Page 81 of Out to Find Freedom

“So your plan was to have me all along?”

“Fuck yes.”

Laughing again, I slapped his chest. “I’m glad.”

“Nah, baby doll. I’m glad you wanted me.”

Epilogue

Emerson

Ryan walked with me tucked under his arm into the compound common room. They’d decided to throw a party just because they wanted to. Still, I thought it had something to do with a going-away party for Blue and Clary, who’d I’d met recently at their wedding.

However, I realized I was mistaken when I didn’t even see Blue or Clary. Instead, it was a small crowd of Talon, Zara, Ivy, Killer, Julian, and Mattie, plus a couple of prospects to serve us dinner and drinks. When Julian had told me about the party, I honestly didn’t expect this, but I enjoyed it. Sitting beside Ryan all night while talking with Zara, Julian, and Ivy was something I hoped we would do all the time.

I would even like to try my hand at a dinner party at Ryan’s place, since his was bigger than mine and I loved cooking in his open-plan kitchen.

This was comfortable. Almost like we were all part of the same family. It felt like home, especially because of the man at my side.

Ryan caught me looking at him. He smiled, leaned in to take my lips in a quick but fierce kiss, and said, “Be back in a sec.”

“All right.” I nodded and watched him walk away towards the bar.

“Hey, dovey dove. Have you seen the sign Talon put up with your logo on it?”

I sucked in a breath. “It’s up?” I asked, looking from Julian to Talon.

Talon chuckled. “Yeah, darlin’. Fuckin’ finally got around to it. Go see your awesome design. The guys sure do love it.”

“I’m so glad.” I stood and met Julian at the end of the table they’d set up. I glanced back. “Does anyone else want to come?”

Ivy waved her hand. “You two go. Zara and I’ll get dessert ready.”

Smiling, I nodded. Ivy had talked about her chocolate and banana cheesecake all night and I couldn’t wait to try it.

Julian led me through the compound. He turned on lights as we walked so it was easier to see. In through the workshop and then out the front door of it. With his arm around my shoulders, we walked a few paces away from the front and turned back. I looked up and my breath caught. The sign looked amazing. I’d incorporated a tire, wings to represent the Hawks, and the business name all together. It looked amazing above the roller doors, lit up so all could see.

“Do you like it?”

“I do. It looks so much better with how big they made the sign.”

“It does.” We stood there and talked about some other clients I had. How business had picked up even more and how Julian found it cute that I had a desk set up at both my place and Ryan’s. Ryan and I spent so much time together that when I had to get work done at his place, I was sick of sitting in the kitchen when he would be in the living room.

Eventually, we walked back inside. I asked how things were going for Mattie and Zara’s sister—well, foster sister—living in Melbourne. I hadn’t met her or their parents, but I knew of them. I still found comfort in smaller crowds which contained women I already knew. Slowly I’d built myself up to meet new people.

“We’re not too sure. When we call, she doesn’t say much. Actually we’re starting to worry about her. I think Nancy will end up doing something soon.”

“It’s a big change, moving to a place where she doesn’t know anyone. It might take a while for her to get used to it.”

“Yeah, maybe.” He opened the door back into the common room. I walked by him and froze.

Julian stepped up behind me and led me closer to where Ryan sat with a guitar on his knee and a microphone in front of him.

“You know I don’t do this shit in front of anyone. But this was a special occasion, so people are gonna have to listen to me whether they like it or not.”

I couldn’t speak. I managed a nod, but all I could do was watch as Ryan strummed his first chord.

Right away the music hit me. It was the first song he’d played me. “Beautiful Crazy.” His voice hit the room through the microphone, and I couldn’t understand why, but him singing this time was better than the first.

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