I was marrying Ky, declaring my love for him under God’s eyes.

“Shall we share a prayer?” Maddie asked from behind me, and I turned to see her offering her hands to Mae and I. Nodding, I clutched her hands, as did Mae, and Maddie led us in the Lord’s Prayer.

As she finished, the three of us looked to one another, and no words needed to be spoken. We three had survived. We were united. And we had a new faith and the hope of a new life, free of pain.

We were gradually breaking free from our curse…

Pastor Elsie James held the ceremony in front of Ky’s brothers, their old ladies and my sisters—who acted as my bridesmaids—in the beautiful rugged garden of our cabin. Even Elysia, Ky’s hidden sister, attended, much to the shock of the club. She said she would risk being exposed to see her only and “reformed whore” brother get married. But, I knew she wanted to be here for her only family on this special day, and I could see how happy Ky was when Sia turned up, proud tears in her eyes.

Ky and I exchanged rings. Ky gave me a simple gold ring, sliding it on my finger as the most perfect ceremony came to a close. We said 'I do', and as the sun reached its peak, I officially became “Property of Ky”.

Pastor James declared us man and wife and Ky turned to his brothers and cemented our union by shouting, “Live free. Ride free. Die free!” As we walked through the MC family, they echoed the credo with happiness.

They received us as man and wife.

Later that day, we were sitting on our porch, me on Ky’s lap, circling the golden ring on his finger and I was unable to stop feeling an incredible sense of contentment.

Ky lifted my hand to his mouth and asked, “You good, baby?”

Laying my hand on my husband’s chest and watching my new family drink and laugh in my garden, I spoke the truest words I had ever spoken. “My heart is content. Without my beauty, but blessed with your unconditional love. For the first time in my life, I am content.”

Ky sighed. I recognized it signaled his agreement.

Styx and Mae pulled into the yard on his bike, back from escorting Maddie to church. My sister had found her place within the four white walls of Our Savior Church. She had found peace in a place without judgment and pain. She would sit for hours at the feet of a white marble Christ, protected under the watchful eye of Pastor James. I knew she would not stay at my ceremony long. She was still uncomfortable around people.

Mae approached us, smiling, and bent down to lay a kiss on my head before sitting on Styx’s lap on the rocking chair next to us. Cowboy and Hush were on our other side, talking to Elysia. She and Cowboy were engaged in a conversation about horses and rodeos, Hush unable to keep his eyes off her too, the three of them seemed to have instantly taken to each other. I could not help but giggle at Ky’s overprotective scowl, but adored seeing Sia so happy and relaxed.

My heart fluttered in happiness. I had another sister to love.

“I think they both like her,” I whispered to Ky. “And I think she may like them too.” The look he gave me informed me that he was displeased with that fact.

Laughing at Ky’s narrowed eyes as he watched the three of them talk, I turned to Mae. “How is Maddie? She seemed to enjoy the ceremony.”

“She did,” Mae said. “And she is doing better. Though I am not sure what can be done to truly make her feel happy and safe.”

I sent a silent prayer to the Lord to help Maddie find her path.

“And so the psycho returns!”

I glanced toward a commotion at the entrance of our property. AK and Viking had just pulled into our yard in their truck. Flame jumped out of the back door, his brothers walking over to welcome him back. Flame had been in the hospital recovering from his neck injury this whole time. AK and Viking had been sent to retrieve him, so when he came around from the calming drugs, he was not in the hospital and would not hurt anyone in his path.

Hush and Cowboy jumped to their feet and each slapped him on the back, greeting him home, and the two men made me smile. They were officially staying here with us and had “patched in” with Austin, as Ky had explained. As I glanced to Sia watching them with a blush upon her face, I wondered if we might be seeing more of Sia too.

Tanner, Tank’s friend, had also moved into the compound. He was generally quiet and kept to himself. I always got the sense he was carrying a huge amount of sadness in his heart. Ky told me he had not been fond of the man at first, but after Tanner risked his life to help get me back, he now had his respect.

Flame’s head was twitching from side to side and his black eyes roved the yard like an animal seeking prey. A bottle of beer was thrust into his hand by Viking, but Flame threw it to the ground and continued his search.

Seeing us sitting on the porch, Flame stormed over, his arms and chest muscles bulging under his full body of tattoos. He wore a cut but no shirt with leather pants and heavy black boots. The side of his neck was stitched, red and scarred where my bullet had grazed his neck. Seeing that wound filled me with guilt.

“Where is she?” Flame snapped at Styx before I had a chance to apologize for what I had done to him.

Styx’s eyes narrowed, yet he stayed silent.

Flame next looked to Ky. This time his voice was like broken glass. “Where. Is. She?”

Ky shuffled below me, adjusting my position on his lap, and said, “Calm the fuck down, brother. You only just got back, and it’s my motherfuckin’ wedding day in case you haven’t noticed!”

Flame radiated rage and, face turning red, he screamed, “WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE!”

“Our Savior,” I said quickly. Flame’s tormented eyes bored holes into mine. Sitting forward, I said, “Firstly, Flame, I want to apologize for hurting you. It was never my intent. I was… I was not in a good place.”

Flame tensed at my apology, but curtly nodded his head, and I knew that it was as far as the conversation would be going.

“Maddie?” he pushed, his intense black eyes completely unnerving me.

“Maddie is at Our Savior Church,” I revealed. “She has been going there for a while now. We all have.”

Flame stumbled back like he had been punched in his stomach and his face contorted with pain. “No…” he hissed, looking from Styx to Ky, seeking confirmation. They both nodded, their expressions stern.

Flame fisted his hands and his body physically shook with anger. “NO!” he roared, causing me to jump and grip onto Ky. Flame began picking up chairs scattered around the yard, smashing them on the ground.