Epilogue

"I'm going to strangle him," I snap, more than ready to commit murder. It's been three weeks since Simon's death and everything that happened. I do my best not to think about it. It hurts to know my brother is gone. The club has been super supportive and even went to the funeral. It was the first time I'd seen my dad and grandfather, and they seemed to have changed.

I don't know what happened, but my grandfather retired, and my father even took a step back from his company. They're still very much into working, but they both are constantly around. I didn't think it was possible for them to fit themselves back into my life, but somehow, they managed to do so.

Bruiser talked me into letting them back in, and though it feels weird, I don't mind. I do like seeing them and getting to know both of them. My dad even showed me some pictures of my birth mom and told me a few stories. I look forward to hearing more, though this is all going to be weird for a while. I need to get used to them after cutting them from my life for so long.

"What did he do this time?" Angie asks, looking up from where she's doing inventory on the ambulance.

"He told Cap not to put me on the schedule for another week, and Cap agreed with him." I huff and rake my fingers through my hair. Not working in the past weeks has sucked. I don't like not working. I love my job, and I'm ready to get back to it.

"Maybe there's a reason why?" Mick suggests, shrugging, not looking up.

"What would that possibly be?" I demand, throwing my arms in the air, frustrated by this.

"You'll have to ask him," Angie answers. "Speaking of asking, Rico wants to know if you wouldn't mind if I take on the class until you're ready to come back. Several of the gym members have asked him multiple times when you were starting it back up. I told him I'd talk to you to see if you minded me taking it on."

"You want to do that?" I ask. I miss teaching the self-defense class and working out at Primal, but right now, it's not where I need to be. I need to finish healing mentally before going back. Not that the gym has anything to do with it, but I'm struggling with everything else.

The only thing that keeps me sane is Bruiser.

"Yeah, sure," Angie remarks, nodding, lifting her gaze to me. "It's not like I hadn't been in on it the whole time." Shoving a drawer closed, she grabs her clipboard and hops out just as the bells ring, alerting to a medical call. "That's us. Gotta go. Just another week, and you can be back with us." She grins and squeezes my arm before rushing to hop in the passenger seat while Mick gets behind the wheel.

I let out a sigh, wishing I were going with them, but Cap says one more week.

Unable to do anything else, I stomp out of the station and head for the clubhouse. Bruiser said that's where he was going to be when I left the apartment to come here.

He's in for a rude awakening when I see him. He should know better than to make any decisions regarding me without talking to me first.

The moment I step into the clubhouse, I spot him immediately talking to Dagger and Cy. His gaze connects with mine, and I narrow mine to a glare, seeing the smirk that curls on his lips.

"Hey, Princess," he greets me when I'm close. The big lug wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me deeper into him while tilting his head in my direction with the intent to kiss me.

"Don't you, hey Princess me, you giant ass," I snap and push at his chest. "You talked to Cap about me not going back to work for another week, and I want you to tell me why."

Bruiser grins and tightens his arms around my waist. "Because we've got plans this week. We're going back to the beach and finishing what we started."

I blink at him, and then it hits me. A blush tints my cheeks, and I swear I feel my body start to hum with the need for this man. He hasn't touched me much since that day. What we've done has been sweet, but I want more.

"We are?" The two words come out breathy-like.

"Yeah, baby, we are. I just stopped here to wait on you and talk to these two for a few minutes," he says, gliding a hand up to tangle his fingers in my hair. "Since you're here now, we can hit the road. But first, I've got two questions to ask you."

"What's that?" I stare at him, not sure what he could want to ask me here and now.

"First is, will you be my ol' lady and wear my cut?"

All other thoughts leave my mind completely. I knew what it meant to wear his cut. To be his ol' lady. He'd been saying I was his woman, but him asking me something like this means everything to me.

"Yes," I answer, nodding.

"Second question," he announces. He lets my hair go and steps back, reaching into his pocket while dropping to one knee. "This was my mother's ring, she'd have wanted you to have it. Will you marry me, Gwyneth Rose Haney?"

I don't think I could wish for a better moment or proposal. Biting my lip, I nod and launch myself at him, tackling him to the floor and kissing him.

"I take that as a yes," Dagger barks out, laughing.

I break away from the kiss to meet Bruiser's gaze. "Yes, Bruiser. I'll marry you."

"Good, ‘cause there's no way I was letting you escape me. You're mine, woman. The only one for me. Without you, the world as I know it would cease to exist. You're my reckoning, and I wouldn't have it any other way."