“Yeah. Everyone’s just fine. The acting sheriff rounded up the last of the Savage Bones and they won’t bother us again. I’m so fucking sorry I didn’t listen. You should have been with me.”
“NOT YOUR FAULT!”
I shook my head. “You never should have been there. I’ll never be able to forgive myself for what I put you through.”
“Oh, good. She’s awake.” One of the nurses stopped in and shooed me off the bed. “I need to check her vitals. How are you feeling, Ms. Henson?”
Marlowe typed out “LIKE SHIT” with a smiley emoji.
“I can imagine,” the nurse said. “You’re lucky. The surgery went well, and we’ll have you up and about in no time. You’ll be on crutches for a while and will need to follow up with physical therapy. We also don’t want you getting too chatty before your throat heals. Who’s this guy you’ve got with you? He hasn’t left your side since they brought you in last night.”
I waited for Marlowe to reply. She had every right to tell me to fuck off. It would crush my heart, but I’d understand.
“FIANCE” popped up on the screen.
“Are you sure?” I didn’t care if the nurse wanted me to get out of the way. For the first time since we’d arrived at the hospital last night, I felt a tiny sliver of hope that I hadn’t fucked everything up beyond repair.
Marlowe nodded. “I love you.”
“Shh. The nurse said no talking.” I put my finger over her lips while she typed something else on my phone.
“I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU,” repeated across the screen.
“I love you too, Lo Lo.” Despite the nasty look the nurse gave me, I climbed right back up on the bed and settled my girl into my chest.
Life had dealt us a few hard blows, but everything was going to be alright. The Savage Bones had been vanquished, and we’d rebuild the clubhouse into something bigger and better than it had been before. Marlowe would heal, and I’d figure out how to ask her to marry me. She deserved a hell of a proposal, and I made a promise to myself that I’d give it to her.
I lowered my head to press a kiss to the one spot on her forehead that didn’t show signs of a bruise. “It’s going to be okay, baby. I’m going to make you the happiest woman in the world. I promise.”
“HOLDING YOU TO THAT”
Her sass was back. I took in a deep breath and whispered into her ear. “I’m counting on it, Lo Lo.”
EPILOGUE
SCAR
“You wantme to meet you where?” I ask Thunder to repeat himself because I don’t think I heard him right.
“The old train station. You will see when you get here,” he says and then hangs up.
Since the fire at the clubhouse, we have been meeting in some pretty weird places, but this one takes the cake. The train station hasn’t been in use for over a decade, but the building has been kept up and is used as a bus stop and for different events. It’s downtown next to city hall. Mostly the parking area is used as free city parking now.
The town has been working hard to help repair the clubhouse as a thank you for finally taking out the Savage Bones. It’s been slower than everyone would like because Atlas and Thunder are insisting on restoring the building as close to original as possible. They want to keep all the history while adding in a few things like a larger kitchen, more secure weapons room, and extra protection all the way around.
I drive through town, and there isn’t a building not decorated for the holidays already. We really have something to celebrate this year, and everyone is going all out and over the top.Orville ordered more lights and decorations for downtown in celebration, and everyone in town has followed suit.
I pull into the old train station and a flood of memories comes back. As kids, we always dared each other to sneak in here at night. This building is one of the oldest still around in Mustang Mountain, and every kid growing up here thinks it’s haunted.
I smile and head in the front door, where I find several of the guys sitting in a makeshift office area with a few desks. Several of them are leaning over one of the guy’s computers.
“What’s up?” I ask as I walk over to join Thunder, Six, Bear, Viper, and Lightning.
As soon as they hear my voice, they slam the computer shut, and I stop in my tracks. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out they don’t want me to see whatever they were looking at. So then why have me meet them here?
“What the hell was that?” I ask, not even hiding the irritation in my voice. At least they have the nerve to look sorry.
“We have a surprise for you. It seemed like a good idea until Thunder found out. He thinks you are going to be pissed,” Lightning says.
