Page 94 of Jack

I raise my finger and motion for Jack to lean down. He lowers to loom over me again.

“No takebacks from you either,” I whisper.

“It’s sealed for eternity, angel,” he vows before his lips claim mine.

Epilogue

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Jack

I’ve always enjoyed Christmas with my family. The last two were through video calls. I was a fool for leaving and staying gone as long as I did. The roaming days are through for me. I’m not ready to be club President yet, but I’m settling down.

It’s been three weeks since Lily woke up. Mom and Nana wouldn’t let her do too much in the kitchen this year. It can take six to eight weeks for a punctured lung to heal completely. She says she’s fine, but we’re not taking any chances.

It’s Christmas Day. Santa has come and gone. Kids run around playing with their new toys. It’s just after two. Everybody’s full and happy. I know I sure am. Everyone’s here today, even the club bunnies. Yes, Jenny’s pissed, but I don’t rightly care. Every time she gets within ten feet of me, one of my brothers steers her in another direction. After today, she’ll have no choice but to leave me alone.

“Vikings!” Dad calls out. He’s in front of the doors to Church. We’re not having Church today. This is where he stands when giving club news inside. It’s too cold to use the stage in the backyard.

The Den quietens down except for the preschoolers. It’s kinda hard to get a two-year-old to sit still. Worley Bird stands behind Dad with a beautiful piece of leather draped over his arm.

“We have an announcement to make. Jack?” Dad motions for me to join him. I happily walk across the Den. “Lily?” He calls her from the kitchen doorway.

She narrows her eyes at me. She knew this was coming. We just didn’t tell her when. I smile and nod. What better time than Christmas? Her face explodes with happiness as she hurries through the crowd. I don’t think she fully understands what this means yet, but she wants it.

“Slow down, angel. I’m not going anywhere.”

She laughs and wraps her arms around my waist. I drop a kiss on top of her head.

“No takebacks,” she reminds me.

My niece’s words have become a joke with my family.

“Never,” I promise.

“The rumors are true. Today, we’re making it official. Three weeks ago, my son officially claimed Lily Harman as his ole’ lady. It was a unanimous vote among our brothers. As of this moment, Lily holds the status of Jack McLeod’s ole’ lady. Every member of the Viking Warriors MC and their families will honor her and show her the respect she’s rightly due.” Dad hands me Lily’s property of cut.

I turn the cut so she can see the club logo. “I love you, Lily. Nothing will ever change that. Never forget this.” I tap the property of patch and my road name, Ghost.

“I won’t.”

I hold the cut open, and she slides it on. The smile on her face is beautiful. I turn her around so everyone can see the back and claim her lips with mine.

“Welcome to the family, Lily!” At Dad’s shout, the room bursts into an uproar.

I end the kiss and hold my arm up. The room goes quiet again.

"Merry Christmas, Vikings. Enjoy your night. I’m taking my ole’ lady home."

More shouts and cheers erupt as we walk across the Den. I don’t look back. I know everyone is watching. I walk her to Dad’s truck and drive around to the guest house. My house now sits empty. I can’t live there anymore. I almost lost Lily inside those walls. We’re staying here until our new house is built further back on the property. Security and the property fence are in the process of being upgraded. An enemy won’t get through so easily again.

We haven’t found all the men involved in the attack that night. We won’t stop until we do. The two men in custody still aren’t talking. A trial date hasn’t been set yet. No one is stepping up to try and free them. They won’t fare well in prison. The one from Murfreesboro is cousins with the owner of the stolen motorcycle Jay found the camera on. Nick’s searching for more connections.

The freaked-out lady in the Toyota wasn’t a random driver that night. She works with Ariel’s Angels. She helped Drew move Nina around LA until the night we got her out. Nina’s in Willow Creek, hiding until we figure out her next step. Lily doesn’t know she’s here yet. We should tell her soon.

Lily’s nightmare has been silenced. She’s considering talking to a counselor about the abuse she’s been through. Joel Clark didn’t die that night. He suffered a brain injury and will be in a vegetable state for the rest of his life. His parents moved him to a care facility. He’s quiet. That’s what matters.

“We didn’t have to leave the party,” Lily says as we walk into the house.

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