He gives me a ghost of a smile, then closes his eyes and blows out a breath. "Nova..."
"Baby, thank you for being the one to do it. Thank you for ending my nightmare. You saved me,us. So many times. You didn't have to, but I'm so grateful that you did," I tell him, as I try to hold back tears.
"I was so worried that you'd hate me for it. I thought I'd lose you after that." His honesty makes my heart heavy.
"We still have so much to learn about each other, but I want to spend forever learning about you. Max, I love you." I grab his face, so he's forced to look at me as I tell him how I feel. I need him to hear me, I need him toreallyhear me.
He smiles and leans in, his lips a hairsbreadth from mine. "Fuck, I love you too, Dragonfly."
My nerves are shot. The last time we sat in here to do this a car crashed through the main doors and my girl was taken. But I never got my answer last time, so I need it now. My fingers rapidly tap on the table as my brothers enter the room, one by one, and take their seats. This isn't a surprise, they all know why we're in here. They've been anticipating this since we rescued Nova.
Nitro closes the door and takes his seat. He gives me a look and then slams the gavel on the table. "Over to you, Ice," he says.
"Prez." I give him a nod. "Let's make this quick. I'm claiming Nova," I tell the room.
"Yay." Prez is the first to respond as usual.
"Yay." Followed by Wrath.
The rest of the boys follow with“Yays.”Then all eyes are on Blades—this is where it fell down the last time. This is where it could all go wrong again. I feel sick as I wait for him to give his vote.
"Blades," Prez snaps. "Vote."
My enforcer looks at me. "I'm sorry about the last time. I just wanted you to give it a little time, but I made a mistake, of course you have my vote. Yay."
The relief floods through me, and now I can finally claim my girl officially.
"That’s settled. Nova is now Ice's ol' lady. Congrats, brother. Now go see your girl."
Epilogue
Life has been good. It's been two months since my girl was taken and I killed her aunt and uncle. She'd waited up for me that night, and when I’d walked in the room covered in her uncle’s blood, she’d given me a small smile and then helped me strip and shower.
But as she slept beside me that night, my raging thoughts kept me awake. I worked myself into a frenzy. By the time morning broke, I was convinced that she’d hate me for killing them, and in the days that followed, I’d withdrawn so much I found myself staying away from her, so I didn’t have to see the look of disappointment on her face.
Man was I fucking relieved when she told me she was relieved they were gone, and that she was happy I'd killed them.
The brothers worked hard to rebuild the front of the clubhouse, and we tightened up the walls and increased security. Larger, stronger fencing was put up around the entire compound, securing the back area and the woodland around it.
We decided to make the back dining room the main room. It connects to the kitchen, it has external doors, and there is more than enough space for a bar, dining area, sofas, games area and the piano. Once everyone realised my girl could play, they all said it had to stay.
I watch her sit at the piano, teaching her brother how to play something. They're both smiling, happy, relaxed. Andrea left the compound and moved in with Arthur last week. Six days after, my girl was given full custody of Mason.
Nova asked for Andrea to stick around after the switch in custody. Andrea was more than happy to, given that she missed so much of their lives, but she chose to move out of the clubhouse. My woman, however, chose to stay here. After checking with Mason first. When she asked him if he wanted to leave and find their own place, he told her that he never wanted to leave here.
She went back to work pretty quick—the woman's a millionaire but she still wants to work. I think she just likes being with her best friend, Riley. She’s feisty. The first time I walked in the diner with Nova, Riley almost tried to knock me out for keeping her best friend from her.
My woman must sense me watching her as I see her head slowly lift and turn toward me. When she sees me, she grins. I see her say something to Mason, kiss the top of his head, and then make her way over to me.
I reach out my hand for her, and she takes it the moment she’s within reach. She giggles as I pull her down onto my lap. "You okay?" she asks me, and then leans in for a kiss.
"Mmhmm," I moan around the kiss, my hands gripping her hair, not wanting it to end. But she nips at my bottom lip and then pulls away.
"I was good until you stopped kissing me," I tell her with a smirk.
She giggles, then slaps my chest.
"Are you really okay?" she asks me again, and I know she's worried.
