Epilogue
Three months later
Casey retreated to the deep shade of the backyard oak tree.
She sipped her drink, the sharp, icy lemon cutting through the heat of the afternoon.
From her quiet vantage point, she watched the frenetic energy of the club’s family barbecue.
Thick smoke rolled off three massive grills as the brothers laughed and flipped burgers, charred ears of corn, and slathered sauce onto racks of ribs.
A few yards away, children chased iridescent bubbles, bounced impatiently in line for the inflatable castle, and scrambled over the jungle gym.
The large patio of the president’s house offered shading beneath its wide canvas awning, but she’d needed a break from the noise and chaos of the crowd.
Her phone rang, and she glanced down at the screen, which flashed Office of the District Attorney. Casey’s breath caught in her throat.
“Hello,” she said.
“This is Deputy District Attorney Daniel Hayes. How are you Ms. Reese?”
“I’m okay. I’m surprised you’re calling on a Sunday.”
He laughed. “I’m a workaholic. I wanted to let you know that Devin Murray took the plea bargain.”
Relief rushed through her, the final piece of the nightmare finally falling into place.
“Are you there?” the attorney asked.
“Yes. Sorry. I’m just so relieved.”
“I can understand that.”
“Did he admit that he killed his mom and sister?”
“He didn’t have to,” Hayes said. “His mother’s body was found in the basement under concrete. His sister was buried in the backyard. He confessed to everything just to avoid a trial.”
Casey’s stomach turned. “Do you know how old she was? His sister.”
“She was about eight or nine,” the DDA said.
“It’s not uncommon for psychopaths to take a plea like this.
They want to control the narrative until the very end.
By confessing, he gets to dictate the exact details of his crimes—how he outsmarted people and the police, and why he killed those women—making it a final act of narcissistic control. ”
“I can’t believe I didn’t pick up on any of this,” Casey murmured. “We were friends. Or at least I thought so.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Ms. Reese. Predators like him are skilled at appearing normal to others. That’s part of the high for them.”
“Can you tell me what he agreed to?”
“Basically, life in prison without parole,” he replied. “He won’t be hurting anyone anymore.”
A heavy knot in Casey’s chest dissolved, leaving behind a profound, hollow quiet. It was over.
“Thank you, Mr. Hayes for everything. I appreciate the call,” she said.
“You’re very welcome, Ms. Reese. Take care of yourself.”
The line went dead. Casey lowered the phone and let out a breath she’d been holding since the day Devin attacked her.
A pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around her waist from behind, a warm kiss pressed into the side of her neck. All at once, the scent of leather and cedar grounded her. She leaned back into his hard chest.
“You look like you’re deep in thought,” he murmured against her skin.
“I just got off the phone with the Deputy DA. It’s over. Devin took a plea. He’ll be locked away forever.” She placed her hands over his. “He confessed to everything. I’m so relieved that I don’t have to sit in a witness box with him staring at me, and testify.”
She felt the sudden, rigid shift in his muscles and looked up at him. A scowl raced across his face as his jaw tightened.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “I’m thrilled with the news.”
“Life’s too fuckin’ good for him,” he gritted, the edge in his voice, lethal. “The fuckin’ government’s protecting him from me. If I’d gotten to your place five minutes earlier, he wouldn’t be breathing air. I would’ve killed him myself for putting his hands on you.”
Casey turned around in his embrace. She framed his face with her hands. “I know you would have,” she whispered.
“I fuckin’ let you down,” he muttered.
“No, you didn’t. Don’t ever think that,” she said. “You came right when I was ready to lose it.”
“You didn’t want to blow him away, did you? I know you could’ve. You’re a good shooter.”
“I’m glad he didn’t try and come at me again, because I would’ve killed him. But having to live with that would’ve been tough.” She sighed. “I’m just glad it’s behind us.”
“We’re gonna have to go out to the shooting range and fire some rounds.” The harshness in his face relaxed. “I can’t believe I lucked out with having an ol’ lady who can blow someone away.”
Casey chuckled. “I never thought learning how to shoot a gun would be a quality, but I should’ve figured it would be with an outlaw.”
Rags laughed. “It’s not only an asset, it’s sexy as hell.”
She shook her head. “Whatever.”
His eyes scanned her face. “Whaddaya doin’ out here alone?”
“I was feeling a bit overwhelmed. You know, with all the other old ladies’ names and who’s paired up with which brother.”
“It’ll come. Belle, Cara, and Addie are your go-tos, They’re helpful and patient.”
“Belle’s the president’s woman, right?”
“Yeah. Cara goes with Hawk, the vp, and Addie’s Chas’s woman. It’s a lot to know so soon.”
Casey nodded, cutting her eyes toward the corner of the patio. Two old ladies were huddled together, throwing sharp, critical glances her way and talking behind manicured hands.
“Those two by the cooler,” she said, tilting her chin in their direction. “They’ve been staring and talking about me since we got here. Am I doing something wrong?”
Rags didn’t even look over. He tightened his grip around her waist. He let out a low chuckle. “Don’t waste any time on them. They’re bitter, old-school gossips.”
“What are their names?”
“Doris and Marlena. They live for drama. They’re a pain in the ass.”
“Who are their men?”
“Rueben and Billy. Their older patches. Their old ladies hate the younger ones.” He laughed. “Like I said, drama.” He kissed her temple. “You’ve got my patch on your back, Case. Let ’em whisper.”
Tension evaporated from her shoulders. “Well, if they keep staring, we might have to give them something to gossip about. Like how fast you can get me out of here and back against your Harley’s seat.”
Rags’s eyes darkened as a low growl rumbled in his chest. His hands slid down to grip her hips, pulling her flush against him so she could feel what her teasing was doing to him.
“Careful, Case,” he murmured, a dangerous, possessive smirk touching his lips. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll be taking you right here on the grass.”
Casey laughed against his lips as he leaned down, capturing her mouth in a deep kiss that shut out the rest of the world.
“Aren’t you gonna get some chow, dude?”
Casey pulled away and looked over her shoulder. She smiled when she sawThrottle. Rags tugged her close to his side, his arm looped tight around her.
“Did you cook it?” he asked.
“Some of it.” Throttle grinned.
“Fuck, I know how you cook.” Rags laughed. “We’re coming.”
Before long, Casey was eating a juicy burger with all the fixings at a picnic table shaded by a staked canopy sipping a glass of iced tea.
Rags’s plate was heaped with ribs, corn, and potato salad.
Children gobbled up their food then ran back to play.
Casey watched them as they invented games to play, remembering how different her childhood had been.
“You good, darlin’?” Rags asked as he tossed a bone in a basket. “You hardly got any food.”
“I’m not that hungry,” she said. “It’s nice seeing all the kids. They’re having a great time.”
“Yeah. It’s good for them to be outdoors and not inside on screens all the time.”
“Your parents are thrilled with their grandkids. They love to spoil them.”
“Yeah. Megan gets pissed when they let them do shit they can’t do at home.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “The greatest gift for them is those three grandkids.”
Casey giggled. “You mean four.”
Rags’s brow furrowed. “Four? No, babe, Megan’s only got three. You know that.”
“I mean four grandkids in total.” She glanced sideways at him.
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about, woman?”
She took his hand and pressed it against her flat stomach. “Four.”
The barbecue rib in his hand dropped onto the picnic table with a clunk. He swung his leg over the wooden bench so he could straddle it and face her fully. “Are you telling me what I think you are?”
A tiny thread of anxiety wove through her. “Yeah. You’re going to be a father.”
Rags just stared at her, a broad smile slowly taking over his handsome face. “You’re having a baby,” he murmured.
“We’re having a baby,” she said.
“How… I mean, I hadn’t thought…” He laughed. “I…”
She leaned in and pressed her mouth to his. “I hope you’re happy,” she whispered against his lips. “Because I am.”
“Fuck yeah, I’m happy, Case. A little shocked, but happy as hell.”
“Shocked? We’ve been at it all the time. And the pill isn’t foolproof.”
“Damn. I’m gonna be a dad.” The grin on his face grew even bigger.
“We’ll have to get married citizen’s style. You know your parents would want that.”
“Yeah, sure. We’ll do it for them.” He clutched her hands in his. “Are you feeling okay? Do you have a doctor? Is that why you’re not eating?”
“Hold on.” She laughed, charmed by his sudden protective panic. “I feel all right. Sometimes a bit queasy, but I have a doctor’s appointment this week. I bought three pregnancy tests at the drugstore and all three had the same results.”
“Oh, darlin’, this is great news.”
“I know we never talked about having kids or—”
“I’m cool with having a few kids. I’m happy, Case. You made my day.” He cupped the back of her neck and leaned into her until his forehead rested on hers. “You’ve made my life complete.”
He crushed his mouth to hers, overwhelming her senses with the heat of his kiss. Peace and satisfaction washed over her. She loved Rags with a fire that could never be extinguished; he was her heart and her life.
She trusted him with her forever.
The End