Logan

 

The time came to do what needed to be done. I could postpone it for as long as I wanted but at the end I knew I was going to do the right thing. I needed to make sure the club was in the right hands, that Selena had the life she deserved and everyone was happy.

 

Giving up the club was going to be hard, but I was tired of this life, tired of always being on edge. Since I’d met Selena I’d known I didn’t belong in this life anymore. I would always have my boys’ backs, and I knew they would always have mine, but at the end of the day I didn’t want to be a Thorn anymore. At heart I would always be a Fallen Thorn but it wasn’t ever going to be the same.

 

I knew it would be hard but I had dealt with change before. I was good at it. And unlike all the other disasters that had taken place in my life to force change, this time it was my own choice. There was something very liberating about that.

 

I stepped into the middle of the room and everyone fell silent. That kind of respect and loyalty was something I would always hold dear. I had no doubt that my men were the best kind, with honor and integrity.

 

“My friends. My family. Selena and I are engaged now and in light of that I am not going to carry on my duty as the leader of the club.”

 

A murmur rippled through the crowd and I smiled. They all knew we were serious but this was far-fetched even for me.

 

“I am going to step down as the leader of the Fallen Thorns, effective today.”

 

More murmuring. They weren’t happy but I knew they would understand, in light of what had happened earlier. Most of them had families; they all understood.

 

“It had been a great run and no one could have asked for a better group of men to watch their back. You will always be the people that I hold closest to my heart.” It was emotional for a biker but I needed to get it off my chest. “I will always be here for you as I know you will be for me. I’ll only be a phone call away.”

 

I felt emotional, a lump in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Emotional as it was, I wasn’t going to cry.

 

“We need to decide on a new leader.”

 

I looked around the group. It was going to be one of them and it had to be someone that they all wanted as their new leader. This one wasn’t up to me, but up to them.

 

“Saul!” someone in the back called out. Another one copied it, and after a moment they all joined in and started chanting his name. Saul, Saul, Saul.

 

I looked at him and laughed. “They’ve spoken, brother.”

 

He nodded and walked toward me, leaving Selena alone at the bar. She looked as emotional as I felt.

 

“Is this what you want?”

 

Saul thought about it in earnest for two seconds and then nodded. “It will be an absolute honor to take up the reins. Some big shoes to fill.”

 

I smiled. It was my father’s and Elijah’s but he was the man for the job. He could do what they had wanted for the place all along.

 

I turned back to the men. “All in favor of Saul as the new leader, say aye.”

 

“Aye!” They shouted as one man.

 

They started stamping their feet and it filled the room like a muted thunder, a biker’s applause. I gave him a hug, clapping him on the back. I walked back to Selena, letting him address the club as their new leader.

 

“You didn’t have to step down for me.”

 

I pulled her close to me. I understood that she wanted me to live my life and she had no idea how much that meant to me. “Thank you.”

 

I kissed her and smiled.

 

“Logan,” Saul called.

 

I looked at him. He beckoned to me. I untangled myself from Selena and walked up to Saul.

 

“The men want to do one last official duty.”

 

It was like a twenty-one-gun salute, something they wanted to do for me as a farewell. I looked at Selena.

 

“It would be great if you guys attend our wedding. Next weekend.”

 

Selena looked shocked.

 

“If that’s what she wants,” I added. I didn’t want to push her into anything.

 

When I walked back to her she shuffled from one foot to the other.

 

“Can we not make it so soon?” she looked unsure about asking. “I haven’t even told anyone in my family or friend circles yet. Hell, I still need to get used to the idea myself. Let’s just take a moment to catch a breath, okay?”

 

I nodded and kissed her on the head. “Anything you need, angel face. We’ll do it the way you want it.”

 

And I meant it. I wanted her to have what she needed and what she liked. I was anxious to be married to her, to start the next chapter in my life. I was the impulsive kind, though, and it was understandable that she didn’t have the same makeup as I did. We had all the time in the world because I wasn’t going anywhere. Leaving the Fallen Thorns as their leader would make sure of that. There was no danger of me dying now that I’d decided to step down. And Selena would be safe forever because I would never ever let anyone or anything harm a single hair on her head.

 

We had the rest of our lives to get to where we needed to be. We didn’t have to rush a single thing.