Lastly, I ask about Amara and I discover she’s missing. This man took her with him and no one can find her. They have people looking into where he might’ve taken her . . . but so far nothing has turned up.
Good God. I feel as though I’m in a movie, that this can’t be reality.
Sakura tells me the room he’s in and asks if she wants me to go with her. I tell her I’ll be fine and walk down the hallway, make a left and go up to the charge nurse’s station. The woman asks me who I’m here to see, even though I have the number, she gives me the room number he’s in again and I walk down the bleach smelling halls until I’m at room 116. He has a private room and I see Damon is by his side in the chair. Dixon is currently asleep, though Damon sees me and stands, coming over to me.
“Hey,” He speaks lowly.
“Hi . . . how are you doing?” His sister is missing and I can’t begin to contemplate the way he’s feeling.
Damon sucks in a breath and I notice the way his eyes are red and bloodshot. “I’m okay.” It’s obvious to me he’s lying. It doesn’t surprise me though. He’s the Prez. Of course, he wants to stay strong and look like none of this is affecting him. I grab Damon’s hand with my own and give him a reassuring squeeze, “You know you’re allowed to hurt, right?
He shakes his head, “No, I need to be the strong one right now. Everyone else is feeling a certain way and I have to keep my shit together for them. I can’t let them see me . . . like this.”
For the first time since I’ve met Damon, I see a man who’s struggling with his duty and his emotions. “Alright. I understand that. So, here’s what we’ll do. You won’t lose your shit in front of them, ‘cause you’re going to let it all out right here. I won’t tell a soul, but you need to let these emotions out.” I say, and he seems to be taken aback a bit.
“No, I don’t need to. I’m fine.” He argues, trying to play the typical role of the strong man.
“Damon. You aren’t fine. Your little sister was just taken by a man who only wants to hurt us, and you can’t find her. It’s okay to not be okay right now. God, I can’t imagine how you’re feeling.” I say, and he nods his head slowly, pressing his lips together and I see the way he squints his eyes. Water fills his eyes and he loses his shit.
“I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose her. She’s my best friend.” He cries, admitting his truth.
I keep holding his hand but I feel like it isn’t enough. I wrap my arms around him and hold the man who’s barely keeping it together. The man who’s breaking bit by bit with the reality of what’s happened. A man who oozes strength and leadership, yet is scared beyond measure at what could be happening to his sister.
Now, I’ve seen Amara and Damon argue. They don’t get along well, but one thing I’ll never doubt is how much they both love the other.
Damon pulls away from my embrace, wipes his eyes and leaves the room. I won’t tell anyone about what just happened, keeping the promise I made to him.
Dixon starts to stir, so I go take a seat beside him and hold his hand. He seems so peaceful, yet the way lines form in the center of his head tell me he’s troubled or in a bit of pain. He opens his eyes and spots me and now I’m the one struggling to keep my emotions in check. Though, I suppose I should take a note from my own book and allow my feelings to come out.
“I was really worried about you,” I confess, tears forming at the corners of my eyes.
“Pfft, you don’t have to worry ‘bout me. I’m superhuman, Zen.”
The door creaks and I look up to see Dixon’s dad walking in. I thought Damon shut the door, but maybe I was wrong? “Hey, killer.” He says to Dixon, then his eyes fall on me. “I’m surprised to see your ass here.”
Immediately, I’m caught off guard yet again. I don’t understand what this man’s problem is with me. “What the fuck are you talkin’ to her like that for?” Dixon growls, saying something before I could.
“She’s just some thot. Ain’t no way this is your woman,” His father tells him, glaring at me like I’m the enemy.
God, I will never understand the reason for prejudice. We all know why he’s treating me this way. It’s not because I’m a thot, or look like a skank, or any of that— it’s classic racism. The reason he dislikes me so much is because of the color of my skin.
“Get the fuck out,” Dixon tells him.
“No, I’m not getting out. You’ve just been hurt and you’re gonna need someone to take care of ya.” His dad says.
Dixon chuckles, “Yeah, and you’re gonna do that? You never took care of me once in my entire life. When Mom died you went and fucked up, got thrown in the fuckin’ slammer on purpose. You didn’t want the responsibility of havin’ to care for a child. And don’t even tell me you didn’t do it on purpose. I know you did.”
Silence fills the room and I believe we all have confirmation this is the truth. His dad rolls his eyes, “Man, this bitch has changed you. I thought you wanted to have a family, for us to be a family. I’ll make it simple, you either want her in your life, or you want me. What will it be, kiddo?”
Dixon glances to me and then his father. “Fuck you and your narrow-mindedness. I didn’t need you in my life back then, and I sure as fuck don’t need you now. You don’t get to show up here after years of bein’ away and demand shit. I fuckin’ love this woman right here. I want her to be mine forever, alright? The choice is an easy one to make, ‘cause you’ve given up on me plenty of times and she never will. Now get your bigot ass out of my hospital room before I get them to call security.”
Dixon’s dad seems surprised. He isn’t too shocked to grimace at Dixon, though. “You’ll regret this. You might not believe me now, but you will regret it son, and I won’t be here for you when you do.”
“Get the fuck out you old, deaf bastard.” Dixon hollers.
Dixon’s dad leaves the room and I sit here in disbelief at what just happened. Dixon not only stuck up for me, but he told me just how much he loves me. In fact, he made a declaration of his love.
Now, that’s something I wasn’t quite expecting.
Epilogue
Sometimes life has a cruel sense of humor, giving you the thing you always wanted at the worst time possible.
~ Lisa Kleypas
Dixon
6 weeks later . . .
“You doing okay, babe?” Indra asks just like the angel she is. We’re at the clubhouse having a late celebration for Labor Day. After I had surgery recovery took over my life. For almost a month I was usin’ a walker like some old ass motherfucker. Now I’m usin’ a cane, but hey, I’ll take it. All things considered I think I’m damn lucky. The docs made sure to tell me things could’ve been much worse.
Chaz on the other hand, he wasn’t so lucky. His hands were broken in multiple places and he had to have total reconstruction surgery on both hands. From what Sakura told me, rods, plates and pins were put in his hands to hold them into place. He had the option to do the surgeries one at a time but chose to get them both outta the way. I’ve seen him a bit since we’re kinda in this shit together. He’s not doin’ well. He’s angrier, snaps easily. What happened really fucked with him. I tried to lighten up his mood by tellin’ him he looked like somethin’ outta a sci-fi movie, but it didn’t help.
“I’m fine, Zen. What’re you worried about, me breakin’ a hip?” I joke with her. One thing I’ve learned through this experience is how I can’t let anythin’ bring me down. Shit happened and now I have to make light of the situation because there isn’t any other option.
“Those jokes aren’t funny, and they never will be.” Indra grumbles.
“They’re not funny to you. I happen to think they’re hysterical,” I tell her, glancin’ across the yard to see Chaz is sittin’ next to Cobra. Those two might bicker but they get along like two peas in a pod. Izzy sits across from Chaz. Meanwhile Kat and Damon sit at his table too. Even from here I can see the contraption helpin’ his hands heal and it hits me deep in my gut. Sakura went to his las
t appointment with him and she told me he might have the pin rods in his hands for a year. It could be longer. Everything depends on how he heals. She said it set him off, that he got pissed and told the doc to take ‘em out now. Sakura had to calm him down and remind him if they did that, he would never get the full function of his hands back.
Damon sticks around him a lot, and personally I don’t think it’s because of him wantin’ to keep an eye on Chaz. Damon’s been different since Amara’s been missin’, and with no leads, he’s growing a tad bitter too. No way is he givin’ up though, and no one here in the club is. Amara is one of us and we’re gonna find her. One way or another, we’ll fuckin’ find her.
“Oh, they’re here!” Indra turns all of a sudden as the sound of tires rolling against the gravel mixed with dirt lane approaches us. We invited her parents out here to the barbeque so they could get a better idea of what this club lifestyle is like.
I met them two days after my hip surgery. Her momma, shit, she loves me . . . but her daddy thinks I’m still this big, bad, burley biker. Indra mentioned how she and her dad had a bad fight before she came to see me in the hospital that day, but afterward he apologized and explained he only wants the best for her.
That’s where we have shit in common. I want the best for Indra too and I’m damn well gonna make sure I’m the one givin’ it to her. It’s why I spoke to Damon about buildin’ us an actual house here on the property. We have acres upon acres and . . . shit, she’d kill me if she knew what I was thinkin’ but, I wanna see her stomach swell with more kids. I don’t want just one. I want a whole fuckin’ house full of rugrats. I wanna see them with her hair, that light mocha skin and my eyes. I wanna see the mixture of my attitude with her kindness. Fuck. I just want to explore as much as I can with her in this life.
Damon agreed and did somethin’ with the county to give me the rights to obtain permits and start buildin’. A contractor came out here yesterday and he went through everything with me so I know what to expect. First things first and I gotta get a blueprint. So, I’ve tricked Indra into helpin’ me. She believes the house that’s bein’ built on the property is an extension of the brothel girls’. I might’ve totally lied to her and said we were hirin’ more girls and needed a place for them. I also might’ve made her believe Damon put me in charge of makin’ sure it gets ready and shit.
Indra has been givin’ me her interior design stuff and all that. Little does she realize when I ask her ‘Well, what would you do if it was your house?’ is actually ‘cause it’ll be her damn house. Her lease just expired at the small two-bedroom house she was rentin’ so she and Jalen moved in with me.
I won’t tell her until the place is furnished it’s ours but fuck I wanna do it now. Keepin’ this secret is slowly killin’ me.
“Dixon, my boy. How are you?!” Indra’s mom asks as soon as she’s outta the car. She walks right up to me and wraps her arms around me. “You’re looking well! Gone from a walker to a cane. That’s good progress, right?”
“Yes ma’am,” I respond, still hatin’ the fact I’m usin’ a cane in the first place. But, beggars can’t be choosers.
Indra’s dad comes over to me an extends a hand as he always does, “Sir.”
“Son.” Now, I have to blink a couple times before I realize what he’s said. Every time he greets me he calls me by my first name. Never has he said this.
Indra physically backs up a step, covers her mouth to hide her smile and laughs. I shake hands with him and can’t hide my half-smile. “Guess this means you’ve finally come around?” I question, wantin’ a verbal confirmation for not only myself but Indra as well.
“You’re alright. You hurt my baby girl though and I’ll do worse to you than this guy did.” He motions to my hips and I chuckle along with him.
“You won’t have to ever worry about that, Sir. I won’t ever do anything to screw with your daughter. She’s a treasure, and I’m grateful to have both her and Jalen in my life.” Indra’s dad takes his hand from mine and since I’ve known him this is the first time he’s smiled at me.
“I’m glad to hear that. Now, I don’t know about my wife but I’m starving. Tell me you have some good grub to eat.”
I nod, “Oh, yes. Camila, Boog’s girl made a series of authentic Mexican dishes. Meanwhile, Kat and Indra went a little crazy on the barbeque. She even made some of those . . . God, what’re they called babe?”
“The cookie dough trifle?” She says, smirkin’. Damn she knows I love it.
I’m not sure where the future will take us, but things sure are lookin’ up. At least between me and Indra. The club still has a long way to go, but as always, we’ll get through it together. ‘Cause let’s be honest— we don’t have any other option.
Grab it Here: https://www.tinyurl.com/ZaneReapersMC
Authors Note
Dear Readers,
Wow. I can’t believe we’re here. Dixon is finally done and I’m . . . in awe? Or at least I think that’s what this is. Dixon and Indra’s story took me for a wild ride. I had an entire plotting book prepared for them, but both of the characters essentially told me to fuck it and do what they wanted— so I did.
I know some of you are probably going ‘what the fuck, Liz?!’ right now. I don’t blame you. If I was a reader, I would be doing it too. So, I’ll fill you in on what I have planned. Which is ironic since my plans keep changing per the characters.
Amara is going to be missing until her book, which will release in June after Zane. I haven’t put her book up for pre-order yet. Although, I’m thinking the last week of June. I have a very dark story planned for her. I know a lot of you don’t like her because of the mistakes she’s made in the past, along with some intense choices she’s made as well. For a long time I didn’t like Amara either, but I can’t say that anymore. Amara is perfectly flawed, just as we all are. It makes me even more excited to write her book. However, I have to get to Zane first!
Many of you have been waiting for his book for a very long time. I’m both excited and nervous to write his story. There’s been so many people who have asked me for his. So much anticipation puts me a little on edge if I’m honest.
I hope you enjoyed the book, and I’ll talk to you all soon.
Xoxo,
Liz
Zane
Reapers MC Book 11
Playlist
Nothing Good Comes Out of California — Maddie Poppe
Invisible Chains — Lauren Jauregui
Be Kind — Marshmello, Halsey
The Cure — Little Mix
F&MU — Kehlani
Sometimes — H.E.R.
Bloody Valentine — Machine Gun Kelly
Identity Crisis — Emily Weisband
Shameless — Camila Cabello
Something I’m Not — Emily Weisband
Tea — Lacy Cavalier
Missed Calls — MAX, Hayley Kiyoko
Monster In Me — Little Mix
Her — Anne-Marie
Together — for King & Country, Tori Kelly, Kirk Franklin
Worry About Me — Ellie Goulding, Blackbear
One Thing Right — Marshmello, Kane Brown
Rescue Me — Marshmello, A Day To Remember
Die For Me — Post Malone, Halsey, Future
Acknowledgments
My Betas, Courtnay, E.C., Jai, Chas, Tania, Janet, Taneesha, Kim, Isabelle, Heidi, Cynthia, Jojo, Vikki, & Lisa— I’ve never been more terrified than publishing this book, and I think you all can attest to that. While writing this story my nerves were shot. I don’t know if it was because of quarantine and being locked up in the house for over forty days, or because the plot changed so often. I had no idea where I wanted to end this book, and I still don’t know . . . which is ironic since I’ve almost ‘finished’ it. I just want to say how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you for helping boost me up when I need it the most. You ladies aren’t just my betas. You’re my friends.
My Cover Designer, Clarise— Than
k you for once again creating a masterpiece. You and I have been working together for years now, and I’ll never stray. We make a pretty good team if I do say so myself.
My Blogger Team— Y’all freaking rock. I can’t tell you how many emails I got asking when Zane’s story was coming. Well, it’s here, and lord . . . I hope y’all like it.
My Editor, Kim and Proofreader, Jackie— You two are the sole reason I can publish the way I do, as frequently as I do. I call us the dream team, but we really are. I want to show you both my appreciation once again for sticking with me, keeping up with my schedule and helping me put the best product I can out into the world. I know for a fact the readers appreciate it as well.
Rae, E.C., and Raven— Thank you ladies for not only being the best friends ever, but for helping keep me accountable as hell. I fell behind on my goals and schedule for this book, but you all checked in and made sure I was making some sort of headway. This is exactly why I love y’all.
Rae B. Lake
Yes, I’m really dedicating this to you. I can only imagine you’re screaming right now or crying. Hell, you could be doing both for all I know.
In case you’re still wondering— yes, this is really dedicated to you.
It’s hard for me to find the words to write this. I can’t deny that I’m teary eyed as hell while trying to figure out the right words to say.
You came into my life when I was at the lowest, and Lord, you know how low I was. I had thought— what I still feel to this day— during that time I had no redeeming or positive qualities as a friend. I was in the worst depression of my life, struggling with anxiety attacks every day, and you checked in. Not only that, you kept checking in. Most people would’ve left me hanging ‘cause no one wants to deal with that. However, you didn’t.
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