Beautiful Outlaw(94)

Clicking talk, I place it to my ear as I walk to my office. “Did you find him?”

After putting Marcus in the ground, my next priority was finding Red. It didn’t take long to figure out that he went underground. After months of looking, I was beginning to wonder if we would ever find the bastard. Then Rollo got a lead in North Carolina. He was right in the heart of Hellion territory, so I called Shooter to join the search.

“No, but Rex did.”

Fuck! I’m glad Red’s ass has been found, but I don’t like the idea of owing that mother-fucker a thing. “Is it done?”

“Yeah, it’s over, but now you owe his ass,” Shooter replies, reading my mind.

Having Red in the ground is a relief, but I wonder how fuckin’ much the deed will cost me. With the shit going down in Rex’s life, I’m sure I’ll be finding out soon. “Tell him just to call when he needs me. I’ll have his back.”

“He knows and don’t worry, he’ll be calling the marker in soon.”

We continue to shoot the shit for a minute, when I notice the clubhouse go quiet. “Brother, I gotta go.”

Sticking the phone in my pocket, I walk towards the door. It swings open, before I can even reach it. A second later, Tin walks in with a baby in his arms. “What the fuck? Whose kid is that”

His eyes move to mine and he says, “Mine.”





Five Years Later


Bonus Epilogue

I look across the bon-fire and smile. My dad is helping the kids make s’mores. I watch as my four year old son Tobias shoves one in his mouth, getting more chocolate on his clothes than in his mouth, and can’t stop a laugh from bubbling out.

A year after Bowie and I got married, Dad moved to Kentucky. With Mom gone and neither of his children in North Carolina, he decided that this was where he wanted to be. He rents a little house in town, not far from Nina’s. He’s here nearly every day playing with the kids. I love having him here, I just wish Mom could be at his side.

Jeremy steps in front of me, taking my attention from Dad. “I’m gonna do a beer run. You need me to pick up anything.”

My brother moved here a few months after Marcus died. He gave up his badge to look for Heather. After that, something happened between him and the woman that he was planning on marrying. He’s never told me exactly what happened between them, but whatever she did tore his life to shreds. She comes down to see him every few months, begging him to come back to North Carolina. Each time she does, he sinks further and further into himself.

“No, I think I got everything,” I say as I look to the beer in his hand. “Are you sure you should be driving?”

“I’m fine. No need to worry, sis,” He says as he raises his drink. “I’ve only had two.”

The brother I knew has disappeared. His obsession took him away from us, and I’m beginning to wonder if he’ll ever be found. He traded his badge for a cutt. He’s an Outlaw now and proud of it. He’s harder, doesn’t smile as often. He doesn’t come around much, prefers to spend his time at the clubhouse.

His life now revolves around the club and looking for Heather. He’s determined to find her or at least find her body, nothing else seems to matter to him. He gave up his life, to search for this woman. I understand the need to find her but don’t understand why it’s taken over his entire life.

I smile at him, hoping he can’t hear the worry in my voice. “Just be careful.”

Nodding his head, he turns and walks away. I watch until he reaches the side of the house then turn back to the party, bumping into to Nina.

“That boy worries me.”

I follow her eyes to the spot Jeremy just disappeared and nod. “Me too.”

“He’s full of hate. He has to get rid of it before he can find happiness.”

“I’m not sure what to do to help him.” I’ve tried everything I can to get him to give up his search, but he won’t even consider it.

“You can’t do anything. He has to fight his own demons. Just pray that, in the end, he finds the answers he seeks.”

“I do every day.”

Before she can reply, Toke walks to her side and wraps an arm around her shoulders. “The kids want to make you a s’more.”

She smiles up at him, before turning towards the fire. “My grandbabies know how much I love chocolate.”

I watch them walk away with a smile on my face then turn to see Tin-Man placing a marshmallow on a stick for his daughter. As soon as he’s done, Cori rushes back to the fire. I can hear her giggle as she pushes the marshmallow into the flames.

Walking over to him, I lean into his side. “She’s getting so big.”