26
EPILOGUE
HAVOC
Three months after we avenged Viking and Savannah, life at the compound goes back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you’re living with a bunch of heathens. But with no constant threat looming over us, we’re free to enjoy the cookouts and charity rides, not to mention fucking everywhere whenever we feel like it.
Sharon and the county pulled through in record time, and we already started building our home behind the clubhouse, as well as new digs for Bluebell. Sasha’s been spending a lot of time with Lucy, picking out fixtures and furniture. The women have had their heads over so many color wheels, they looked like they were poring over war plans.
I brought as many workers as Slade Construction could spare, eager as fuck to have some privacy with my old lady. Not that she minds an audience in certain situations.
There’s one thing I want to do, though, before I carry her over the threshold of our new home—put a ring on her finger. I made my intentions pretty fucking clear, telling her I’m gonna marry her, telling her I plan on knocking her up as soon as she’s up for it. But I haven’t sealed the deal yet.
“Baby girl,” I call out when I spot her standing with Ruth by what’s gonna be the older woman’s garden. “Let’s take a ride.”
As she turns to face me, that smile lighting up her face, the small jewelry box in my pocket feels a lot heavier than it should.
“Where are we going?” she asks when I reach her, her voice soothing my nerves. I didn’t know I could still be anxious over something at my age. Thought I’d seen it all. But, damn, I never asked the love of my life to marry me before.
I pull her into my arms, ignoring the way Ruth coos over us.
“To our lake,” I murmur into her sweet-smelling, sun-warmed hair.
Sasha looks up at me, her cheeks going pink. After that first time, I took her to what’s now our spot several times, having her on or next to my bike, even fucking in the water a few times. She probably expects that’s all we’re about to do today.
“Alright,” she says sweetly. Her voice has lost some of the timidness and innocence, but thankfully, a lot of it seems to just be her nature. I wrap an arm around her shoulder, and she looks back to wave at Tank’s old lady. “Bye, Ruth.”
“Have fun now!” Ruth yells after us.
“I missed you this morning, Daddy,” Sasha says as she cuddles up against me. “Did you have club business?”
“No, darling. Was taking care of something else. I’ll tell you all about it when we get to the lake.”
She seems to accept the answer, only humming contentedly as we walk to my bike.
The ride to the lake is peaceful, the sun hot against our black leather, and I’m grateful Carol packed the champagne in my saddlebag in ice. Once we arrive, I help Sasha take off her helmet, fixing the windswept locks of blonde hair.
“Come here, baby girl,” I say, as I offer her my hand, my voice rough with emotion. She follows like a good girl, a small smile on her lips. When we get to a good spot, I turn around and faceher. I’ve been thinking about what to say, how to propose, for months, but now find myself speechless for a moment.
Sasha looks up at me, one of her eyebrows raising in confusion. “Daddy?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah. Yeah, I…”
Feeling completely fucking graceless, I drop to one knee.
Sasha freezes. For a second, she just stares at me, like her brain can’t quite catch up with what her eyes are seeing. The breeze off the lake lifts her hair, golden strands dancing in the sunlight, and I swear to god, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life.
“Daddy…” she whispers, her voice soft, unsure.
I huff out a breath, scrubbing a hand over the back of my neck before reaching into my pocket.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “That’s… that’s me.”
Smooth, asshole.
Her lips twitch despite the nerves and emotion mixing on her face. Good. If she’s smiling, I haven’t completely fucked this up yet.
I flip the box open. The diamond catches the sunlight, throwing shards of light between us. Her breath hitches, her hand flying to her mouth.
