Epilogue

WILL

Two weeks later…

T he hired car pulls into the HQ parking lot. The familiar smell of hops hangs in the air and I breathe it in deeply, happy to be home.

I insisted on coming here first to check that the bikes had been delivered, and I couldn't wait to introduce Stella to her new extended family.

She looks nervous as I take her hand. "Don't worry. Everyone will love you."

We took our time on the road trip back, stropping in roadside motels and making love every night and in the mornings too.

We waited until Stella finished her last shift before leaving. I've been working on the road and enjoying my fiancé, sharing stories about our pasts and getting to know each other in new ways.

We've come back on the first Sunday of the month, which is when we all get together for a meal. The restaurant closes, and it's just the MC members, their old ladies and kids.

The smell of cooked meat hits me as we step through the door, as does the cacophony of noisy kids.

I grip Stella's hand tighter. She really has no idea what she's getting into. It's a big introduction to club life.

In the restaurant, the tables have been pushed together to form one long banquet table. The women are in the kitchen preparing the meal, and the men stand around drinking beers and chatting. A kid runs past, followed by a toddler trying to keep up and giggling.

All eyes turn to Stella, and the room goes quiet.

"This is Stella."

The room explodes at once, and the women come out of the kitchen. She's embraced by everyone and her belly is cooed over. I get some raised eyebrow looks over her belly.

A girl with wild hair rushes past and barrels straight into her stomach. Stella winces and catches her by the shoulder.

The girl squirms in her grasp. Her hair is tangled, and the sleeve of her top is torn.

"Sofie." Bit Rate strides over and takes the girl in his arms. She wiggles and pushes against him, wanting to be let go. "Sorry, she can't sit still."

"It's fine," Stella says .

"Daddy!" The wail comes from a small girl who looks just as wild as her sister. She tugs at Bit Rate's pants leg, wanting to be picked up. "She stole my Barbie and she pulled the head off it."

She waves a doll in the air that's missing a head. Her face is puckered up and red. "She's got no head!"

It would be funny if it wasn't so loud.

"You speak to Maxine yet?"

"Nope," he grunts. "We're fine on our own."

The other girl starts crying, and Bit Rate hustles them out of the room. He looks haggard, and I don't blame him.

Stella looks concerned, and I squeeze her hand. "Ours won't be like that, will she?"

I chuckle, because I've been around enough kids to know they can all be little devils once in a while. But she looks generally concerned.

"Ours will be a perfect angel."

She smiles, and my heart warms.

Danni bustles over and takes her by the hand and whisks her off to where a group of women are talking, wine glasses in hand.

I glance over, and our eyes meet across the room.

A warm glow fills me. I have Stella here in my club where she belongs, and I've never felt better.