Chapter 45: Sixty Seven Days...
Chapter 45
The weeks that followed settled into something Rowe hadn’t dared hope for—not peace exactly, but a kind of forward motion that no longer demanded constant vigilance against the next ambush.
Frank’s office became a second home, stacks of legal briefs, appraisal reports, and property surveys slowly transforming the eleven-million-dollar nightmare into something almost manageable.
A formal distribution plan emerged, drafted jointly by Deborah’s newly appointed legal team and Frank himself.
The proposal divided the disputed property three ways between Rowe, Raven, and Doc, while carving out a separate settlement guaranteeing the Iron Reapers permanent operational rights to the compound and the surrounding acreage they had called home for more than three decades.
"It’s not perfect," Frank admitted one afternoon, sliding the latest draft across his desk. "Doc’s attorney is still arguing for a larger percentage based on his direct paternal claim compared to your grandchild claim through Cal."
He leaned back with a tired sigh.
"But we’re close."
A faint smile tugged at his mouth.
"Closer than I ever expected we’d get."
Rowe looked down at the paperwork.
"Where this started was a murder."
She closed the file gently.
"I’ll take close."
Doc had settled fully back into life at the compound clinic.
Watching him work had become one of Rowe’s unexpected comforts.
He stitched scraped hands.
Set broken fingers.
Scolded bikers for ignoring infections.
The same steady hands that had once frightened her because of everything they’d concealed were now healing openly, honestly.
One quiet afternoon she found him alone in the clinic.
An old photograph hung above his desk.
The picture of the four brothers from the hidden ledger.
No longer concealed behind a false wall.
Displayed where everyone could see it.
"You alright?" she asked.
Doc looked at the photograph before answering.
"Better than I expected."
He smiled faintly.
"It’s strange."
"Having people finally know who I really am."
He looked back at her.
"It feels... lighter."
Rowe followed his gaze to Elias’ face in the faded photograph.
"Elias would be proud."
Doc blinked.
"What?"
"Watching you finally live as yourself."
Emotion broke through his usual composure.
His throat tightened.
"No one’s ever said anything like that to me."
"They should have."
Rowe smiled gently.
"That’s what family’s supposed to do."
She left him standing beneath the photograph, feeling one more fractured piece of the family slowly find its place.
That evening she found Reaper waiting on the back steps.
Two bottles of beer rested beside him.
He handed one over as she sat.
"Frank called."
She glanced sideways.
"Good news?"
"The hearing got moved."
She frowned.
"Earlier."
"Judge wants the criminal case against Marcus and the civil property dispute heard together."
He took a drink.
"Thirty-one days."
Rowe’s stomach tightened.
"That’s... fast."
"Frank thinks it’s better."
He shrugged.
"Less time for anyone else to exploit the situation."
Silence settled comfortably between them.
Then Reaper spoke again.
"Rowan."
She looked at him.
"I need to ask you something."
His voice carried a seriousness that immediately caught her attention.
"But I need you to actually think before answering."
She smiled nervously.
"You’re making me worried."
"I’m serious."
"So am I."
She set her bottle down.
"I’m listening."
He turned fully toward her.
"Whatever happens after the hearing..."
"Whatever happens with the land."
"With the club."
"With the money."
"I don’t want our life to be built around any of it."
He took a slow breath.
"I’ve loved you since before I had any right to."
Her heart skipped.
"I spent five years convincing myself the best thing I could do was stay away."
"I told myself sending you away made me a better man."
His eyes met hers.
"It didn’t."
"It just made me lonely."
"Jax..."
He smiled softly.
"Let me finish."
She nodded.
"I’ve watched this family waste decades waiting for the perfect time to tell each other the truth."
"There is no perfect time."
"I’m done waiting."
Slowly, he reached inside his cut.
Rowe’s breath caught.
Wrapped carefully in faded cloth was the founder’s ring.
Elias’ ring.
But it wasn’t the same.
It had been resized.
Smaller.
Made for her hand.
"I had it altered."
He unfolded the cloth carefully.
"I thought buying a new ring felt wrong."
His thumb brushed over the old family crest.
"Elias never got to build the life he wanted with the woman he loved."
He looked at Rowe.
"Maybe it’s time this ring meant something besides grief."
Tears filled her eyes.
She made no attempt to stop them.
Reaper took one knee in front of her.
The desert wind whispered softly through the compound.
Above them, the same stars that had witnessed gunfire, betrayal, murder, and confession now watched something entirely different.
Hope.
"Rowan Callahan."
His voice trembled.
"Will you marry me?"
"Not because of the club."
"Not because of the Kane name."
"Not because of eleven million dollars."
He smiled.
"But because I can’t imagine whatever comes next without you standing beside me."
Rowe never let him finish placing the ring on her finger.
She leaned forward and kissed him.
"Yes."
Another kiss.
"Yes."
She laughed through tears.
"Completely."
"Always."
"Yes."
He slipped the ring onto her hand anyway.
Then wrapped both arms around her and lifted her off the porch.
For one suspended moment...
The murders.
The inheritance.
The trust.
The hearing.
Forty years of buried lies.
All of it disappeared.
There were only two people.
Choosing each other.
Openly.
In daylight.
When they finally pulled apart, both laughing and breathless, Reaper rested his forehead against hers.
"I love you, Rowan Callahan."
His smile widened.
"No matter what surname you decide to wear after all this is over."
She looked down at the ring.
The crest that had once symbolized murder and betrayal now gleamed beneath the moonlight on her finger.
Hope had inherited grief.
"I love you too."
She squeezed his hand.
"Kane."
"Callahan."
"Whatever name the paperwork gives me."
She smiled.
"I’m not going anywhere."
Movement inside the kitchen caught her eye.
Elena stood at the window with tears streaming freely down her face.
Beside her, Piper was already pulling out her phone, grinning through her own tears.
Ghost clapped Reaper on the shoulder.
Viper was laughing loudly enough for the entire compound to hear.
Someone inside had already started cheering.
For the first time in longer than Rowe could remember...
Seeing her family gathered together didn’t make her wonder who might be watching from the shadows.
It simply felt like home.
Thirty-one days remained until the hearing.
For the first time since riding back into this town...
Rowe found herself looking forward to whatever came next.
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