Page 58 of Loch

“You’re mine, Rea,” I said breaking our kiss and looking deep into her mesmerizing eyes. Eyes that I wanted to wake to every morning. “I’m takin’ you home.”

“Wait,” she said as she stood a little taller. “I want to clear everything. Right here. Right now.”

“Okay…” I gave her a questioning look.

“If you are with me, then you arewithme.” Her face hardened and I shook my head in confusion. “No more club girls. No more Tammy. I don’t care that you were just with her but it ends now.”

Even though she said she didn’t care, I could tell that she did. And could see that the thought that I’d been with Tammy made her sick. I wondered where she even got that idea. Then it dawned on me that it was more than likely put there by the evil cunt herself.

“I haven’t, baby.” I took a deep breath readying myself to open my soul to her. “Ever since I saw you, standin’ there holdin’ on to that damn laundry bag like a life raft and hidin’ behind your hair. There hasn’t even been the thought of wantin’ to be with someone else. You had every part of me that moment I looked into your eyes and saw how fuckin’ beautiful you are, inside and out.”

I brushed away the fresh tears that were flowing down her cheeks. I felt raw and vulnerable. I desperately hoped that my words wouldn’t make her run.

“And what about Brand?” I asked.

My eyes flicked over her to the spot he once stood. I couldn’t say I was surprised to find that he and Chris had made themselves scarce. Even if he didn’t say it out loud, I knew he had deep feelings for her. It was something that he and I were going to have to deal with later. Right then, my only concern was making sure Reagan was with me forever. I watched as she nervously chewed on the side of the cheek and I wondered how bad it could be. Maybe she did have feelings for him. And I was the only one to blame for it.

“I love you, Nate. He knows that and he would never let me do anything to forget that. He was there for me when you weren’t. But you must know that he was never trying to take your place.” I nodded as I took in her words. “He’s my friend, probably my best friend. And that’s all.”

Maybe his loyalty ran that deep. Or maybe he just was truly being a good friend. Whatever the reason, I was a little bit grateful. Don’t get me wrong, I was still hurt and pissed that it had even gotten to the point that it had. It was hard seeing them to bed together. Especially since all I had been wanting and needing was to have her in bed besideme.

“Let’s go home,” she whispered, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“I’ve fuckin’ missed you.” I kissed her deeply. “Hope you know that once we get there I’m not lettin’ you out of bed for like a week.” She giggled and all the tension and stress washed away.

“Does this mean I’m your old lady now?” Her sass was back and I let out a roar of laughter.

“Hell yeah, you are my old lady.” I kissed her again.

I put her on the back of my bike not caring that I was leaving her car and stuff behind. We would get it later. All I needed was her. Then and always.

Epilogue

Reagan

Three years later

It had been a rough three years. Things with the club had gone from bad to worse before everything went calm. Each day that went on the threat only seemed to get bigger. The lives lost would forever put a dark stain on all of us. The closer I got to the brothers, the harder it hit with each loss. There were strange twist and turns along the road. New faces and new friends were gathered along the journey. Some found happiness in the chaos while others lost everything. But through it all, they club never fell apart. If anything, it made them stronger. And when it was all over, we picked up the pieces together and moved on.

Nate stuck true to his word and spent every second he could making up for how he felt he’d let me down. And in turn, I stood by his side through everything.

The moments outside of the club were the best in some ways. Those were our moments and no one could take them away from us. After we finally broke and let each other in, things seemed to come easily for us. I moved in with him that day we confessed our love for each other and we vowed to always be open with everything. Well, everything we could, that was. I knew that I would never fully know what went on with the club. I understood that it was not my place to know or ask. But he did share with me everything he could. And he made me a promise that it wouldn’t always be the way that it was. He assured me that the club was going to get on the right side of things. They were slowly making their way to that goal.

“How are my girls?” Nate asked, walking over to me and placing a light kiss on my lips.

I still got butterflies in my stomach every time he walked into the room or said my name. He bent down and placed a kiss on the top of Madelyn’s head. Our little bundle of joy looked up at him and cooed. She was definitely a daddy’s girl, and at three months old she already had him wrapped around tiny her finger.

“Good,” I said as I rested my head on the back of the rocker and looked up at him. He smiled down at us, that smile that was unguarded and real.

“How about you and I go find some trouble to get into and let mommy sleep for a bit?” he said as he scooped Madelyn out of my arms. He held her close as he made silly faces down at her. I melted inside. I would never get over seeing him like that.

I knew that the club was like an extended family. But I really felt it the day Madelyn was born. They were all there. Most of them pacing the waiting room, from what I’d been told. Even Brand managed to make it there before she let out her first cries to the world. They all crowded into the room and filled up the hallway the moment we were cleaned up and as decent as could be. Each of them waited to give her their first hellos of affection. The love that surrounded us was amazing. I couldn’t believe after all this time, that I had a place that was home and a family that was too big to count. Even though there was a heavy sadness of those who weren’t there, I held the thought that they were looking down on us. That they got to see the beautiful life Nate and I had created.

Oh, and that tattoo I’d gotten. Well once Nate finally got to see it, he was almost in tears. I had a feeling it had little to do with how well the artwork was done. Although I must say, it was done beautifully. I decided the moment I got it that Brand would only ever be the one to do work on me. That was the first of many. Nate made sure I had a “property of patch” not even a month later. Yes, I let him mark me in just about every way. His ink was there on my skin for eternity. I couldn’t say I didn’t love it. After all, he would have my heart for just as long.

“I love you,” Nate said pulling me out of my blissful memories. I smiled up at him as my heart fluttered. I would never get enough of hearing him say that to me. He bent down to kiss me again, Madelyn making gurgling noises in between us.

“I love you, too. Forever.” I whispered back.

The End