“I love you all, and I need you to make love to me right now,” I tell them, slowly removing my shirt.
My men don’t need further encouragement. They make love to me tenderly as we show each other what words cannot fully express. When we’re finally satiated, we hold each other close and discuss our future. One where we can live together as a family. A future filled with love, laughter, and peace.
Epilogue
Lena
One Year Later
There’s a hush in the courtroom as the jury files in. Everyone is holding their breath, waiting for the verdict. I place a hand on my pregnant belly, so large now that it barely fit behind the stand when I nervously gave my testimony days ago. I was scared the whole time that people would be able to see the guilt on my face as plain as day and know what I did. The foreman rises, and we all lean forward slightly in our chairs, filled with anticipation.
The foreman’s voice rings out, sure and clear. “We, the jury, find the defendants guilty.”
There’s a collective sigh of relief, and I turn to Rex, Cole, Judge, and Doc beside me, embracing them with joy as the rest of the Soaring Eagles cheer and celebrate around us. Spike, Zeke’s former VP, and several of the Iron Vultures have been convicted of several charges, including the bombing of the Soaring Eagles clubhouse and the attempted murder of its members. The jury also finds them guilty of being involved in our kidnappings and the murders of Mary Beth and Trish, as well as the manslaughter of several of their own men who died in the explosion caused by the ‘faulty’ bombs they made. Only the guys and I know the truth, though, of course, Spike and the rest of the Iron Vultures suspected us and used that as a defense. We’ve eventually emerged as the victors of this war. A war that the Iron Vultures started.
Judge squeezes my hand and whispers to me. “You did great, it’s finally over.”
I nod and smile back at him, mouthing my thanks, feeling grateful for his support. Although all my men have been incredible, Judge is the one who really understood what I’ve been going through, the night terrors and random triggers that set off panic attacks. He understands the toll this trial has taken on me better than anyone else. If the others knew, they’d have never let me come. But Judge supported my decision to stand trial and come to the court for the verdict and testimony, and he also gave me methods that he uses for his PTSD to help me cope.
“Come on, let’s go home. You need to rest before tonight,” Doc says, gently as he helps me stand up.
He’s been great at helping me through the pregnancy. It’s like having a personal physician on call 24/7. I’m seven months pregnant with twins and the size of a house. We don’t know who the biological father is, nor do we want to know, as we will be raising these babies the same as Mia—with four daddies who love them.
“Thanks,” I say, gratefully kissing him. I wince as my back aches under the weight of my stomach.
“Are you sure you want to come tonight? Everyone will understand if you don’t,” Rex says, his handsome face crinkling with concern.
Before I can respond, Cole interjects teasingly. “Yes, I think you should see how it feels to be on bedrest and have everyone fussing around you and telling you what you can and can’t do, Lena.”
I playfully tap him on the arm. “Shut it, you, this is different, I’m just pregnant, not recovering from major surgery, having almost died!”
Cole has made a full recovery, and we’re all thrilled that he’s in good health now. He’s even developed more of a sense of humor and seems more relaxed since he took a step back from his duties as Prez of the Soaring Eagles. Rex, Judge, and Doc have been doing a great job of running it in his absence.
“Besides, there’s no way I’m missing tonight,” I add.
They know better than to argue with me, so they simply smile, and we head home to where Mia is waiting for us with Big Joe taking care of her. Mia has come on leaps and bounds and no longer remembers the horrible events of last year, nor does she have the attachment issues or tantrums that plagued us in the aftermath as she processed what happened. Now, she is a happy, talkative, almost four-year-old who has all of the men in her life wrapped around her little finger and cannot wait to be a big sister so she can boss them about, too.
Tonight, we will unveil the brand-new and improved Soaring Eagles clubhouse. We’ve all been working hard, absorbing some of the Iron Vultures’ assets and building up our funds to pay for it, and now, after a year of hard work, we’re going to have a place where our extended chosen family can gather to celebrate or simply hang out. A place free of threats, especially now that we’ve gone completely legitimate with all of the Soaring Eagles business. I even started a little coffee shop of my own. I absolutely love it, and I have also been enjoying helping run the Soaring Eagles’ many businesses, discovering an entrepreneurial side to myself I never knew I had.
All of our friends are going to be there tonight. Amanda and Tank are doing great and are excited to see the place where they will tie the knot later this year, with Mia as the flower girl, me as a bridesmaid, and the guys as groomsmen. Even Big Joe is coming. He decided to retire, finally. After being shot, he realized he needed to slow down and take things easy. Herecently sold his diner to us, safe in the knowledge that we would preserve his legacy, and moved closer to spend more time with Mia and the babies when they’re born. The Soaring Eagles have, of course, welcomed him into the fold with open arms.
There’s another reason I want to be there tonight. Rex doesn’t know it yet, but he’s about to become the new Prez. Doc and Judge are unaware too. Cole confided in me and only me that he wants to step down to spend more time at home with the kids and continue living a less stressful life. Nearly dying has given him a new outlook on life, and he’s ready for a new chapter. Though, of course, he will still be, will always be, a club member, he no longer wants to lead. He’s going to announce it tonight. I know Rex and the others will be delighted by the surprise. While Rex is a wonderful father who spends lots of time with Mia, I know he’s not ready to settle down too much just yet. He’s been an incredible VP, and Cole is confident he will take the Soaring Eagles further than he ever could.
All I know is that, together, as a family, the sky’s the limit.
***
Rex
I never thought the weight of a patch that simply says ‘President’ could feel like this—but it’s not a burden. It’s more a sensation of something holding me upright from the inside out. The roar in the clubhouse is still ringing in my ears, all those voices crashing together in a tide that lifts me higher than anything I’ve felt in years. Cole’s announcement hit like thunder. I knew the day when a new president would be announced was close—since his near-death experience he’s stepped back. I’d been acting president in his absence, but in my head, I was always his VP. Cole was where the buck stopped, not me.
Except now it’s me.
I’m still reeling with all the congratulations, the clapping, the whistles, palms thudding my back.
The new clubhouse breathes around us like a living thing. It still has that fresh paint smell to it, but I’m sure after a few weeks it’ll feel more like our old place. The inside is all dark wood that gleams, leather that creaks when you lean in, and brass lights that throw an amber-colored glow across the bar. The bar area itself has a long counter that runs the length of one wall. Behind are shelves with row after row of liquor bottles. The floors are polished wood. There’s a jukebox tucked in the corner—a genuine antique which came from Big Joe’s diner—and it’s flanked by framed photos of past rides and rallies. Our emblem hangs above the backbar in burnished steel—an eagle mid-swoop, wings spread wide, talons forward.
“Prez,” Judge says, stepping in front of me, his eyes steady. He doesn’t say much else. We lean in—our forearms wrapped, our knuckles slapping shoulders—and he taps his temple to mine. A soldier’s oath. I nod. I understand. We all went through it that night just over a year ago. We came out the other side, but it could have been so different.
