Epilogue
RAGE
FIFTEEN YEARS LATER
“Take the knife, and you twist as you enter. Then pull. Those edges are like barbed wire, so they hook inside the flesh, causing pain,” I instruct with a grin.
“Uncle Rage, I’m going to prom. I don’t need to know how to stab someone,” Storm sighs.
“You do if anyone oversteps. You stab first, think later,” I remind her.
She gives me a small smile and reaches up on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Thanks, Uncle Rage.” I nod.
“Want me to follow? I can gut the fucker if he tries anything,” I offer, hoping she says yes, and also hoping the fucker tries something. It’s been a while since I’ve sliced into flesh. I miss it.
“Er, no, thanks,” she states.
“The fucker is five minutes late,” Ghost seethes.
He’s been pissy ever since Storm was asked to go to prom.
She’s not a senior until next year. At first, Ghost had said no, then Star told her yes and argued with Ghost. Then Storm cried and begged her dad, flashing those eyes of hers at him.
He had relented, but under the condition he picked her up from the club.
Of course, all of us were there. Like fuck were we going to let some guy pick her up without us all making sure he knew what he was facing if he hurt her.
“Storm, Chad is here!” Maisy grins.
Fucking Chad. What a douche. We all follow Storm outside. “For fuck’s sake, pull your dress up,” Ghost snaps, pointing at Storm’s cleavage on display.
“Dad,” Storm hisses at him as Chad gets out of his car. Not a bike, but a fucking car. Who drives a car by choice instead of a bike? Fucking weirdo.
We all stand there with our arms crossed. Hades growls beside me. “Easy, boy,” I say, stroking his head. I lost Erebus five years ago to old age. It had hurt, and I’d shut myself off for a week until Star and Dixie forced me to get out.
Dixie comes to my side and smiles up at me. My world. “I never had a bomb,” she sighs.
“You want one?” I ask bluntly.
She laughs, and the corners of her eyes, now crinkled with age, shine up at me. It’s the only sign she’s got older. “No, too old.”
“I can steal theirs if you want one,” I offer.
“No, thank you, though.” She grins.
“Uh-oh, he’s going to kiss Storm,” Dixie gasps.
My gaze snaps from my woman to Storm and Chad, and sure enough the prick is leaning in, ready to kiss her.
I whip out my blade from behind my back, and the constant sound of safeties clicking off echoes around us.
I look to see every one of my brothers standing with their guns aimed at Chad, including Enzo, Oliver, and Hendrix.
Chad freezes, his lips going wide with fear.
“Step the fuck back from my daughter,” Ghost growls.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Casper. Really? And Enzo, put your gun down,” Star chastises him, moving in front of them and guiding them in the car. “I’m sorry, Chad. She has a very protective family. Have a lovely time,” Star apologises.
“Dad, I can’t believe you,” Storm hisses.
“If his lips touch you at any point during the night, I will cut his fucking dick off,” Ghost threatens. I swear, Chad looks like he’s about to throw up.
“Jesus Christ, Casper, she’s seventeen. Eighteen in six months,” Star groans in frustration.
“I don’t give a fuck if she’s seventeen or thirty. She’s my baby girl,” Ghost snaps back.
Star urges Chad and Storm to just drive and go. He puts his foot down and speeds out of the parking lot.
“See? He even drives like a maniac,” Ghost points out.
“He’s just shit his pants because a group of men just pointed their gun at him!” Star argues.
“I’ve had guns pointed at me like that, and I didn’t run,” I state, shrugging. “I slit their throats, but I didn’t run.” Star looks at me and just blinks.
Star and Ghost continue to argue, as do Hawk and Maisy. “What is all the racket?” Queenie asks, walking over and leaning on her stick more now for support. The woman beat cancer and had to have a hip replacement, and she still keeps everyone in check.
“They all held Chad at gunpoint,” Star sighs in frustration.
Queenie tuts and shakes her head, a sly smile curving at her lips. “And so it begins.”
The End