Epilogue

Teagan

One month later…

WAR ALWAYS SEEMED to take longer than expected, and we were still in the thick of it. It sucked, but we were all still alive and well, so I took my wins where I could find them. Cash and I had fallen into our daily routine of living and working at the club, and I was actually loving every second of it.

I'd never gotten my car back. Cash, Dad, and Booker had gone through it with a fine-toothed comb and found a tracker, but nothing else. Still, they decided it wasn't worth the risk of it being boobie trapped, so they towed it to some junk yard and sold it for parts. It was an older car, and Dad got it for a steal, so he put that money toward a nice new Toyota for me. He called it an engagement present and wouldn't let me pay him back. I tried to argue (not that hard, but I did try), but in the end, I just hugged him for a good three minutes and then made a run to check out my car. It was awesome.

I took classes in Portland three days a week, then worked at the shop two days. One of my days off was different than Cash's, which was not ideal, but we made it work. It was Saturday, so whenever I could, I spent it with Daisy, and it was an awesome time for her and me to connect.

True to his word, Cash had kept Gloria out of my sight. I was informed she had been taken to a local hospital and treated, her jaw wired shut (poor thing, said no one ever). Of course, I wasn't told which hospital, and since I couldn't leave the compound without an escort, it wasn't like I could hunt her down and break her legs or anything. As long as I never saw her again, I'd let the fact she was still breathing go.

I awoke this Saturday morning, however, with no plans, and I made my way down to the kitchen for some coffee where I found my man already half a cup in.

"Hi," I said, walking into his welcoming embrace.

"Hey, Turtle. Happy birthday."

"Thanks, honey."

"You're up early."

"Well, I'm officially twenty-one and I have nowhere to go," I complained. "I was bored. You're not there and I have no one to play with today, so I figured I'd start with coffee."

He gave me a one-armed squeeze. "You wanna work on the bike instead?"

"Um, hell, yes." I glanced up at him. "But don't you have to work in the shop?"

Cash shook his head. "Maisie hired someone. She's doin' well, so I'm relieved of duty. We can wrench on the bike if you like."

"Oh my god, that's awesome. I can count it toward class credit if your dad signs off on it."

"Let's go ask him."

"Let me grab coffee first," I begged.

He chuckled. "Okay, baby."

Once I'd procured the sweet nectar of the caffeine gods, I followed him down the hall to his dad's office and got the enthusiastic okay to work on the bike. Booker gave Cash the forms he needed to fill out, noting the specific boxes he needed to check off once I'd completed each task independently, so Booker could sign off.

"Thanks, Booker," I said, who also wished me a happy birthday.

"No problem, sweetheart," he said, and we made our way to where the bike was being housed.

Cash flipped the lights to the auto bay on, then we went about working on the bike. "Ready?"

I grinned. "So ready."

As we worked together in tandem on a project we both loved, I relished in the time and patience my man showed me as he imparted his wisdom.

"Wait. Explain to me again why we don't route this wire with the others?"

"Because it draws too much power and will melt the wiring harness. Basically, the bike blows up," he said. "Maybe not boom blow up, but fry the engine, blow up."

"Oh, gotcha. That would be bad."

He chuckled. "Yeah, that would be bad."

I looped my arms around his neck. "How about we take a little fuck break?"

"How about we get all the boxes checked and then we can take a long fuck break."

"Or, you can check my box?"

Cash laughed. "I will do just that, as soon as you finish your chores."

I wrinkled my nose as sighed. "Fine."

"You've got two left," he said. "Let's get those knocked out, then I'll knock you out."

As promised, as soon as I had a grasp on the final two tasks (this took another half an hour because they were difficult), Cash checked the boxes with dramatic flair before locking the doors to the auto bay and divesting me of my clothes.

Fucking the love of your life in any situation was hot but straddling him on the back of a vintage bike was phe-nom-enal!

When the sun began to set outside the transom windows, Cash insisted we head back to the clubhouse, saying something about being starving.

"Before we go back, I have something for you," he said, grabbing a small gift bag from behind the large toolbox against the wall.

"What's this?"

"It's not your birthday present," he said. "That will come later, but since we never found your necklace, I had Dad get you sorted with this."

I opened it and let out a quiet squeal. "Oh my god, this is gorgeous."

I pulled out an eighteen-carat white gold chain with an anchor charm that matched his, although somewhat more feminine, and on the back was engraved, ‘I go where you go.' Nestled next to it was a gorgeous little turtle with blue sapphire eyes.

I was currently wearing a chain with a locket Booker had had on hand, which was fine, but this, this was way better.

Cash secured it for me and then I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Thank you, I love it."

"You're welcome. And of course, the technology is getting better, so Dad says we can track you further, which makes me feel better."

I chuckled. "Well, then, I want your GPS upgraded."

Cash kissed me. "I'll talk to him about it."

"Thank you."

"Okay, come on, I need food."

Only, he didn't need food. Getting me out of the clubhouse and working on the bike had all been a ruse so my mom, Daisy, and the rest of the ladies could transform the building into ‘Las Vegas.' The great room looked like a mini version of Caesar's Palace, complete with slot machines, gaming tables, and gaudy statues.

We walked in and a chorus of, "Surprise," sounded, followed by, "Happy birthday," and then my family, blood and biker, were surrounding me with hugs and kisses.

"I can't believe you did this," I said to Daisy as she pulled me in for a hug.

"Well, since we couldn't go to Vegas, we figured this was the next best thing."

"You're amazing. Thank you," I said.

"Okay, before we get the party started," Cash said, pulling me away. "I have your real gift for you."

"I'm not into public exhibition, Cash," I teased.

He laughed and handed me an envelope.

I raised an eyebrow as I felt something bulky in it. Tearing it open, I held it upside down and keys fell out. "Keys?"

"Read the card."

I bit my lip and opened the card, scanning it. "This coupon gives Teagan Reed, soon to be Carver, unlimited Motorcycle riding lessons from Cash Carver until she can safely operate her nineteen sixty-three Triumph Bonneville TT Special." I frowned. "Her nineteen sixty-three Triumph Bonneville TT Special?"

"Check the envelope, Turtle." He nodded toward it. "You haven't gotten everything out of there."

I opened it again and pulled out the title and my name was written on it. "Oh my god, you're giving me the bike?"

"Yeah, baby, you get the bike."

"But what about the guys?"

"I bought them out," he said. "And you've done so much work on it, it's practically yours anyway. I figured if you're gonna work on 'em, you should know how to ride. What do you think?"

I wrapped my arms around his waist, fighting back tears. "Oh my god, Cash, I don't know what to say. This is unbelievably generous."

"I love you, Teagan. More than you'll ever know." He cupped my face. "And I'm so fucking proud of you and everything you've accomplished. I can't wait to do this life with you."

I nodded. "Me too. Thank you. I love it."

"Okay, lovebirds," Daisy said. "Let's party!"

As my friends and family showered me with presents and well-wishes, I held tight to Cash. He was my greatest gift, after all.