Epilogue
One week later
The car hums steadily beneath us as we make our way from the meeting with Abbot.
Jackson’s driving, focused on the road, while Beau is completely absorbed in his new driver’s license.
It’s funny how he can’t stop looking at it.
He’s been examining it like he is trying to find something wrong with it. Something to make it not legit.
“You good there, Beau?” I ask. I'm half teasing and half amused by his obsession.
He glances at me in the back seat. A cute grin tugs at the corner of his lips. “Yeah, I just can’t get over how well this worked out. I mean yeah we had our fake ID’s for over a year but this one is the real deal. Very legit. It’s nice to not have to stress over it anymore. I kind of like it.”
I chuckle, but then it hits me, they officially got new identities. Their old lives are gone. With those names officially gone so is all the baggage. It feels like a breath of fresh air.
Beau laughs, changing the subject, finally putting the license away. “So, you think Nolan and Liam are behaving themselves with Dayla at the store?”
I laugh and roll my eyes. “I hope they’re not scaring the crap out of her,” I say shaking my head.
We pull up the bookstore, and Jackson kills the engine.
I slide out of the car first and stretch out my legs before heading inside.
The bell above the door jingles as we step in making it feel like home.
I glance over to see Nolan leaning against the counter, talking to Dayla.
I can tell by the way he’s smirking that the conversation is most definitely not about books. They’re definitely flirting.
I roll my eyes, muttering under my breath, “If he keeps playing that charm on her, he might never leave Salem.”
Beau gives a short laugh beside me. “I think you’re right. Nolan’s charm will have Dayla wrapped around his finger in no time.”
We walk over to the chairs by the window, where Liam’s already sitting, looking bored out of his mind. I sit down on Beau’s lap without thinking about it, feeling his arms wrap around me. A moment of peace in the chaos.
Almost immediately, Nova comes bounding over, her tiny paws tapping against the floor as she leaps into Jackson’s lap.
I watch her settle there, curling up like she belongs.
“Traitor,” I mutter, looking at my cat with mock hurt. “I knew you loved Jackson more than me.”
Jackson laughs, scratching Nova behind the ears. “She’s just being loyal.”
“Loyal? To you? I’m the one who feeds you, little furball.” I raise an eyebrow.
Nolan steps away from the counter and glides up to us sitting in a empty chair. “So, what’s the deal? How’d you guys make out?" He waves a hand between Jackson and Beau.
Jackson and Beau exchange a look, and then both pull out their new IDs. They pass them around, and the guys are all excited about the new documents. Everyone’s grinning now. I can feel the weight of everything lifting.
“Well, here’s to a new start.” Nolan says, raising an imaginary glass.
“Here’s to a new start.” Beau echoes, his grin wide as he leans back in his chair.
Liam clears his throat and looks over at Nolan. They exchange a quick look, and then Liam leans forward, his voice a little more serious now.
“We’ve been talking,” Liam starts. “And we already called Dawsen back home to get permission from the president of the Miami chapter. So, here’s the thing. What do you think about opening a chapter of the Vanguard Rebels here in Salem?”
My eyes widen, and I look over at Jackson, who’s also processing the idea.
Nolan and Liam continue, telling us how they’ve really taken to Salem, the beauty, the quiet.
“It’s peaceful up here,” Nolan says, nodding.
“It’s way quieter than back home, and we like it here. We’d love to set something up.”
Jackson raises an eyebrow. “So, you want to open a chapter here?”
Nolan grins. “Exactly. And we’ve been thinking it through.
Jackson, you’d be the president of the Salem chapter.
Beau would be vice president.” He pauses for a beat and exchanges another look with Liam.
“And if you’d have us, I’d like to be Sergeant at Arms. If that's cool Liam would be my enforcer.”
The room falls quiet for a second. I’m trying to wrap my head around this. A new chapter of the Vanguard Rebels, right here in Salem. It sounds like a huge step, and I have questions…so many questions.
I glance at Jackson, then back at Nolan and Liam. “Okay,” I say, voice a little unsure. “What exactly does that look like? I mean, what do you plan on doing here?”
Nolan shrugs, looking calm but serious. “We don’t want to turn this place into another Miami.
No weapon trades, no drugs, nothing like what we were involved in back home.
We just want a chapter that’s a little more peaceful, maybe even a little older, you know?
Think of it like the grandpa chapter, still getting into trouble here and there, but nothing like the craziness back home. ”
I nod, feeling a little more at ease. “That makes sense.”
But then a thought hits me, and I can’t help but ask, “And what about all the other guys? Are you planning on pulling anyone else from Miami?”
Liam leans forward, his voice low. “No. This would just be the four of us from Miami. Keeping it under control. There will of course be others who join from around this area and who knows what the future brings. If we keep to our word, there might be some guys from Miami who retire up here. Something calmer and more laid back then back home.”
Jackson looks thoughtful for a moment. I can tell he’s weighing the pros and cons in his head.
After a long pause, he finally speaks. “I get it. If we do this, it’s going to be a chapter of a dangerous club, but we don’t need all the extra issues, the drama, or the shady stuff we were running with before.
No more weapon trade, no drugs. Just a place where we can still ride, be ourselves, but without the chaos. ”
Nolan nods, his eyes gleaming with approval. “Sounds good to me. Plus, I think I might have a good shot with the chick behind the register. Think I’ve got a chance?” He grins over at me, clearly amused.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Maybe if you learned her name and stopped calling her the chick.”
Everyone laughs, which helps the mood lighten again. The trouble that had been hanging around us seems to melt away in the warmth of this new possibility.
Jackson leans back in his chair, looking at all of us, his gaze finally landing on Beau. “If we can get the details worked out, and if you two stay here in Salem with us to run the club… We might just be able to make it work at some point in the future.”
Beau smiles, and I feel his hand tighten on my waist. “I think we can make it work.”
Jackson chuckles, shaking his head. “Hell, I miss riding. I’d love to get back to it. And, Aria, you’d be a two time ole’ lady,” he adds with a grin.
I laugh, rolling my eyes. “God, don’t remind me. I’m going to be connected to you two for the rest of my damn life.”
But I know, deep down, that this is a new beginning for all of us. A chance for them to rebuild, to leave the past behind, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll find peace here in Salem, together.
I look around at my new family.
Dayla, busy behind the counter, humming softly to herself as she arranges some books, the cozy hum of the bookstore wrapping around us.
Her presence, calm and unassuming, feels like a grounding force in this new life we’ve built.
The two men from Florida, Nolan and Liam, sitting across from me, joking with Jackson and Beau like they’ve missed being part of a family with them in it.
And then, of course, my men. Jackson, who’s still the steady, reliable one, and Beau, with that smile of his that never fails to put me at ease.
For the first time in a long time, I feel… happy. Really happy.
There’s no more running, no more hiding. The ghosts of our past have been left behind, swallowed up by the fresh, quiet air of Salem. We’ve built something here. Something I didn’t know I needed until now.
This almost feels surreal. The secrets that once defined our lives are gone. The bad things are replaced by something far more important, peace.
The laughter around me, the warmth of the small bookstore, the feeling of safety in the air…it’s all real.
And then there’s Nova, all curled up in Jackson’s lap purring contentedly. She's a little reminder that even in a world that’s constantly changing there are some things like the love between us that will always stay the same.
I don’t need anything more. This is my home now. These are my people.
For the first time in years I feel like I’ve finally found where I’m supposed to be.
With them.
My family.
I’m finally at peace with who I am, where I am, and what comes next. Honestly, I think maybe that’s enough for me.
The end.