Page 56 of Gauntlet

“Yes!” I gasped in a strangled tone.

Gauntlet roared in triumph and swept me up into his arms. His mouth descended and claimed mine as cheers rang out behind us. When he ended it, I saw the entire clubhouse had emptied, brothers, old ladies, and kids.

Faelea came running over.

“Dad!” she shouted, and Gauntlet laughed as he caught her, lifted her above his head, and spun her around.

“Hey, pickle, let’s go celebrate,” Gauntlet said with a grin.

Faelea no sooner gained her feet than she was off, racing towards the clubhouse.

“I want Chinese food!” she yelled, and we chuckled.

“Looks like we’re ordering Chinese,” Drake called as he walked inside.

“Candidate, get here and collect the orders!” Ace shouted.

“It’s so nice not to be at their beck and call anymore.” Gauntlet smirked as we headed towards the clubhouse.

“Oh, I bet.” I giggled.

“Gonna fill you with Chinese food and then fuck you hard,” Gauntlet promised.

“Can’t we fuck first?” I asked.

Gauntlet stumbled and then grinned.

“Sure. Who the hell am I to deny my woman anything?”

“Exactly!” I agreed as Gauntlet rushed us inside.

Epilogue.

Drake

I put the phone down and grinned at Phoe. The news I’d been waiting for.

Phoe raised an eyebrow as she sprawled naked on the bed.

“Nando woke up,” I announced.

Phoe rolled her eyes.

“Trust him to wake up when it’s the early hours of the morning,” she teased, but I heard the relief in her voice.

“Seems to be a day of good news,” I said, and I climbed into bed and wrapped Phoe in my arms.

We’d learned today that Bobby Lucas received a promotion to detective. Phoe had immediately contacted Amberlea to throw a celebration this Friday. Amberlea and Gauntlet had announced they were pregnant. In addition, they were getting married this Sunday.

“Things are coming together,” Phoe mused.

“Yeah,” I agreed, although my mind flicked to Fury and the Venomous Fangs. They’d been quiet ever since we killed their snipers. I wondered what the asshole was planning next. I wasn’t stupid enough to believe that the war was over. No, Fury was only beginning. Ramirez and the Chief had also reached out to the FBI for help, but as of yet, there’d been shit from them.

“It’s days like this we need to hold on to, Drake. When the dark comes, these are the memories that will get us through,” Phoe said as she snuggled into me.

My hand slid down her waist and cupped her ass, hauling her in tight.

“We got some horrible days coming, woman,” I whispered.

“Then hold onto these good ones. We are gonna need them, babe. We’re going to grieve before this is over; we won’t be lucky to escape unscathed,” Phoe said.

My gut clenched. Phoe had just voiced my biggest fear. She was right; the odds were too high for us to come through without a single loss. But how the fuck did we prepare for death? It was impossible. Axel’s injury had nearly slayed me. To bury a brother scared the shit out of me, and I was man enough to admit it.

“Can’t bear the thought of that,” I whispered. Her arms tightened around me. This was how it should be. A guy should be able to admit his fears to his woman and have her comfort and reassure him. Just like he would her. I wasn’t less manly for admitting I was terrified. I felt stronger. Because sharing it with Phoe halved my burden. Same as she would me.

But whatever happened, I was Drake Michaelson, President of Rage MC, and I had people to protect. And come hell or high water, I’d do my job.