And at the end of it all, Tank waits at the altar, his brothers at his side. Their cuts are pristine, hair slicked back, boots polished to a high shine. The sight steals the breath from my lungs.
Sophie's hand tightens on my arm as we begin our march, the steady beat of the music guiding our steps. The guests turn, smiles blooming on roughened faces. I spot familiar flash in the sea of leather. Zig and Ryder, their expressions soft with pride. Axe and Hawk, shoulders squared like sentinels. Mac, his scars a roadmap of survival.
My gaze locks with Dagger's, and the rest of the world fades away.
The music swells as Sophie takes her place beside her man, their hands entwined. And as the vows begin, I let the tears fall freely.
Tears of gratitude. Of hope. Of a love that's clawed its way through blood and bullets to something beautiful.
In this gritty slice of heaven, a place of chrome and leather and fierce loyalty, we've all been reborn. Forged in the fires of our pasts, tempered by the unbreakable bonds of our present.
And as Sophie and Tank seal their forever with a kiss, I whisper a silent promise to the sky above.
We'll ride this wild road together, come what may. A family. A club.
An iron-clad love that will never yield.
The roar of the crowd erupts around us, a cacophony of cheers and revving engines. Sophie and Tank break apart, their faces full of happiness.
I catch Sophie's eye as she turns, her smile brighter than the goddamn sun. She mouths a silent "thank you," and I nod, my heart too full for words.
Tank sweeps her into his arms, spinning her around like she weighs nothing. She laughs, the sound pure and unbridled, and I feel a weight lift from my chest.
We've come so far, fought tooth and nail for this slice of happiness. The road behind us is littered with the wreckage of our pasts, but the path ahead stretches out like an open highway.
As the newlyweds make their way back down the aisle, I fall into step beside them. The other club members close ranks, a protective wall of leather and muscle.
We move as one, a pack, a family. Bound not by blood, but by something far stronger. Loyalty. Sacrifice. Love.
Perdition's doors slam open, and we spill inside, laughter and shouts echoing off the walls. Drinks are shoved into hands, hugs and backslaps exchanged.
I find myself pulled into the fray, passed from brother to brother like a cherished treasure. Their touch grounds me, reminds me that I belong.
And as I watch Sophie and Tank, lost in each other's eyes as they sway to the music, I feel a flicker of something deep in my chest.
Hope. Belief. The knowledge that even in the darkest of nights, love can light the way home.
I raise my glass, the amber liquid catching the light. A toast, to the future we've fought for. The love we've found.
To the unbreakable bonds of the Iron Reapers.
My family. My home.
Forever.
As the night progresses, I find a quiet moment with Sophie. We slip away from the revelry, our hands intertwined as we navigate the hallways of Perdition. The muffled sounds of music and laughter fade behind us, replaced by the gentle creaking of old floorboards beneath our feet.
We step into a small room, a makeshift sanctuary amidst the chaos. Sophie turns to me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Chloe..." she whispers, her voice trembling. "I wouldn't be here without you."
I pull her into a tight embrace, my own vision blurring. "We saved each other, Soph. You're the sister I never had."
She clings to me, her small frame shaking with emotion. "I'm so fucking grateful for you, for this family. I never thought I'd find a place where I belonged, where I could be myself."
I stroke her hair, understanding the depth of her words. We've both been through hell, battled our demons, and emerged stronger. The bond we share is unbreakable, forged in the fires of our shared trauma and the love we've found in this unlikely place.
"You're stuck with me now," I tease, lightening the mood. "We're gonna grow old together, raise hell, and watch our kids wreak havoc on the world."
Sophie laughs, a watery smile brightening her face. "I can't wait."