Page 33 of Bren

Laughing, I throw my arm around her shoulders and walk her towards the clubhouse, “We are, baby, but you love us anyway.”

Bren grins up at me, blue eyes sparkling, “I do,” she agrees, then clarifies, “Love you.”

Smiling, I press a kiss to the top of her head, “Love you too, Bren.”

We walk into the clubhouse to find most of the members laughing, well, the Old Ladies anyway. Abby had obviously told them we’d been caught, but as Bren was related to most of the males in the room, there was no way I was going to be getting high-fives from any of them. Sam and Ben both sent narrow-eyed looks my way as soon as they caught sight of me. I had a feeling I’d be paying for the most pleasurable half hour of my life for the next few weeks.

One look at the happiness on Bren’s face and I found I didn’t really care; I’d put up with as many beatings as they felt like handing out for her to keep that look. Although, this time I wouldn’t be holding back from them; I’d give as good as I got when it came to fighting for my girls.

The hilarity is cut short by Reaper whistling loudly, his clear signal that he wants some quiet.

Once the clubhouse is silent, he motions to Bren and me, “Alec and Bren, come on up here.”

Still holding Bren’s hand, we walk to where Reaper and a smiling Abby are standing along with Gunny and my mum. Gunny is holding a familiar white box that I know holds Bren’s cut. I thought I’d be nervous handing over a cut with my name on it, but instead, I find myself wanting to hurry the next bit along so that everyone can see that Bren’s mine, like she’d always meant to be.

When we reach Reaper, he gives us a small nod before speaking, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on this sad occasion to…” he stops and starts laughing when Abby slaps his shoulder, whisper-shouting, “Reaper, stop it!”

Next to me, Bren is laughing, and my lips kick up at the corners with a smile at Reaper and Abby. Laughter rings out through the club as Abby continues to berate him until finally, he holds up his hands, “Okay, okay, I’ll behave… maybe,” he chuckles before pulling himself together, “I’ll start again, although for me, it is a sad day because I’ll no longer be the main man in Bren’s life as she’s usurped me from that position with him,” Reaper throws his thumb at me, getting another round of laughter.

Reaper suddenly gets serious, all amusement gone from his face when he turns towards us.

“Alec, when you asked me when you came back from the States if you could make Bren your Old Lady, I have to say I wasn’t sure, but in the last months, you’ve stepped up and become the man we all knew you could be. I know I give you a lot of shit, but I’m proud and happy that Bren will be taking you on as her Old Man. She’s loved you for a long time. I’m handing over the baton to you for two of the most precious things in my life. Please take care of them.”

My throat tightens with emotion as I assure him, “I promise.”

“Bren,” Reaper turns towards Bren, his voice breaking slightly when he says her name. Clearing his throat, he continues, “Bren, when you came to us, I knew straight away that you were ours. You have been the best daughter a man could ever hope to have. You have grown into an amazing woman, you rock as both a mother and a business owner, and I know you will be an amazing Old Lady. I couldn’t be prouder of you. It doesn’t matter how you became ours; you’ve been my daughter from that first day, and I love you so much.”

My arm tightens around Bren, who has tears running down her face at his words, and I have to say I’m hard pressed not to join her. Looking out into the main clubhouse, I see most ofthe Old Ladies are crying and some of the brothers are looking emotional.

Tuning back as Reaper mentions my name while he continues his speech.

“Am I sad that I’ll be handing the baton over to Alec? Hell, yes, I am, but I’m also relieved that you’ve chosen a brother because, selfishly, that means that I won’t ever have to lose you. Your mum and I wish you and Alec every happiness because if ever two people deserved it, it’s you two,” Reaper turns to Gunny, lifts Bren’s cut from the box, and turns back to us.

“Bren, you have always been part of the club and had club protection as a Princess, but that changes today. Today, Alec takes you as an Old Lady,” swallowing hard, he holds out Bren’s cut to me. Unwrapping my arm from her shoulder, I take it from him. “Thanks, Pres,” I say before I turn towards Bren.

My gaze holds her bright blue, tear-filled one, “Bren, thank you for giving me a chance to make things right and agreeing to be my Old Lady. We’ve said all this to each other in private, but here in front of the brotherhood and our families, I want to say it again. You and Lexi are my world; thank you for giving me one of the greatest gifts that you could and for letting me back into your lives.

“We’ve known each other since you were six and I was nine. You amazed me then, and you amaze me even more now with your strength, your capacity to forgive, your loyalty, and the way you love, because when you love someone, there is no doubt that you would move heaven and hell if it meant they were happy.” I put my hand in my pocket and curl my fingers around the ring I’d had especially made for Bren with the emerald from the earring I’d carried around ever since that night with her. “Bren, in frontof everyone, I’d like to formally ask if you would accept not only my cut but also my ring?” I ask, holding it out to her.

A gasp fills the room; the only one who’d known was Reaper, and I had his blessing. Bren’s hands clasp the hand holding the ring out to her. “Is that…?” she whispers.

“It is,” I nod. “What do you say, baby? Are you up for whipping me into shape for the rest of our days?”

Bren starts to laugh as her fingers close around the ring, and she hands it back to me, “I’d be honoured to not only be your Old Lady but also your wife,” she replies with a wide smile, holding out her left hand for me to slip her ring on. I don’t waste any time; sliding it on, I kiss the back of her hand before holding out her cut and slipping it over her shoulders. Seeing my name on her back, I breathe a sigh of relief; until this moment, I hadn’t been sure if she would accept me, but now that she has, it settles something in me.

Finally, after years of feeling adrift, no matter how wonderful Gunny and my mum were or how good a friend Sam had been, this was the first time I’d felt a sense of belonging.

Bren turns back to me and throws herself into my arms. Lowering my head, I kiss her hard, lifting her up, wrapping my arms tight around her as we lose ourselves in each other for just a minute before Reaper is there, slapping my shoulder, “Okay, enough of that.”

Bren starts to laugh against my lips, and I can’t help but grin. Then I do as the man asks and put his daughter back on her feet. As soon as she’s steady, she’s swarmed and whisked away by the other women, but as I’m surrounded by my brothers, I don’t mind, even when my back starts to hurt from the back slaps, and somehow I think some of them are delivered harder than they need to be. But I’m so fucking happy that I don’t care.

We are a few hours into the celebration and have just finished eating when my phone rings. Taking it out of my pocket, I see it’s Cash. Excusing myself, I walk a little distance away before I answer it.

“Hey, Cash.”

“Little brother, I hear congratulations are in order.”

Laughing, I reply, “They are.”

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