I smiled when I burned his letters, knowing my son wouldn't come anywhere near the club.
Found out where Oki got buried. I spoke to a few guys in Spokane I was still on good terms with, and had them put up an extra marker next to Oki's grave, special insurance to make damned sure my family stayed safe, no matter what happened.
I bought them fancy new names.
The cartel wars kicked up, and we had far more to worry about than the shit inside the club. Threw everything I had at the Mexicans and then some, stacking up my sins higher than I piled up bodies.
Finn wrote me a lot, especially when he joined Uncle Sam. Basic training turned into hell for him in Afghanistan, and then I heard all about BUD/S. We talked several Christmases over the phone, always cut short when I asked about Lizzie.
He told me how much his ma still hated me.
Fuck.
I made a couple trips to Spokane and stopped just short of barging in on her, talking to the angel over her fake grave instead, standing over Oki's bones.
Roman went away to jail. New boys joined the crew. Sacramento fell to the cartel, and mother charter moved to Redding. We put our war with the Devils on hold after they beat us stupid, drove us away from Montana.
Brass, Rabid, Asphalt, Stryker. They helped me rig this MC with dynamite, blow it the fuck up, and put it back together again in my image.
I saw my opening, seized it by the balls, killing the asshole who'd caused all this grief with a few good men. Fang died, and I dreamed of him roasting in hell.
I traded my Enforcer patch for PRESIDENT. The Devils become brothers instead of rivals.
Roman got out of jail and found out he had a bride and kid waiting. Brass and Rabid got their girls. Asphalt fell to cupid's blow, swerving through the same club politics I'd suffered.
His happy ending came a whole lot sooner, thank fuck.
More cleanup. More romance. More blood spilled for the club, and this time it meant something. More weddings, more brands, more babies being born.
My hair turned from charcoal to ash, and old age pounced, beat me with a fucking stick. Everything took real effort now, especially since I'd taken that bullet near the hip – riding, wheeling, dealing, sometimes just holding the gavel.
I knew I wouldn't have too many years left as Prez, but I'd done it. I'd finally fucking done it.
I watched each and every one of my boys up at the altar, renewing their vows or making new ones, before we all took off for our big club outing. They knew I'd be breaking away for business with the Devils out east, but that was only cover.
I'd come to Spokane for a final answer from the woman who'd given me nothing but silence for two wicked decades. Whatever her choice, I had to know, before I took a hit I couldn't survive and they lowered me into the ground.
I'd already died for this club, and my family. Sure as shit didn't deserve any second chances, but hope springs eternal. And right now Hope rode my ass like a jockey out of hell.
Present Day
Still had my hand on the cold stone angel when I heard his voice behind me. “There you are, old man.”
I spun around. The kid looked at me. Half a foot taller than me, and even more built than I'd been at my peak. He wore his hair cut real close, just like the SEALs demanded, a jet black match for his loud green eyes.
He came up to me and we sized each other up. Last time I'd seen him, Oki was holding him there in the hospital, just a toddler on his grandfather's lap. I'd kissed him on the forehead then, something that wouldn't do for a man this big.
I threw my arms around him before he could say another word. Finn stood there, strong and tall as a tree, shaking when my hands ran down his back, hard as I hugged my brothers.
“Finn! Welcome home, son.”
Yeah, I fucking choked when I said the same word I used all the time for my boys. Maybe because it meant something more here, or maybe because I couldn't believe he'd become real, more than just a ghost I'd abandoned years ago.
“I oughta be saying the same thing to you, dad. I'm only here because of you, plus it lined up with them giving me some fucking R and R for once.”
I laughed, slapped him on the back, and watched as the big, rough SEAL pressed his fingers into his eyes. The boy hid whatever tears he had pretty damned well.
He had every reason in the world to hate my worthless ass. Amazingly, he didn't.
Finn looked at me like family, something I'd forgotten for twenty fucking years, only coming close when I was with my crew.
“Your gramps would be proud, son. Hope you know that. He was a good man, whatever our disagreements.” He stood at my side, and we both stared at Oki's tombstone.
“Yeah.” He looked at me, his eyes catching the sun just right to show me his love. “I'm changing my name back to Reno this year. So is ma. We've run from this family long enough, and it's about time we fixed that shit since you gave us the all clear.”