Ruby bursts into tears as Nickel pulls on his new club cut with ease. He turns around to face Zero and me with pure honor shining back from him. “Thank you… you don’t know how much this means to me.”
I grip his shoulder as Zero dips his chin. “Yeah, brother… we do.”
“To Nickel!” Chains calls out, throwing his hands in the air again, letting out a loud cheer.
I can’t help but laugh. Chains rushes forward, barreling into Nickel, lifting him up like he’s a damn lightweight. Nickle backslaps Chains in a bromance-style embrace the second Chains puts him down.
Their relationship is unique.
They have been through a lot together.
Chills rushes forward, wrapping her arms around Nickel in a move like you would see from a sister.
Then the crowd parts, and Ruby walks toward him. Her eyes overflowing with tears running down her cheeks as Nickel finally catches sight of his woman.
It’s like the room disappears when they spot each other—we all see it.
She starts running, his arms fly open, and she lands in them as they embrace so tightly it warms even my once-dead heart. She kisses him, and I can’t help but glance over at Prinie.
I’ve never been a man to take in moments like this. They’ve never hit home before, but now I know what it feels like, what you would give to be with the person who completes you, and I have a newfound respect for Nickel and Ruby.
They’ve waited, bided their time to be together in the eyes of the club.
Now they can.
They pull apart, all of us watching with bated breath as Nickel gives some kind of signal to Chains. He rushes off to the two supporting beams just below the second level. Ruby’s bottom lip quivers as we all stand back waiting for Nickel to claim Ruby.
Hell, it’s been coming for a long-fucking-time.
Chills pulls out her cell and ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ by James Arthur starts playing through the clubhouse speakers.
Ruby starts doing that crying-laughing thing chicks do.
Nickel grabs Ruby’s hands in his. “Ruby, I’ve loved you since the first moment you brought me that stack of pancakes back in Chicago… you took my fucking breath away.”
She giggles with a sniffle. “Why do you think I winked at you? The attraction was always mutual.”
Nickel grips her hands tighter. “I love you, Ruby. You’ve known that for so long, but… I can’t claim you. Not yet.”
We all jerk our heads back as a collective gasp is heard.
Ruby’s face begins to pale.
Nickel drops to one knee pulling a ring box out of his pocket. The song sings about staying with you until we’re old and gray, and it all clicks into place. Another collective gasp resounds as Chains pulls on a cord. The room pops in small explosions, gold glitter falls from the roof as a banner drops in front of the beams.
On it in gold writing are two simple words, ‘Marry Me?’
Nickel opens the ring box showing Ruby the engagement ring. “Just say yes, Ruby.”
Ruby bursts into tears. “Yes. Of course, yes.”
Nickel jumps up as Ruby falls forward into his embrace.
I had no idea this was coming.
It must be why Chains and Chills took over everything to do with today’s events. Nickel must have known his patch was on the cards today.
They kiss passionately in front of everyone as we all circle around them, patting them on their backs.
Nickel detaches himself from his fiancée for a brief few seconds, just enough time to say, “Just to be clear, I am claiming her. I just had to get the proposal out of the way first. I was nervous as fucking shit.” He takes her hand.
Ruby slaps him on the chest. “You scared me for a second, you asshole.”
He leans in, kissing her again.
“Welcome to the family, officially,” Chills says. “We just need to hear your Old Lady name. What’s it gonna be, Nickel?”
“I gave Ruby a nickname a long time ago, but it was kept only between us. I used to tease her with it when we were… well, getting this thing off the ground. I called her a Siren ‘cause she lured me in, and every-fucking-thing she does kills me.”
Ruby beams from ear to ear. “Siren… mmm, I like it.”
“To Nickel and Siren,” I call out as everyone throws their hands in the air in celebration. “Now, someone clean this fucking mess up.”
Everyone laughs as we all move in to congratulate the happy couple.
WRAITH
Six Months Later
There’s an emptiness in the pit of my stomach as I pace back and forth in our bedroom. I moved Prinie into mine once we knew about her pregnancy. I need her with me all the time. My mouth is dry, my heart palpitates giving me a headache I really didn’t want today. I don’t know if I can handle the wait much longer.
“She said she would be half an hour. It’s been fifty damn minutes! Where the fuck is she?” I blare louder than I meant to.
Prinie struggles to lift herself from the bed as she waddles over. She grabs my shoulders either side forcing me to look at her. “She’s probably caught in traffic. Give the woman a break, Talon. Take a breath, you’re gonna stroke out.”
I clench my eyes tight as Prinie presses her forehead to mine.
“I need you both to be okay.” I try to stop thinking about what an undesirable result could mean for us today, but it’s becoming harder by the
