The Psycho (The Soldiers of Anarchy 1)

Epilogue

Liv

When I told my mum and dad, on the day they returned home from their holidays, that I was moving out to go and live with my boyfriend, their elation that I’d finally found a man turned to apprehension that it was all happening so quickly, then panic at the thought of the live-in childcare not being freely available anymore.

When I told them that he was from Brinton Manor, that panic turned to sheer mortification and outright despair at the shame I was bringing on my family. Apparently, it was bad enough that my friends were with boys from ‘that side’ of Sandland, but I had to go one step further and dredge through the filth that was Brinton to find my match, and that was their verdict before they’d even met him. Thinking what it’d be like when I eventually got my parents and Adam in the same room together one day filled me with dread. That was a meeting I wasn’t going to be arranging anytime soon. But I didn’t let my parents’ prejudices affect me or my feelings for Adam. I loved him. I always would. They’d just have to learn to live with it.

I left the house with a few bags packed and gave my brothers a hug, letting them know they’d be coming for a sleepover with us as soon as possible. I knew that when they eventually met Adam, they’d hero worship him. Adam had already told me he wanted to go and support them at their football practices and take them to watch United play. He’d be the perfect older brother. At least two members of my family would be happy for me.

But I had to admit, I felt a little guilty as I wandered down the steps of my childhood home, wearing a simple silk full-length white sundress with delicate straps over my shoulders. Knowing what I was about to do today made me tingle with excitement, and yet, there was a slight regret that I hadn’t invited my brothers or my friends for that matter. But I took a deep breath as I opened the car door and reminded myself that this day was our day. A day for Adam and I. No distractions, no drama, just us letting each other know how much we loved and cherished one another. Forever.

I closed the car door and glanced at the small white bouquet that sat on the passenger seat beside me. My hair was down but I had pinned it up at sides, and I reached across to pick a few of the smaller flowers out of the arrangement, then using my car mirror, I tucked them into my hair. I might not have a fancy tiara, but the flowers made me feel special.

I drove the short distance to the Sandland registry office in town and parked up right opposite the building. When I saw him leaning up against the wall, dressed in his black suit, crisp white shirt, and black tie, with his hands in his trouser pockets, my heart flipped. The fire that always burned inside of me whenever I saw him burst into uncontrollable flames. He looked fucking gorgeous, and I couldn’t believe that he was all mine.

I stayed in my car, watching him. The stalker had become the stalked, and I studied the way he hung his head, trying to look inconspicuous but still scanning the street, watching and noticing everything. The way his leg shook slightly with nervous energy, as if he couldn’t ever stay totally relaxed, there was always an edge to him. And then he pulled out his mobile and grinned, lifting his head to look straight at me. That smile, the one meant just for me, made my stomach roll over with excitement. This was it. I was about to make him mine forever. No get-out clause. And I couldn’t wait another minute.

I got out of the car, holding my small bouquet and my clutch bag and headed over to him. Both of us not breaking eye contact as I crossed the street then stood in front of him.

“You look beautiful.” He brushed his fingers through the strands of my hair and smiled, then he cupped my cheek and leant in to kiss me delicately on the lips. “You always look beautiful, but today you’re stunning.”

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” I said, staring up into his eyes and getting lost there for a moment.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, and when he saw my eyes widen slightly, he added, “I mean without your friends. Are you sure you want it to be just us?”

“It’s always been about us. I don’t want it any other way,” I reassured him.

He nodded and then reached into his trouser pocket, pulled out his closed fist and held it out in front of him. Then when he turned it over, I saw a single shell in the palm of his hand.

“What is this?” I laughed, taking it from him. “Don’t tell me you kept one of my shells from all those years ago.”

“No.” He shook his head and I saw a slight blush appear in his cheeks. That was new. Was he embarrassed? I’d never seen Adam like this before.

“I got it this morning,” he told me. “I wanted to give you something to remind you that I think you’re a badass too.” My heart–that was already beating double time–did a little back flip at his words. “It’s not Tiffany, but–”

“It’s better than Tiffany’s,” I butted in. “It’s you. Nothing fancy, no frills, just you. That’s what I love about you. What you see is what you get.”

“Damn right,” he said, putting his arms around me and pulling me to him. “I’ll never change.”

“I hope not. I love you for you. I’d marry you in rags with a plastic ring if I had to.”

He pulled back slightly to kiss me and said, “I have gold bands for both of us. No need to pretend on that score. Everything about today is real.”

“In that case…” I reached into my clutch and pulled out the single white carnation I had in there and pinned it to the lapel of his suit jacket. “Gotta have both of us looking the part.”

We held hands as we walked up the steps of Sandland registry office, ready to say our vows. I didn’t feel a single doubt in my heart as we headed through the main reception area to the room we were going to get married in. We’d already told the registrar that we weren’t bringing any guests, so when we got there, we saw the witnesses that they’d organised for us sat in the designated seats. I didn’t walk down the aisle to music as a nervous Adam looked on. Instead, we walked down together, holding hands. United in our promises to one another even before we’d made it official. I’d always be standing at his side, and he’d always be at mine. Today was no different.

The registrar started the service, and even though we could hear his voice, we didn’t look at anyone else, only each other. As he asked Adam to repeat the words after him, telling him to state that he solemnly declared that there was no lawful impediment why he couldn’t marry me, Adam repeated every word with love and conviction burning in his eyes. I never knew love could feel so all-consuming until Adam. I’d die for this man stood in front of me, holding both my hands in his and saying his vows like they were the last words he’d ever speak.

When my turn came, I repeated my vows back to him, squeezing his hands in mine as I did and taking deep breaths as I felt the tears sting my eyes. When it came time to exchange rings, we were both shaking from the intensity of the moment. I placed my ring on his finger and he smiled and then placed his ring on mine. Then we threaded our fingers together, both of us looking down at our hands and feeling the surge of love flow through us.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the registrar announced.

“Thank fuck for that,” Adam answered and took my face in both of his hands, kissing me like a starving man.

The witnesses clapped and I laughed into the kiss as we both stood there with our arms wrapped around each other like we were the only ones in the room.

We signed all the paperwork that was necessary, and Adam put it all into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.

“Come on then, Mrs Noble.” He smirked as he threw his arm around my shoulders and led me to the exit. “Let’s go and consummate the fuck out of this marriage.”

I laughed back at him. This was a night I was never going to forget.

“Are we going straight back to the asylum?” I asked him. We had agreed to move into his room until we could find an apartment of our own.

“Nope. I’ve booked the honeymoon suite for the next few days at the Park Avenue Hotel.” He glanced down at me and added, “Did you really think I’d spend my wedding night with those four fuckers back home lurking about outside? Not a fucking chance.”

“What about your shoulder?” I asked, furrowing my brow at the arm that was still bandaged underneath his shirt.

“I’ve taken enough painkillers to numb that fucker for the time being. Don’t worry, Mrs Noble, I’m good to go. Your needs are my upmost priority from now on.”

“I like the idea of that.” I winked, then when we got to the bottom of the steps, I stopped and turned to face him. “Don’t ever stop loving me, Adam Noble, because I swear to God, if you do, I’ll make your stalking look like child’s play. You’re my whole fucking world. I hope you know that.”

He sighed and took a step to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his forehead against mine.

“I will love you in this life and the next. I’ll always love you. You’re my Olivia. The only person in this goddamn world that I ever have and ever will love. It’s you. It’s always been you. It will always be you. Always and forever.”

“Damn, you always say the right things.” I sighed, leaning into him and closing my eyes.

“Not always. I’ve made enough mistakes in my life, but you? You’re the one thing I got right.” He placed a gentle kiss on the end of my nose that made me wrinkle it and give a soft sigh. “Now come on, Mrs Noble. We have the rest of our lives for all this soppy shit. I have a bottle of champagne waiting for us, a king size bed that needs to be christened, and–”

“And you wait and see what presents I packed for us in my suitcase.” I winked and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the car. I threw my car keys at him, and he caught them. “You can drive,” I stated. “I like you in the driving seat.”

He smacked my ass as I got into the car and then he closed the door for me and walked round to the driver’s side.

“I’ll always be in the driving seat. Buckle up.” He winked across at me as he started the engine. “Life’s about to get exciting.”

The End…