Dad opens the door wider and says, “Might have someone who can help you with that.”
Our old President ambles in, wearing a brown suit, his grey hair and beard down past his shoulder blades and collarbone.
“Scratch!” I grin, strolling over to give him a bear hug. “Came all the way from Montana for me, huh?”
He slaps my back, drawl thick as always, “Nah, I want to see Sofia wearing white.”
“She went with off-white,” I grin at him.
“Probably better that way. What the hell are ya doin’ with this? Think it’s shoelaces? Give me that!” He deftly twists and tucks it a few times until he stands back and surveys his work. “I still got it.”
My brother, equally glad to see the old man, is probably happy that something has broken the tension. I made him my best man, because it had to be him, but we haven’t gotten back to where we were. Probably never will. Who knows. I’m civil to him but that’s it. For the Ciphers. For our history. For our blood.
“Scratch,” he asks, “How’d you learn how to do that?”
“I wasn’t always this surly. Lookin’ good, kid. Give me that thing.” He ties Atlas’ bow and I glance to see Dad beaming with pride at his two sons being taken care of by the man he fought countless missions with, and who he missed like crazy when Scratch retired with Mona up north where it was more quiet, more space.
After Tonk Jr. gets his tied, too, I introduce Sean who looks like he’s not sure if he should disappear. We give him a quick explanation of who Scratch is, and he nods with respect.
Scratch crooks his finger. “C’mere Sean, you’re just as useless as they are.” As he ties the bow, a silent inspection occurs. “I hear you’re comin’ along in the training. Pretty good with your fists.”
“I’m alright. It’s the martial arts stuff that’ll take more time.”
“Time is all we got.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You like livin’ with the Ciphers?”
Sean’s blue eyes darken, somber and direct, with zero sentimentality. “Never want to leave, if I’m honest.”
“I like honest,” Scratch mutters, eyes narrowed. “It’s good to see new blood comin’ in.” He slaps Sean’s arm, job done, and turns to Tyler. “What the fuck, I never taught you?”
Ty grins and bends his head back, “Little help, Gramps?”
“Gramps! Shut your trap. I’m as virile as you are on your best day. Don’t think all those pups you got give you any street cred.”
“How’s Inez hanging in there with all those normies, downstairs? Drunk yet?”
Scratch laughs, fiddling with the knot. “You give that woman so much grief I’m surprised she loves you.”
Jett explodes into the room. “I heard Scratch was here! There you are, you old fart!”
They hug and Scratch rumbles, “Grey eyed sonofabitch! How ya been?”
“My daughter’s shacked up right under my nose and my roof, that’s how I’ve been!”
“Gotta admit, I don’t envy you, but you deserve hell for all the hell you give the world!”
They laugh and Scratch checks out Jett’s tux. “Where’s your tie?”
“I’m going open.”
“Bullshit! Put on a damn tie. This is a once in a lifetime event!”
Grumbling, Jett yanks out a strap of black silk from his pocket. “This thing is stupid.”
“It’s stupid because you don’t know how, ya mean? Come here,” Scratch mutters, grabbing it and going to work.
It’s a rare sight, and I glance to Dad, see him nod to me that he thinks it’s pretty cool, too. If we were the picture-taking kind, this would be one. But we don’t like evidence, so we never developed the habit of cataloguing life moments.
They’re to be enjoyed as they happen, then you just make more—that’s what Mona used to say.
Jaxson Cocker, Jett’s older brother pokes his head in the room and says, “Hey Jett, Luke, we need you down there. About to start.”
My mind is on his son Ben as I nod, “Coming,” and stroll to the mirror to smooth down my long hair. I’m wearing it free since Soph loves it this way. “Nice knot, Scratch,” I murmur, tugging on it and stretching my neck. “Not too tight.”
“Of course it’s perfect,” he chuckles. “Now let’s see you make an honest woman of our wild child, huh?”
The group files out, but Dad grabs my arm to hold me back a sec. Everyone sees it, and nobody says a word. Tonk Jr. is last to go, and Dad grabs his arm real quick. “Got the rings?”
He shrugs, “Lost ‘em.”
“You liar!”
“Then don’t go asking stupid questions,” he chuckles as he closes the door.
Alone now, Dad’s eyes light up with pride. “Look at you in this tux.”
“Crazy, huh?”
“Suits you better than this suits me!” He motions to his.
“You look great.”
“Bullshit. I’m in costume, but hey, it’s just for one night.” His smile fades and he drags a hand through his gray-streaked hair. “Before you left I told you to find a woman like my Meg. I wanted to say before we go down that, I was wrong about that. What you’ve found is yours. It suits. I just wanted you to know…you impress me. You’re not just my son anymore, Luke. You’re your own man, and…” He shrugs, locking eyes with me. “Well, that’s it. I just wanted you to know that.”
I stare at him, and pull him in for a masculine hug. “I’ve always wanted to make you proud, Dad.”
We separate and shake it off, heading for the door. I open it for him, “You want me to get this for you, you big pussy?”
He guffaws, bending back with a huge roar. Then he pushes me away from the door, waving over his shoulder, “I see Sofia’s rubbing off. But I’m still bigger than you. Never forget it!”
Laughing, “I won’t,” I follow him out.
CHAPTER 40
L UKE
With my heart slamming in my chest, I take my spot in front of Max, Sofia’s cousin, ordained as a Minister for this purpose since most of the Cockers aren’t all that religious, but they love family.
Sweeping a slow glance over my view of both of our families, I nod to some I don’t know, wink at ones I do. They’re seated under strings of twinkle lights that Nancy Cocker demanded we hang in our backyard. Place looks fucking fantastic. We even got new mesh walls for our screened-in porch out here. Special occasions call for special renovations, my mom said. The agreeing vote was unanimous.
Everyone’s in separate conversations that quiet as Atlas appears with Celia on his arm at the end of a long black carpet. They make their way over scattered red rose petals, Ceels with her cheeks pink from happiness, and my brother looking damn good, even if he is a dick.
Tonk Jr. is next, my sister on his arm. Sage beams at me, not even seeing the crowd until Mom whispers, “You look beautiful!” She grins at her and stands a little taller, long red hair draped over her shoulders.
Tyler walks Hannah down, her blonde hair up, heels high, so that with her tall height she’s at his six-one inches, if not past that.
Emma slips her arm through Sean’s, says something in his ear that makes him grin, and they walk just as slowly as the others.
I never understood the rituals until now. The time they’re taking builds up suspense for me to see the one I’m dedicating my life to. My heart is pounding and I’ve gotta fight the urge to go get her myself.
The music changes. We hired a band, and the keyboardist takes over, expertly playing Here Comes The Bride. Everybody stands except for Sofia’s great-grandmother. May Cocker is in the center aisle seat, front row, on two floral cushions I’m guessing she brings everywhere. She cranes her neck, white hair curled, her hands folded as she waits with everyone.
I stop breathing, swallow hard, hoping Soph didn’t run off and change her mind. Some days I’m convinced none of this is real, that I’ll wake up. This is one of those times.
But the screen door opens, Luna stands back,
holding it. Sofia Sol appears on Jett’s arm, in a dress so made for her body my mouth slackens. I’ve never seen her hair curled, never seen her in heels, and the blush in her cheeks is for me.
How can one man be so lucky?
She loops her other arm through Luna’s and people react with surprise, enjoying the break from tradition with murmurs of appreciation, nods of approval.
We wouldn’t be Ciphers if we didn’t do things our way.
Her parents walk their only child down the aisle to me, and Soph’s grey eyes sparkle under the softened light. She grins, then bites her lip as they slowly make their way past our families. Her rockstar cousin, Gabriel, whistles through his teeth and she laughs a glance to him, shushing him with a wink like she loves it.
As she passes her grandparents, Michael and Nancy Cocker tip their heads with love to her. Her grin is different for them, filled with pride and respect. She sees May Cocker and melts, waving, “Hi Grams!”
Blue eyes, sharp and happy, crinkle up. “You look beautiful, honey!”
I step toward them, eager to get her to myself. Removing Sofia’s hand from his arm, Jett places it in mine, as Luna steps back, with tears hovering in her eyes.
Jett clears his throat, saying loudly enough for everyone to hear, “You’re a man worthy of our daughter, Luke, and I’ll be happy to call you my son.”
Luna shakes her head like she can’t believe she’s emotional in front of all these people. “When you were gone, Sofia mowed the lawn. We can’t have that happen again, you get me?”
“Loud and clear. Don’t worry…” My gaze slips away from her parents and lands on my beautiful, badass bride. “I’m sticking around.”
They step back, take their seats next to Grams, and I pull Soph closer, clasping her hands and staring at the woman I can’t believe is mine. She’s got her heart in her eyes, but then her face changes, “Oh!” and she turns toward her great-grandmother. “Grams! You haven’t officially met my future husband, Luke. What do you think of him?”
Under my breath I chuckle, “Little late now.”
Soph cocks an eyebrow at me. “Grams has to approve.” Of her cousins Hannah and Emma she asks for confirmation with a single look. They nod, stifled amusement in their eyes.
As everyone is silent, centenarian May Cocker tilts her head, shamelessly raking an inspection down then back up my body. She points at me, wriggling her finger. “He’s a wild one, Sofia.” Folding her hands again, she winks, “You’re a lucky girl.”
Sofia grins, “He’s hot as fuck, right?”
For the first time ever the Ciphers are shocked.
Maybe even appalled.
Here these bikers are on their best behavior for this upper-class—many of them famous—family who came all the way out from Atlanta, Georgia. And Sofia went and swore at her great-grandma who looks like her face should be on a box of cookies, she’s so cute.
But for some reason the Cocker Family flies into total hysterics.
Grams shakes her head, grinning as she shouts, “Language!” joined in by at least eight of them.
Even ex-Congressman Michael Cocker is grinning next to his laughing wife.
What. The. Hell.
Sofia Sol smirks at me, “You’re approved.”
We face Max who’s wiping his eyes from laughing so hard.
I mutter under my breath, “You going to explain that to me later?”
“Nope.”
“You know I like challenges.”
She whispers, “Yep!”
CHAPTER 41
L UKE
“L uke Jett Scratch Martinez, I Sofia Sol Cocker, vow to be yours and only yours until I…bite the dust,” she smiled. “I vow to keep you entertained, challenged.” She gave me a wink. “I vow to keep you on your toes even when I’m an old lady. I will continue to fight by your side, cover your ass, and let you lead the way out there, but now I’ll do it as your wife. I vow to respect you as a man, love you as a man.” She squeezed my hands. “I vow that even when I’m mad at you, I’ll take my issues to you, nobody else. Because together, like you just vowed to me, we will be the team within the team, and everything stems from us, right here.” She touched over her heart, then over mine, and pressed there like she did in Sedona when things began to change for us. “You’re my hero, Luke.”
There’s not much I remember about the actual ceremony. But that hero-statement and all of those vows, they burned into me.
No matter how many people I have helped on the road, this love I feel for her, from her, feels like the best thing I’ve ever done.
The kiss…can’t forget that, either. Both sides of our families stood up and cheered as I dipped Sofia Sol, lifted her up, and spun her around without coming up for air. Her red nails dove into my hair and fisted it, hot as fuck.
That kiss that sealed the deal was filled with love, red hot passion, joy…plus the promise of a future I never thought I’d have. And when I set her down, she shouted, “Miracles do happen!” which made everybody laugh.
Great way to start a party.
Even better way to start a life.
CHAPTER 42
SOFIA SOL
T he rumble of my Triumph feels different as I ride with Luke, Celia, Sean and Atlas to El Paso, Texas, where we heard about a crisis that’s on the verge of turning worse.
I tighten my fists on the bars, but slow down despite my will power. My husband glances over as I break formation. Weird for me to since nobody’s on the road but us at this hour, a little after four o’clock in the morning on a Tuesday.
“Something wrong with your bike?” he calls over the roar.
“Dunno!” I wince as things go funky. “Stop a second.”
He nods, gives the signal. The five of us pull onto the shoulder. Everyone but Luke leaves their machines running as he throws his leg over, dismounts, and strolls to me, bending to inspect my tires, the hoses, anything that might on first inspection look ‘off’ to him.
“It’s not the bike.” I tell him, finally remembering to shift into neutral. “I feel weird. Like the engine is making me dizzy or something.”
He pulls his glove off and places his cool palm on my hand. “You hot, Soph?”
“Am I?”
“Feel normal. But what do I know?”
Celia shuts her engine down, hurries over. “Sofia, you sick?”
“Um…maybe ate something bad?” As she touches my forehead, too, I roll my eyes. “I don’t have a fever, he just checked.”
“I want to see if you’re clammy.” She puts her fingers on my neck, behind my hair, braided under my helmet. It’s a cold night, late into fall, so she touches her own skin to see if we’re different, if it’s just the wind that’s done this to my temperature. “Feels the same as me. Like you need a scarf, but that’s it.”
Smiling, “I don’t need a scarf,” I shrug it off and tell them all, “I’m all good. Let’s go.”
“Stay close,” Luke says.
“I will.”
We’re on the road in no time, same formation but now I’m their person of interest, and it’s no fun.
It’s hard to hold on.
Like I could use a nap.
And some Tums.
My husband keeps checking on me, calls over the engines, “We’re pulling off at the next stop where there’s lodging, fuck this!”
Usually I’d argue, but not tonight. “Okay,” I nod, frowning.
“Pull over! You’ll get on the back of my bike. We’ll get yours later!”
“Okay.”
That answer freaks him out. He raises his arm and signals for us to pull off the road right now. Atlas and Sean watch, faces grim as Ceels grabs my keys, stashes them in her Ciphers jacket. Luke piles my saddlebags onto his, mounts his Harley and looks over his shoulder as I climb on behind him, wrap my arms around his ribs and breathe deeply in and out. He starts to go, but I squeeze him.
“Stop! Hold on!”
“What’s up?”
I climb
off, lean over, vomit everywhere. “Okay, I’m good,” I mutter as he looks at me, horrified. I motion to Celia to stay on her damn bike, shoot her a look that makes her lips tighten, knuckles white as she waits.
“We’re getting you to a hospital,” Luke growls.
“No, just some bad fish or something.”
“It’s not a debate. I’m put on this planet to watch out for you and that’s what I’m gonna do.” He tears onto the freeway with them right behind.
Three miles down the road we come up on a hotel, some convenience stores, nothing fancy. But up ahead is a long stretch of dead road we know too well. No hospitals for miles.
“Luke, I just need some sleep. And to get off this bike!”
He growls at me, but tilts us, turning onto the exit with the others following into the hotel parking lot. He shuts off the engine, says, “I’ll get a doctor, bring them here to you.”
“You’re being over-protective.”
“This is love. Deal with it,” he mutters, lifting me up and carrying me in.
There’s no one behind the desk. He hits the bell with his elbow as I hold onto him, my helmet feeling like it weighs a hundred pounds all of a sudden.
“Anyone here?!”
A sleazy guy walks out of the back room, probably watching porn, eyes us. “Need a room?”
Luke bites the guy’s head off. “Yes!”
“Okay, okay, don’t have to get so desperate. We’ve got plenty of ‘em. She’ll wait five minutes.”
If I was in a better state I’d show this jerk how patient I am with low-class dirtbags like him. But since my husband’s in control, I just give the guy the finger as Luke snarls, “Get me a key and shut the fuck up.”
Sean walks in. “Need a card?”
“In my wallet.”
He reaches into Luke’s back pocket, digs out the Ciphers credit card, under the name of someone who died in 1939, hands it over to the toe-jam-faced clerk.
The three of us head to Room 11.
“Where’s Celia? Atlas?” I ask.
Sean slows down. “Said she wanted to get you some water and stuff from the market. He went with her.”
Sofia Sol Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 13) Page 19
