Ricky
It’s been a long day without any sightings of the Devils Bastards. Not a single fucking one. It’s late when we arrive back at the cabin and it’s lit bright against the darkness. Kyla likes the quiet, the brothers not giving a shit about how loud they are will be pissing her off.
Slade is on his laptop up the kitchen table and squeezes his eyes closed in frustration.
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask, looking around for Kyla.
“It’s like Melissa has disappeared, I can’t track her down. She cleaned out her accounts the same day Cas let her go, she’s been paying in cash and it’s leaving me no path to follow.”
“Concentrate on his blood brothers,” Cas orders, following us in, “How did you and Pope get on today?”
“Nothing. You?”
“We took out six of them.”
Six is better than nothing. Six less scumbags in the world.
Alannah walks in and goes straight into Cas’s arms. Kyla is still nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Ky?” I ask Alannah.
“She’s out the back.”
I don’t hang around and slip out the back door. She’s sat under a blanket on an old chair, looking up at the stars. After getting her message earlier, I didn’t dread coming back to her. The future is what we need to focus on.
“Hey, what are you doing out here? It’s getting cold.”
A lazy smile covers her face and it reminds me how much I need her in my life, smiling because I’m the guy who she’s happy to see.
“I was waiting for you and it’s too loud in there.”
I pull her up and take her place, dragging her back down with me and arrange her so we’re both under the blanket and comfortable.
“You’ve been gone all day,” she murmurs, leaning her head on my shoulder.
“We would’ve been back a while ago but I stopped by the house to pick something up.”
My heart pounds in my chest, I’m not nervous but this is the biggest and most important question I’m going to ask throughout my life and I don’t take it lightly. I dig the ring out of my pocket and keep it hidden in my fist.
“Hey,” I whisper, jerking my shoulder for her to sit up.
Her hair falls from behind her ear and I sweep it away from her eyes.
“I know you don’t believe me sometimes because of the club, but you are the most important person in my life. Everything I do is for us, you deserve to have the world but I’m hoping you’ll settle for a life here with me. I love you so fucking much, and I promise you now I will never leave you, I’ll always keep you safe and never make you cry. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes widen and her hands grip onto my arm. She goes to say something but nothing comes out. This is the first time I’ve seen her speechless.
“Babe,” I coax her, “I’d like an answer,” I say, opening my hand to show her the ring lying on my palm.
“Forever?” she chokes out.
“If I could have longer than forever with you, I would. Come on, yes or no?”
“Yes,” she grins, adding, “and not because I’m settling.”
Wrapping my free hand around the back of her neck, I pull her back in and claim her mouth. Just like I’m claiming everything from her. Every thought she has, every time she takes a breath, every time she tells me she loves me, I own them all. Breaking the kiss, I slide my ring on her finger and soak in the euphoria I wasn’t expecting to feel so strongly.
Her smile grows as she inspects the diamond.
“How long have you had this?” she asks.
“A while. I’ve known for months I want to marry you, it was only a matter of time and I wanted to be prepared.”
She nods and tells me, “I had a chat with Alannah today. It scares me when I think about losing you, but she made a few things clearer for me. So, if you let anything happen to you, I will hold you personally responsible and I will make your life hell at home.”
“I love it when you’re romantic,” I chuckle, “but, it’s good to know you won’t be giving me anymore grief.”
I lose her attention as she gazes at the new addition on her hand.
“Does my dad know?”
“Yes, and he gave us his blessing.”
I went behind his back when I started seeing Kyla, I couldn’t do it again to him. Pope likes the old traditions, he's the one guy I wouldn't take that away from.
“As much as I want it to be the two of us right now, I need to tell my mom.”
No matter what is going on with the club, me and Kyla are tight. I imagine we’ll fight along the way but I know it won’t destroy us, and I’m already looking forward to the making up. I stand us both up and take hold of her hand.
Before we get to the door, I stop and pull her flush against me. I need one more moment with her alone.
“I want to marry you as soon as possible, start planning it tomorrow, yeah?”
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Believe it.”
With a quick kiss, I keep a hold of her hand and open the door. I want the world to know about us, but for tonight, I’ll settle for announcing it to the club. Most of the brothers are crammed into the kitchen and I let out an ear-piercing whistle to get their attention.
In the corner of my eye, I see Pope grab Sally and sling his arm around her. That’s what I want, to still have Kyla under my arm in years to come. To share a history with her, the good, the bad and all in between.
“I asked Ky to marry me and she said yes,” I boast proudly, lifting her hand to show her ring off.
The place erupts with cheers and I keep Ky close at my side while everyone congratulates us.
Pope and Sally are last and Sal hugs me while Pope talks with Kyla.
“Congratulations, Ricky,” she beams.
I’ve always liked Kyla’s mom, she reminds me of my mother.
“There was a time not too long ago I didn’t see a future for her, and now she has years in front of her and you’ve been a huge part of her recovery. I’ll be honoured to call you my son-in-law.”
She squeezes my arm and moves on to Kyla. Could life get any better? No, it couldn’t.
I don’t let her out of my sight for the rest of the night and she, like a magnet being pulled towards me, stays close. Every time I hold her hand and feel the ring on her fourth finger, I burst with pride. I saved for four months when I first saw the ring in the store window, it was perfect for her and it’s worth every single penny.
I catch her yawning and take advantage. We say goodnight and I take her up to our room. It doesn’t take me long to undress and climb into bed. She goes off to the bathroom and returns five minutes later.
“I can’t wait to go home, I hate having to share the bathroom with everyone,” she moans, climbing in beside me.
She lays on her side, facing me, and her smile blows me away even in the darkness.
“Are you happy, babe?” I ask.
“I couldn’t be happier if I tried,” she chuckles, “You?”
“I’m happy, I’ll be happier when you’re walking up the aisle.”
“When do you see that happening?”
I don’t need to think about it, I’ve been planning this all day in my head.
“It won’t be possible before Danny’s been caught and he’s out of the picture. We’ll start our marriage with no threats hanging over us.”
“Are you sure you want to marry me after everything I’ve been through?”
Is she for fucking real?
Is she deliberately trying to piss me off?
“What are you talking about? I wouldn’t have asked you if I wasn’t.”
“I want to make sure you are, I don’t want you to ever regret asking me.”
I lean up on my elbow and use my other hand to stroke her cheek. Most of the time she is strong like her father, but sometimes, and out of the blue, she has these insecure moments and I’m the only one who can build her back up.
“If you choose to never believe me again, believe this, there will never be a time where I regret asking you to be my wife. Whatever voices you’ve got bringing you down, shut them up. Listen to me, you know I don’t lie to you.”
I lean down and kiss her before she can ask more bullshit questions. She knows me, she knows I wouldn’t ask such a question if I wasn’t one hundred per cent sure I wanted to hear the right answer.
“I love you, Ky, never doubt how much,” I urge and press my lips to hers again.