Page 95 of The Riders’ Reign

I link my arm through Mom’s and lead her back to the car. We brought the SUVs instead of the bikes. I didn’t think my mom would appreciate being slung onto the back of Ace’s motorcycle, though I was tempted if only for the entertainment factor. They’re going to stay with me for a couple of nights and then move on.

They’re renting an apartment in New York City until they figure out what to do next. It’s unlikely my brother will stay there, but Mom might. It’ll be lovely having her so close. I’ll be able to visit, and maybe she’ll come and visit me, too.

I picture her coming to stay when we’re having one of the big biker parties and suppress a giggle. Will she be shocked, or will she knock back a shot of tequila and dance by the bonfire with a couple of the older bikers, or hell, maybe even the younger ones? Once she’s gotten over the shock of losing my dad, I hope she’ll start to live life again and find happiness.

It’s all I want for the people I love. For them to be happy and safe.

44

JACK

The ring nestled in the box sparkles under the jewelry store lights. Four big diamonds, sitting in expensive-looking, satin-brushed platinum.

“It’s massive,” Ghost says uncertainly.

“Yeah? Of course it is. Our Princess only gets the best.” Ace grins down at the ring,

“But her style seems a bit more understated.” Ghost shrugs.

“You don’t do understated in engagement rings.” Ace shakes his head as if Ghost knows nothing about women, which he probably doesn’t. “This is from all of us, so it needs to be showstopping. I like it.”

“I specifically asked to see rings with four diamonds,” I say. “To represent the four of us.”

“Ooh, even better.” Ace reaches out and takes it.

The jeweler clears his throat. “Who’s the lucky man getting engaged?”

“I am,” I say at the exact same time Ace comes out with⁠—

“We all are.”

I stamp on Ace’s foot, shutting him up, and take the ring back. “This will be perfect, thank you.”

“It is a very expensive ring.” The man in the tailored suit, with neat blond hair and hands that never did a day’s real work, gives me a snooty look. “We do have other options.”

Does he think because I’m wearing faded jeans, an old band t-shirt, and my cut that I can’t afford the ring? Fucking idiot.

“We’ll take that one.” I state firmly. “Plus, we want four platinum bands ordered to our sizes.”

We’ve discussed this, and we all want to show her our commitment, too.

There’s an arguably even more important place to stop off next. We leave the jewelry store, me with the engagement ring tucked in my pocket, and head to our next stop.

The garage is empty, bar one mechanic, when we step inside, but we move through to the back and enter the small workshop. The air smells of leather and oil. It’s so familiar, my heart twinges a little with memories of another place where I had a patch made for a different woman a long time ago.

Back when I lost her, I never envisioned I’d do this again, and certainly not with three other men. But life has ways of throwing curveballs, so here I am.

The middle-aged man bent over the machine looks up as we walk in. Gareth is a highly vetted club associate. His garage does a lot of work on our bikes, and he is the man trusted with club patches.

Ghost strolls over to him and peers down at the worktable.

As sergeant at arms, Ghost is the one responsible for the safe keeping of patches, and for destroying them if we throw someone out. It’s taken as a very serious responsibility by our club.

“I’m almost done.” Gareth lifts his hand and wipes a bead of sweat from his brow. “You’re early.”

“By five minutes.” Ace rolls his eyes.

“You sure you want all four of your names on here? It’s a lot. Could have just written Property of VF Riders.”