Chapter Nine
Dawson
I’d felt like I’d grown closer to Nora the other night, but I worried about what she’d think when I finally told her everything. Taylor had been playing in the bedroom most of the morning and was currently in bed watching TV until she fell asleep for her nap. She’d insisted she wasn’t tired, and Nora had compromised, letting her pick out an animated movie. When I’d asked if she’d actually sleep with the TV on, Nora assured me Taylor would be out like a light within fifteen minutes.
“Isn’t it late for a nap?” I asked, checking the time.
“She’s had a busy few days, and I’ve noticed she’s getting tired quicker. Probably part of it is the excitement over Christmas. Trust me, she’ll still go to bed after her bath tonight.”
I nodded and led Nora into my living room, the worn leather couch creaking as we sat down together. She perched on the edge, hands clasped tightly in her lap, her dark eyes wary. My heart ached seeing the hesitation and fear still lingering in her guarded posture. I wanted so badly to show her she was safe with me.
“I thought we could talk,” I said gently. “Get to know each other a bit. Or maybe for me, it’s more of a confession.”
Nora nodded, tucking a strand of silky brown hair behind her ear. “Okay. What did you want to tell me?”
I took a deep breath. Where to begin? The words felt heavy on my tongue. “I guess I should start with my family. My dad… he used to be the Vice President of the Dixie Reapers motorcycle club.”
Her eyes widened. I could practically see the cogs turning in her mind, likely conjuring up every unsavory thing she’d ever heard about biker gangs. I’d mentioned him being part of a club, with Reapers in the name, and I was certain she’d figured out they weren’t like my club. I held up a hand.
“I know how that sounds. Believe me, growing up in that world, I saw a lot I disagreed with. That’s why I chose to leave, to make my own path in life outside the club. At the same time, I guess I’m my father’s son, and that’s why I helped form the Swift Angels MC. I still wanted that same brotherhood, a group of men I trusted to have my back and go on rides with, but without the outlaw part. Our club is still new, not even a year old. My dad’s has been around for quite a while. Decades, actually.”
“It couldn’t have been easy, walking away from your family like that,” she said softly.
“It wasn’t. Part of me will always be a Reaper. It’s in my blood. But I had to be true to myself and what I believe in. I’m trying to live an honest life, help people through legal means with the Swift Angels. As for my dad, he’s technically retired now. He’s still very much a part of the club, but he’s not quite as hands-on as he used to be. That being said, he’s done a lot of illegal shit.” Probably still did for that matter. There were some things I didn’t want to know, and since both Isy and Akira knew about my situation, they tried to help keep me out of that world. A few others knew as well, but I didn’t interact with them as much as those two.
Nora studied my face for a long moment. I held my breath, hoping she could see the man I strived to be, not just the son of an outlaw biker. Finally, she reached out and placed her small hand over mine.
“I think that’s really brave, Dawson. To forge your own path like that. I respect you even more for it.”
Relief coursed through me at her words, her touch. It felt like a weight had lifted off my chest. She understood. Or at least, she said she did. Maybe there was hope for us after all. But meeting my family, being at the Dixie Reapers compound, might make her see things differently. Despite all the bad things the Reapers had done over the years, they also did a lot of good. Toy drives, food drives, not to mention the women and children they’d saved from human traffickers.
The heavy topic still hung in the air between us, and I knew I had to convey the full truth to Nora. If she was going to date me, she needed to know everything. The good and the bad about the Dixie Reapers. Even though I wasn’t one, like I’d told her, they were in my blood. And they were my family.
I took a deep breath, my fingers absently tracing the worn fabric of the couch. “The thing is, even though the Dixie Reapers operate outside the law, they have a code. They’re fiercely protective of women and children, especially when it comes to the horrors of human trafficking.”
Nora’s brow furrowed, her lips pressing together in a tight line. “But isn’t getting involved in illegal activities just perpetuating the problem? How can they justify that?”
I leaned forward, my elbows resting on my knees as I clasped my hands together. “I understand your concern, believe me. But sometimes, the system fails. The Reapers have informants, connections that allow them to track down the scum who prey on the vulnerable. They’re able to act quickly, without red tape, to save lives.”
Probably shouldn’t mention Wire and Lavender. Telling her some of the best hackers in the world were part of the Reapers might be a bit much. Assuming she knew what a hacker was. If not, I’d have to tell her they obtained their information illegally. They just committed all their crimes from behind a keyboard.
She shook her head, her dark hair falling forward to frame her face. “I don’t know, Dawson. It just seems like a slippery slope.”
Meeting her gaze, I saw the conflict in her eyes, the desire to protect warring with her innate sense of right and wrong. Maybe I could share a few truths without putting their real names to the stories. Make her understand.
“Let me tell you about a girl named Lily,” I began, keeping Rin’s actual name out of it. “Her brother turned her into a prostitute. Abused her in so many ways. But the Reapers decided to step in and save her. She got a second chance at a much better life, and no, they didn’t do it by legal means. People died, and it was bloody and violent. I can’t say I’m sorry, either. They deserved everything they got.”
Okay. Maybe I should have left out that last part. I really was my father’s son, deep down. And my mother’s. I knew she wouldn’t hesitate to gut someone if it meant protecting innocent lives.
“Or how about a teenage girl rescued from a human trafficking ring? She’d been raped for more than a year by multiple people. The group had so many children of all ages. The Reapers, along with two other clubs, went in and saved them. Most if not all of those children would have probably died if the clubs hadn’t stepped in.”
She sighed. “All right. I get it. They do some wonderful things, but couldn’t the police have arrested those people instead?”
I hesitated a moment. “Yes and no. The first story I told you… the men who raped her were high up. All the way to the mayor’s office. The police wouldn’t have done a damn thing to step in and arrest her brother. Not to mention, just taking him down wouldn’t have been enough. The Reapers annihilated everyone involved. Those who weren’t close enough to stop in person were handled in other ways.”
She nodded, apparently getting it. For someone who hadn’t been through what Rin had, or Ares, it was probably hard to truly understand. The moment they’d been saved, my father’s club had been like avenging angels. It’s what I’d wanted to accomplish with the Swift Angels, but in a more legal way. I still wanted to rescue people, step in when others couldn’t. As long as the perpetrators were behind bars, I’d consider it a success. After all, that was our goal -- saving people and making sure the bad guys couldn’t hurt anyone again.
“That’s just a few stories of many,” I continued, reaching out to take her hand in mine, our fingers intertwining. “The Reapers may not always follow the letter of the law, but they have a fierce sense of justice. They’re willing to put everything on the line to protect the innocent, to save those who have been forgotten or overlooked by the system.”
She squeezed my hand, her thumb brushing over my knuckles in a gentle caress. “I’m starting to understand,” she murmured, her gaze holding mine. “It’s not black-and-white, is it? Sometimes, you have to work in the gray areas to do what’s right.”
I nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Exactly. But…” I hesitated, my brow furrowing as I considered our current situation. “As much as I respect what the Reapers do, I’m not sure I want to involve them in this, Nora. Not yet, at least.”
Her eyes searched mine, a flicker of concern crossing her delicate features. “Wait. You wanted to have them help out with my situation? Is that why you told me all this?”
“Yes and no. If you’re going to date me, then I thought you should be aware of my background. Even though I never helped with anything the club did, it doesn’t change the fact I grew up in that environment.”
“So, you thought about telling them about Rex and decided not to. Why?” she asked.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Because I trust the Swift Angels. They’re committed to helping people, but they do it legally. They work with the authorities, follow proper channels. I don’t want to risk blurring those lines unless we absolutely have to. If this way doesn’t work, then I can get my father’s club involved.”
Shit. Not just my dad’s either. I wanted to bang my head on the wall. Did I tell her now or later that my grandfather was also part of it? Or that Akira’s parents were too?
Nora nodded slowly, either just agreeing with me or letting me know she understood where I was coming from. Either way, she didn’t seem to be against the idea.
“The Swift Angels are like me and have jobs that can sometimes require long shifts, and there aren’t very many of us. We have responsibilities outside the club, other people who need our help. Add in our chaotic schedules… It makes it hard for one of my brothers to watch over you at all times.”
She bit her lower lip, a nervous habit I’d come to recognize. “So, what do we do?”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to suggest. “I think it’s time for you to meet my parents. To see my world, where I come from. It might give you a better understanding of the options we have if things take a turn for the worse. Not to mention, I think you should meet them if we’re going to be dating. I know it’s a lot to take in, but I promise you, they’re good people. They’ll welcome you with open arms, both you and Taylor. And… I haven’t brought anyone home to meet them in, well, ever.”
I’d keep it to myself that the Reapers would be a last resort. If they got involved, then Rex would disappear. While I knew Wire or Lavender could create a paper trail that made it seem like he’d left the area, I really didn’t want to handle the situation that way.
Nora swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around mine. “And you want me to be the first woman you ever introduce to them?”
I leaned in, my forehead resting gently against hers as I closed my eyes, savoring the closeness between us. “Yes, because I’m hoping this thing between us will last forever.”
After a moment, I pulled out my phone and dialed my mom’s number, my heart racing as I waited for her to pick up. After a few rings, her warm, familiar voice filled my ear. “Dawson, honey! It’s so good to hear from you.”
“Hey, Mom,” I said, trying to keep my tone light. “I was wondering if Nora and I could come by tomorrow, maybe spend some time with you and Dad.”
There was a brief pause, and I could almost hear the gears turning in her head. “Nora?”
I cleared my throat. “Um, the woman I’m dating. And she has a little girl. Taylor. We’ll probably bring her too.”
There was a long pause before she spoke again. “Of course, sweetheart. You know you’re always welcome here. Is everything okay?”
I glanced at Nora, who was watching me with a mixture of curiosity and concern. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I just think it’s important for Nora to meet you guys, to see where I come from.”
I wondered if Mom was able to read between the lines and know that I wanted to hang onto Nora with everything I had. I hadn’t lied when I told her I’d never introduced a girlfriend to my family before. Not once had I been serious enough to take that step. Even though I’d enjoyed dating those women, I’d known they weren’t the one I wanted to have in my life forever.
“We’d love to meet her,” Mom said, her voice warm and inviting. “How about you come by around noon? I’ll make lunch, and we can all sit down and get to know each other.”
“That sounds perfect. Thanks, Mom. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
As I ended the call, Nora’s eyes searched mine, a silent question hanging between us. I took her hand, gently tracing circles on her palm with my thumb.
“They’re excited to meet you,” I said softly, offering her a reassuring smile.
At least, it seemed like my mother was. I had no idea what my dad would think about it.
“What if they don’t like me?” she asked.
“Impossible.” I smiled and kissed her cheek. “What’s not to like? Besides, I’m betting on Taylor to wrap them around her little finger.”
Nora laughed softly. “Yeah, I can see that happening.”
“We’ll tell her about it later. There’s a playground there as well. I mean, not at the house itself, but in the compound. If the weather isn’t too bad, maybe we can take her there to play for a bit.”
Nora nodded, then I saw a flicker of something in her eyes. “I’m scared. Of what the future might hold, of Rex, and just… everything.”
I pulled her into my arms, holding her close as I pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head. “I know, baby. But we’re in this together. You aren’t alone anymore, Nora. Never again.”
Nora nestled closer, her face buried in the crook of my neck. “I’ve never had anyone in my life who cared about me the way you do. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll never have to find out,” I assured her, my fingers gently stroking her hair. “I’m here for you. Always.”
As we sat there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I couldn’t help but think about the challenges we’d faced, both together and apart. Nora had been through so much, endured more pain and suffering than anyone should ever have to bear. And yet, here she was, still standing strong, still fighting for a better life for herself and her daughter. Her past might not be as ugly as some people’s, like Rin for example, but it didn’t make it any less awful.
I knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. There would be obstacles and dangers we’d have to face. Not just with Rex either. Sure, he added a touch of danger I hadn’t counted on, but once he was in our rearview, something else would come along to add a bit of chaos to our lives. It was just how things worked. Life was a roller coaster full of ups and downs. At least with Nora beside me, I wouldn’t be riding it alone anymore. I only hoped I could be the partner she deserved.
As the sun began to set outside the window, casting a warm, golden glow across the room, I hoped tomorrow would be the first step toward our new life together. As long as my dad didn’t fuck shit up. I never knew if I’d be met with Venom the doting husband and father or Venom the badass biker who was tough as nails.
Just a few short weeks ago, I’d been content with my solitary existence, focusing on my work with the Swift Angels and keeping my distance from the world of the Dixie Reapers. Well, not entirely since I did go home to visit. Not often, though. But now, I needed to find a harmonious way to blend both sides of my life together. I wasn’t just a firefighter or the VP of the Swift Angels.
Hell. I knew what I needed to do, but my dad, and possibly every Reaper at the compound, was going to throw a shit fit. I needed to have Nora drive herself and Taylor, and I’d ride my bike… wearing my colors.
There was always the possibility they’d hand my ass to me before I even cleared the gate, but it was a risk I’d have to take. I couldn’t hide from my family forever. It was time to let them know what I’d been up to the last four years. Somehow, I’d managed to fly under the radar all this time, but sooner or later, my luck would have run out. Better to face it head-on. And with some luck, they’d all be on their best behavior since I’d have Nora and Taylor with me.