Epilogue

Stone~ 1 year later

"You have any idea what's going on today?" My gaze rakes over Ivy lying across my bed, wearing nothing but a smile. She's sexy as fuck in our messy bed. She's goddamned perfect.

Her dark brows crinkle. "No. Peaches didn't say anything other than she would need some help setting up for the party. I asked a couple times what the party was for, but she never actually answered." Ivy sits up, giving me an eyeful of perfect tits. "Weird. Right?"

"Pretty weird," I agree and push off the doorway that separates my bedroom from the private bathroom. "Must be a surprise for someone."

"I guess," she shrugs, gasping when I wrap my hand around her ankle and tug her to the edge of the bed. "Well, hello and good morning, gorgeous."

I smile at her playful tone. This past year with Ivy has been so fucking perfect, and I can't wait to make it official. "Every morning is a great morning when I wake up with you in my arms."

She puts the other foot on my hip and slides it up to my chest. "Someone's angling for a good morning blowjob."

My jaw clenches, and my skin heats. "Not one fucking moment passes when I don't want those lips wrapped around my cock, Ivy. Not. One. Fucking. Moment."

She licks her lips as her gaze travels from my face down to my chest and my abs before settling on the hard-on, tenting my boxers. Rising up to a sitting position, she grips the sides of my waistband, giving my boxers a quick tug. "Well, well, what do we have here?"

"Why don't you lick it and find out?"

With a mischievous grin, she grips my cock in her hand, squeezing hard as she brings her mouth down around me, taking me deep. With a low moan, she pulls back slowly, coating my cock with her wet mouth before releasing me with a pop. "Yum." She licks her lips with a slow smile before flicking her tongue over the head of my cock.

My hips jut forward, and I reach for her, ready to fist my hands in her thick hair while she sucks me off, but a loud pounding on the door sounds and interrupts the fucking moment.

"Goddammit."

Ivy releases me with a reluctant moan and pushes me back so she can get to her feet. "We can pick this up later," she says with a promise in her gaze before she slips into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

The impatient fucker on the other side of the door knocks again, and I grip the handle, wrenching the door open with a scowl on my face. "Yeah?"

Dad looks at me with a smirk. "Meet me at the clearing on the south forty. Three o'clock."

My brows dip in confusion. "Okay. Why?"

"It's almost noon," Dad replies with a frown. "And you still have shit to do around the ranch. Meet me there at three. Don't be late." Dad walks off, but not before I see the satisfied smirk he always wears when he's giving me shit, which is always. Ivy says it's my family's love language, and this past year, she's been on the receiving end of it just as much as she dishes it out to Ma and Dad.

We definitely need our own place.It's not the first time this thought has crossed my mind over the past few months. I have a plan, beginning with making Ivy my wife and building a house together on Hardtail Ranch. Soon, I remind myself just as Ivy steps from the bathroom dressed in a pair of skintight jeans and a plain white tank top.

"Everything good?'

I nod. "Wants me to meet up with him this afternoon."

"Is something going on?"

"Not that I know of." Things have been relatively peaceful since we took out the Skull Crushers.

Ivy shakes it off. "I'm gonna go see what I can help Peaches with. See you later?" She places both hands on my chest and pushes up on her toes to kiss me.

"I'll find you when I'm done. Love you."

Her lips curl into a grin. "Love you more," she whispers before kissing me like I was going off to war instead of ranch chores.

I slip on my shit-kickers and make my way downstairs, expecting to see Ivy and Ma, but the house is empty and quiet. I find a paper bag with a couple sandwiches and my name on the front in Ma's familiar scrawl. Smiling, I take the bag with me and step outside.

I finish the ranch work with just thirty minutes to spare, which is enough time to get back to the house and shower before heading over to the clearing. When I ride up, I notice a shit-ton of bikes—not just ours—lined up, and I wonder what the fuck is going on.

I know these bikes. Worked on them in California. Okay, y'all. This is getting creepy now.

There are tables and chairs set up—nothing fancy—and I wonder what my dad's up to without my mom here. When I reach the crowd, I find out why.

Reckless Souls.

Holy. Fuckin'. Shit.

Ace, Lucky, Coop, Shades, Preacher, Dix and Tank are all here. "What the fuck are you guys doing here?" I ask, bumping fists and giving bro hugs all around. I smile wide, still asking, "What's up? Is something wrong?"

Ace grins. "Such a worrier," he says and claps me on the back. "We told you we'd come see you in Texas. Made a road trip."

Yeah, he did. "I didn't think you'd just show up, but fuck, I am happy to see all of your ugly mugs." I don't know why they're here, but I don't give a shit. I'm just happy to see them all.

"Hollywood is here, fashionably late as usual." Gray's teasing is met with laughter all around.

It's been more than a year, and the Hollywood jokes never let up, but I take it all in stride. "You know all of these guys are from California, don't you, Gray?"

He shrugs. "But you look the part." His teasing is all in good humor. There were a few rocky months after Ivy moved in with me, but we all talked it out and managed to get our friendship back on track. Come to find out, he wasn't really in love with her. He wanted to be me. Thought a relationship with Ivy would move him up in the ranks of the MC. I'm just glad it all worked out.

"Yeah, yeah. But seriously, what's going on? You fuckers on the run or somethin'?"

"Funny." Shades crosses his arms over his chest, his sunglasses hiding his eyes. "You gonna help us hide out if we are?"

I shrug. "Of course. We have stables and barns you can all use." I smile, still feeling a little strange about this surprise visit. "What's going on?"

"Sit down, son." Dad's smile fades, and he drops down into a plastic chair, fixing his gaze on me.

One by one, the patched members of the Opey Chapter of the Reckless Bastards sit around the table. The Angel Harbor Reckless Souls stay on their feet, standing tall.

"What's going on?" I'm on edge. My arms and fingers are tingling. My legs feel unsteady as I take my seat at the table.

"What's going on," Dad begins, "is that we're naming a new President."

"Here?" I ask, still confused. "Don't we do this in church?"

Dad gestures to the men standing and says, "Yes, but we wanted the Souls here. Sin Room is too small, and I didn't want these guys to get distracted by tits and ass."

My gaze finds Ace. "Is this for the Reckless Souls? Is there something going on I need to know about? Am I going back to California?" That thought turns my stomach. Hell, I'm home. Right where I belong.

"No," Ace smiles, shaking his head. "This is all for the Reckless Bastards."

For Opey?This is the first I'm hearing of it, but immediately, my gaze swings to Dad. He looks fine. Healthy. Fit. Still big as an ox, even though he's well into his fifties.

"Why do we need a new Prez? And why the hell didn't I know about this?" Wait a minute, there's only one reason I wouldn't know. Someone else is going to sit in the head chair.

"Because it's time, son." His eyes stay on me, and I know he's watching my reaction, waiting for me to throw a fit, to freak out.

"Then I guess we're putting it to a vote?"

Dad's shoulders relax, and he nods. "Yeah, I guess we should." He sits taller, his gaze resting on every member around the table. "Nominations? You can nominate yourself or any patched member in good standing."

A silent breath of relief escapes because Dad doesn't nominate someone else. Or me.

Wheeler gets to his feet with a smile on his face, and he turns to me. "I nominate Stone Hollywood Nilsson to be the next President of the Reckless Bastards, Opey Chapter."

Holy shit, what?

Dad nods. "Anyone else?"

Gray stands. "I second the nomination."

It goes like that for the next few minutes. Each of my brothers stand and cast their vote for me to be the next leader of the Reckless Bastards.

"Stone, your vote?" Dad is smiling now because he knows.

I stand as well. "I vote for, shit. I vote for me." My heart pounds around my wide smile. Is this really happening?

Dad gets to his feet and says, "Looks like it's unanimous. Congratulations, son. You are the next president of the Reckless Bastards, Opey, Texas chapter." He pulls me in for a hug and pats my back a few times. "Never lose sight of where you've been and where you're going. I'm proud of you, son."

I stand up and look around the table. All the brothers who came before me. Who were here before I was even born. I take a deep breath. I'm not prepared for this. My gut churns, but I know I need to say something. Anything.

"Dad, Ace, and to every member who has been here before me, thank you. I'm honored and completely aware of the legacy I'm inheriting. Just as my father led us with unity, I promise to do the same.

I know this patch comes with immense responsibility. I promise to lead not just with my words but with my actions. I'll be a leader you can count on, one who listens, who stands firm in adversity, and who always puts the club first."

As I finish my speech, my father steps forward, holding out a new kutte adorned with the president patch. My heart swells with pride and emotion as I take it, feeling the weight of the trust my brothers have placed in me. I struggle to contain my emotions as I slip it over my shoulders, the weight of the president patch settling on my chest, a symbol of the responsibility I now carry.

And hell yeah. I'm completely overwhelmed.

"Here, here!" Everyone congratulates me, bro hugs and claps on the back. I'm in awe of what we've become as a brotherhood, and the fact that the Reckless Souls are here to celebrate my new position is more than I could have ever asked for.

This is huge.

Fuck. I'm now the President. This is my MC.

"You okay?"

Dad's voice pulls me from my internal thoughts, and when I look at him, I see honor and respect in his eyes. "Yeah, just processing this news. I wasn't expecting it, not so soon."

"I know. That's how I knew it was time. You're ready. The way you stepped up to handle the Skull Crushers with a plan that worked and included your brothers? It was a huge step to taking my seat."

"But you're still capable of doing the job."

"Yeah, I am. But it's time for you to lead. I'm still here, still patched, and I'm still your dad."

I need a cigarette. There is so much emotion running through me, but I'm tough. The leader. "So this is gonna be like when you taught me to ride that beast? Side by side for a while?" It's some of the best memories of my life, learning how to be a man from my dad.

"Hell, yeah. Been waiting for this since your mom told me we were havin' a boy." He claps me on the back as we all get on our bikes and the thunder rolls. Damn near makes my dick hard. "Let's get the fuck out of here. Your mom's waiting for us."

The music is blasting when we arrive at the big house and the party is in full swing. "Maven. Willow. Good to see you both."

"Lookin' good," Willow says with a teasing smile. "Mr. President."

"Yeah, thank you. Feels good."

"There's a Maven Cake at the bar just for you, Viking."

With a wide smile, I scoop her up in a tight hug. "Thanks, Maven."

"My pleasure. Congrats."

I pass Banger and Wild Man with fist bumps as I go to the bar where my cake and my woman are waiting. "Ivy."

She turns with a slow smile and her hands on her hips, showing off a tiny black skirt and a red crop top to match her red cowboy boots. "Hey there, President." Her blue eyes go wide, and she lets out an uncharacteristic squeal. "Damn, Stone, did you know?"

"I'm just as surprised as you are."

"I'm so proud of you, babe!" She jumps in my arms, kissing my face and my jaw. "How about a celebratory drink?"

"A quick shot sounds perfect."

Ivy slides down my body, giving me one more kiss before stepping back behind the bar to whip up a drink. "I made this for you when Peaches told me what was happening." She pours a little of this and that into a cocktail shaker before pouring two tall shots. "To my sexy man and to dreams coming true."

"I'll fucking drink to that." I take the shot and knock it back quickly. "Damn, that's spicy."

Ivy laughs. "It's tequila and jalape?o. It's strong and hot, just like you."

I chuckle. "You know, Ivy, I've thought about this moment a lot since coming home."

She smiles, nodding knowingly. "You worked hard and proved to them that you're ready."

"Not this. I mean, yes. Obviously, I've been thinking about becoming President, but that's not what I'm talking about."

Her brows dip. "Okay. What, then?"

"Hey, everyone. Listen up!" I gesture my hands to bring the partiers in closer.

"What's up?" Sage asks, moving closer to where we stand next to the bar. "Hollywood gonna give a speech?"

Everyone walks over and some of the guys yell, "Speech! Speech! Speech!"

My mom stands behind me, and I turn to see tears pooling in her eyes. Yeah, what a badass.

"Quiet down, fuckers. As the new president of the Reckless Bastards, I got something to say." I reach into my kutte and pull out the black velvet box that's been burning a fucking hole in my pocket for the past two months. I drop down on one knee and everyone goes silent. "Ivy Renee Hicks."

"Stone," she whispers, eyes darting around the yard as her cheeks turn a bright shade of red.

"Ivy, babe. You have been my best friend for more of my life than you haven't. I have loved you in one way or another from the moment we met. Today, I ask you, will you be my wife?"

She lets out a sharp gasp, and her hand goes to her mouth. "Oh my God." Her gaze darts to the ring and then to my face. "For real?"

I laugh. "Hell, yeah, for real. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

With tears streaming down her cheeks, she shouts, "Yes, yes, I will marry you!"

I look around where Ma and Dad and all my friends and family are watching, a big shit-eating grin on my face. "She said yes!"

Canyou believe we've made it through all twelve books of the Reckless Souls Series together? It's been such a wild and amazing ride! Writing this series has been one of the craziest and most fun experiences ever.

I fell in love with Stone when he was born and wanted to make sure he found his way home.

We met Peaches in Heavenly Hacked, she's a badass in her own right and finally seeing her get her happily ever after in Tempted is like the cherry on top.