God help me, I grinned. So did everybody else, even Stryker, the first time I'd seen him smile since we almost skinned him alive.
“Anybody else?” Blackjack asked, slowly scanning over the ranks of brothers.
Nobody said a word. The shitstorm threatening to blow the club to pieces hadn't let up for a second since I'd walked outta the pen.
Now, at last, the end was in sight. Every brother here might actually get a chance to ride off into the sunset, and I'd keep the peace for the club as a married man, happier than every other day I'd ever been alive and breathing on this planet.
XV: 'Til the End of Time (Sally)
Shit. I didn't dare breathe a word of panic. Only in my own head, and I really wished I'd practiced walking in these high white heels a little longer.
It was going to be embarrassing as hell if I tipped over and landed on my butt in front of all the guys and the grinning old ladies, my whole extended family. Then I stopped in my tracks.
Seriously, if this was the only problem today, we'd come a long way. Walking in my wedding shoes was a universe away from worrying about bullets flying.
Pick yourself up, I thought. Keep walking. Smile like you mean it. The sun's shining on you today, girl, and you've already walked through hell on hot coals to get here.
I smiled as I sashayed down the narrow aisle in the clubhouse. And I actually meant it too. By the time I got to the makeshift altar where they were waiting, I was positively beaming, and my face burned a few degrees hotter when I finally looked up.
Blackjack looked neater than ever. He locked eyes with me, smiled, and nodded, adding a few more wrinkles to his tough old face.
When I took a good, long look at the man I was about to marry for the first time, my heart stopped.
Remember to breathe. Remember to beat, heart.
Yeah, I really needed to remind myself. I had to remember how to live through the biggest day of my entire life without going into a coma.
The clubhouse fell silent as Blackjack waited for the last of the chatter to die down. A thin, wiry brother I didn't recognize from some other charter stood behind him – probably the man who'd observe and make it official for the state of California.
I barely noticed anything else because my eyes were glued to Roman. I'd never seen him in an honest-to-God suit before. Wet didn't begin to describe how my body responded.
I burned. I ached. I pressed my thighs together uncomfortably, holding back tears at the crazy lengths he'd gone to go traditional.
It wasn't exact, of course. He still had his club jacket on over it, and a small Grizzlies MC pin fixed to his lapel. But seeing him outside his cut and jeans made this all real, reminded me I was really about to take this man as my husband, 'til death do us part.
“Ladies, brothers, friends,” Blackjack began. “I could say a lot of things about these two. I could prattle on about how they were meant to be, fated to have a life, a love, and a child together by some wild magic sent from Valhalla. But this club's always had more eloquent ways to celebrate two of our own tying the knot, and so do I.”
A couple men snickered in the audience. “Roman, today you become a man. You become whole. You've proved yourself to this club over and over again, and nobody will ever doubt you. I know you'll do the same with this woman.”
I watched Roman's eyes lock tight to Blackjack's as the Prez spoke louder. “Defend her. Love her. Own her. This day, you take your old lady in the last way, the best way, the deepest way. You take her as your wife. Last chance to back out, son.”
“No fucking way,” Roman growled, grabbing my hand. “I want this forever. I do.”
I smiled. A thousand degrees of heat raged through me, especially when Blackjack's dark, serious eyes turned on me.
“Sally, I don't need to talk about your duties. You already know you're obliged to help our brother, love him, no matter what may come. In blood, in sweat, in death, he's your husband. Your old man. In life, he's the best damned friend and lover you'll ever have.”
I lost it there, reached up to wipe one eye. I looked between Blackjack and Roman. Each time the President spoke his stern words, Roman nodded sharply, all incredible promises flashing in his eyes.
“Squeeze his hand tighter. Take a moment to feel him. Remember, lady, this thing's going to be forever. You're already bound by blood, the first child of many you'll have. Are you ready to be bound by law and brotherhood too?”
“Yes,” I croaked, taking a second to stabilize my voice. “Of course I am. He's the only one I'll ever want. I love you, Roman. I do.”
The old man nodded, his gray hair tied back neatly. We knew what was coming next.
I watched as Roman reached into the little box Brass held out next to him, already open. He plucked out the ring. I didn't realize how crazy big and bright it was until he pushed it on my finger.