Kaci

 

Like most little girls, I daydreamed about what my perfect wedding would look like. I'd be dressed in white, it'd be in the little church mom dragged us to on Christmas, and all my family would be there. My bridesmaids would all be wearing light pink dresses, because I loved pink back then. The flowers would be everywhere, so thick and full in their bouquets that you'd think we were in an arboretum with how strongly the place smelled. The minister would perform our wedding, his voice perfect, his readings on point.

 

My man would be handsome, and tough, good with his hands, and a good kisser. Definitely a good kisser.

 

At least, I got the prediction on my beau right!

 

Together, Micah and I stood in our leathers on the balcony overlooking the barroom at Club Hades, the same landing where he and Grin had staged the coup six months before. Holding each other’s hands tightly, we stood in front of Grin, who was more proud than anyone to be officiating. Apparently, he'd handled all the weddings, and was a minister from some online church. But, hey, at least it was legal!

 

Behind me stood Sydney, still my best friend. Behind Micah stood Gov, who'd rejoined God’s Hellfire.

 

“Now, all y'all,” Grin called down to the crowd, “the bride and groom have written their own vows, and they'd like to say them to each other now. First, though, y'all got the rings?”

 

Kaci and Sydney both stepped forward and handed the rings to Grin. He looked down at them and whistled before holding them up for the crowd to see. “Rings are symbols,” he declared. “Symbols of love, of vows meant never to be broken. They're precious things, made from precious metals stronger than the bones of any man, as strong as the vows we make when we join God’s Hellfire.”

 

The crowd murmured its approval.

 

“May these rings serve as a physical symbol of their word, of their bond between each other,” he said, handing the rings to each of us.”

 

He nodded to me. “Kaci.”

 

I glanced at Grin, smiling.

 

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, threatening to spill from the corners and start ruining my mascara. I fumbled with the plain tungsten wedding band we'd gotten for Micah, but managed to slip it onto his finger.

 

I went to speak, but couldn't. There was just too much swirling around in my breast, and I had to search for my voice, for the words I'd written so many days before.

 

“Come on, girl!” shouted one of the bikers from down on the floor. “We got beer to drink!”

 

“Hey!” I yelled back, finding my voice pretty damn quick. “Give a lady a moment!”

 

The crowd burst into laughter and Micah grinned down at me, squeezing my hands in support.

 

I licked my lips as I looked back into his eyes. “Micah, you found me at my worst, at my lower point ever. You picked me up, you dusted me off, you made me whole again.”

 

My eyes began to water, began to swim as I watched his mist up.

 

“With this ring, I promise that,” I continued, “as you and I ride down this road we call life, I will never forsake you, will never abandon you, will never let you go. I will pick you up, I will dust you off, I will keep you whole.”

 

There, I'd said them. They were the truest words I've ever spoken. But, that's what love is, it's a kind of truth you carry in your breast. A kind of truth that can guide you to where you need to be, if you just let it. I'd been lost, acting wild and crazy. My love for this man had saved me.

 

And I knew in my heart of hearts that agreeing to marry Micah Marlow was the best, and smartest, decision I'd ever made.

 

I glanced to Grin, and nodded to let him know I'd finished.

 

“Micah? You ready, brother?”

 

# # #

Micah

 

I hadn't taken my eyes from Kaci since she walked into the bar, just like I hadn't been able to take my eyes from her since we met at the hotel.

 

I took the wedding ring and slipped it over her ring finger. Smiling, we glanced into each other's eyes as it slid down her slender finger and settled in place.

 

“Kaci, I'm a prick and everyone knows it,” I said, pausing for the hoots and hollers of agreement to die down a little bit. “My ego's so big I should probably have a wide-load sign when I ride down the highway.” More laughter from the crowd as I gripped her hands tighter. “But, since I met you, I realized something. For a woman so little, you sure know how to cut a big guy like me down to size.”

 

I watched as she blinked away tears.

 

“We've both lost a lot in our lives,” I said, my voice as even as I keep it. “But I know that your momma, your brother Rommy, my Grandpa Quentin, and even old Jaws Marlow are up there in Heaven-”

 

“Don't be so sure about where Jaws's cooling his heels!” cried a voice from the first floor, and the whole place erupted in cheers and laughter.

 

I turned back to the crowd, shouting, “Daddy's heels probably ain't cold, that's for damn sure!” The crowd roared as I turned back to Kaci. “Like I was saying, though. All our family's looking down, watching us, and hearing what we're saying. And I promise, as much to them as I do to you, you'll be my one and only ‘til the end of time. I'll be by your side as you look out at the sunset, and I'll be your companion as we ride through life. I love you, Kaci Sizemore. You're my ol' lady.”

 

The crowd cheered as I finished up my vows.

 

“Settle down!” Grin yelled down at the crowd. “We're almost done here, then we can get to the beer and brown liquor!”

 

More cheers of agreement, that soon quieted themselves.

 

“Love's a goddamned beautiful thing!” Grin exclaimed. “And, by the power vested in me by the God’s Hellfire MC and the State of Louisiana, I pronounce y'all biker and wife! Now kiss that bride!”

 

The whole bar erupted in cheers and roars of approval as I pulled Kaci into my arms and kissed her. We pulled back, both grinning up into each other’s misty eyes.

 

“Folks!” Grin called from beside us, his voice barely rising above the thunderous roar of the assembled guests. “May I present to you . . . Mr. and Mrs. Micah Marlow!”

 

Needless to say, things kinda devolved from there. Bikers love a good wedding. And the best biker weddings are the ones where the owner of your favorite bar's the one getting hitched. The party kept rocking late into the night.

 

As we mingled with the crowd down below, and Gov, Sydney, Kaci, and I did a round of shots to celebrate, we got a real surprise. And the best wedding gift ever.

 

“Congratulations, guys,” said a familiar voice.

 

We all turned around from our spot at the bar.

 

“Well, well, well,” I said, grinning as I looked the out of place visitor up and down. “Agent Avery Brumfield. Just slumming, or are you here on business?”

 

“Little of column A,” she said, smirking, “little more column B. Got good news, and I figured you'd like it in person. Petrov Arms is finished, and Efraim's going down with it. Just got confirmation that, after he's charged here, they're sending him to the International Criminal Court. He's going down for War Crimes, guys, and we got you four to thank.”

 

Gov cheered and clapped his hands. It was the most excited I'd seen him in months. “Well, this calls for an even bigger celebration!” He reached behind him and grabbed the bottle and an extra shot glass. He poured another round, including one for our favorite FBI agent.

 

“To never having to fucking work with you again, Agent Brumfield,” I said as I held the shot up in toast.

 

“Here, here,” she agreed, with a wink.

 

Together, the five of us downed our shots and tried to put the past that much further behind us.