Epilogue
JD
One week later
Sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in my hand while Sasha slept, I finally allowed my mind to focus on everything, including the future and where I wanted it to go.
Not with Sasha. With her I no longer had any doubts. This last week could have been challenging as we adjusted to our new roles with each other, but it wasn’t. Everything had clicked into place like fate finally getting its timing right. Of course, in hindsight I could kick myself in the ass for taking so long to see it.
But I was officially done with regrets.
It was time to put the past in the past where it belonged. That included getting this club back on the right track. I refused to give up on the dream of being one hundred percent legit.
Well, as legit as one could be while still hunting monsters. My fingers tightened on the mug as I eyed the folder on the corner of my kitchen counter. A new case was on the agenda and I had to admit I was itching to take it. But first, the club would have to vote.
I paced across the room to the back door, my mind racing with club business even as my body ached to stay close to Sasha. The weight of my phone in my pocket reminded me of the text from Tel I’d gotten earlier.
I had to make the call.
Moving as quietly as I could, I stepped onto the cabin’s porch, the early morning air cool against my skin. The sun had yet to rise enough to burn off the fog and mist. My fingers found Tel’s number.
“Talk to me,” I said when he picked up.
“Chel’s gone.” Tel’s voice crackled through the speaker. “Cleared out her apartment, cleaned her accounts. Bear’s guy lost her trail at the bus station.”
“Fuck.” I ran a hand through my hair. “The serpent?”
“Still at his place. We’ve got eyes on him, but he’s acting normal. Too normal.”
I stalked the length of the porch. Chel likely knew too much about the club. She was a loose end we couldn’t afford.
And my gut told me something about this still didn’t feel right. There was more going on. Something worse.
“Put the word out.” I kept my voice low. “I want her found. Use whatever resources we need.” It was time to let the brothers do what they did best. Club business never ended, but now I had more than just the club to consider.
“Already on it, Prez. Axel’s got his contacts checking the Canadian border.”
“Good.” Through the window, Sasha’s silhouette moved through the kitchen. “Keep me updated.”
The call ended, and my jaw ached from tension. Just when I thought we’d tied up all the loose ends, another one was unraveling. The club was still vulnerable, and that meant Sasha was too.
There was also the dissent still shrouding our club. Members mumbling under their breath about my leadership was poison in the air and I refused to go another day with whispered bullshit happening around me. This club had priorities, and?—
“You look way too intent for this early in the morning. Are you brooding again?”
I turned at the sound of her voice to find my woman standing in the kitchen doorway, her beautiful body wrapped up in a silky short robe that rested at the top of her lush thighs.
My dick jerked as it remembered how much it liked being buried right in that spot. As if to prove my point, all the blood in my body rushed south, and in seconds I had a tent in my sweats.
“It’s not that early,” I said as I placed my cup on the counter and prowled in her direction. “And I don’t brood.”
A sheepish smile crossed her face as she studied my crotch. “Oh you most definitely brood. Particularly when you are in denial. And considering how little sleep we got last night, I’d say it’s real early.”
“Poor, baby girl. You feeling worn out?” I chose to ignore the brooding comment—for now. We’d discuss it again later when I got her bare ass across my lap again. A wicked smile crossed my face. Fuck, she was fun.
She nodded. “Like I was wrung out and put away wet.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her choice of words. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she walked toward me, her bare feet padding across the tile floor.
“Coffee?” I offered, reaching for a clean mug.
“Please. And maybe we can talk about what had you so focused when I walked in?”
I poured her coffee and slid it across the counter. “It’s the club. We’ve got a new contract on the table that I want us to take, but first I have to make sure everyone is still on board with my leadership.”
Her eyes widened. “Are they crazy?” You’re the best President they could ever get.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
I smiled. “I appreciate that, babe,” I said as I grabbed her around the waist and shoved my face into her neck to get my mouth on her. She smelled good too. A little like me mixed with a whole lot of her. My teeth grazed her soft skin, and I breathed in deep, savoring how perfectly our scents blended together. Having her here, defending me without hesitation, made something possessive stir in my chest.
The fierce emotion roared through my veins, making my chest tight. All I could think about was how much she meant to me and how I wanted that feeling locked down for good. So much so my next words tumbled out before I could stop them. “Marry me.”
Her body stiffened in my arms. “What?”
I pulled back to look into her eyes. “You heard me. Marry me, Sasha.”
“JD, you don’t have to?—”
“Stop.” I pressed my finger to her lips. “This isn’t about having to do anything. This is about wanting to. About doing things different this time around.”
Her eyes searched mine. “Different from Malia?”
“Yes.” I cupped her face in my hands. “What I had with her… it was intense but unstable. Not to mention crazy. We never could take that last step, making us official. And looking back, I knew something was missing no matter how real it felt. But sharing her, it was too hard. It wasn’t right.”
“And I’m what’s right?” Her voice trembled. “Are you sure?”
“You’re everything I never knew I needed. I was an idiot letting our differences keep us apart. Life is short, pretty girl.” I traced my thumb across her bottom lip. “I love you, Sasha. I want the world to know you’re mine. Want everyone to see that ring on your finger and know you chose me.”
“I already chose you and everyone knows it,” she whispered. “I don’t need a ring to prove that.”
“But I need to give you one.” I pressed my forehead against hers. “Need to stand up in front of everyone and claim you as my wife. Make promises that I intend to keep until my dying breath.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “You’re serious about this.”
“Dead serious.” I brushed away a tear that escaped down her cheek. “So what do you say, baby girl? Want to be Mrs.Monroe?”
Sasha
My heart thundered in my chest as I stared into JD’s intense eyes. The question hung between us, heavy with meaning and possibility. Everything I’d ever wanted was right here, wrapped up in this complicated, stubborn man who’d finally opened his heart to me.
The scars that had once made me feel broken now felt like badges of survival. Apparently, everything had led to this. I’d only risked death twice to make it happen. Hopefully, that was enough.
This club had felt almost like family for a long time, and now it felt real. I knew for certain that I was right where I was supposed to be.
“Yes,” I whispered, then cleared my throat and said it louder. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
JD’s face broke into a rare, full smile that transformed his usually stern features. He crushed me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me like steel bands.
“You’re sure?” he murmured against my hair. “Because once I put that ring on your finger, there’s no taking it back. You’ll be stuck with me and all my brooding ways. The whole club too.”
I pulled back enough to look up at him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. I want to be your wife.”
His eyes darkened. “My wife.” The words came out like a growl. “I really like the sound of that. Especially when?—"
A knock at the door interrupted our moment. JD tensed, his protective instincts kicking in immediately.
“It’s just Bear,” a voice called through the door. “Got some stuff we need to discuss, Prez. In person.”
JD sighed, pressing his forehead against mine, his breath brushing softly across my face. “Give me five minutes,” he called back, his voice a low rumble that resonated through his chest.
“Make it ten,” I whispered, running my hands up his chest, feeling the hard muscles beneath his shirt. “Your club can wait while you properly kiss your fiancée.”
His eyes darkened at the word ‘fiancée,’ a possessive gleam sparking in them. He tangled his fingers in my hair, the touch sending shivers down my spine. “I like the sound of that,” he growled, his voice laced with desire before claiming my mouth with his.
When he finally pulled away, we were both breathing hard, our hearts pounding in sync. He pressed one last, lingering kiss to my forehead, as if sealing a promise, before stepping back, his gaze never leaving mine.
“Stay here today,” he said. “I’ll handle whatever Bear needs, then we’ll celebrate properly.”
I nodded, still dizzy from his kisses. “I’ll be here. Go be President.”
He quickly changed into a pair of jeans and then grabbed his cut from the back of a chair and shrugged it on, transforming from my JD into the intimidating leader of the Sins of Wrath. But the tender look in his eyes was all mine. I watched the change come over him, the way his shoulders straightened, his jaw set firm, the subtle shift in his stance that commanded respect. Even though I knew the fierce reputation that preceded him as President, I could still see the softness he reserved just for me, a quiet promise in his gaze that made my heart flutter. It was a side of him that no one else got to witness, and I treasured it like a secret between us.
JD
I watched her beautiful face light up with joy as I pulled her into my arms one last time before heading out to deal with whatever Bear needed. The way her eyes sparkled when she looked at me, like I was her entire world—it hit me right in the chest. Every damn time.
“I love you,” she whispered against my neck.
“I love you too, baby girl.” My voice came out rougher than intended, thick with emotion. “More than I ever thought possible.”
Her fingers traced the lines of my face, memorizing every detail. “Who would’ve thought? The big bad President and the silly little club girl.”
“You were never just a club girl.” I pressed my lips to her forehead. “You were always meant to be my queen. I just needed time.”
She melted against me, reminding me how she fit perfectly in my arms like she was made for me. Maybe she was. Maybe all the shit we’d been through, all the pain and loss, had led us right here to this moment.
I’d spent so long fighting against what we could be, terrified of repeating past mistakes. But holding her now, feeling her heart beat against mine, I knew this was different. This was real. This was forever.
“Go,” she said softly, pushing me toward the door. “The faster you handle business, the faster you can come back to me. I’ve grown accustomed to morning orgasms, you know.”
I grinned, already counting the minutes until I could return. “Yes ma’am.”
As I walked out that door, I knew one thing for certain. I might be the President of this club, but that woman in there? She owned my soul. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bear
I shifted my weight from foot to foot outside JD’s cabin, the folder in my hand feeling heavier by the second. The notebooks we’d found in Cash’s shit had kept me up all night, and what I’d pieced together wasn’t good.
Through the door, I heard low murmurs and what sounded suspiciously like two people on the verge of sex. My face heated. I was glad the Prez and Sasha had finally gotten their shit together. They both deserved some?—
The door suddenly swung open and JD stepped out, his expression softer than usual despite trying to look stern. “This better be important.”
“Found something in Cash’s storage unit that you need to see.” I held up the folder. “Tel and I spent half the night going through his chicken scratch and I think we found something.”
JD’s jaw tightened as he took the folder. “Inside.”
I followed him to his office, noticing how much the cabin had transformed in such a short time. It felt different with Sasha’s presence, warmer somehow. Jeanne’s medical bag sat by the couch, reminding me I needed to check with her later about Sasha’s recovery progress. Not that I’d admit to anyone how much I looked forward to those conversations.
“What am I looking at?” JD spread the papers across his desk.
“There’s notes in there that go back at least ten years.” There were photos of club members, their families. Detailed information about routines, weaknesses, and pressure points. “We don’t think he was just gathering intel for Mazzeo,” I said quietly. “Looks like he was building insurance. Against all of us.”
“Fuck. How many people know about this?”
“That’s the thing.” I met JD’s gaze. “According to those notes, there were three people who might have gotten it. He was building a dead man’s switch, but we aren’t sure if he ever followed through on it.”
“This is not good.”
“No, it’s not. And this guy.” I pointed to a grainy photo. “He shows up in Cash’s notes repeatedly. Not sure he’s Mazzeo like we thought.”
JD went still. “Excuse me?”
“I could be wrong. But?—"
“Are you telling me we killed the wrong guy?” The low timber of my president’s voice made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
“Cash was unstable at the end, could be nothing but paranoid ramblings. But…” I tapped the photo. “Tel’s running facial recognition. Something about this doesn’t add up.”
“Fuck.” JD ran a hand through his hair. “This is not happening.” He slammed his fist down on the desk and everything sitting there jumped. “Mother fucker just won’t die.”
“Could be another player we weren’t aware of.”
JD glared up at me. “We need to find out. You let Tel know, I want answers. Whatever it takes. For now, this stays between us.”
I nodded, watching him study the photo. Whatever was coming, at least the Prez had his head on straight now. Having Sasha by his side had done that much.
“And Bear?” JD looked up. “Tell Jeanne to keep a close eye on Sasha’s recovery. I want weekly reports.”
“Sure thing, Prez.” I kept my face neutral, ignoring how my pulse jumped at the thought of seeing our new medic on the regular. Even if that was a complication I didn’t need right now.
He looked like he wanted to say more, but Sasha appeared in the doorway next to me.
“I need to make a call, baby.” He gathered everything from the file and handed it to me while walking directly to her. “Stay here. I won’t be long.”
Her eyes clouded with concern as she looked between us. “Everything okay?”
“Just club business.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
She followed him to the front door as he stepped out onto the porch, digging his phone out.
“JD?” Sasha’s voice was soft. “Come back inside. Whatever it is, it can wait until after breakfast.”
He hesitated, the obvious war between the club and her waging across his face. If he didn’t choose her…
She was right. The hunt for who this asshole was could wait. Right now, JD needed to remember what he was fighting for.
“You’re right,” he said, shoving his phone away and pulling her out into his arms.
To say I’d sighed with relief would be putting it mildly. Our chosen way of life was hard as fuck. But it was moments like these that made it worth it. Even if it was their moment and not mine.
I turned towards the back door and slipped out quietly, only to come up short when I found Jeanne sitting in a chair, reading a book.
“What the hell?”
She didn’t look up. “They done yet?”
“No, and if we don’t get out now, we’ll both be listening to the sounds of them fucking.”
She slammed her book closed and quickly stood. “Well, as fun as that sounds, I think I’ll pass this time.”
I nearly choked on my words when I tried to imagine what she’d meant by ‘this time’.
She looked at me sideways. “You okay?”
“Fine.” I clipped. “You need a ride?”
She looked out at the empty yard as if my bike might appear in front of her, instead of being parked down the hill at the clubhouse.
“Nah. I might as well hang close until, you know, after. But I could use a cup of coffee.”
A grin spread across my face. “That I can definitely do. Let’s go to the clubhouse and I’ll blow your mind with the best damn coffee you’ve ever had.”
Her eyebrows raised, but she bent to grab her book and started walking. “Okay, big boy. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
And with that, I was pretty fucking sure that my shittastic start to the day had just taken a new turn…
JD
It was the middle of the night and I couldn’t sleep. Cash’s fucking surprise had me on edge. While it made sense that he’d create a dead man’s switch, considering the shit he’d gotten into, the point of having one was to use it as leverage to stay alive. He’d said nothing.
There was something we missed. Had to be.
Which is how I ended up digging through the file at three in the morning. And why I had Tel in here with me doing his thing.
“Anything?” I asked, scrubbing my face.
“No. It’s as if Frank Mazzeo’s secret son was a figment of our imagination. There’s no trace of him anywhere.”
“Except we killed the son of a bitch so we know he existed.” The knot in my stomach tightened. “I don’t like this. A man doesn’t erase his existence from the grave.”
Tel didn’t respond, and when I glanced in his direction I found him squinting at the screen.
“We should stop for the night. Get some sleep. We can regroup in the morning with the rest of the club.”
Tel ignored me and leaned closer to his laptop. “Uhh…”
“What is it?” My back stiffened.
“Probably nothing. Just a grainy photo of Cash with two men. I’m trying to enhance it, but it looks like some cheap security camera footage. Total shit quality. But…”
“Let me see.” The hairs at the back of my neck were standing on end.
Tel flipped the screen around and I leaned in. It was grainy as shit, but I could make out Cash standing next to his bike talking to two men. The first one had the same coloring and build of the man we’d confronted in Seattle, but he looked off.
“How old is this?”
“Date stamp says two months ago. Shortly before the explosion.”
I nodded, turning my attention to the third man. His appearance was worse than the other two. The blur on him made it impossible?—
I slammed to my feet. Not fucking possible. But there it was in black and white. I’d know that man any?—
“What is it, Boss?” Tel turned his computer screen back and studied it closer. “You know these men?”
“One of them for sure,” I managed through gritted teeth as I pulled out my phone and punched in the number I knew by heart. I’d promised to keep him out of club business but this… FUCK!
“JD? Is something wrong?” The sleepy female voice at the other end of the call reminded me that Sasha was in the next room. Unprotected.
“I need to talk to him.”
“Uhm.” She hesitated and I didn’t blame her. We both knew this couldn’t be good. “Ok. Hang on.”
I pulled my phone back and hit the mute button. “Call the club. I want every goddamned one of them in here now.”
“On it.” Tel reached for his phone to sound the alert. “But boss, who is it in the pho?—.”
“JD? This had better be the emergency of all emergencies. You scared Izzy.”
Houston’s rough voice grated over the line. He sounded pissed, but that boy would have to get over it. I unmuted him and replied. “You need to get here now.”
“What the fuck for?”
“We’ll discuss it when you get here. I ain’t saying shit over the phone. And it’s not an emergency, it’s worse.”
Silence followed and it was easy enough to imagine Houston taking in the gravity of my request. We both knew I wouldn’t have called him unless it was bad.
“It’s gonna take me a couple of hours to find a flight.”
“Find it fast.” I was about to hang up when I decided to amend my request. “And make sure you bring your brother with you. This concerns him too.”
Thanks so much for reading Scorched King.