Epilogue

Alicia

Three Month Later

T oday was special occasion. I planned a small private party at Mace’s clubhouse that somehow turned into a full club party. Rosie walked up to me while I was hanging streamers, with a delivery driver from the local bakery in tow.

The man announced, “Your cake is here. Where do you want it?”

I pointed to the bar, which was covered in food. “I saved a place of honor for it on the end of the bar.”

“You got it, ma’am,” he responded in a mild tone.

Rosie started directing him where exactly to place it. I’d wanted to help, but she insisted as it was my party then I shouldn’t be doing the work. I was desperate to see the cake, as I’d ordered a special one, but I let her take over. I could see my mother talking with an older brother at the far side of the room. By the smile on her face and the way she kept giggling like a schoolgirl I had a feeling that this man might be something special. God knows I didn’t begrudge her a little romance but as of now, she was pretty standoffish of men, all of them except this one.

Someone tapped me on the back, and I spun around then looked down to see Mace’s grandmother staring up at me with a brilliant smile on her face.

“You think it’s a good idea to surprise my Huri?” she asked.

I knew what she was referring to, but I quickly put her mind at rest, “It’s not a surprise, he knows… just not all the details.”

Her expression turned something close to adoring. “I really like you, child. You’re the best thing that’s happened to our family in a long time.”

“That’s about the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me, Unna-Inna Ruby.”

“You are welcome. Looks like my daughter needs some help with the streamers.”

I watched her bustle off, surprised at how fond I was growing of this straight-talking older woman.

Someone called from the front door, “Mace is pulling in. He’s got Nine with him.”

Everyone hurried into the pool room and pulled the curtains shut. I was the only one standing in the bar area when Mace and Nine came through the door. My man had good senses. He stopped dead in his tracks and Nine did as well, lowering his head to sniff at the multitude of scents covering the floor.

“Something smells different.” Glancing around, he noted the pink and blue streamers. “Did I just stumble into some old lady’s baby shower?”

I nodded as I walked out to greet him. “You sure did, babe. Want to take a wild guess who’s having a baby-related party today?”

Before he could answer, the curtains on all three archways leading to the pool room flew open at the same time and everyone shouted, “It’s your party!”

I quickly brought his hand up to cover my stomach. “We’re having a boy!”

If I’d been afraid that he was going to freak out and go running off, I would have been very much mistaken. Instead he dropped to his knees and shoved my shirt up. Knowing what he wanted, I eased the front of my yoga pants down so he could see my fairly flat belly. I was just over twelve weeks, so I still wasn’t showing yet.

His hands came up to rest against my belly, making me feel things I didn’t want to feel in front of so many people. He turned his head to the side and whispered, “It’s a boy. I’m going to have a son.”

When he looked up at me, his gaze was awestruck. “I’m going to have a son,” he whispered.

His mom spoke up. “Okay, unfurl the banner.”

His grandmother sidled over just as I saw the huge, white banner cover the baby shower decorations. My heart was racing as I saw the words on it.

My eyes went down to Mace who was still on his knees in front of me. He reached inside his vest and pulled out a ring box. When he held it out to me, I took it with shaky hands. The second I opened it, he spoke, “I know we’re young, but I want to walk whatever path I’m destined to walk with you at my side. We can have a long or short engagement. It makes no difference to me, as long as you end up becoming my wife and share all my days and nights with me.”

I teared up and started nodding before he finished the last sentence. “I would be proud to be your wife.”

He plucked the ring from its pretty velvet box and slipped it on the third finger of my left hand. When he came to his feet, he lifted the hand that had his ring on, and it sparkled in the overhead lighting and announced proudly, “Alicia, has made the happiest man on earth today.”

I spoke up as well. “And Huri has made all my dreams come true. When we get married, you’re all invited to the wedding.”

There was raucous applause and dozens of congratulations. The banner strung from one side of the bar to the other read, Welcome to Mace and Alicia’s Engagement Party!

“You—” I started, feeling like I was about to explode from happiness.

Mace was grinning from ear to ear, “My grandma might have had a hand in it. You really think you can get anything past that woman? She knew you wanted to surprise me with a baby shower, and I wanted to find the perfect moment to propose.”

“Two for one offer,” I said, with a laugh. Today was shaping up to be the happiest day of my life.

My mother even fought her way through the crowd to give me a hug and offer her congratulations. Seeing her smiling, all cleaned up, wearing nice clothing, and with all her cuts, scratches and bruises mostly healed, was everything I ever wanted for her. The club had a therapist that specialized in treating women with PTSD and she’d spent the last three months having two visits a week. It was going to be a long slog for her to recover but I planned to be there every step of the way.

The club had an attorney, and with his help my mom managed to prove she was a US citizen and could stay. And as I was born in the US to a US citizen then there was no way I’d be getting deported to Mexico.

She’d still not told me the full story about what happened with my real father and his brother, the pain was too fresh, but I was confident that she would heal in time.

After we’d been swarmed with well-wishers, eaten our fill of good food, and shared a delicious piece of cake—not the cake with blue icing that I’d ordered, but instead one that had Congratulations iced in gold, with a sugar paste model of a wolfdog in the center—we went for a ride on his bike. With Nine strapped securely into the sidecar and me with my arms locked around Mace’s waist, we slowly rode up the West Coast. California was a beautiful state, and I wanted to see more of it, but only with Mace and Nine at my side. And one day in the not-so-distant future, with our son too.

Thanks to Mace and his club brothers, I didn’t have to worry about my father or Alejandro trying to wreck my life and control all my choices. Nor did I have to worry about being implicated in his criminal affairs. It seems that if there was no father to arrest, there were no criminal wrongdoings to link to me or my mother.

I truly loved everything about my new life, including Mace and his quirky family. His club brothers and their wives were amazing. Even his standoffish chief, Jonas, was growing on me. There was literally nothing not to like.

As we rode together under the starlight sky, I started to believe that true happiness was not only well within my grasp but locked in my heart and soul forever. My life was overflowing with the kind of love that had been so lacking for me and my mother growing up. I felt like I was a princess who had finally found my prince.

THE END

Hope you enjoyed the book!

The next book in the Dark Slayers MC series is Rebel

Subscribe to my newsletter or follow me on Facebook to be the first to know about the release.

If you have not read the first book in the Dark Slayers MC series, follow this link to read “Storm”.

Other recommended reads by Aria Ray : please check out my bestselling series - Savage Legion MC, " Siege’s Twins ”