“You think he’ll make it?”I ask and Blade holds me even tighter.I suppose that’s a sort of no, but what he says is, “I hope so.”
“That makes two of us.”
After Matteo is gone, he leads me inside the clubhouse where the rest are gathered, waiting for the full story, I guess.
“And what did you mean, you’ll only marry me so no one else can?”I ask, trying to sound edgy, but it just comes out flat.
The fear, sadness and adrenaline that’s been pumping through my veins for most of the day are starting to wear off and that dizzy, happy feeling of relaxation is threatening to overwhelm me.
He swings me around and holds me so we’re face to face.“I want to marry you for every reason under the sun, Isabella Rovina.I love you and I don’t want to live another second without you.”
The slight woman with purple hair sighs loudly.But not as loudly as me.
“Don’t worry, you won’t have to be without me ever again,” I say.“Because I’m never leaving your side again.Ever.I love you too much for that, Henry Steele.”
The tall, burly older man who was first out of the clubhouse clears his throat beside us.
“Should I just pronounce you married here, make short work of it?”he asks.
“Can you?”I ask breathlessly and Blade looks very hopeful too, even as he says, “Come on, Judge, don’t joke around.”
Judge chuckles.“Well, the legalities of it will be questionable, since I’m no longer an acting judge.But she’s already dressed for a wedding, and you’ve already spoken your vows, so why not?It can’t hurt…”
The smile he offers me is very genuine.“Plus, I’m sure it’ll be enough for everyone in this MC.No one will send her away for something like this to happen again if I married you.”
“Let’s do it,” I say looking at Blade who’s already nodding.
Judge clears his throat.“Do you both choose each other to be partners for life in good times and bad times?”
“We absolutely do,” we answer practically at the same time.
“And do you choose to respect, trust each other, and love and support one another whatever may come?”
“Always,” Blade says, looking deep into my eyes, showing me the truth of his words.I can only nod.
“Do you say these vows willingly and honestly?”
“Yes, completely and totally,” I say in a voice that’s much firmer than I expected it to be.This time, it’s Blade who only nods.
“Then I hereby pronounce you husband and wife,” Judge says with a big grin on his face.“You may kiss the bride now, I guess.”
Everyone in the room claps and cheers as Blade does exactly that.
As ever, his kiss is like taking a drink of a healing nectar, filling me with warmth and peace and making me whole in ways I didn’t even know I was broken.The kiss lasts and last, forever, it feels like, but still not long enough.
They cheer some more when it’s over and I lean over to Blade and whisper in his ear.“Now, it’s time for you to take this dress off me.”
I want all the love I can get after the day we’ve had, in every way I can get it.His wide smile tells me we’re on the same page about that.But that’s no surprise.We’re always on the same page.Even when separated by years, by stupid ideas, by thick walls.Because our hearts are always one.
We don’t really need to speak promises of staying together forever to each other.Because it’s already a done deal.Always was.From our first day to our last.And from this day forward it will forever be our every day reality too.
He’s my ride or die and I’m his.Since the day I first said that to him, over a decade ago, we’ve proven that simple truth in so many different ways.And I’m gonna make sure we focus on just the riding part from now on.And no dying.Ever.
EPILOGUE
Three Months Later
Blade
