Page 26 of Monstrosity (Raiders of Valhalla MC: New Blood #5)

On it is a photo of Flora—not prominent, but present. A part of our story.

"For our first mommy," Florencia says clearly. "Thank you for watching over us and sending us Dasha."

"We love you," Cali adds, placing her candle carefully. "And we promise to take good care of Daddy and our new mommy."

There's not a dry eye in the house as the girls return to their places.

Rio reaches for my hand again, and I squeeze it, letting him know I'm here.

Even Emil looks suspiciously glossy-eyed, though he'd probably deny it.

"That was beautiful, girls," Runes says, voice rough. "Now then, Rio and Dasha have written their own vows."

Rio goes first, pulling a paper from his pocket with shaking hands.

He unfolds it, looks at it, then folds it back up and speaks from the heart.

"Dasha," he begins, then has to clear his throat. "Years ago, you walked into my life with coffee and kindness. I was broken, angry, convinced I'd never find happiness again. But you saw past all that. You saw the man I could be, the father I was trying to be, and you loved us anyway."

He looks down at our joined hands, then back up at me.

"You gave my daughters a mother. You gave me a reason to smile again. You stood by us through violence and threats, never wavering. You've seen me at my worst—covered in blood, consumed by rage—and somehow you still look at me like I'm worthy of you.

You are the strongest, bravest, most loving woman I know, and I promise to spend every day showing you how grateful I am that you chose us.

I promise to love you, protect you, and build a life with you that's worthy of the second chance you've given me.

I promise to always make your coffee exactly how you like it, to dance with you on our porch, and to never take for granted the miracle of you saying yes. I love you, Dasha. Forever."

I'm crying, not even trying to hide it.

Meghan hands me a tissue while I pull out my own vows, though the paper is shaking so badly I can barely read it.

"Rio," I start, voice shaky. "I thought I knew what love was. Then I met you and realized I'd only been scratching the surface. You showed me what it means to be cherished, protected, truly seen. You gave me not just your heart, but your daughters, your family, your whole world."

I look at the girls, including them in this moment.

"Florencia and Cali, you two have given me the greatest gift—the chance to be your mom.

I promise to love you both as fiercely as if I'd carried you myself.

To be there for every milestone, every heartbreak, every joy.

To make sure you always know how special you are and how proud I am to be your Mommy-Dasha. "

Back to Rio, who's openly crying now, not even trying to be the tough biker we all know he is.

"Rio, I promise to stand beside you through whatever comes.

To be your partner, your best friend, your safe place.

To love the man you are—father, protector, provider, and yes, even the darker parts that keep us safe.

I promise to always have coffee ready in the morning, to slow dance with you even when there's no music, and to remind you every day that you deserve all the happiness in the world.

You're my everything, and I choose you today and always. "

"Beautiful," Runes says, wiping his own eyes. "Now, the rings. Emil?"

Emil steps forward with the rings while Meghan hands mine to me.

I notice his hands are perfectly steady even with the emotion of this moment.

He murmurs something to Rio that sounds like "Don't fuck this up" but could have been "Don't drop the ring."

"Rio, place the ring on Dasha's finger and repeat after me," Runes instructs.

Rio slides the band onto my finger, his voice strong as he repeats the traditional words. "With this ring, I thee wed."

"Dasha, same for you."

I take Rio's hand, sliding on the band that matches mine. "With this ring, I thee wed."

"By the power vested in me by the state of Florida and the Raiders of Valhalla," Runes says with a grin, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Rio, kiss your bride like you mean it."

Rio doesn't need to be told twice.

He pulls me close, kissing me deeply while the crowd erupts in cheers.

The girls attach themselves to our legs, making it a family hug that has everyone awwing.

"I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Rio Rojas!" Runes announces. "Now let's eat!"

More cheers as we make our way back down the aisle as a family, the girls holding our hands.

The reception is set up on the other side of the yard—picnic tables decorated with mason jars full of wildflowers, string lights creating a canopy, and most importantly, the cake table.

True to their request, there are multiple cakes.

Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and what appears to be some kind of rainbow creation that has Cali's name all over it.

Each one is decorated differently—by Aziza’s bakery, and some even have her flare put on them.

"It's perfect," I tell Rio as we take it all in.

"You're perfect," he counters, spinning me into a dance even though the music hasn't officially started. "My wife."

"Say it again," I request, echoing that night in our bedroom.

"My wife," he growls, pulling me closer. "Mine."

"Get a room!" someone shouts—definitely Tor.

"Later!" Rio shoots back, making everyone laugh. "Much later!"

The reception flows beautifully.

Speeches are made—Emil's is surprisingly eloquent for a man of few words, talking about brotherhood and second chances.

He actually makes a joke about Rio finally getting his act together, which gets a huge laugh.

Meghan's is equal parts funny and touching, threatening Rio with bodily harm if he ever hurts me while also welcoming him officially to the best friend's husband club.

"But seriously," Meghan says, raising her glass, "I've watched these two dance around each other for years.

Watched Dasha light up every time Rio walked into the coffee shop.

Watched Rio find excuses to need coffee five times a day.

They were so obvious everyone had a betting pool on when they'd finally get together. "

"Who won?" someone calls out.

"Starla," Meghan admits. "She had faith it would happen eventually."

More laughter and clinking glasses.

The girls perform a dance they choreographed themselves, which mostly involves spinning and jumping but is absolutely perfect.

They rope other kids into joining, and soon there's a small mob of children doing what can only be described as interpretive wedding dancing.

During a quieter moment, I find myself at a table with Saga while the crowd watches Rio dance with both girls standing on his feet.

He's laughing as they direct him where to step, looking happier than I've ever seen him.

"They're good together," Saga observes. "All of you. A real family."

"We are," I agree, then decide to probe a little. "Speaking of together, I saw you at the store yesterday with Emil."

She stiffens slightly. "We just ran into each other. He was getting parts for his bike."

"Uh huh. And that guy who was hitting on you?"

"What about him?" But her cheeks are pink.

"Emil looked ready to kill the guy. I thought he was going to throw the guy through the window when he touched your arm."

"He's protective of everyone," she deflects. "It's his nature."

"Saga," I say gently, "I've seen Emil protective. This was different. This was... personal. The way he stepped between you and that guy, the way his hand went to your back to guide you away..."

"Nothing," she insists. "It was nothing. Emil and I are nothing."

"He asked about you three times while we were out the other day" I mention casually. "Wanted to know if you were coming to the wedding, what color your dress would be, if you were bringing a date..."

"He did?" The hope in her voice is quickly squashed. "Probably just being nosey. You know Emil."

"Well, if you ever want to talk about nothing..."

"Thanks," she says, then brightens artificially. "Oh look, my mom’s waving me over."

She escapes to go over to her mom, but not before I catch Emil watching her go with an expression that's anything but nothing.

He actually takes a step to follow her before catching himself.

The next thing I know we’re cutting the cake and it’s chaotic, mainly because Cali insists we cut all the cakes "to be fair."

Rio smashes a piece in my face, I retaliate, and soon the girls are giggling and covered in frosting too.

"Food fight at a wedding," Everly laughs. "That's a new one."

"Nothing about us is traditional," I point out, wiping chocolate from Florencia's nose.

"Best wedding ever!" Cali declares, licking frosting off her fingers.

As the sun sets and the party continues, I find myself watching our guests.

The club that's become family, the women who've embraced me, the children who play together like siblings.

This is what we've built from loss and pain—something beautiful and lasting.

"Time for the bouquet toss!" Meghan announces, clearly having the time of her life. "All you single ladies, get your asses over here!"

There's good-natured grumbling as the unmarried women gather.

I notice Saga trying to hide behind Tindra, but Meghan drags her front and center.

"No escaping!" Meghan declares. "The universe has plans for you!"

I turn my back, count to three, and toss.

There's squealing and laughter, and when I turn around, Saga's standing there holding my bouquet with a look of absolute horror on her face.

"I tried not to catch it!" she protests. "It hit me in the face!"

"Destiny," I tell her with a wink.

"Now the garter!" Tor announces. "Single men, line up!"

Rio makes a show of sliding his hand up my leg to retrieve the garter, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

The crowd hoots and hollers.

The single men are notably less enthusiastic about participating.

Emil stands at the very back, arms crossed, clearly only there because Tor physically dragged him over.

Rio winds up and lets it fly.

By some miracle—or maybe careful aim—it hits Emil square in the chest.

He catches it reflexively, then looks at it like it might explode.

"Put it on her!" someone shouts.

"That's tradition!" another voice adds.

Emil's face is murderous as he stalks toward Saga, who looks like she wants the ground to swallow her.

He kneels stiffly, garter in hand.

"Just get it over with," Saga mutters.

Emil slides the garter onto her leg with hands that are definitely not as steady as before.

When his fingers brush her skin, I swear I see sparks.

He lingers for just a second longer than necessary before practically leaping back.

"There. Happy?" he growls at the crowd.

"Ecstatic," Tor says with a shit-eating grin.

Emil storms off toward the bar while Saga escapes in the opposite direction.

The crowd disperses, but I notice they keep catching each other's eyes across the yard for the rest of the night.

"Dance with me," Rio requests, appearing at my elbow.

"Always," I agree, letting him lead me to the makeshift dance floor.

Other couples join us—Tor and Meghan, Runes and his wife, others.

The song is slow and sweet, and I melt into Rio's arms.

"Thank you," he murmurs against my ear.

"For what?"

"For this. For choosing us. For giving me a life I never thought I'd have again."

"Rio—"

"Let me finish," he says softly. "After Flora died, I was convinced that was it for me. One shot at happiness, and I'd lost it. I was going to raise the girls alone, be alone, die alone. Then you walked into my life with your smile and your coffee and your stubborn refusal to let me push you away."

"You tried," I remind him. "Especially in the beginning."

"Half-heartedly," he admits. "Even then, I think I knew you were special. I just didn't think I deserved another chance."

"You deserve all the chances," I tell him firmly. "You're a good man, Rio Rojas. The best man. My man."

"Forever?"

"Forever."

We dance through two more songs before Cali interrupts.

"Daddy! Mommy-Dasha! Family dance!" she demands, tugging at our clothes.

"Yeah, family dance!" Florencia agrees.

We adjust to include them, Rio lifting Cali while I hold Florencia's hands.

We must look ridiculous—a four-person dance huddle—but I've never been happier.

"Best wedding ever," Cali declares.

"The very best," Florencia agrees. "Can we do it again tomorrow?"

"Once is enough," Rio laughs. "But we can dance whenever you want."

As the night winds down and guests start leaving, everyone stops to hug us and offer congratulations.

Liam Mackenzie shakes Rio's hand formally, welcoming me to "the family" in his thick Irish accent.

Even he brought a gift—an envelope that Rio tucks away without opening, but I'm guessing it's cash to help with honeymoon expenses.

Soon it's just the core group left, and I find myself back where it all started—on our porch.

Rio joins me, two beers in hand, the girls finally crashed in their beds, exhausted from the excitement.

"Hell of a day," he says.

"Perfect day," I correct. "Everything was perfect."

"Even Emil nearly starting a fight with that guy?"

"What?" I missed that apparently.

"When you were dancing with your coffee shop regulars. That kid—what's his name, Brandon?—asked Saga to dance. Emil almost ripped his head off."

"And Saga?"

"Told Emil to mind his own business, danced with the kid anyway." Rio chuckles. "Emil spent the entire song glaring holes in the poor boy's head."

"Those two are going to realize what’s going on between them eventually" I observe.

"Or kill each other trying," Rio agrees. "My money's on combustion. Sexual tension like that has to go somewhere."

We sit in silence, still in our wedding clothes, watching the last of the lights twinkle in the backyard.

The crew will clean up tomorrow.

Tonight, it's just ours.

"Thank you," Rio says suddenly.

"For what?"

"For saying yes. For taking on me and my baggage and my kids. For becoming my wife." He takes my hand, thumb rubbing over my new ring. "For saving us."

"We saved each other," I correct. "That's what this is—two broken people who made something whole."

"Nothing broken about you."

"Not anymore," I agree. "Not since I found you."

He kisses me softly, and I taste promise and forever and home.

"Ready to go inside, wife?"

"Lead the way, husband."

We leave the porch, hand in hand, heading inside to start our married life properly.

The house is quiet, full of sleeping children and visiting family and the echoes of celebration.

Tomorrow we'll deal with real life—work and school and all the mundane details of existence.

"I love you, Mrs. Rojas," Rio whispers as we close our bedroom door.

"I love you too, Mr. Rojas. Forever."

And as I fall into my husband's arms, I know that forever isn't just a promise—it's a certainty.

We've earned our happy ending, and nothing will take it from us.

Nothing at all.