Page 106 of Freeing Souls

“And everything needs to be in writing,” Grayson tacks on. “Not that we don’t trust you guys, but it helps keep everything clear so nothing becomes a problem down the road.”

“No, we agree.” Colton nods at Grayson with a smile. “Anything else?”

“Yes,” I say, locking eyes with Colton. “We want it to be named Sons of Rage MC, brother club to the Sons of Silence MC.”

Epilogue Two

Harley

FOUR YEARS LATER

Standing in front of the full length mirror leaning against the wall in the corner of our bedroom, I adjust the lingerie Raven helped me pick out weeks ago. It leaves nothing to the imagination, a simple red lace bodysuit.

I’ve come to appreciate my body for all it is; every scar defines who I am as a person now. I’ve come to accept I will never be okay with what happened to me, but I can enjoy the person I have become because of it.

The scar on my face will always be there on display for the entire world to see, but most days, I don’t even really see it. It’s just a piece of me. The scars covering my back are still there, butare now covered by a large tattoo Cade has worked on over the years.

It’s a rose on a thorny stem that runs up my spine and is lit on fire. The fire spreads over the backs of my shoulders, covering most of the scars. He mixed in smoke and different lines that twist around the stem. It’s perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for something better.

Once we decided to take over the new club in Virginia, Cade didn’t want to also pursue becoming an artist while helping with the gym and the club. It took a while, but I eventually convinced him he should do it. He is talented and, selfishly, I wanted him to cover up the brand on my chest.

He started working for the guy who did Axe and Stone’s tattoos. He used to be a biker in North Carolina, but he moved out to Virginia with his family, wife and two kids and opened up his own shop here. Cade now works with him a few days a week around club work. I was his first ever tattoo job years ago. With help, he covered up my brand, and I knew pushing him to do this was the best idea. He was so fucking happy the whole time.

Stepping inside the tattoo shop, I immediately spot Cade bent over a desk with Chains, the biker who runs the shop. The walls are covered in artwork, but centered on the back wall is a large painting of Chains, a beautiful woman, and two little boys all standing around a motorcycle and laughing.

“That’s my family,” a guy says, and I glance back over at Cade, who now stares at me alongside Chains. “You must be Harley.” He grins at me, his face covered in a dark beard, his long hair tied back in a ponytail. His arms and neck are covered in tattoos, and when he stands to his full height and makes his way over to me, I have to crane my neck to meet his bright green eyes.

“That’s me. Chains?” I ask, taking the hand he holds out, shaking it.

“Yep. Cade said you wanted something covered up?” He cocks a brow at me, and I glance at Cade, who shakes his head. So he didn’t tell Chains everything.

Taking a deep breath I remind myself this is a step forward and nod. “I do. Um– some really fucked up things have happened, and I want a brand on my chest covered up. But I want Cade to do it. I know he is nervous but–” I trail off and glance at Cade who rubs the back of his neck.

“I don’t have the experience and I am worried about hurting her,” he says gruffly.

“Well, I will be with you through the whole thing, and I have seen you practice and be willing to learn. You have this, kid.”

Chains leads us back to another private room where I take off my shirt and bra causing Cade to huff. Chains laughs, “It’s my job, Cade. I promise I’m not looking in any other way.”

Sitting on the long table in here I notice Chains take in the brand on my chest with a blank expression. “I’m not going to bullshit you with pity, but being a nomad who doesn’t stick to one place as a biker, I have heard the stories about what the Sons of Silence club went through, and if I am assuming correctly that you are Rage’s kid, you are one hell of a strong woman.” He glances at Cade not even giving me a chance to respond, “Let’s do this. I will be here with you but you aren’t going to hurt her because you know what you are doing.”

“I drew up what you wanted with Chains help.” Cade tells me as he flips around the transfer and shows me. I gasp as tears fill my eyes and nod at him.

“It’s perfect.” I murmur. My first tattoo, his first tattoo, and covering up my brand.

Chains stays with us as Cade gets to work, and I take the pain in stride, knowing this pain is good. It’s life changing pain. It’s a huge step forward for me, and knowing one of the men who loves me is the one putting it on me makes this all perfect.

Watching Cade work, I take in the small smile on his lips as he focuses. His face is its most expressive when he is creating. When he is putting his mind to it. It’s like when I get to box, I get to clear my head of all my demons. Cade may like fighting, but art is his true calling and I hope we, his real family, can continue to show him how being an artist is what he was meant to do and it doesn’t make him weak.

As I remember that day, I run my fingers over the design above my left breast. It’s piano keys with a Harley Davidson riding across them, lit on fire.

“Hey, are you ready?” Brielle asks as she pops her head in through the door. I nod, and she comes in along with Presley, Raven, Carly, and Oakley. They all grin at my lingerie, and Raven shoots me a wink. I walk over to my closet and pull out the large bag housing my wedding dress.

The girls all help me into it. I want something special for today, but I also wanted to be able to show off my tattoos so it’s a lace top dipping down between my breasts, showing off my chest tattoo, with see-through lace sleeves and a back low enough to see my spine tattoo. The lace is all red, and then it changes to a white bottom that flares out, along with a slit reaching my mid-thigh. Some of the lace runs down into the white part of the dress making it almost look like vines.

My hair is up in braids that cross behind my head so you are able to see my tattoo and instead of a veil, I chose a rose and greenery crown Carly places on my head.

We kept my makeup light. Since I am not someone who usually wears it, I didn’t want to feel like a different person on my wedding day.

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