“Legally? No. But it’s enough for the club. They’ll get their due, too.” He takes another deep breath and releases it. “I’ll call Mack. We can deal with it later. Right now, I’m taking care of you.”
“I’m treatingyou, remember?”
He takes the tube of antibiotic cream from the kit and places it in my hand. “Finish torturing me, and let me get you settled in bed.”
“You still want me?”
He gently lifts my chin with his finger. His deep, dark black eyes hold mine. “I claimed you. Nothing is taking you away from me. You can’t talk me out of it, cause I love you, Chrissy. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”
I laugh and smile through tears. “Good, because I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Worley
Three days later, the Viking Warriors MC is throwing our biggest party of the year so far. Patched members and their families are here. Our friends from town join us. Emily made a two-tier cake with purple roses just like the one from Christina’s birthday at Angie’s. Oh, she has dozens of matching cupcakes, too.
A day Willow Creek never thought it would see happened today. Angie closed the restaurant. A sign sayingClosed for a Family Matteris taped inside the front door. She helped cater all the food.
Our brothers from all the surrounding states came. Shep and his guys from Texas are here. No, he didn’t bring the jerk Harley liked with him.
We’re celebrating for two reasons today. Nick called early this morning. He has Harley. Oh, she’s mad and fighting him, but he’s not letting her out of his sight. He didn’t go into full detail about things. He’ll call later with that. Jude and Smoke are escorting him and Harley to Slone Security’s headquarters in Missoula, Montana. Jack and Coty remember stopping there.
Chief and Scotch are tracking Josiah Edwards. I’d like to get my hands on that lowlife. Not only did he leave his wife and son without an explanation, but he also left Harley on her own two days ago. That’s another man who should never show up in Tennessee.
Sean Gilbert didn’t die. Jay and I won’t go to prison for murder. Cops found him and rushed him to the ER. Our hospital airlifted him to Nashville. Christina said even before Jay and I beat him within an inch of his life, that Sean was unrecognizable. He definitely was by the time we finished with him.
After surgery, while he was still unconscious, the cops fingerprinted him. He may have hidden his looks for years. Can’t hide fingerprints. Sean Gilbert was arrested immediately for domestic violence. Ciara also pushed for the attempted murder of Christina Shaw.
The McLeods are beyond happy today. Well, they’re sad that Maci and Ember will head back to college this evening. They graduate in May. We’ll celebrate big that day, too.
“Ready?” Mack puts his hand on my shoulder.
“Beyond ready.” I stand and follow him to the Church doors.
He nods to Jack. Jack motions for the live band to stop playing. Oh, Maci got her wish. We have a newly built stage in the front corner of the Den. Bryan Dawson signals his band. Since this was a private party, Grayson convinced The Dawson Boys to play for us today. Don’t worry. We’re paying them. It’s nowhere near what they’d make for a concert, though. Besides, Harrison’s family wasn’t missing this.
“Welcome, brothers, families, and friends.” Mack gets everyone’s attention. “Christina, you wanna join us?” He motions for her to come to us.
My smile widens with every step she takes. She stops when the toes of her boots touch mine and smiles up at me.
“Ready, love?”
“Yeah, big guy. I am.”
She turns to face everyone with her back against my chest. I wrap an arm around her waist.
“None of us ever thought this day would come. Yet, here we are. Worley Bird has his wings clipped.” My best friend isn’t funny today, or ever. I don’t care how much laughter is going around the room.
“Seriously, though. I’m proud to say my friend and brother claimed Christina Shaw during our last Church meeting. The vote was unanimous. We’re here today to make it club official.” Mack takes the leather cut from Jack and hands it to me.
She turns to face me as I hold her property cut up. “Never forget this is forever.” I tap my road name on the bottom rocker. She’s forever mine. I turn it so she can see her name on the front.
“Chrissy.” She rubs her fingers across the letters.
“Hope that’s okay.”
She blinks up at me. “You gave me back my name, Darin. It’s more than okay.”
