Epilogue
Idon’t know how he managed it, but Corvin has handled the business while I fixed the Harlots’ mess and stepped into my role as their President. I sigh as I open another coffin in the showroom.
It’s a luminous, sleek black marble with a satin interior. I’ve got one foot inside when I hear my partner behind.
“Haven? Are you okay?” I finish climbing inside and settle my body into the confines of the small luxury coffin.
“Yeah, why?” I answer as I close the lid and close my eyes.
Yeah, this is the one.
“Um, no reason, I guess, but you’re trying out the coffins like you’re picking your final destination, and it’s freaking me the hell out.
You don’t have another hit on you? Brain tumor?
Cause I’m thinking I need to get you some help, but I’m trying to narrow down who I should call.
” I roll my eyes and push the coffin open.
I sit up and look at Corvin.
“Stop clutching your pearls, drama queen. I’m picking out Mrs. Novar’s coffin. It has to be perfect.” I’ve put off this funeral for far too long.
I owe it to her, and I feel bad making Joel wait. he couldn’t have reentered my life at a worse fucking time. He’s been looking for me, but Corvin has kept him at bay so I could handle my shit.
But now it’s time.
“Well, before you see your ex, there is one more item we need to address. The stiff in the prep room.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
Oh, that.
“Just a few loose ends I’m going to take care of on my way home today. Let’s go with this one.” I hop out of the coffin and slip my heels back on.
“This paperwork is shit.” He waves my coroner’s report in my face.
I step closer and read the sheet, but everything looks right. I look up at Corvin and shrug my shoulders in a what’s wrong with it gesture. He points to the cause of death, then reads it so I can hear how absurd it sounds firsthand.
“He drowned in a teacup?” Ok, I admit it’s not my best idea, but it’s not often that Corvin gets this riled up, so I have to take advantage.
I grin and nod.
“His mouth was taped.” I can see the vein over his right eye starting to twitch.
“That was never proven.” I smile sweetly and bat my eyelashes, knowing damn well it’s true, cause I fucking did it.
“Cause you were the medical examiner! Are you trying to get caught and go to jail?” I sigh and take the paper from him, cleanly ripping it in half.
“Was I?” Corvin’s about to wring my neck when my phone starts to ring.
“Relax, I’m not filing a report. By the way, you weren’t here last night. Home sick, got it?”
He snorts and glares at me before answering the phone.
I proceed to load the body in the hearse and start my three-hour drive to the Jersey shore. I’ve got the perfect spot for this fucker’s grave already picked out.
I texted Loki the location last night, and they’ve dug the hole and will fill it once I drop his ass in it. Shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes, but it starts to rain halfway to the wooded area, and by the time I get there, it’s a muddy fucking mess.
“Fucking hell,” I mutter as I carefully back the hearse to the predug grave.
I take out my phone and call Loki.
“We’re en route. Had to pull over cause of the storm.” Lighting flashes above me, and I groan.
“Alright, I’m dropping him and heading for the funeral.” I hang up and get out of the hearse.
Rain pelts me as my heels sink into the mud.
“Should have worn my Docs,” I grumble as I lower the body to the ground.
“Haven?” I draw my gun and point it at the voice that called my real fucking name.
“Fucking hell, woman. Lower the gun!” This cannot be fucking happening.
“Joel?” He steps closer, and I see his chiseled jaw with a tight beard, familiar green eyes staring at me in shock.
I don’t have time for this. We’re both going to be late to his grandma’s viewing if I don’t hurry.
“Hold this.” I shove the spare shovel I brought at him so I don’t trip as I grab the body bag and roll it off the slab.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Well, that’s a stupid question.
“Burying a body, duh.” The body lands in the hole with a little splash, sending mud up and over my shoes.
“FUCK.” I sigh and shake most of the mess off.
“Well, these are ruined.” I turn back to him and take the shovel back and notice the cut he’s wearing.
That’s new.
When I check the rockers and see the name, I grin. Welcome to the family, bro. Wonder how he got entangled with the Royal Bastards? Now’s not the time for that conversation, though. But I do take note of his road name proudly displayed on his chest.
He’s missing a rocker naming his position, so he’s really new to the club.
“You’re fucking crazy.” I’m sure I look it and fuck if I care.
“Just catching on, are you?” I wink at him and pat down the mud to hide our footprints as I back my way to the hearse.
“I’m out. I appreciate what you’ve done, but I think it’s best you skip the funeral.” It actually hurts a little, but I get it.
He’s fucking confused as hell finding me like this, but he’ll learn soon enough who I really am.
“Fine. Thanks for your help.” I wave at him over my shoulder as I make sure all the footprints are gone.
“I didn’t help you!” I stand straighter and look at him.
His eyes are raised up to my face from my ass, no doubt.
Interesting.
“Your fingerprints on the shovel say different. I recommend taking back roads. The cops shouldn’t be on our trail, but I’d be cautious if I were you.” I throw the shovel into the hearse and close the back hatch.
I move to the driver’s seat and climb in, closing the door quickly. It auto locks, so when Joel grabs the handle, nothing happens. I start the engine as he starts banging on the window.
“Haven!”
I lower the window enough so he can hear my words.
“See you around, Cable.”