not to bother.
He wouldn’t take them back. His hug made me realize what a true father’s hug should feel like.
When I met Harlow and told her, she smiled.
“Yeah, Dad has that effect. He’s a big softy at heart.”
The second was Jalisa, who was the old lady to Wrath, the president of the Pagan Souls of Ocenee from Georgia. Her nickname was Lunatic, and she lived up to it. They were a riot.
When I met Dayanara, the old lady to Stalker and Predator in Hunters Creek, yeah, two men, I’d been shocked.
Not only was I educated on the different pairings there were, but I discovered she was a Marine, and it had been a hilarious first meeting between her and Harlow.
I saw a theme amongst the women who had served, but not every single one had been a Marine.
The way the story was told, the first meeting of Harlow and Jalisa had them circling each other, glaring, and then throwing punches.
Neither landed them. They were blocked. When they didn’t land the punches, they laughed and then hugged.
They were leaders among the various old ladies, but hardly the only ones.
All of them had qualities that made them wonderful people.
There were too many people to host at the compound. If it had been summer, then yeah, but January meant staying inside. So, we’d rented out a massive convention center in town. It was perfect.
Arms came around my middle from behind. I knew who it was without glancing around. Then his scent hit my nose, and his warm breath caressed my ear.
“Are you happy, Mrs. Russo?”
I twisted around to look up at him. I smiled. “Why, yes, Mr. Russo, I am. The happiest I’ve ever been. Are you?”
“I’m so goddamn happy I might start singing. I love you, Ellie. More today than yesterday.”
“I love you the same, Braxton.”
He gave me a gentle, loving kiss. When we parted, he smirked.
“Let’s go dance. I’m giving this place another thirty minutes, then we’re out of here. I’m eager for our wedding night.”
“Well, what are you waiting for? Lead away, Shadowrider. The sooner I get to ride you, the better,” I taunted.
Shadow tossed back his head, laughed loudly, and swept me toward the dance floor. I couldn’t imagine a better way to start the rest of our lives—my life as Shadowrider’s old lady.
The End Until TBD, Iron Punishers MC Book 9