Page 91 of Wild Ride

“You’re free,” I whisper.

“I understand how you feel with Bishop, I think. The weight of Willamette Haven has been lifted off me. The weight of what happened to me is gone. Sure, it will always be there because it’s part of who I am, but the anger is gone. I’m free.”

Tears swim in my own eyes before they slide down my cheeks. “I was a bitch. I’m sorry. I get it now. I’m ready to live my life. Not just survive it. I want to live it. And I understand it.”

A life worthy of living.

That is something truly special, and as the group of Vicious Reapers men walk out of the building, I watch as it bursts into flames. It’s done. It’s gone. It’s over. At least their reign is over. What comes next is still up in the air, but with the fact that the Willamette Haven is now literally in flames, I, too, feel an ease that I wasn’t expecting.

Then my eyes meet Bishop’s, and instead of staying in the car, I fling the door open and run toward him before jumping into his arms. He catches me, holding on to my ass as I wrap my legs around his waist.

My lips slam against his, and I kiss him—hard. It’s my turn to own him. He keeps walking us forward. Shifting my head back slightly, I look into his eyes. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“Fuckin’ love you, baby. Would kill every day for the rest of my life to keep you safe.”

My mouth should not be smiling at those words, but it is. “You saved me. I didn’t know I needed saving, but you saved me anyway,” I say.

He shakes his head once. “Not in the goddamn slightest, Dakota. You fuckin’ saved every fiber of my goddamn being. It’s you, baby. Just you. And it’s always been you, even though I didn’t fuckin know you existed. It’s been you. Now, let’s live the rest of our fucking lives together.”

“In extreme happiness,” I finish his words.

“Yeah, in that,” he grunts with a grin.

With that, he sets me on my feet, I climb onto the back of his bike, and together, we ride into the future.

The uncertain, unknown, wild future.

I can’t wait.

EPILOGUE

DAKOTA

ONE YEAR LATER

The white dress is probably overkill. I’m definitely no virgin. Not even a little. Briana smiles at me from across the room, a baby in her arms.Mybaby. He has a mass of dark curls on top of his head, gorgeous green eyes, and the biggest drooly smile of any baby in the whole world. He’s perfect. And he’s mine.

“Someone is happy to see Mama,” Briana announces as she moves toward me. “Gosh, you look absolutely stunning,” she whispers.

I don’t turn back around to look at my reflection in the mirror. I don’t need to. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I look stunning, but I feel beautiful. I wasn’t sure if I would want to even put on this dress after having a baby only four months ago, but I feel really good about my new body. It’s curvier and softer, but I feel good about myself.

“Thanks. Has he been good?” I ask.

“An angel as always,” she murmurs.

Briana moved out to Thunder Rock six months ago. She said that after everything that happened at Willamette Haven and the way she felt when it was destroyed, she needed a change in her life, and she needed to be with her family. So she came here to be with me, with us, and now she’s part of the Vicious Reapers’ inner circle.

“Are you ready?”

I press my lips together and roll them a few times. I’m ready as far as hair and makeup, my dress, and all my superstitious traditions go. But the wedding itself, for it to actually happen, to marry this man I love?

“Hell yes, I’m ready,” I state.

She laughs softly, and that’s when Lainey pops her head into the room. I have a maid of honor and one bridesmaid for my big day. Briana and Lainey, my family. I did take the side job that Lainey offered me, and I’ve been able to keep up with both my virtual assistant job and my newer cake decorating gig. It’s been a blast, and I’ve loved every second of it and loved every second of getting to know Lainey, too.

“It’s time,” she squeals.

Briana grins. “Then let me pass off this beautiful baby boy to his mom so two hot bikers can walk me down the aisle,” she says.

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