CHAPTER EIGHT
I knew your family was awesome, especially your parents. Today proved to me just how amazing it is to be considered family by all the women. I also get why you say Kierstie can be scary. I’m just happy it was in my defense.
~Text from Christy to Max~
Max
It’s been almost six months since Taz and Brander were arrested.
Taz ended up taking a plea bargain and will serve the next twenty-five years in prison.
Brander’s being difficult, and because Washington no longer has the death penalty, there’s not much to bribe him with since he knows he’s gonna spend the rest of his life in prison.
I know the Attorney Generals of both Washington and Oregon are working on something to offer him so that he gives up more names of his victims. Turns out there are a lot of missing women in both states that fit his victim profile.
I think if he truly has as many victims as they think he might, he’s gonna end up being more prolific than Gary Ridgeway.
I refuse to use the names the press gives these killers.
I feel like it gives them the attention when it really should be going to the victims, the ones who innocently lost their lives at the hands of a sick man.
The press first called him the Freezer Butcher, but once a couple of survivors came forward with stories almost identical to each other, but separated by more than ten years, the press jumped on the name RIP Killer.
Turns out the fucker having severe OCD meant that he repeated each step the same for every victim.
Also means there are some freezers that they are just starting to uncover.
Erik’s ex-wife, Celeste, may she rest in Hel, wasn’t actually one of his victims. Turns out running her mouth as much as she did pissed Taz off so much that he sliced her throat.
He just used Brander’s skills to…dismember her.
Fucker’s public defender had the balls to contact me to see if I wanted to take the case on, or if not me, at least my office.
Colton quickly called them up and failed to not laugh while speaking with them.
Conflict of interest much? He politely told them they might need to go back to law school.
Colton’s been a great addition to the office, and we’re busy enough to be seriously considering bringing on a third full-time partner.
Leah’s still around but is part-time. She’s going to stay part-time till her youngest is in kindergarten.
I know most law firms wouldn’t accommodate that, but if family is really that important, as we all here say it is, then how could I not?
Plus, she’s a freaking shark in the courtroom, and even having her part-time is a lot better than having someone else full-time.
Haley is working closer to full-time now, and Benji spends his days with Daisy, bouncing between family depending on who’s watching the kids that day.
Ma mentioned that there might be a need for a club day care or preschool, and the idea took off.
Mary is going to work there, and she’s being helped by Kierstie, Madison, Anna, and Ma to figure out what it should look like.
Asher and Micah’s construction crew will build it on club property.
Seems like we’re continuing to grow in numbers.
I would love to say we’re adding to that number, but it hasn’t happened just yet.
She didn’t get her shot this last time, and we’ve decided to let nature take its course.
I’m having a lot of fun practicing and exploring with my girl.
Turns out she’s a bit adventurous and likes to make random stops when we go for a ride. I’m a fucking lucky son of a bitch.
I proposed to Christy a couple of months ago, and she’s knee-deep in wedding plans with Ma and the girls.
We set the wedding date for two months from now, but if I could, I’d marry her today.
I originally suggested we go to the courthouse, not because I don’t want a wedding, but because I didn’t want Christy to worry about any awkwardness about the guest list, since she most definitely won’t be inviting anyone from up the mountain.
Turns out I was wrong, not about who was being invited, but about her being worried or upset about the guest list. Ma told me that I needed to look at things differently.
She then decided to share with me a conversation she’d had with Christy a while back, when they were preparing food for someone in the family who was having a birthday.
“You know Christy never had a birthday party growing up? Her mom, when she was still alive, would sneak around to make her a cake and do a little celebration just the two of them. She was like nine or ten when her mom passed. She was the forgotten one up on that mountain. I’m assuming that you’re planning on only getting married once—” I did something I rarely ever did and interrupted Ma.
“You know it. She’s the one for me, no doubt about it. ” Ma smiled at me and squeezed my hand.
“Then give the woman you love the wedding she wants. It can be small or big, in our yard, at the clubhouse, or wherever. If she wants you wearing a tux, then you and your brothers will suck it up. That girl deserves a special day. We, as her family, are going to make sure that happens.” I agreed and even went out and bought some of those bridal magazines, then gave them to Christy.
It took some convincing, but between me, Ma, Kierstie, Mary, and Asher, of all people, we convinced Christy to tell us exactly what she wanted.
She finally admitted to me one night that she didn’t know what she wanted because she’d never let herself dream that she’d actually ever get to marry for love and have a real wedding.
Luckily, she’s marrying into a family with plenty of people who are more than happy to help.
Nicky’s become a regular at our place, with his wedding binder.
Ma, Mary, and Anna have all been active in planning.
Christy got a lot of ideas from both Kimbra's and Kinsley’s weddings and decided that she wants to have the ceremony and the reception at the clubhouse. Thankfully, there won’t be a tuxedo in sight, and I don’t even have to wear a tie. She really does love me.
I was told that today they’re going dress shopping for her wedding dress and for bridesmaid dresses.
I haven’t gotten any texts that she needs a rescue, so I’m thinking things are going fine.
She never needs rescuing from the family, but I’ve discovered that sometimes the large number of decisions she’s making can get overwhelming, and she needs an out.
For someone who, for most of her life, was never allowed to decide anything, I get it.
So, being the awesome fiancé I try to be, I come grab her, giving some lame excuse, and we go for a ride.
No talking, just the wind and the road. We even went for a ride in the truck once when it was pouring cats and dogs.
My phone dings with an incoming text. Maybe I spoke too soon. I grab my phone and open my messages, only it’s not from my woman.
Ry: Don’t freak out or leave court, or a meeting if you’re in one. Your girl’s fucking father just made an appearance outside of the bridal store.
Me: WHAT?? What do you mean? I can be there in ten minutes. Did he fucking touch her?
Ry: Please. You know I wouldn’t let that happen. I was here dropping Nicky off, and Asher was dropping Anna off. But neither of us got in a word, let alone a hit. Ma, Anna, and Kierstie had her back. She stood up to him like a fucking rockstar.
Me: I’m coming, I need to see for myself she’s okay.
Ry: No. Not this time, little brother. She’s fine, and she just told everyone she’s ready to try on dresses.
If I hadn’t been watching her, I swear, the way those words came out, that Kierstie was the one talking.
I’m a little scared, I ain’t gonna lie. I have to go to work, but Asher, the sucker, just got pulled into the store. He won’t leave now.
My phone dings with another text message from someone else.
Ma: I’m sure Ry or Asher texted you. She’s fine.
I think her standing up to him might be something she didn’t know she needed.
We’re gonna try on these dresses. YOU are going to finish working.
Anna and I are going to bring this lot back to the clubhouse afterward, where I think some drinking might just happen.
You might want to show up there. Not before, son. Love you.
Me: Fine. I’ll see you at the clubhouse later. Love you too.
How the fuck am I supposed to be able to concentrate on work after that?
I know if I show up now, Ma will not be happy with me.
I have the longest streak next to Madison for how long it’s been since I’ve been hit by the lefse stick, and damn it, I want to keep it.
Five years is an eternity when it comes to that.
A knock on the door gets me out of my head.
It opens, and Colton is on the other side.
“I’ve got that case starting next week. If I order in lunch, wanna run through it with me?
” I move out of my desk so quickly that my chair almost falls backward.
“Abso-fucking-lutly.” That’s the kind of distraction I need.
Christy
Twenty-ish minutes ago
Today’s the day I’m gonna find my wedding dress. Growing up, I never thought I would have a day like this. When Joseph did weddings up on the mountain, there was nothing special about them other than the ceremony and the dinner afterward. Even then, only Joseph got cake and ice cream.