"He remembered you mentioning those tickets Derek wouldn't let you use."
Violet's eyes shine with unshed tears. "He's trying so hard to be part of my life. I never expected..."
"Hey." I cup her face gently. "You deserve good things. You deserve people who fight to be in your life, not people who make you feel like you're asking for too much."
Before she can respond, Ripper's voice booms over the music. "Can I have everyone's attention?"
The room gradually quiets as all eyes turn to our president. Viper is nowhere to be seen.
"Brothers, ladies, friends," Ripper continues. "We're here tonight to celebrate one of our own. Violet, would you join me up here?"
Violet looks at me nervously, but I nod encouragingly. She makes her way to where Ripper stands, and he places a protective hand on her shoulder.
"This woman came to us broken and afraid," he says, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. "But she showed usstrength, courage, and loyalty. She's proven herself worthy of our protection and our family."
We're interrupted by Cruel approaching with a smile and a small wrapped gift.
"From all the brothers," he says, handing it to Violet. "Consider it a welcome to the family present."
Violet unwraps it carefully to reveal a beautiful leather journal with her initials embossed on the cover. Inside the front page, every member of the club has signed their name or road name.
"It's for whatever you want," Cruel explains. "Some of the old ladies use theirs for recipes, others for planning events. Savannah keeps track of club business in hers."
"This is beautiful," Violet says, running her fingers over the leather. "Thank you so much."
Victorio appears beside us, looking more comfortable now that he's had a few beers and some chats with the brothers. "May I?" he asks, holding out his hand for the journal.
Violet passes it to him, and he flips to a clean page, writing something before handing it back. She reads it and tears spring to her eyes.
"What's it say?" I ask.
She shows me the page where he's written:
To my daughter - May you always know how proud I am of the woman you've become.
Love, Dad.
"First time I've ever written that word," Victorio says quietly. "Feels good."
Violet hugs him tightly, and I can see him struggling with his own emotions. Finding out you have a daughter at forty-seven years old has to mess with your head, but he's handling it better than I expected.
"Speech!" someone calls out from across the room, and soon the whole club is chanting for Violet to say something.
She looks panicked, but I nod encouragingly. "Go on, baby. They're family now."
She stands up, the room gradually falling quiet. "I don't really know what to say. A month ago, I thought I knew who I was and where my life was going. Then everything changed, and I ended up here, with all of you."
She pauses, touching her collar unconsciously. "I found a father I never knew I had. I found a man who sees me as strong instead of broken. And I found a family that accepts me exactly as I am."
"To family!" Ripper calls out, raising his beer.
"To family!" the room echoes back.
As everyone drinks, I pull Violet close, pride swelling in my chest. She's come so far from the frightened woman who showed up at our gate with a bruised face. Now she's holding her own in a room full of hardened bikers, speaking with confidence and grace.
Later that night, after the last of the guests have left and we've cleaned up the clubhouse, I take Violet back to my apartment. Our apartment now—I officially asked her to move in yesterday.
She's quiet during the drive, processing everything that's happened. Her real father attending her birthday party, being officially welcomed into the club, and learning the truth about Derek.
