Page 86 of Angel

“Jules. You know I love you with everything I have, and to call you my ol’ lady is an honor in itself, but there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

“Oh, God.” Jules’s smile widens, and her eyes light up.

“I should have asked you this question the minute you came back into my life, but I’m asking you now.” Without taking his eyes off hers, Charger stalks toward her. “Being my ol’ lady just isn’t enough for me. I told you back then, on that football field, I would make you my wife one day, and here we are.” He clears his throat. “Julianna Lynn Taccarelli, will you make me the happiest fucking man on this planet and say yes to marrying me?”

“Daddy swore!” Chloe shouts, and everyone chuckles.

I admire the glistening tears flowing down Jules’s face. It’s like there’s no one else in this club except for those two—three. No one else exists. Just Charger, Jules, and Chloe.

“I would marry you a thousand times, over and over again, if it meant I could be with you forever.” She goes to him, he goes to her, and they kiss like they need it to survive. Whistles, cheers, and claps echo around them.

“Fuck! I forgot to kneel. I have a ring.” Charger removes a box from his cut pocket. “I hope this is okay.”

“It’s so beautiful, Charger. It sparkles like a star.”

“You’re my star.”

“Ah, geez, get a room!” Tank shouts and we all laugh. “But also, congratulations.”

Everyone’s taking turns hugging and offering best wishes when I feel a hand on my shoulder. “There happens to be a handsome, brooding biker who’s been outside for the last twenty minutes.” Maggie offers her warm, motherly smile.

“What?”

“Yep… I would say maybe you should go talk to him, but I think he finally decided to come inside.” Maggie points to the door, and the whole club stops.

The celebration we were having minutes ago ends as quickly as it began. My heart stills, and then my stomach sinks when Chain approaches the door.

“They’ll be fine. You’ll see,” Maggie whispers to me.

Everyone watches as they stare each other down.

Please don’t fight. Why is he even here? He made it perfectly clear where he stood with me. So, why is he sulking in our doorway?

“What are you doing in my club?” Chain’s challenging voice thunders throughout the room.

Venom looks around, searching for someone. Me. When he locks eyes with mine, my entire body tenses. Waiting. “I came for my girl.”

He came for his girl?

“That so?” Chain glances at me. “He says you’re his girl. Is that true?”

All stares land on me. No pressure. What am I supposed to say? I’ve wanted to be his girl. In my own way, I’ve wanted to be his. Wanted to be with him, but he turned me away. Now, what am I supposed to do?

“Um, well, I-I don’t—"

Venom dashes around Chain and heads toward me. Time slows down. Sounds muffle. My heart races. I can hear my breathing. I stand there, waiting for him. Waiting for him to reach me. I don’t move away. I don’t run. Nothing. I let him take me. He grabs the nape of my neck and devours my mouth with his. Electricity. Butterflies. My entire body reacts. I love this man. I fucking love him, and I can’t pretend I don’t. Are we still in a club full of bikers? With my family? Because I honestly can’t remember.

I sink, melting into him, completely losing myself. Fireworks. The intensity is magnified.

Wait a minute. I push at his chest. “Hang on.” Both of us equally breathless, I manage to say, “What makes you think you can waltz your way in here, after I poured my heart out to you and you told me you didn’t want to be with me. Huh? What gives you the right to change your mind, and all of a sudden, you expect me to just say okay?”

I’m reminded that all eyes are still on us when I look around the room. Jules’s hands are pressed to Charger’s chest, and my brothers glare at us. Venom cups my face, drawing me back to him, and everyone else disappears.

“It’s always been you, my angel. It’s been you since the day you stood in front of me in that basement. The day you blinked those ocean eyes at me. It’s been you since the first time you called me out on my bullshit. It’s been you since I saw you smile—I mean really smile. How fucking happy you were staring up at that castle like it was the best thing to happen to you. Don’t you get it? It’s always been you. Whether I think I can make you happy or not. It’s. Always. Been. You. Only you. There is no one, and I mean no one, who can match me. Who can kick my ass when it’s needed… like you can. I don’t want there to be anyone else. There will never be anyone else. It’ll always be you.”

Tears. That’s what’s falling down my cheeks and blurring my vision. More fucking tears.

Someone sniffles behind me, nudging me with their elbow. “Kiss him. Or I just may have to do it myself,” Tequila whispers to me, and I smile.

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