Page 95 of Damascus & The Wildfire
Me:
Wow! I don’t even know what to ask for.
Eva:
How about $500,000 for naming rights to the art studio? And I think I can get him to give another $250,000 to support the other classes you have planned.
Fuse and Coast led the monthly self-defense classes, Hatchet was putting together a workshop on basic auto maintenance, and Linc’s basic computer programming class already had a wait-list.
Me:
That would be great. Thank you for making it happen.
Eva:
Of course! Love you!
I stood, still staring at my phone. “I think Eva just landed us three-quarters of a million,” I told Merrick, my voice a little wobbly with disbelief.
He beamed. “Told you you’re unstoppable. Thane called too—said the Mavericks want to go all in on building the clinic you and Merci dreamed up.”
My brows jumped. “Really?”
It was Merci’s idea to recruit a team of doctors, nurses, and social workers to open an attached medical clinic and counseling center. But we’d nixed the idea when we realized how expensive it would be to stock the required supplies.
Merrick shrugged. “It’s a good investment. The Mavericks would probably use it the most.”
I scoffed. “Yeah, because you guys get hurt when you’re doing nefarious biker shit.” I ran my fingers over the newest scar on his forearm. “You still haven’t told me what you were doing when your arm was fileted open.”
Merrick smirked, covering my hand with his over the scar. “Club business.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Ow.” A litany of colorful swearing followed as Merrick bent over to pick up Waffles. “She bit my ankle.”
I patted the pup on the head. “Good girl. He deserved that, didn’t he?” I cooed.
“Get in the shower. I’ll be back with breakfast in a few.”
I laughed. “I thought you were making me breakfast.”
Merrick shook his head. “Wildfire, you know I can barely scramble an egg. I’ll go grab a few breakfast tacos so you can start out your day on the right foot.”
I kissed Merrick, a spark zinging between us as his hand stroked down my side. I popped a smooch on Waffle’s snout beforeleaning down to peck the top of Brisket’s brindle head. I watched as my husband strode out of the room, a wiggling Waffles in his arms. Brisket trotted behind him with a squeaky toy in his mouth.
The morning sunlight spilled across the room, catching on the framed photos scattered on the dresser. Some new, some old, but all of them proof that love, loyalty, and friendship could burn away the pain of loss.
If anyone had told me that the hole Alec left in my heart could ever be filled—not replaced, but filled and expanded, and by a biker, no less—I’d have laughed. But love found its way in, burning hot like a wildfire. And in the ruins left behind, new life bloomed. The Mavericks weren't just Merrick’s brothers-in-arms—they were my family, too.
I ran a hand through my tangled hair as my heart filled with happiness. I had a husband who saw every part of me—even the scars and shadows—and loved me all the more for them. I had friends who’d step between me and a racing bullet. And I had a purpose, a place to pour all the aching and hope and hard lessons into helping women stand up and reclaim their own power.
Life wasn’t what I’d planned.
It was better.
Even after all the heartbreak, I woke up surrounded by love.
And I’d never take it for granted.
