Page 50 of Sinful Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #9)

Epilogue

Daisy ~ Two Years Later

D anielle and I do one last walk through my exhibition. “I’m nervous,” I tell her.

“Don’t be. It’s exceptional work. Really. I guess I’m just curious how you talked them into this. I think I would have been too intimidated to even ask them.”

I only laugh because I understand what she’s saying.

Brody waves to us from the other side of the door. Anthony rushes to open it for him. He immediately takes Jack from Brody’s arms. “There’s my little buddy,” he says, tickling my son.

Danielle smiles as she watches them. “Go on, show Brody around. Anthony and I will watch little Jack.”

Brody kisses my cheek, and I take his hand. We leave our son in the lobby with the couple who have become like an aunt and uncle to me.

“The parents will be here soon. They were enjoying margaritas at the hotel bar when I left them.”

He stops in his tracks, and his eyebrows all but jump off his face when he comes to my first exhibit. “Ho-lee-shit.”

His fingers wrap around the back of his neck as he glances around. He leans over and whispers in my ear, “You better frisk Dirk before letting him in or someone might end up with a knife in their back.”

It makes me laugh. “We’ve already talked about it. He’ll be fine.”

Brody whistles low as he peruses the room. “They’re all of Dirk and Jesse?”

“They are.”

“Wow. They’re all so different, yet every one of them is fucking intoxicating.”

He pauses in front of one where Dirk is kneeling in front of Jesse, and he’s kissing the inside of her thigh. Her bare foot is perched on his knee; her fingers curled in his hair. The entire piece is done in charcoal. It’s one of my favorites.

“The exhibition is called “Sinful Skulls.”

He moves on to the next one. “Fuck yeah, it is.” His eyes roam over the piece. “God, you can feel their intensity. It’s hotter than the flames you’ve painted around them.”

Just then the couple of the hour step into the room. Brody immediately covers his eyes. “I wasn’t looking, boss.”

Dirk laughs, and Brody peeks at him through his fingers.

“My wife is fucking beautiful. Look all you want.” He takes her hand and spins her in a circle. Then, he pulls her protectively against his side, placing a kiss to her temple.

Brody gives me the side-eye. “Did you get him drunk?”

I chuckle. “No. I think this was healing … for all three of us.”

Soon, the room is filled, and it stays that way the entire evening. The only person who bats an eye at the dark content of my work is Billie Rose and Jackson. I don’t take offense. I wouldn’t want to see my parents half-naked either.

She covers her eyes with both hands as Elijah guides her around the room. He laughs. “Oh my god. He’s got her tied to the bed,” he teases.

Billie Rose gasps. “You’re lying.”

“I’m afraid he’s not,” Jackson winces. “I never thought I’d see my aunt and uncle quite like this.”

She makes a gagging sound.

Elizabeth hugs me. “Daisy, I’m so proud of you. These are stunning.”

“Thank you. I can’t believe the whole club came all the way here.”

“This club would go anywhere in the world for you.”

Raffe walks up. “Hey, I’m going to take Aspen and Jack back to the hotel.”

“I can watch them,” Elizabeth offers.

“Naw, this pop pop could use some extra snuggles tonight,” he says, mindlessly spinning his wedding band. “Just enjoy your daughter’s success.” He gives us both a kiss on the cheek and then goes to round up the little ones.

We watch as he takes a kid in each arm. Jack leans over and tries kissing Aspen on the cheek, and Jackson waves a finger at him. Elizabeth and I both chuckle. “He’s completely smitten with her,” I say.

“I don’t know how he can outweigh her when she’s almost a year older than him.”

I let out a little snort. “It’s because he has his father’s appetite.”

After the doors are locked, the club meets up at Anthony and Danielle’s for an after party on their private beach. Their home is beautiful.

Lexie jogs up to me. “You want to go sit down by the water with me?”

“Sure.” I hold my hand up and let her pull me to my feet. Brody pats me on the butt as I walk away.

“What a beautiful night,” I say, releasing a long calming breath.

“Today went really well. I think the club had a great time. It’s been kind of nice getting away from home for a bit.”

“I can’t wait to bring Jack out here tomorrow and let him dip his cute little toes in the ocean.”

We find a nice sandy spot to sit and watch the waves roll in.

She bumps her shoulder against mine. “You know how Rachel left me in charge of handling letters for special moments after she was gone, like the one I gave Brody when you had Jack?”

“Yeah.”

She hands me an envelope with Brody’s name on it.

“Another one? What’s the special occasion?”

Lexie looks up at the sky, hugging her legs close to her chest. “The next set of letters are very different.”

“Okay, so why are you giving it to me? Brody is right over there.”

Her gaze meets mine, and she presses the letter to my chest. “This is the start of something that’s going to rock the club, Daisy. Brody is the first domino to fall. He’s going to need your support.”

The waves lick at my feet as I stare at her. “Is it bad news?”

“No, but it’s going to be hard for a lot of people to wrap their mind around at first. That’s why it’s up to us to keep them focused on their hearts.”

I listen to my friends and family up the beach. Everyone is laughing and having fun. Something that hasn’t happened in a long time.

“I trust that Rachel knew what she was doing,” Lexie tells me.

“Okay,” I say, holding my hand out to her. “For Rachel.”

She wraps her pinkie around mine. “For Rachel,” she agrees.