“I want you to see me before your pathetic life ends. Get a good look, Cass. This is me alive and well. I’m a survivor. Not even a wicked, vile man like you could destroy me.”
“I… I loved you,” Campbell hissed.
“You disgusting animal! Love?” She laughed, mockingly. “Save it. I hope you rot in hell, you deplorable waste of a human! See this man behind me.” She took my hand, wrapping it around her waist. Her body shook, not with fear, I suspected, but with rage. “He’s going to send you to the fires of hell.
“Whore,” Casso growled, eyeing Aspen. He spat at her, earning him a punch in the face from Ire.
Aspen stepped into me.
“I’m here,” I whispered.
“Remember when I talked about my first love? This is him. Not only was he my first, but he is my only love.” She anchored her arm around my neck and kissed me.
Casso went nuts, chains clinking against the concrete wall. He still had some fight in him. Good, it would make things more enjoyable for me.
She pulled back, caressing my cheek. “Thank you for giving me this.”
There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.
She faced the seething Campbell. “Meet Brutal Boxer, your worst enemy.” With those parting words, Aspen headed for the stairs. Head held high, back straight, she emitted confidence and strength—and closure.
I watched Lynx escort Aspen out of the dungeon, fucking proud of her. I admired her grit and determination. She was a survivor, and she was mine.
I took my switchblade out of my pocket. “Meet Ricky, my partner. This will be painful, you motherfucking piece of shit. It’ll be long.” I stepped toward him. “And you will beg for me to end your life. Don’t bother. I won’t hear you once my inner beast is released.”
I nodded to Ire and Hollywood to step back.
“It’s about to get messy, brothers.”
Epilogue
Aspen
We’d finally made it to Vegas. The last stop on our cross-country road trip before we drove to Dalles, Oregon, where Zach and I first started. While there, we’d take our time getting his parents’ home ready to sell. We were in no rush to return to Minnesota until our new home was built on the club’s property.
After Casso’s death, Zach received a large sum of money. He’d called it payment for taking out the trash. I didn’t question him any further, sensing it had to do with Casso. I learned months ago to not ask about club business. Honestly, I didn’t want to know the details.
When we set off on our grand adventure four months ago, we had no plan or timetable. Zach’s club gave us a little farewell party, then we hit the road, just me and my Z. We hit every state east of Minnesota, staying in one spot for as long as we liked until moving to another, eventually working our way to Las Vegas.
Zach and I were surrounded by his brothers, who’d formed a semi-circle in the famous Graceland Chapel as we said our vows. Ten hunky bikers were dressed in black jeans, a white shirt, and their Knight’s Legion MC cut. Lynx and Hollywood wore button-down shirts, while others had on plain white T-shirts.
My groom stole my breath away in a black vintage tuxedo with an ice-blue bowtie and cumberbund, the same color as his eyes. The moment I saw him standing at the altar, I hadn’t been able to take my eyes off him.
I was in awe that Zachary Harrisburg was mine. He’d claimed me in front of his club, but I didn’t get his mark on me until a couple of months after we left on our extended trip. My wrists needed to be fully healed before getting tattooed with the beautiful design Art drew for me. It was made up of wildflowers and dozens of Zs to form a bracelet around both of my scars. The idea had been Zach’s, and I adored it. Mixed in with the flowers was: Property of Boxer.
My guy had been on a mission to wipe Casso Campbell from my mind. I had to give him props. He succeeded. I hadn’t had any nightmares or vertigo since the day of Jill’s death. Sleeping with Zach’s arms around me, I felt protected and loved. He was all I’d ever needed.
I handed my bouquet to my matron of honor, Tina. She and my two bridesmaids were also dressed in ice-blue. Tina, Tara, and Maddy looked gorgeous. They were my closest friends in the club, along with Sugar, who couldn’t make it out to Vegas. Several couldn’t attend because people needed to stay behind to manage the club.
Track was on babysitting duty back home. His cousin Dodge was fit to be tied once he learned his baby boy had been born at the end of April. I didn’t know the full story about his situation. Zach had only told me his girlfriend and baby were kept from him. I couldn’t imagine his suffering or his girl, Emilee’s. Apparently, she wasn’t in danger. She was with her father. To me, it was cruel and heartless. What father kept his daughter away from the man she loved? The father of her child? I couldn’t help but think the worst. She was held against her will as I had been. A prisoner somewhere, praying for someone to rescue her. For her love to save her.
I was over the moon that Maddy and Storm could make it with their new baby. It meant a lot to Zach to have his best friend here. We’d done our best to delay our arrival, giving them time to adjust to parenthood. Six weeks ago, they’d welcomed into the world their baby girl, Melody Hope. Everyone called her Birdie because Storm was sure his biker princess would be a songbird like her momma.
I hadn’t had the pleasure of hearing Maddy sing until today when she belted out the Ariana Grande song, “Tattooed Heart.” She had me in tears as my dad walked me down the aisle. I couldn’t believe he’d made it. He was shocked when he saw Zach for the first time since we were teens, last night. I had to admit, my man could be intimidating.
“Do you have the rings,” the officiant asked Zach.
“Sure do.” Zach took them from Wolf, his best man, and handed mine over. He took my hand, eyes sparkling with emotion, placing my wedding band at the tip of my finger.