EPILOGUE
Aggie
My eyes widen as I take in the luxurious surroundings of the restaurant.
Crystal chandeliers cast a soft, romantic glow over white tablecloths and gleaming silverware.
The gentle notes of a live piano float through the air, mingling with the low murmur of conversation and the clink of wine glasses.
"Wow," I breathe, unable to keep the awe from my voice. "This is... fancy."
Jolt grins at me from across the table, his deep green eyes twinkling with amusement. "What, you don't think I can clean up nice, Ghost?"
I laugh, taking in his crisp black shirt and the way his dark hair is artfully tousled.
It's a far cry from his cut and grease-stained t-shirts. "I didn't say that. Just... this isn't exactly our usual hangout, is it?"
He reaches across the table to take my hand, his thumb tracing circles on my skin.
The touch sends a shiver down my spine. "It's Valentine's Day. Thought I'd make it special."
I feel a warmth bloom in my chest at his words.
It's moments like these that remind me why I fell for him in the first place.
Behind that carefree exterior and wicked sense of humor, Jolt has a heart of gold.
"Well, ye have certainly succeeded," I say, squeezing his hand. "Though I hope ye know I'd be just as happy with pizza and beer at the clubhouse."
Jolt's eyes darken slightly, and he leans in closer. "Oh, I know. But I wanted to spoil you a bit. Show you off." His voice drops to a husky whisper. "Let everyone see how damn lucky I am."
I feel heat rush to my cheeks, and I'm grateful for the dim lighting.
Even after all this time, Jolt still has the ability to make me blush like a schoolgirl.
I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure. "Well, aren't ye the charmer tonight?"
He winks at me. "Always, Ghost."
The waiter arrives then, presenting us with menus bound in rich leather.
As I scan the options, my eyes widen at the prices.
I've never been anywhere this posh before, not even back in Montana
A part of me feels out of place, like at any moment someone's going to realize I don't belong here and kick me out.
Jolt must sense my unease because he reaches across the table again, this time to brush a strand of hair behind my ear.
"Hey," he says softly. "You okay?"
I nod, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just... this is all a bit overwhelming."
He studies me for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "We can go somewhere else if you want. I just thought..."
"No," I interrupt, feeling a pang of guilt.
Here he is, trying to do something nice for me, and I'm acting like a scared little girl.
I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. "No, it's perfect. I'm just not used to all this. But I want to be here, with you."
The tension in Jolt's face eases, replaced by a soft smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "Good. Because there's nowhere else I'd rather be."
As we continue to scan the menu, I can't help but realize how far we’ve come.
If someone had told me a few months ago that I'd be sitting in a fancy restaurant on Valentine's Day with a member of the Reapers Rejects MC, I'd have laughed in their face.
But here we are.
"So," Jolt says, breaking into my thoughts. "What looks good to you?"
I scan the menu again, my eyes catching on unfamiliar French words. "Uh... to be honest, I have no idea what half of these things are."
Jolt chuckles. "Yeah, me neither. Want me to order for both of us? I promise I won't pick anything too weird."
I nod, grateful for the offer. "Please. Just... no haggis, okay?"
He raises an eyebrow. "Isn't that a Scottish thing? I didn't think they'd have that here."
"They don't," I say with a grin. "But with my luck, they'd find a way to sneak it in just to torture me."
Jolt laughs, the sound warm and rich. "No haggis, got it. Though I gotta say, I’m curious now. What's so bad about it?"
I wrinkle my nose. "Trust me, ye don't wanna know. Let's just say there's a reason I refuse to eat it."
When the waiter returns, Jolt orders with a confidence I wouldn't have expected.
I catch words like "filet mignon" and "crème br?lée," but most of it goes over my head.
What I do notice is the way Jolt's eyes keep drifting back to me, a soft smile playing on his lips.
As we wait for our food, I take a sip of the champagne Jolt ordered.
The bubbles tickle my nose, and I can't help but giggle.
"This is nice," I say, gesturing around us. "But ye know you didn't have to go to all this trouble, right? I would’ve been happy to go with ye to In N’ Out."
Jolt reaches across the table, taking my hand in his.
His touch is warm, "I wanted to," he says softly. "You deserve it, Aggie. After everything you've been through... everything we've been through... I wanted to show you how much you mean to me."
I feel a lump form in my throat, emotion threatening to overwhelm me.
It's moments like these that make me realize how far I've come from that we lass in Scotland who was scared shiteless.
The one who watched her mother suffer at the hands of a monster.
The one who thought she'd never trust anyone again.
"Jolt," I whisper, my voice thick. "I..."
He squeezes my hand. "I know, Ghost. I know."
We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us.
I think about all we've been through—the danger, the fear, the moments of pure joy.
It hasn't been easy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
"So," I say, clearing my throat. "Tell me about your day. How are things at the club?"
Jolt's eyes light up, and he launches into a story about some of Boog and Cobra’s latest antics.
I listen, laughing at all the right moments, but a part of my mind is elsewhere.
Things with the club have been calm lately, but I’ve grown up in this life.
I know things aren’t always as good as they seem.
Usually, when they are it means something is on the horizon.
As our food arrives—beautifully plated dishes that look almost too good to eat—I push the thought aside.
onight isn't about the club, or the dangers that always seem to be lurking around the corner.
Tonight is about us, about celebrating the love we have.
"This looks amazing," I say, picking up my fork. "Though I have to admit, I have no idea what I'm eating."
Jolt grins. "I promise, it’s going to be delicious. We're nothing if not adventurous, right?"
I laugh, raising my champagne glass. "To adventures," I say.
"To us," Jolt counters, clinking his glass against mine.
As we eat, talking and laughing, I can't believe this is real.
Sometimes I actually pinch myself because I’m with the perfect person for me.
He has a way of putting me at ease, of making me forget about the traumas of my past and the uncertainties of our future.
"You know," I say, setting down my fork. "I never thought I'd have this."
Jolt looks up, his brow furrowing slightly. "Have what?"
I gesture between us. "This. Someone who... who sees me. Who understands."
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to meet his eyes. "After what happened with my mum, with my biological father... I thought I'd never be able to trust anyone like this."
Jolt's expression softens, and he reaches across the table to take my hand.
"Aggie," he says softly. "You're the strongest person I know. What happened to you, what you saw... it would break most people. But you? You turned it into armor."
I feel tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Sometimes I don't feel very strong," I admit.
"That's okay," Jolt says, his thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand. "That's what I'm here for. To remind you how badass you are when you forget."
I laugh, blinking back tears. "Is that so?"
He grins. "Absolutely. It's in my job description. 'Jolt: mechanic, biker, and professional Aggie-ego-booster.'"
I shake my head, marveling at how he can always make me laugh, even in the most serious moments."
The candlelight flickers across Jolt's face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline and the intensity in his eyes.
I've never seen him look so... content.
"So," I begin, setting my glass down gently, "you haven't really talked to me much about how it feels to be a full patch."
Jolt leans back in his chair, a slow smile spreading across his face. "It's... different," he says, his fingers drumming lightly on the tablecloth. "Good different, you know?"
I nod, encouraging him to continue.
My heart swells with pride as I watch him, remembering all the long nights and hard work it took for him to get here.
"It's like..." he pauses, searching for the right words. "It's like I've finally found my place. Like all the pieces have clicked into place, you know?"
I lean forward, genuinely intrigued.
"Tell me more," I urge softly.
Jolt's eyes light up, and I can see the passion burning behind them. "It's not just about wearing the patch," he explains. "It's about what it represents. The brotherhood, the trust, the responsibility. I've earned my place in the club, Aggie. I've actually proven myself."
"Does it feel different?" I ask, genuinely curious. "Or maybe I should be askin’ if the guys stop treatin’ the lot of ye like glorified janitors."
Jolt nods, a hint of pride in his voice. "Yeah, it does. There's a level of respect now, you know? I'm not just another prospect anymore. I have a voice, a say in things."
I smile, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. "I'm so proud of you, Jolt. You've worked so hard for this."
Jolt's hand shoots across the table, enveloping mine.
His grip is firm, reassuring. "Listen to me, Ghost," he says, his voice low and intense. "Everything in our lives is coming together. No one will ever instill fear in you or make you feel like that again. Not on my watch."
My heart swells, and before I can stop myself, I'm leaning across the table.
Our lips meet in a kiss that's both tender and fierce.
As we break apart, Jolt's lips brush my ear.
"Marry me," he whispers.
I freeze, my mind reeling.
Did he just...?
I pull back, searching his face for any sign that he's joking.
But all I see is sincerity and love in those familiar green eyes.
I can't help it—a laugh bubbles up from my chest, half nervous, half disbelieving.
"Yeah, right," I say, shaking my head.
My heart's racing, and I'm not sure if it's from excitement or fear.
Jolt's expression doesn't waver.
"I'm serious, Aggie," he says, his voice steady. "I know it now more than ever—we're meant to be together."
My mouth goes dry.
He can't be... can he?
But before I can form a coherent thought,
Jolt reaches under the table and produces a box wrapped in shiny red paper covered in hearts.
"I got you something," he says, sliding it across to me.
With trembling fingers, I unwrap the gift.
Inside is a leather cut, just like the ones worn by the Reapers Rejects MC.
But as I turn it over, my breath catches in my throat.
There, emblazoned on the back, is a patch that reads "Property of Jolt."
Tears spring to my eyes.
"It's... it's like the one my Mum has," I whisper, running my fingers over the stitching.
Jolt's smile is soft, understanding.
"It is," he confirms. "And I meant what I said, Aggie. I'm dead serious."
He leans forward, his eyes intense. "So why don't we get the hell out of this joint and go get a ring right now?"
My head spins.
This is happening so fast, but somehow, it feels right.
I watch, still in a daze, as Jolt signals for the check and pays for our dinner.
As he helps me to my feet, I find my voice. "Are we really doing this?"
Jolt's grin is infectious. "Damn straight we are," he says, leading me out of the restaurant and toward a nearby jeweler.
Jewelry shops are practically around every corner, so it’s no shock we find one rather quickly.
The jeweler's shop glitters under the harsh lights, diamonds winking at us from every display case.
My heart's pounding so hard I can barely hear Jolt as he speaks to the saleswoman.
I'm still reeling from his proposal, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
"What do you think of this one, Ghost?" Jolt's voice cuts through my thoughts, and I focus on the ring he's pointing at.
It's a ⒈／⒋ carat white gold diamond, round-cut and sparkling even in the dim light of the store.
"It's beautiful," I breathe, unable to take my eyes off it.
Jolt grins, that cocky, self-assured smile I've come to love.
"We'll take it," he tells the saleswoman, not even bothering to ask the price.
As we step out of the store, the cool night air hits my face, and I feel like I'm in a dream.
Jolt takes the ring box from the bag and opens it.
With a gentleness that still surprises me, coming from such a rough-and-tumble biker, he slides the ring onto my finger.
I stare at it, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. "Jolt, I... I didn't actually say yes, you know," I stammer.
He chuckles, pulling me close. "Mhm, but you didn't say no either, did you?" he teases, mimicking my accent.
I can't help but laugh, even as I roll my eyes. "You're impossible, ye know that?"
"That's why you love me," he retorts, planting a kiss on my forehead.
As we make our way back to his bike, I can't stop looking at the ring on my finger.
It catches the neon lights of the Strip, sending little rainbows dancing across my hand.
I think about my Mum, about the cut with Grim's patch on it, about the life she's built with the MC.
As I wrap my arms around Jolt's waist and we roar off toward the clubhouse, I realize this is the best choice I’ve ever made.
This wild, unpredictable life with Jolt and the club—it's exactly where I want to be.
We pull up to the clubhouse, and I'm surprised to see a crowd gathered outside.
For a heart-stopping moment, I think they all somehow know about our engagement.
Did Jolt plan this?
My palms start to sweat as we dismount.
But before I can say anything, a high-pitched squeal cuts through the night air.
Izzy, one of the other ol’ ladies, comes barreling toward us, her face lit up with excitement.
"I can't believe you're having another baby!!!" she shrieks, rushing past us and throwing her arms around Camila, who's standing a few feet away.
I blink, caught off guard by the sudden shift in focus.
The crowd erupts in cheers and congratulations, completely oblivious to the life-changing moment Jolt and I just shared.
I lean in close to Jolt, my lips brushing his ear as I whisper, "Let's tell them another time. We should be celebrating for Camila and Boog right now."
Jolt nods, his deep green eyes twinkling with understanding.
He squeezes my hand, his thumb brushing over the new ring.
The white gold is still unfamiliar against my skin, but it sends a thrill through me every time I feel it.
We make our way through the crowd, offering our congratulations to Camila and Boog.
As the night wears on, I can't help but notice the way Jolt keeps glancing at me, a secret smile playing on his lips.
My heart swells with emotion, but there's still a nagging worry in the back of my mind.
I pull him aside, my fingers tracing the tribal tattoos on his arm. "Are you sure the club won't be dealing with any threats anymore?"
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still afraid something bad could happen.
Jolt pulls me close, his strong arms enveloping me.
I breathe in his scent—sandalwood and cedar.
"I promise you, Ghost," he murmurs, using the nickname that always makes my heart skip a beat. "Sally's heading for Mexico, but that'll be just like the rest—unsuccessful. Everything is fine here, for now."
I want to believe him, I really do.
But I've seen enough of this life to know that 'for now' can be a very short time.