Epilogue
Igrimaced as Lissa tried to help me sit down around the firepit with the others.
“Jesus, babe, I can sit down just fine. It’s my shoulder that’s hurt, not my ass.”
She rolled her eyes, hurrying off to bring me a coffee.
She’d not been back all that long from seeing baby VP, so she still had that soft smile that had appeared right around the time she knew she’d get to see her.
I had a feeling it wouldn’t be long before she was craving one of her own, and hell, maybe I wasn’t the greatest example of a son, or a man, but maybe being a dad could be something I’d do well. Who knows.
“So, now we have you all here,” Reacher began, standing among the assorted motley crew of bikers from both chapters, many of us patched up, bandaged, or hunched over with banging headaches.
“Before I hand over to your new President for the Hampshire Chapter, I wanted to say that last night wasn’t indicative of a usual Phoenix MC party.” A few chuckles and laughs followed his comment, along with a few responses of ‘no shit’ and some ‘thank fuck for that’ grumbles.
“I have to commend you all for not dying last night, thank you. It’s hard to find fitting guys to wear the cuts, and I hate having to replace any. I know last night descended into a shitshow, but it was still an important night-”
“Especially for your dick, Pres,” someone else butted in, and I’m pretty sure that fucker was Torch, even though he sounded gruff as fuck too.
Reacher flipped him off. “As I was saying, welcoming a new chapter into Phoenix MC was a big deal for us, all of us, and I’m hoping our future get togethers will be a little less hellish, and more like they should be. Beer, fun, laughter, and a few less hallucinations and gunshots.”
“What about horses, are they allowed?” Someone asked, and Harley immediately turned and smacked the fucker’s head.
“What? Aren’t you still looking for Harley the horsey?”
“Shut it, prick.”
I guess I wasn’t the only one who saw him pretend riding himself.
“Micro?”
Micro stood up, leaning heavily on the back of his seat until he held his balance.
“Thanks, Reacher. Everything he just said, I want to repeat, but I don’t have the energy for that. Some cunt shot me again last night. Have I mentioned that’s getting really old?”
A few laughs and groans followed his comment, but he was already staring at his old lady, or future old lady, since they never got to the tattooing.
“On the subject of things that should have happened last night, well, let’s just say I gained an old lady, and it’s not this lovely woman right here.”
What?
Has-Been cursed, and flipped him off. “In your dreams, prick.”
“The ink doesn’t lie, man,” that was Rocket, and I had no idea what I was fucking missing here.
“Ain’t ya gonna kiss your new old lady, Pres?” I really needed to learn the names of these fuckers, but whoever that was received a fierce glare from Micro AND Sophie. Oh and Has-Been. Wait a minute.
“Are you telling me Has is wearing your ink, Micro?”
Has flipped me off next. “I’m gonna fucking kill Rocket. Who tattoos people while he’s under the fucking influence?”
Rocket laughed. “Who lets someone tattoo him, while they’re both off their fucking heads?”
“Don’t forget all the cocks you added,” Torch butted in with a laugh, and Has flipped him off yet again.
“I want to know what Elise’s ink was, because I know she got one too,” Grace piped up next, and when all eyes turned to Elise, her cheeks were scarlet, and she turned to bury her face against Has’s shoulder. Well, now I was curious as fuck too.
“Show and tell time?” Stag asked, and Has jabbed a finger at him.
“You try looking at Elise, and I’ll rip out your eyes and shove them up your ass. It’ll be a twofer, since it’ll keep you quiet too.”
Micro cleared his throat, and miraculously everyone shut it.
“So, my point is, that I’m rejecting the old lady inked last night, and I’d like ‘her’ ink removed asap. In the meantime, Sophie will be, and always has been, my old lady. Jesus fuck, that sounded weird. Why’d you have to be called ‘Has-Been’ dammit?”
Sophie was giggling beside him, and he reached down to drag her up to stand beside him.
“Inking up my old lady will unfortunately have to wait, and not because of those pricks, but for about nine months, maybe more, right, baby?”
Sophie’s face was fucking glowing with happiness, and I realised it was because we were about to gain another fucking child in the Phoenix family.
Were we all reaching that age where babies were just a fucking natural state of evolution?
We were already creating the next generation of Phoenix MC members?
“Okay, okay, thanks, but shut it,” Micro yelled, over the calls of congratulations that had filled the air after his half assed announcement.
“Anyway, rest up, everyone, and get your heads straight, because as of tomorrow, we’re all on cleanup duty, and we’ve got some fucking rebuilding to do.”
“What exactly happened last night, Pres?”
Micro
Well, someone had to ask, right? We couldn’t assume they all knew what had actually gone on, or who was behind it, and maybe I should have been more concerned about who knew, but I knew from looking at Reacher, that we’d be watching for unexpected reactions to the news.
“Last night, there was an attempt to destroy the new Phoenix chapter, and it was carried out by four former members of Rogue Riders.”
Yep, the guys around me all looked shocked. Well, not all of them. Harley just rolled his eyes, but was clearly in the know.
“Harley?”
He shrugged. “I stabbed Roadkill, so I knew he was one of them. I don’t know who the others were.”
Fair enough. I had a feeling he wasn’t the kind of guy to be involved in a plot to overthrow the club anyway. He was shaping up to be the perfect VP for me, something I’d be discussing with Reacher later.
“Shark and two former prospects were also involved, and I’ll say this now.
Anyone here who agrees with what they did, or feels that they’re going to try something against this club, any chapter of this club, just fucking leave now.
It won’t be tolerated, and it won’t be survived.
I know I was a fucking fool who didn’t believe in the Phoenix ethos, or show the proper respect for its members, back before all of this, but I get it.
I get why they’re doing things the right way, and why I should have dug my head outta my ass a fucking year ago.
Or earlier. I dunno. Phoenix is here to stay, so anyone not feeling like they wanna live their fucking best life here, can leave, and do it soon.
I’m not looking to invest anyone’s time and effort into any more cuntish behaviour.
We’re gonna move forward, and do the colours proud. Agreed?”
And hell, that got a resounding cheer in response, and I watched their faces, and nobody looked like they were putting on a show.
“Rocket, you and I need a little chat later,” I said as everyone settled back down, and started chatting among themselves. First things first though.
“Reacher, you got a second?”
He nodded and moved away from the crowd with me, Ally taking his seat beside Sophie, as their heads leaned together and Ally hugged her.
It made me feel like a fucking king to know that woman was mine, and we were building a real life together, and seeing her being accepted like that?
It was even better than feeling that acceptance myself.
“What’s up?”
I leaned against the wall of the dorm building, since you know, there was no office to go to, but this was far enough from prying eyes, or ears, at least.
“Just wanted to thank you for giving me this chance, and putting your faith in me. I won’t let you down.”
He nodded, leaning against the wall beside me.
“I guess I always wondered if I could trust you again, but in the end it wasn’t that hard to do.
You literally put your life on the line last night to save the club, and to protect your old lady, which I respect.
I wasn’t much use, and you held this shit together.
We’ll still be watching, but now it’s more of a ‘keeping an eye on our investment’ kinda thing, rather than spying on you as a figurehead. You get the difference, right?”
I grinned. “Aka the cameras stay up, because you’re all nosy bastards?”
Reacher laughed, shrugging a shoulder. “I guess we can discuss some of them being switched off at this point, but security will always be important, regardless of who’s monitoring it.”
Didn’t I just fucking know it?
“So, about a VP…”
“Harley, by any chance?”
The fucker always knew, didn’t he?
“Yeah. I think he’s a good all rounder, and he’s really had my back since we took the Rogues down. I trust him, and I think he’s got the club’s best interests at heart, ya know?”
Reacher snorted.
“You know you don’t need to ask my permission or something, right?
This is your chapter now. Decisions like that are under your purview from now on.
All I ask is that we work together on all things financial and criminal.
That’s how we’ll all stay safe, and keep the club going.
I foresee a lot of meeting up to discuss shit like that in the future, but it’ll be on a more even footing now. ”
“And Grease?”
He sought the fucker out with his eyes, grinning as he watched him bantering with Ice, who, for some reason, he really liked. I so didn’t get it, but whatever. Someone had to like him, I guess.
“At some point, Rossi will recall him, but for now, keep making use of him. Rely on him. He’s fucking solid, and despite the fact that he was meant to be reporting on you to us, he always had your back.
I have a feeling he’d rather stay with the club, but that’s probably not up to him, any more than it’s up to us. ”
Who could blame him though, because club life was the fucking shit.
Anyone who thought differently just didn’t understand the freedom, and brotherhood, it provided.
It wasn’t just about being into motorcycles, or even drugs and violence, it was about having a huge extended family, who’d always fucking be there.
Who’d work together toward any outside threat, and who’d have each other’s backs no matter what.
That’s club life, and I’m so fucking glad I got a second chance for it. This time I wouldn’t fuck it up.
THE END
I hope you enjoyed this little interlude into the Phoenix MC world, and meeting the new second chapter of the club!