Epilogue One
Harley
SIX MONTHS LATER
This is quite possibly the biggest mistake I have ever made. I’ve been sitting here for thirty minutes, staring at this lady as she talks to me with tears in her eyes about my shit. Because of course, we all decided that maybe giving therapy a shot would help. Presley has been going for years and says she loves it. She brings Axe sometimes, and it really helps her. Especially after she built a bond with the therapist, it’s easy for Presley to talk to her now.
But after I felt so uncomfortable I word vomited most of my shit out, and I have made this whole thing worse. Now she just keeps staring at me like she is waiting for me to break down.
Been there, done that; do I really need to do it again? In front of a stranger, no less.
“Where would you like to start? I think there’s a lot to unpack in everything you told me, and we should sort through it all together.” Pam smiles gently at me, having finally collected herself.
“I don’t know.” I tell her before I sigh, I need to actually try. I didn’t think this would help me, but I came anyway. I need to put in some kind of effort. I can do this. “I guess I always think about why. Why did I have to cross paths with the people I did? Why did my mom go through everything? Sometimes, when I look back, I can’t help but just want to scream until someone can give me an answer. I know I’ll never get one, though, so I just… I guess I need to find a way past the feeling when it rises.”
She hums. “We meet everyone in our life for a reason. What you went through, it has made you stronger–”
Whatever else she was saying is quickly cut off as I jump to my feet, my heart pounding against my chest as fury lights up my insides.
“No. Nope I’m not doing this. I didn’t meet the people in my life for a reason. There was no bigger purpose for me to have gone through what I did. Want to know what would’ve happened if Tammy had never walked into that hospital room? They would’ve found my dad. I would’ve been with him from the start and I still would’ve met everyone I love now. Or better yet, maybe my mom wouldn’t have been murdered before my eyes. Don’t sit there and tell me what I’ve been through has made me stronger and better and it all had a purpose. That’s a load of shit you feed to someone when you can’t possibly comprehend what they have been through. Don’t tell me I met my piano teacher so I could be raped and learn that I can no longer do missionary!”
I take a deep breath and reach down to grab my bag. As I head towards her door I spin back around to face the wide eyed perfectly put together woman, “I sure as hell hope you don’t tell survivors of sexual assault that. I would still be a strong woman without everything I have been through. I didn’t meet all these people who hurt me for a reason. They took years from me. And now I have to recover from that. There is no greater purpose or reason. There is no it makes you stronger. There is just the fact that I went through something fucking awful and now I have to learn to live with it and not let it destroy my future because they have already taken enough of my past away from me.”
Storming out of the room, I head outside to my bike and force myself to take a few deep breaths before climbing on to head home. Apparently I just needed a therapist so I could be my own fucking therapist.
By the time I get back home, well Brielle’s home, which is now my home, I still feel heated and overwhelmed. I knew the minute I word vomited everything to her there was no way she was going to be able to help me. I mean I’ve been through a lot of fucking shit over the years.
Kicking off my boots and tossing my bag down, I wander straight into the main living room, where the grand piano the guys got me when we first moved in sits. I wasn’t expecting it, and it has been hard at times to play, but right now, I am itching for the freedom from my own thoughts I know it will bring.
As I run my fingers over the keys, I’m reminded of that day.
“You haven’t played since long before everything happened with Killer,” Grayson says softly, running his hand up and down my back where we all stand in the living room. I stare at the beautiful, glossy black grand piano I came home to today. I wasn’t expecting it. We brought Ryker’s keyboard, and I thought that would be more than enough.
“I know,” I mutter.
“When something traumatic happens, you run from anything that can draw out your emotions,” Cayden says. My gaze snaps to his, and he just smirks at me. “Play now. Prove me wrong.”
“You know you're right. You're just trying to push me,” I grumble.
“You don’t have to play right now,” Grayson comments, shooting Cade a look. “But this is yours. We all pitched in and saved everything we could so we could get you something better than a keyboard. When the others found out, they all pitched in too.”
“The others?” I question.
“Axe and Presley, Stone and Raven, Nerds, Sugar, and Noah,” Ryker says before he chuckles softly. “Carly wanted to help too, but Sugar wouldn’t let her since she is finishing up college classes and not working right now.”
“Thank you. I don’t know– I appreciate this more than you know, but it’s so much.” I clear my throat and blink away the tears pooling in my eyes.
“It’s alright. We didn’t expect you to jump up and down and be super excited. We just want to see you happy, and this can bring you so much joy if you allow it,” Grayson says, pressing his lips to my forehead.
I’ve played occasionally when no one is around, like now. Since Brielle and her guys are living in Jacksonville, we are all working at the gym the guys own here. It has been a learning curve, but it’s enjoyable since we all love going to the gym anyway. All three of them went into the gym today, Cade to work out, Grayson to do some payroll stuff for the other employees, and Ryker is sitting in on classes because he has been thinking about becoming an instructor in the future.
Not wanting to think about how therapy was a failure and not something I am going to try again, I warm up by running through scales and arpeggios.
My fingers naturally move on after a while into a piece I haven’t played in years, a simple song my mom taught me when I was younger. I used to sit and listen to her play it as she would sing along.
The notes come naturally, and my fingers glide across the keys as I work through the song, emotions clogged in my throat. My eyes fall shut, and I feel as if I can see my mom standing on the other side of the piano, singing and dancing as she listens to me. She used to glow when I would play or master something new. I think if she had been given the chance to live the life she wanted, she would have pursued music, especially teaching in some way because she was always so patient and willing to go over things until I felt comfortable.
A hand glides across my back as a solid body sits beside me on the piano bench. I don’t flinch or panic like I have in the past. Instead, my body melts against his as I keep my eyes closed and finish the song.
The second my fingers leave the keys, my eyes open as he moves his over the keys, and I join in a few moments later as I recognize the melody that he is playing. When we finish, Ryker tilts his head towards me as he reaches over to gently wipe the tears from my cheeks. “Why were you crying, little flame?” he murmurs softly.
“I haven’t played that since before Mom died. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to again.”
“Just a reminder of the fact that you are stronger than you think,” Grayson comments as he walks up next to Ryker and rests his hand on his shoulder. “I take it therapy was good then?”
An embarrassingly loud snort comes out of me. “Fuck no.” Ryker chuckles as I continue, “It wasn’t what I thought it would be, and I just don’t think it’s something I want to do.”
“That’s fine, beautiful. This is your healing journey. You get to decide how it goes.” Grayson smiles softly at me.
“I know. It’s just frustrating when I feel like I keep going backward and not forward.” I sigh and lean my head against Ryker’s shoulder.
“You came home today and played the piano as an outlet. I’d say that’s progress and a step forward. Appreciate every step you take, babe, even the tiny ones.”
I smile and stand, planning to go shower and get ready, seeing as we are planning to head on a trip after Cade gets home. I make it all of three steps before my wrist is grabbed and I’m pulled between Ryker’s legs, who has spun around on the bench so the piano is at his back. “Where are you off to?”
I raise a brow as his hands roam over my ass. “To get ready to go.”
Ry smirks and glances up at Grayson, who is still standing off to the side. “I don’t know, I think you may need a distraction before we go.”
“What kind of distraction?” I ask, tilting my head as I run my hands up the back of his neck and into his hair.
“I think it’s time for what we have talked about and have been preparing for.” A dark gleam shines in his blown pupils as he glances up at Grayson at the same I do.
Grayson’s cheeks are an adorable shade of red as he runs a hand behind his neck. “I–” He stops himself and bites his lip as he glances between us.
Ry grips my hips and gently pushes me back a step before standing and facing Grayson. He grips his chin between his fingers and pulls his bottom lip out from between his teeth. “If you aren’t ready mentally, that’s okay, baby. But your body is ready.” Ryker smirks at him.
Grayson groans and glances at me. “Fuck it,” he murmurs and steps around Ryker, pressing his lips against mine as he walks us backwards towards the couch.
A few months ago, Ryker told us about a fantasy of his, and Grayson and I both were intrigued but not ready—mostly Grayson. I know that Gray and Ry have been doing their own thing since then to prepare Grayson to take Ryker and now we are apparently about to do this. My heart thuds violently against my chest, a mix of nerves and excitement as Grayson pushes me down onto the couch and glances back at Ryker, who had been slowly following behind us.
Ryker grins at the both of us. “Strip.”
We both move without hesitation, shredding our clothes, always deferring to Ryker, seeing as he loves to take charge of both of us sexually.
Once we are all naked, Ryker pushes me back down on the couch and steps behind Grayson, who is standing between my spread legs. He kisses his neck and runs his hands down Grayson’s chest and abs, stopping right above his hardening cock. “Be a good boy and give our girl your wicked tongue before I fuck you into her,” he murmurs in his ear just loud enough for me to hear.
Grayson sucks in a breath at the same time as me. His green eyes clash with mine right as he drops to his knees in front of me and runs his hands down my thighs before gripping me under the knees. He brings them each up onto the couch, spreading me wide for him.
I groan and drop my head back onto the cushion when he blows against me before swiping his tongue from my clit to my ass. Keeping his hands on my thighs, he moans against my pussy, I look down as Ryker pulls Grayson’s ass up and squirts lube onto his fingers.
Looking back down at Grayson, he holds my eyes as his tongue swirls around my clit and then plunges into me. “Fuck,” I cry and hold his eyes as he eats me like he’s starving.
“Come all over his pretty face, Harley,” Ryker commands from behind Grayson.
Watching Ryker finger Grayson’s ass while he fucks my pussy with his tongue brings me to the fastest orgasm I have ever experienced. My legs twitch in Grayson’s grip as he tightens his fingers and moans, sucking my clit into his mouth.
My hips jolt as I cry out and throw my head back, my body weightless as I come on his face. “Fuck, fuck.”
“Fuck, you both sound so beautiful,” Ryker says hoarsely. “Harley, turn to the side. Gray baby, get up there in between her legs.” Ryker says as a loud slap sounds through the room and Grayson groans.
As I turn and lay back on the couch, Grayson climbs between my thighs while Ryker gets on his knees behind him. Ry reaches around him and strokes Gray’s cock before slowly guiding it through my lips, helping him push in. “All the way, baby,” Ryker says softly, kissing Grayson’s neck and shoulder, his dark eyes on me.
I grip Grayson’s sides as he settles inside me, his cock filling me perfectly.
“Are you ready?” Ryker asks, tilting Grayson’s head towards him.
“Yes,” Grayson whimpers against Ry’s lips.
“If it’s too much, tell me,” Ryker tells him softly before pushing him forward so he is laying over me. I cup his cheeks and press my lips together right as I feel his cock jump, and they both moan.
Tilting my head to look past Grayson, I watch as Ryker focuses on slowly pushing his cock into Grayson’s ass. “Holy shit, that is so hot.” The worlds slip from my lips before I can even think about them, and they both let out small chuckles.
“You doing okay, baby?”
“Perfect,” Grayson whines as he buries his face in my neck.
Once Ryker is fully seated in Grayson, he runs his hand down his spine and glances at me. “Are you both ready?”
I nod, and Grayson pulls himself up so his weight is on his arms.
Ryker starts moving slowly, making Grayson move in me as they start to find a slow rhythm. Every time Ryker pulls out and thrusts back in, Grayson is moving in and out of me at the same time.
“Fuck me, I love fucking you into our girl, baby,” Ryker groans as he picks up his pace, making my head fall back against the cushion. Someone’s finger finds its way to my clit, and I squeal and grip Grayson’s shoulders as they move faster and harder until my legs are shaking. I let out a cry as Grayson kisses me and groans loudly.
The only sound in the room is our skin slapping together and loud groans as we find our releases. The second Grayson lets go and I feel him coming, Ryker moans loudly, slamming into Grayson once more before holding him still and tossing his head back on a groan.
“Holy crap,” Grayson says as he falls forward, resting most of his weight against me. Ryker slowly pulls out of Grayson before standing and walking around to sit by my head.
He runs his hand through my messy hair before leaning in and kissing me, then doing the same to Grayson. “I fucking love fucking you both.”
We both laugh and then groan as Grayson pulls out of me and flops back on the couch by my legs. “I wouldn’t mind doing that again,” I say, glancing between them.
Ryker smirks and glances over at Grayson, who looks blissed out. “Me too,” he murmurs quietly as his whole face flushes.
The sound of the front door opening and slamming shut draws all our attention. I glance between them and then shrug. “Whoops,” I say right as a heavy sigh sounds from the other side of the room.
“You guys do know we are supposed to be on the road right now, right?” I glance up at Cade from where I’m still sprawled out on the couch, catching his genuine smile.
“You going to be able to make the trip back to Jacksonville on your bike, baby girl?”
I scoff and slowly rise to my feet. “Their cocks didn’t break me.”
“Is that a challenge?” Ryker raises a brow as he stands too.
Shaking my head, I back out of the room slowly before turning and sprinting up the stairs, their laughter following after me. “We leave in thirty minutes, Harley!” Cade yells.
By the time we make it to the SOS club back in Jacksonville, my legs are complete jello, but there is no way in hell I will tell these guys that so I do my best to get off my dad’s Harley without tripping.
“You okay, beautiful?” Grayson asks me.
“I’m great.” I smile at him while looping my arm through his as we head inside.
As soon as we get into the main room, we find everyone standing around the couches, staring at the TV. Noah spots us first and grins. “Good. You made it in time. Come watch.”
“What is it?” Ryker asks him with furrowed brows as we stand by the others. Colton grins at me and nods at the screen.
A news anchor is currently wrapping up talking about the weather, and then the screen changes to a familiar large house, men in vests that read FBI milling around.
A lady steps into view and begins talking, “An anonymous source reached out to us to let us know that we would not want to miss this as it happens and they would be correct. As you can see behind me the FBI is currently entering the home of our Mayor, Ron Davidson.”
I gasp and Grayson wraps his arm around my shoulders as she continues to explain that the other homes are currently being raided as well, the sheriff, the judge, and the social worker. Everyone we had looked into is being taken down and arrested.
We continue to watch as the woman explains the bit of information she has. It will take time, but eventually, everything they were involved in will come to light.
This was worth the wait, though. After a few months, Colton had reached back out to his contact in the FBI to find out if they were doing anything yet, but they couldn’t give us any information and said we needed to be patient. Things took time.
It made me wish we had just dealt with them on our own, but with them being who they are, that would have been hard to cover up. This is way more satisfying, watching their perfectly put together lives all fall apart on live tv.
“This just in: there are reports coming in from Sheriff Caleb Jones’ house that someone was found in the basement of his home. Jim is there now to report live,” the woman says as the screen changes to a man standing in front of the Sheriff's house.
He begins to explain that there was a loud commotion and talk of someone being in the house as they bring the sheriff out in handcuffs behind him, and a few moments later, multiple agents emerge with a girl between them.
The camera zooms in. “Oh my God,” I gasp and move toward the TV.
“What is it, babe?” Ryker asks, walking up behind me.
Grabbing the remote from the table, I pause the TV and spin around to face everyone while pointing at the girl. “That’s Zero, the girl who was with Killer and Tank that we couldn’t find.”
“Why the hell would the sheriff have her?” Axe asks, wrapping his arm around Presley.
“I don’t know, but she looks terrified,” I say sadly.
“She’s safe now,” Ryker says, rubbing my back.
I want to believe that, but something in me doesn’t think she is.
The guys convinced me to be glad Zero is safe and enjoy the evening like we had planned. This was a huge win, even if I can’t stop thinking about her.
The last of the evil from the trafficking ring in Jacksonville has been taken down for good. Something settles in my chest at that thought, knowing I had a hand in all of it. I came out on the other side and got to help put an end to it. I know there will never truly be an end to sex trafficking, but we made an impact here and now.
“Hey, baby girl. Sugar wants to talk to us in his office,” Cade says as he walks up behind me and wraps an arm around my shoulders.
His office. It took my uncle a while to call it his office, but he finally agreed after I told him it’s something my dad would have wanted. And I know it is something that my dad would want. We won’t ever forget him, but always referring to the President’s office as Rage’s office, makes it feel like this isn’t truly Colton’s club, but it is. This is as much his as it was my dads and he has finally begun to accept that.
“What about?” I ask Cade as he guides me back inside. We came down for a family BBQ and one thing everyone agreed upon was that there would be no work talk during the BBQs, so for him to want us in the office it must be important.
“No idea.” He shrugs as Bear sprints up to us, staying close to Cade’s side. We originally brought Bear with us, but he couldn’t roam free with the house being on the beach. There is no way to fence off a yard for him so he was getting depressed not having enough space to run free. Until we figure out next steps, he is staying at the club with everyone he knows, but it sucks and I know it makes Cade sad even if he won’t voice it.
My broody caveman has made so much progress with speaking and being open with Grayson, Ryker, and me, but he still has his moments when his first instinct is to shut down.
Ryker and Grayson catch up to us as we head down the hallway to the office, and when we step inside, we all pause at the sight of Colton, Noah, Axe, Nerds, and Stone.
“Uh, what’s going on?” I chuckle as we walk farther into the room and find spots to stand.
“We wanted to discuss something with you guys,” Axe comments, glancing at Sugar, who nods to him.
“As you guys know, Brielle’s dad doesn’t want to run the club in Virginia anymore. We convinced him to stay for a few extra months and I have been taking trips over there to help them out, but you guys are settled over there and know that you want to stay in Virginia at least for now.”
He pauses and glances over at Sugar, who takes over. “We wanna know if y’all would be interested in taking over the club and creating a brother club to the Sons of Silence MC. We would be the sole owners of everything and offer support and would be there to help you guys get things going and bringing new bikers into the club, but you four would run the club as a team.”
The guys are all staring at Sugar like he has grown two heads, and while I am shocked, I think I can be the most rational right now so I ask, “Why are you offering this to us? I mean, the guys were just going to be prospects here, and now you guys think they—we—are ready to run an entire club?”
“The other option is basically having this open spot where anyone can come in and then we would have to deal with potential problems arising like drugs and guns being moved through. Rage worked his ass off to get things cleaned up and although we weren’t close to their club over there, we did have alliances with them to keep things clean. And no, we don’t think you guys are ready, which is why it would be a brother club to us. It’s just like an extension of SOS, and you guys would be running it there, but would still have to go through us for everything. And we would all be around to help you get it going and keep it running.”
“What if we royally fuck it up?” Ryker questions.
“You probably will,” Stone says.
“But that’s a learning experience, and you will get to fix it or have us help you. Do you think other new clubs didn’t fuck shit up at first? Hell, we still fuck things up around here, and this club has been open for decades,” Axe adds on.
“Can we have a second?” I ask Colton, who nods. Pushing the guys out of the room, I lead them into the office across the hall and shut the door. “I feel like we need a moment to process what they just offered us.”
“We have the gym already, and Cade wants to start tattooing. Do we really think we could pull this off too? Would we even have enough time left in a day for ourselves?” Grayson asks.
“I think if you guys want this, we can make it work. There are four of us, and we would have the club to help us. We do this together, so if this is something you all really want, then we will make it work,” I tell them, wanting to support and have their backs like they have always had mine. I know how much they loved this club, and they left it for me. This would give them the chance at having everything they want again.
“This includes you too. Don’t talk like this is our thing only.” Ryker narrows his eyes at me, gripping the back of my neck and pulling me close, like he is scared I’m going to run off.
Cupping his cheeks, I smile up at him. “I know that, Ry, but also this would be your thing. Clubs don’t allow women to run them. I could do more for the gym, work on opening doors to help women who are in need and you guys could focus on the club. Cade could still work on tattooing.”
“If we do this, I don’t want to go down the path of becoming an artist. I want to focus on the club and what we all do together,” Cade says.
“Are you sure?” I ask him, pulling away from Ryker and turning towards Cade.
“Yes. Us doing this together comes first.”
“And that includes you. Fuck old fucking club rules. I want you involved as much as us. You deserve to be a part of it. I don’t care what old fucking bastards have to say about women, you are tougher than most men anyway,” Ryker growls.
“I love you,” I tell him with a smile.
“So we want to do this?” Grayson asks nervously.
“Fuck yes,” Ryker says.
“I’m in,” I say.
Cade nods with a grunt.
“Let’s do it then,” Grayson adds, taking a big breath.
“We have stipulations,” Ryker says, crossing his arms as we stand in front of the ranking officers of the SOS club back in Colton’s office.
We talked a bit more about what exactly this would look like and what we would need from the club to make sure things go right and we don’t just become their puppets. Not that we don’t trust them, they are our family. But this is a business deal.
“We would expect nothing less.” Noah grins at us. “Let’s hear it.”
“First, Harley is involved. She is a ranking officer just like the rest of us would be and there is no females aren’t allowed bullshit in the club. We accept both males and females as full brothers and sisters into the club. I do not want a divide. I know this club will always be that way, but as a connected club, we should be able to break away from some of the rules that have been set in place.”
Colton nods. “I agree.”
“We also want something in writing about our part in this. We want to own part of the club even if we have to slowly pay our portion off because we can’t outright afford it right now. We want stakes in this so we can control what is going on and have more of a say.”
“And everything needs to be in writing,” Grayson tacks on. “Not that we don’t trust you guys, but it helps keep everything clear so nothing becomes a problem down the road.”
“No, we agree.” Colton nods at Grayson with a smile. “Anything else?”
“Yes,” I say, locking eyes with Colton. “We want it to be named Sons of Rage MC, brother club to the Sons of Silence MC.”