by Lane Hart
“Wow,” I mutter to myself as everyone else reacts.
“They said I, does that mean it’s only one person?” Maddox speaks up and asks.
“That’s a possibility,” Reece agrees. “One angry Russian could be more dangerous than twenty, though, because it’s easier for him to hide.”
“Dammit,” Torin grumbles. “How do we find him?”
“I’m running down close friends and family members of the men we killed. If I had to bet, I would put money on a close connection.”
“Keep at it and let us know if you find out anything else,” Torin says.
“Could someone please write all this shit down for me?” Cooper shouts, not only because his hearing is still fucked up but also because he’s angry we’re leaving him out.
“I’ve got it,” Dalton says since he’s sitting next to Coop. “Anyone got some paper and pen?” he asks, which of course reminds me of Isobel and her bucket list she always had close at hand.
“Ah, here,” I say when I retrieve the tiny notepad and pen she gave me from my back pocket and toss it down in front of Dalton.
“Do you keep your deep dark secrets in here or what?” he asks. “Doodle Isobel’s name in hearts, maybe?”
My glare tells him that I’m not in the mood to joke. But it does segue into the discussion we need to have now despite everything else we have going on.
“There’s something all of you need to know, and it has to do with Isobel,” I start. When I have their attention, I give them the cold hard truth. “The governor has a drone video from Escapades the night we killed the Russians. You can see us going in and coming out clearly enough to identify everyone at the table that was there.”
“Holy shit,” someone mutters, followed by more swears.
“It gets worse,” I warn them. “The video also shows Ivan’s guys throwing out the trash into a food truck. And Washington had the food truck followed all the way to the dump where they confiscated some of the bags of body parts.”
Once I finish talking, the room is silent as they all try to digest just how fucked we are.
Eventually, Miles huffs and throws his hands up saying, “I knew it was too fucking easy!”
“But wait,” Chase says as he rubs his fingers over his beard. “If the governor has this shit on us, why are we sitting here instead of in jail right now?”
“Because of Isobel,” I say simply.
“She talked him out of it?” Torin asks.
“No, Lawrence, the governor, made me a deal. If I could rein in his wild child, convince her to go back to her old life and make amends with him so she could help his campaign, then he would leave us alone. He said we actually did him a favor by taking out the heroin trade trash.”
“Is this what you and Isobel were yelling about?” War asks.
“Yes, I came clean with her right after I told her father that I’m done manipulating her for him.”
“What the fuck?” Torin snaps. “How can you be done when that means we’re all screwed?”
“Because she has a fatal genetic disease, the same disease that killed her mother when she was a kid. At best, she has ten good years left before she ends up in a wheelchair, unable to take care of herself. I can’t make her give up on her bucket list to save our asses!”
“Shit. So what the hell are we going to do?” Abe asks.
“Hopefully the photos she gave me will be enough blackmail on the governor that he’ll keep his blackmail to himself. I’m sorry. I think it’s over, but I can’t guarantee anything. He could come after us again, wanting something else. We need to face the fact that we’re fucked.”
“No fucking kidding,” Torin grumbles.
“And, ah, there’s something else I finally need to get off my chest,” I tell them. “I’ve never really felt like I belonged with you, with the Savage Kings. When I first started prospecting way back when, I was actually working for the DEA. If I had learned anything about the Kings dealing hard drugs, I would’ve helped them take the MC down.”
“Why the hell would you do that?” Torin asks as he and the other guys all glower at me.
“Because the girl I loved died in your bar from a drug overdose! I thought the Kings were dealing and were responsible. After I spent some time with you guys, I found out I was wrong. It was the Aryans.”
“April Neil,” Reece says.
“Yeah. How do you remember her name?” I ask him.
“Just do. A kid Chase knew brought her into the bar when she started seizing, but it was too late; she was gone. We made the one responsible pay.”
“I know that now,” I tell him. “I didn’t until I started prospecting. I even tried to turn in my prospect cut to Deacon when I figured out the Kings weren’t involved, but he wouldn’t take it. He told me the MC needed me; ‘a true north to guide the club in the right direction’ or some silliness.”
“Did you or Deacon know he was working for the DEA?” Chase asks Reece while pointing his finger at me.
“If he did, he never told me. This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Reece responds.
“Well, now you all know the whole truth. I’m a fraud,” I admit.
Slipping my arms out of my cut, I tell them, “I don’t deserve to wear the Savage King patch and never have.” Folding up the leather and placing it on the table, I look to Gabe and say, “I’ll cover up the ink on my back as soon as Gabe can black it out; then you all can decide on my punishment.”
“No,” Torin grits out.
“No?” I repeat before understanding dawns on me. “No, I guess I don’t need to bother covering up the ink. I’m a dead man, so no one will ever see it again. Do you even need to vote?” I ask.
“I meant no, don’t cover up the tat because you’re a Savage King as much as any of us. You’ve gone above and beyond everything we asked of you,” Torin responds, which is the last thing I expected. “Not that I speak for everyone,” he adds. “What say ye?”
“I second Torin,” Chase says.
“I third,” War responds.
“Anyone opposed to Sax keeping his patch and office?” Torin asks, and there’s complete silence other than Dalton’s scribbling in the tiny notepad.
“Then it’s done.”
“You’re serious?” I say in disbelief.
“You never hurt the MC, did you?” Torin asks.
“No, I told the DEA I was wrong, that the drugs that killed April came from the Aryans.”
“Then no harm, no foul,” he replies. “And what you did with Isobel, to try and protect us all, that took guts, man. Whatever happens, we’ll handle it, though, as a group.”
“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” I mutter, my tongue feeling too thick to speak.
“Say you’ll put your fucking cut back on,” Chase tells me.
“Yeah, ah, okay,” I reply before having to clear my throat. “I appreciate you all being so cool about all this, truly I do. But, um, I still may resign from my office and, ah, ask if I can transfer to the nomads.”
“Why?” Abe asks.
“Isobel?” Chase asks.
“Yeah,” I answer. “She’s not going to settle down, and I don’t want her to. I just want to go where she goes, before her time is up. That is, if she’ll ever forgive me.”
“All in favor of Saxon Cole transferring his membership to nomad if he so decides?” Torin asks.
“Yea,” everyone says, and then Torin slams his gavel down. “Just say the word and I’ll start the paperwork to assign you to the nomads, if you decide that’s what you want. Even if you do, you’ll always be a member of this charter, and we’ll always have a seat for you at our table if you change your mind. Or if Isobel changes hers.”
“Thanks, guys,” I say, blinking back the moisture in my eyes. Even after all these years, I never felt like I belonged at the table with these men until now.
“Well,” Chase starts. “I don’t know about you, fuckers, but I need to see my woman. I say we cram in the van and haul ass do
wn to South Carolina. No bikes; just us and our families.”
“Agreed,” Torin says along with the others.
“I think I’ll take my chances out there and try to get my girl back,” I tell them.
Dalton scribbles down our plans for Cooper, who sullenly says, “I need to find Jenna’s kid. But you guys have fun. And good luck, man.”
He offers me a fist bump across the table that I hit.
“You gonna be okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he says. “I’m getting better at the lip reading. Although, I should probably get me one of those writing boards.”
“Take care, and I’ll check in with you when I’m back,” I tell him, and he gives a nod of agreement.
I get the feeling he could use some time alone. And I’m probably going to have my hands full whenever I find out what country Isobel is currently charming.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Isobel
“So, what’s your plan now, Izzie?” Danny asks as we stand outside in his backyard while he grills the steaks we’re having for dinner.
“I hate to do it because my father will believe it’s all his idea, but I think I would like to try to get my license back. Is that just a crazy pipe dream?” I ask him.
“God, no,” he says as he flips the steaks. “I can put in a good word for you with Doug Hannagan on the Board. And I know they would give it back to you if Lawrence asked…”
“No, I want to do it without his help,” I say. “If I can’t, then I’ll try to be a CNA or something else in the medical field. I just want to help people. I miss it, you know?”
“Yeah, I thought you would eventually,” he replies with a smile as he lays down the spatula to face me.
“I’ve been selfish trying to knock out my entire bucket list, only thinking about myself. I could do both, right?” I ask him. “I mean on vacations I could cross off bucket list items while still giving back.”
“I’m really glad you came around to nursing again. That’s where you belong, Izzie,” Danny says before he leans over and kisses my cheek. When his lips cover mine, I immediately pull away.
“No, Danny. This…no,” I tell him. “We’re friends. That’s all. I-I thought you knew that.”
“We could try to be more. It could be amazing,” he says.
“I love Sax,” I blurt out without even thinking about it.
“Bullshit, you were just pretending you were with him to piss off your father. I know you, Izzie, better than anyone,” he replies.
“Sax was working for my father, actually,” I admit as I look down at my fidgeting, slightly trembling hands. “Not that I knew that at the time, but he was blackmailing him to manipulate me. Did you know?” I ask curiously since Daniel and my father are close.
“What? No, of course not! I would’ve told you if I did,” he declares, and I actually believe him. He’s never lied to me before.
“Well, it doesn’t matter now anyway,” I say with a heavy sigh. “Sax and I are over, and I caved. My father will get what he wanted and leave Sax alone.”
“He was blackmailing him? Something serious?” Danny asks.
“Yeah?”
“What was it?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” I say again. I’ll never tell anyone about the murder. “I took care of it.” Despite what I know, I’m certain that Sax and the guys must have had a damn good reason to risk themselves like that. And I couldn’t let those guys take the fall just because my father is a manipulative asshat.
“So you’re back here because you love Sax and want to protect him?” Danny asks.
“Yeah, unfortunately. But also, I need more in my life to be happy, more than a selfish list of wants. I want to do something good, something worthwhile too. I realize that now.”
“You’re gonna get your license back, and then you can come work for me again,” he says confidently. “The kids love you and so do I,” he starts, and I know he’s going to try and convince me that we could be more when I know in my heart Danny and I will only ever be friends.
“I’m not sure if working for you is a good idea, or if I should keep staying here with you,” I tell him honestly. “I don’t want to lead you on, and I really do wish I felt the same about you as I do about an outlaw.”
“I wish you would stay, but I guess you’re right. Maybe it is best,” he agrees.
“Besides, I don’t think I want to go back to working with kids. It’s just too hard,” I remark. “I’ll figure out where to go next if the Board lets me.”
God knows I could use the distraction of keeping myself busy with nursing if they reinstate me. Anything to take my mind off of Sax.
Sax
“Where’s Isobel?” I ask when I march right up to the governor’s front door and wait impatiently for him to come talk to me.
“She’s settling down, doing what I wanted her to do, thanks to you,” he says.
“Wait. What the hell are you talking about?” I ask with my hands braced on my hips. I had assumed she was in Europe or some shit by now and I was going to be on the next flight there.
“She obviously cares about you and your gang since she was willing to stick around and agreed to do a few events with me. She even gave me a few million for my campaign.”
“Why would she do that?” I ask. “You’re a dick.”
“You really are dense,” he says on an exhale. “I just told you! She cares about you and wants to protect you.”
“She shouldn’t,” I tell him. “I have the photos she gave me to hold over your head.”
“I should’ve known that she was behind those.”
“Fuck your reelection. She’s your daughter. Your only daughter! You need to let her go – let her live life while she still can on her own terms,” I tell the jackass.
“I think Isobel has finally figured out what I’ve known all along – the only thing worth living for is protecting those you love. I tried to protect her mother from her illness; and when I of course failed, I tried to protect my daughter from witnessing her dreadful future. Watching Lily slip away a little more each day was agonizing.”
“You saw her even after you threw her into the nursing home?” I ask.
“Every day,” he responds. “Usually while Isobel was in school or with her friends or the nanny on the weekends. I couldn’t resist seeing Lily even though it nearly killed me in the end when she couldn’t speak to me or stop shaking. When she could talk, she told me to stop coming, to move on, find someone else, a ‘real’ mother for Isobel. She didn’t understand that I couldn’t ever love anyone else again.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him truthfully. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to lose the woman you love so slowly and painfully. “You did what you thought was best for Isobel, to help her have a normal life?”
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted for her. I don’t want to see her suffer, ever. Maybe one of your biker buddies can kill me once she has to be hospitalized.”
“That can probably be arranged,” I agree. “Besides, she won’t need you there to take care of her then. That’ll be my job. I hope.”
“You’re stubborn,” he says. “Good. My daughter deserves nothing less, and she deserves better than the likes of you.”
“I love her,” I admit to him.
“You’re a murderer.”
“Not technically,” I reply. “There’s no blood on my hands directly, but I have stood by and watched them happen. I would do it again too.”
“You don’t have any regrets with the Russians?” he asks.
“No. They came after one of my brothers and were extorting money from his in-laws. They had to be dealt with.”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he says, “I’ll make you a deal. If any more trash needs to be taken out, you’ll be my garbage men.”
“As long as they deserve it, we could probably help,” I agree. “The guys would have to vote on it to approve it.”
“Then I give you permission to date my daughter. If tha
t’s what she wants,” he agrees.
“I didn’t need your permission, but I guess it will make things easier,” I respond. “Now, tell me where she is. How do I find her?”
“The last time I saw her, Isobel told me she was going to Danny’s,” he says, which drives the knife in my heart a little deeper.
“What’s his address?” I ask on a sigh, because I don’t care if she’s sleeping with him or not, I still want to be with her, if she can forgive me. In fact, I deserve every second of the pain.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sax
“I need to talk to Isobel,” I tell the asshole through clenched teeth when he comes into his office wearing goofy-ass scrubs with cars or some shit on them. Her father gave me his home address, but it was a weekday, and no one was there. Or, if Isobel was there, she didn’t answer the door. So, I decided to pay the good doctor a personal visit at work instead.
“She’s no longer staying with me,” he says.
Grabbing his throat, I pin him to the wall. “If you’re lying to me, I’ll kill you.”
“She’s not,” Danny squeaks.
“Where can I find her?” I ask, releasing my grip on his throat.
“She said she was getting her own place, but I don’t know the address,” he says while rubbing the sides of his neck, which is disappointing. “But right now I know where she’s at. She’s meeting with the Board to try and get her nursing license back.”
“Seriously?” I ask. “She wants to go back into nursing? Why isn’t she traveling the world or whatever?”
“She said she realized she missed helping others. Guess traveling on her own wasn’t fun anymore.”
“I don’t understand…”
“She loves you.”
“She loves me? She said that?” I ask.