Bonus Epilogue
The bare trees sway as the early spring breeze hits my face.
It’s a nostalgic feeling and smell. One that reminds me of my childhood in such ways I can’t explain.
Guess you had to be there. Maybe it’s because they say scent is a powerful remembering tool for those times.
Moments I wish I could go back to and relive or get to experience at all.
But here I am and I can’t go back. Which is what stings the most.
The stabbing pain is immediate when I shift from one leg to the other, giving the injured one a break. It’s healed but damn does it still fucking hurt at times.
I take the lighter from my pocket and light the cigarette dangling between my teeth.
Another shit habit I picked up over the years.
It curves my hunger of wanting to go back and kill each one of those stupid fucks.
Just thinking about leaving him alive makes me want to vomit in fury.
I’ll go back one day and take my revenge, but for now. I’ll get back what they stole from me.
My life.
Years of my goddamn life.
I don’t care what happens to me if I did go back. My life had already been ruined. It’d been lost and I hurt the ones I love so much because of it. They cried because of me, I just know they did.
It’s been three years since I got the hell out of there. Living low and in the shadows was kind of my thing. Which leaves me to the clawing ache as to why the hell am I standing here. Why the fuck did I came back when I should have stayed gone.
Reopening old wounds is never a good idea. But I needed to know—needed to see for myself.
The roar of motorcycles sound and a line of them continue into the reception area. One by one they line up and park.
Damn.
A motorcycle club.
Now I’ve really seen it all.
Protectiveness rushes through me. If these guys are as bad as the Cartel, then there’d be no stopping me.
But over the last week of watching the Steel Valley Chains MC, as they call themselves, I’ve seen more love from each of them than I’ve seen in years.
That kind of bond doesn’t happen every day and my gut tells me these aren’t the bad guys.
Thank fuck, given the circumstances.
With my pain in the ass limp, I push myself away from the tree I’ve been leaning against and head up to where the music blares.
To where everyone is dancing. I’ve managed to stay out of sight throughout the entire ceremony.
Debated on whether I should even be here.
My original plan was to come, watch, and leave.
But as I make my way closer to the reception, I can’t seem to do that.
I really should turn around and go, but there’s no way I’d be able to leave now. Not without seeing her.
It’s dumb and I know I’ll regret it but right now, at this very moment, all I care about, who I care about is dancing in the middle of the rolled-out floor. Her black hair twirling with her body and Christ, she is just as beautiful as the last day I saw her. More stunning even. And she’s…
Holy fuck.
My chest tightens in an agonizing pain from hell.
As I get closer, glances from guests shoot in my direction. Well, this is one way of making an entrance.
The groom, her new husband, holds her with so much love and protectiveness my heart warms at the sight.
For that I am grateful. But as this new husband of hers notices me, he goes into predatory mode.
His shoulder tenses in a reactive alertness.
All the innocent love and happiness vanish from his familiar face.
His largeness blocks her out of my view, and I halt my steps realizing exactly who he is.
How did I miss this?
I can’t help the sincere grin forming on my face. I should have known it’d be him. That fucker. But man, something about the idea of them two marrying each other, sends a calmness rippling through me.
“Who the fuck are you?” Zach’s stance is wide, and his thick arms are crossed against his chest. The material of his dress shirt which lays underneath his motorcycle cut stretches across his muscled biceps.
Well, I’ll be dammed. Looks like he still works out. My grin never fades. I mean, how could it?
The music stops. The guests give their full attention to the show.
More of the members take calculated baby steps in my direction.
I don’t blame them, I’d wonder who the hell is crashing their wedding, too.
But as soon as she takes that step out from behind Zach, her eyes lock with mine.
The same ones I remember all our lives growing up. I mean, shit, we share those eyes.
Recognition reigns over her gorgeous face as she pales whiter than her wedding dress. Her mouth gapes open at the sight of me.
This isn’t exactly how I wanted our reunion to go. In fact, there’d been times, I wasn’t so sure I’d ever see her again. It was too dangerous.
But I tuck my hands inside my pockets, stopping the temptation of going to her and wrapping her up in a giant ass hug like when we were kids. “You didn’t think I’d miss my sister’s wedding, did you?”