“Are you really?” Danny pushed.
“Yes. Really.” Delilah lifted her head and looked over to her brother. “I’ll admit this whole thing with Dad has messed with my head, just as much as it’s messed with yours, but he was never really a father to either of us. He was more like a wound that wouldn’t heal, but now that he’s gone, maybe we can finally put him behind us and move on.”
“Maybe so, but I’m still pissed about it all. I really hate him for all the shit he’s done.”
“You have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t let him tarnish that.” Delilah tried her best to smile. “Besides, you know what they say, ‘The best revenge is a well-lived life.’”
“I can’t disagree with you there.” Danny glanced at me and said, “Since you brought it up, Hawk and I have been talking about my future. The brothers have offered me a chance to prospect for them, and I’m thinking I’m gonna take them up on it.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously. It’s been good spending these past couple of weeks with them. I get the whole draw to the club life, and I really think it would give me some direction.”
“I think that sounds great, Danny. I’m really happy for you.”
“Me too.” Danny reached over and gave her a hug. “I’m gonna get out of here and let you nurse that hangover. If you need me, just give me a shout.”
“I will.” As he started for the door, Delilah told him, “I love ya, Danny.”
“Love you too.”
Once he was gone, I made Delilah some breakfast, hoping it would settle her stomach, and it seemed to do the trick. By the time she was done eating, her color was back, and she was actually moving about without groaning. In hopes of shaking the remains of her hangover, she decided to take a shower. When she came out, I was waiting for her in the bedroom. “Feeling better?”
“Much.”
“I wanted to ask you ... Do you remember our conversation on the way home last night?”
“I think so.” She took the towel off her head and shook out her damp hair. “You mean the one about the girls at the club?”
“Yeah, that’d be the one.”
“Well, I was pretty tipsy at the time, so don’t hold it against me.”
“I’ve always been a firm believer that alcohol has a way of making the truth come out.” Her eyes met mine as I continued, “I meant it when I said you’re the only woman I want, Delilah. Now and forever.”
She walked over to me, positioning herself between my legs as she placed her hands on my face. “And you’re the only man I want.”
When she leaned in to kiss me, I pulled her onto the bed with me, and I spent the rest of the morning showing her just how much I wanted her, and I intended to continue showing her until the day I took my last breath.
Epilogue
Three months later
It couldn’t have been a more perfect day for a ride. The sun was shining bright, there was a cool breeze, and not a cloud in the sky. I had my brothers at my side and my woman at my back, and the roar of our engines was like music to my ears. We’d just started around the first of three hundred and eighteen curves of the Dragon’s Tail when Delilah tightened her grip around my waist. She’d never admit it, but I knew she was feeling a little leery. I couldn’t blame her. While I’d been down the road many times in my life, it was a first for Delilah. She was doing her best to hold her own, but it was a dangerous roadway, especially for a novice rider like her. I tilted my head back as I asked her, “You doing okay?”
“Yep, I’m great.”
I nodded, then eased back on the throttle and leaned into the next big curve.
I would’ve waited until she had a little more experience riding before I took her on a ride like this, but she insisted, assuring me that she could handle it. She glanced behind us and said, “They go on for miles.”
I nodded as I glanced over to my sideview mirror, noting not only all the Ruthless Sinners, but the line of Dark Ravens as well. There was no denying, that together, we made one hell of a group. We’d made it halfway up the eleven-mile run when Big Ben, the president of the Dark Ravens pulled up next to Viper and gave him the nod, letting him know it was time. We all slowed, giving him a chance to prepare. Once he’d gotten the urn out of his saddlebag, he made his way to the back of the group. As soon as Big Ben was in position at the rear, he removed the top of the urn and held it in the air. We were all moved by the sight of McClanahan’s ashes scattering in the wind. Knowing how much he enjoyed riding this particular trail, we couldn’t think of a better way for him to spend eternity.