Epilogue
Barrett
“Come on, babe. Take a ride with me,” I say to Cam, who has textbooks scattered over the kitchen table.
“Barrett, I told you I’d have to study when I got home from the shelter today. Our interviews took longer than expected, but I need to at least put in a couple hours today.”
Cam has been working with Matilda at the shelter to put together an art therapy program for the women and kids who are there.
They’ve been interviewing for someone to head the program since both of them have their hands full—Cam with going back to school to get a degree in family therapy, and Matilda with being head of the shelter as a whole.
“Have you guys narrowed it down?” I ask.
Camryn smiles. “We have three whom we both like. It’s going to be hard to choose. This program means a lot to us.”
When we got back from New York, Camryn and I met with Matilda to talk to her about using Cam’s inheritance to fund the new program.
Matilda had the numbers ready for us, and when Cam didn’t so much as blink at the price tag, I thought Matilda was going to break down in tears right then and there.
It’s a costly endeavor, to say the least, but my woman came into a shit ton of money, not only from her parents’ estate, but from the inheritance her grandparents left her.
“If there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that you’ll make the right choice. This program is going to help a lot of people, Cam. I’m so damn proud of you,” I tell her and lean down to kiss her mouth—a kiss that involves a lot of tongue and a couple of small moans from my woman.
“Eww, you guys, I eat in this kitchen,” Syd says, walking into the room with her bag over her shoulder.
“All set?” Camryn asks her, then looks out the window. “Ellie’s mom is here.”
Syd walks over and bends to give Cam a hug. “Love you. See you tomorrow,” she tells Cam, then she stands and wraps an arm around me. “Love you, Dad.”
“Love you, too, kiddo. Have fun.”
We watch Syd get into the car and wave at Ellie’s mom through the window.
“Now that Syd’s out of the house, you don’t have to scream into a pillow.” I bend and nuzzle Cam’s neck.
“Barrett,” she says with a laugh. “I have to study. Why don’t you go to Linc’s for a while? Didn’t he say he was going to get the bike started today?”
I growl into her neck, then place a soft kiss there. “Fine, I can take a hint.”
“It wasn’t exactly a hint,” Cam says with a smile. “I love you, but you need to get out of here so I can finish studying.”
“Alright,” I sigh out. “But when I get back, the books go away and I get to make you come for the rest of the night.”
“I will gladly take that deal,” Camryn says, and I bend to kiss her again.
When I stand, I grab my keys from the hook on the wall. “Love you, babe.”
“I love you, too. See you in a couple hours.”
She blows me a kiss before I turn and walk out the door.
The ride is amazing. It’s not far to Linc’s house, but since we hadn’t been able to ride until last week because of snow on the ground, every chance we get feels like freedom.
I pull up to Linc and Charlie’s place and spot Braxton’s and Wyatt’s bikes parked on the street. Dismounting my bike, I walk to the workshop behind Linc’s house and see him, Jude, Braxton, and Wyatt standing around the motorcycle Linc has been rebuilding from the ground up.
“Come to join the grand ceremony?” Jude asks.
“Yup. And Camryn kicked me out of the house so she could study in peace.”
My brothers laugh, and Wyatt hands me a beer.
“Okay, let’s see how she sounds,” Linc says.
The bike still needs some work, but he finally got the engine and carb mounted onto the frame. He tries the kick start. Nothing. He tries again. Nothing. On the third try, the bike sputters but quickly dies.
“Son of a bitch,” Linc mumbles and gets off the bike. He stands with his fists on his hips and stares at the motorcycle. “I’m starting to think this thing is cursed.”
“Nah, you’re just a shitty mechanic,” Jude says, sipping his beer.
“You can take that beer bottle and shove it up your ass,” Linc growls at Jude.
“Touchy, touchy, brother. I’m just pulling your chain.” He sets his bottle on the workbench. “Come on, I’ll help you with the bolts. Let’s get the engine off, and we’ll look at it.”
The two of them start taking the bike apart again, as Braxton, Wyatt, and I shoot the shit for a few minutes.
“How’s the new bartender working out?” I ask Wyatt.
When Cam enrolled in school, she wanted to take a full load and keep working.
We tried it for two weeks, but I couldn’t stand to see her working herself to the bone.
I’d carried her to bed too many times after she’d fallen asleep on her books while trying to study after a closing shift.
Thankfully, she didn’t put up too much of a fight when I brought up her not working while taking classes.
“Good. Maizie really likes her, and she doesn’t verbally assault the customers, so that’s a plus.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Lucy will want to make a few guest appearances after the baby’s born. According to her, the customers like a little abuse.”
“Yeah…I’m not so sure that’s true,” Wyatt says with a laugh.
Braxton’s phone rings and he digs it out of his pocket. “Hey, Sylvie, what’s going on?”
Braxton is our sergeant at arms, so if Sylvie is calling him, there must be a problem with security at the club.
He listens to her for a few minutes, then says, “Okay, I’ll be right there.” He disconnects the call and sets his beer down. “One of the dancers came in roughed up. I’m going to go talk to her.”
If there’s one thing the Black Roses refuse to let slide, it’s some asshole who beats on women.
“I’ll go with you,” I offer.
“Sounds good, brother. Thanks.”
We say our goodbyes and head to our bikes. When we get to the club, we walk to Sylvie’s office as one of the security guards I hired is leaving.
“What happened?” Braxton asks Jake.
“The new girl came in with bruises on her face. Looks like it just happened. One of the cuts is still bleeding.”
“Fuck,” Braxton says. “Okay, go find her and have her come to Sylvie’s office.”
Jake nods and walks down the hallway toward the dancers’ dressing room.
Braxton and I step inside the office, where Sylvie is standing behind her desk with a glass of amber liquid in her hand.
“Rough night?” I ask her.
“Not as rough as some,” she answers, then takes a sip from the glass.
“Fucking assholes who think they can hurt my girls.” Sylvie takes her job seriously, especially the girls’ safety, even when they aren’t at work.
“She’s worried about being able to pay rent, but she can’t dance with blood running down her face.
That asshole probably knew that and beat her to shit anyway. ”
“We’ll get it sorted,” Braxton tells her right before there’s a knock at the door.
When we turn, I see a woman with long blonde hair tied back. She’s wearing a baseball cap in an attempt to hide the darkening bruise around her eye and the cut above her forehead.
Braxton turns then, and though it’s minuscule, I see his head jerk back a fraction. “Vanessa?”
The woman who looks just as shocked as my brother replies, “Hi, Braxton.”
The End
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