Epilogue

Gideon

One Year Later

I t's been a long road to get here, but Hawk Mechanics is finally in existence and is fully up and running. Ironically enough, it's located less than a mile down the road from the bank my numskull brother robbed, but I'm done thinking about all of that. Besides, Gage is supposed to be on the straight and narrow now. He cut all ties with his criminal buddies and Brandon got him training to get his CDLs. He'll make good money driving trucks, and hopefully will settle down one day.

Today, though, it's about me. Sheol said it would only be right if the motorcycle club blessed my shop with their presence, and so they all rode their bikes up here – Loki, Dragon, Wraith, Bishop, Sheol and Lion – my road dogs. I have a ton of beer in the cooler for them as well as the grill going, with steaks, burgers and anything else these guys like to woof down.

"Ay, where's the ol' lady?" Wraith asks.

"She's on the way. She should be here any minute now."

And Ivy pulls up right on time. She gets out of the car, lets Lilly out and she runs over to me with her little motorcycle jacket and dark brown curly hair, yelling, "Daddy!"

She's always excited to see me, and I will always welcome her with open arms. I bend down and scoop her up, kiss her on the cheek and say, "How's daddy's big girl?"

"I'm happy, Daddy. Are you happy, Daddy?"

"More than you will ever know, sweet girl."

I look back at the car again to see Ivy walking over with our three-month old son, Chase, in the car seat. This is the first time she's brought him out in public. I didn't think she would want to bring him here, but she says she's keeping an open mind about the club now – giving me freedom to be who I am.

I turn to my guys and say, "Ay, my son is making his debut. Welcome to the party, Chase."

"Woo!" Wraith croons.

Lion says, "Oh, now that's a sinner. You may as well go ahead and get him a jacket."

"Yep," Loki says. "Looks just like you, too. And how are you doing, Mrs. Ivy?"

Ivy smiles and takes my hand. "I've never been better."

"Are you staying out of trouble?" he asks.

"As much as this one will let me," she answers, looking at me.

I look at her and lean down and kiss those sweet lips of hers. Ain't no letting go this time. She's mine. Forever.