While I have no plans for the land to officially become a Texas chapter of the Twisted Kings, it would be nice to create a landing spot for nomads or members who are passing through.
I don’t know what will come of this land, but I look forward to seeing Grandpa’s vision come to life in a new way.
When finalizing the merger, I excluded a section of land and gave it to Kincaid. He has twenty-five acres now that he can do as he wishes with. Grandpa never wantedhim cut out; he just didn’t want Tate to get his hands on it. As part of the will, there was a letter from Grandpa to me, encouraging me to mend things with my brother and give him what I saw fit.
We’ve had our differences, but this is his home as much as it’s mine. Besides, he plans to stick around and help Will run the newly merged Ironside Ridge. At the end of the day, we were wedged apart by Tate, but he’s gone now.
This war is over.
And with that, Willa and I can finally go home.
“We’ll be back,” I assure her, and she spins in my arms.
The sun crests the horizon when she looks up at me. The light in my life, in my arms.
“I know we will.”
“It’s strange being here, remembering how peaceful it can be.” I glance at the ranch around us.
“When there isn’t a shoot-out.”
“True.” I grin, cupping her face in my hand. “Even with all the bad memories, this is still where I met you.”
“Must be pretty special then, huh?”
“Extremely.” I lean down, planting a kiss on her perfect lips, and she melts into me.
Her arms wrap my shoulders, and as much as I want to pick her up and pin her to the fence, I’m careful because I know she’s still healing.
When I pull back, her cheeks are flushed, and her lips are pink.
“Are you ready togo?” she asks.
“About that…” I rake my hair off my forehead. “I had a long talk with Steel last night.”
“What’s wrong?” Worry floods her beautiful face, and I quickly shake my head.
“Nothing’s wrong. Actually, things are finally right. Which got me thinking.”
“Okay…” Nerves skitter in that one word.
“I’ve always put my club first, which will still happen from time to time. But right now, I need to put us first—to put myself first. There’s a lot of time to make up for. Steps we missed along the way. I want to do that without the club distracting us.”
“I already told you that you don’t have to choose between me and the club.”
“I appreciate that, princess, but that’s not what I’m saying. I’ve spent my whole life running from my demons and using any kind of escape to facilitate that. First it was the ranch, then it was the club. Anything so I wouldn’t have to face what I was running from. I gave my all, would have sold my soul. But for the first time in a long time, I’m ready to be a little selfish.”
“I like the sound of that.” She smiles, brushing her fingers over the scruff on my jaw.
“You reminded me that there was a time I wanted more from life than to just wake up tomorrow. I talked to Steel and let him know I need to figure all this out. He gave his blessing for me to take some time off. I’m not leaving the club, just stepping back for a second and getting my head on straight. I want some time with you—uninterrupted. And not just that, I need some time to myself, to figureout what I want without the club holding me up. I need to stand on my own. So I thought we’d travel, maybe drop in a few clubs along the way, and check in on things around the country. But we could just take it slow for a minute. Figure each other out again. See every state.”
“Put our feet in every ocean.”
“Exactly.” I kiss her forehead. “I’ll always be a Twisted King. But for a second, I just want to beme.”
Tears brim in her eyes. “Steel was okay with this?”
“He understood.”
