Epilogue.
Hallie
It had been three weeks since the mine. Things were finally settling down. Mia Charlotte bounced back within days, which I was relieved about. I’d not been sure what she’d seen, and knowing she hadn’t witnessed me smashing Kira’s brains in was a relief.
Kira had woken a week ago and boy was she fucked.
She was facing multiple charges, including several counts of attempted murder and one of homicide.
She continued ranting like a lunatic, but she was going nowhere fast. Her words were slurred and her face was disfigured.
Nobody would mistake us ever again. She also had mobility problems; her coordination was messed up badly and looked to be permanent.
King and I remained here although we’d moved back into our house. Somehow, without knowing how it happened, Rascal had come with us. Now he and King were poring over plans to build a home. The SPD had settled out of court, and I let them get off pretty lightly.
The legal actions back home were pending, but the recipients were getting screwed.
Charges had been filed against the sheriff and dirty cops.
Harry was like a pig in muck as he chased several civil suits against those who’d perjured themselves, in addition to the ones the DA was bringing.
Elise would go down along with several others.
They’d set out to ruin me and had failed.
The pending charges in Hellfire were uncertain.
I wavered between pulling them and letting them rot.
I understood now why they’d threatened me, but the resentment remained.
They’d hurt me and needed to pay for that.
But Hellfire meant everything to Rascal, and I knew he felt torn in two.
Not that the club was pressuring either of us.
In fact, the six affected seemed more concerned about making things up to us.
“Hi. There you are,” Thalia said, approaching me. We were meeting in town to head to Clio’s tearoom.
“Hey, I only just got here,” I replied.
Suddenly a crackle cut the air.
“What’s going on?” I asked, craning my neck. Music started playing, and the crowded town centre began slowing as we all looked around. I recognised the tune as Sorry by Justin Bieber.
The crowd split, and Chance stood in front of me.
“No!” I gasped in disbelief as he raised a microphone and sung the first line of the song. Bear appeared from nowhere, chanting the next.
Thalia began giggling as they pointed at me.
Then Tiny popped up singing the third while Pyro took the fourth, and Levi bellowed the fifth. Diesel sang the sixth, standing on a chair at Clio’s tearoom, and they all roared out the last line.
I started giggling hard as the rest of the club emerged, all singing into microphones and belting out the chorus. Most were off-key, and there were some dodgy dance moves.
The old ladies crowded me, laughing as Hellfire MC made total fools of themselves to apologise. Badly they finished the song as I wiped tears from my eyes. The watchers cheered in approval as the brothers took a bow.
Rascal appeared with the prospects lining his sides and winked at me. They all wore white Air Force uniforms, and I swallowed hard. As one, the prospects all turned, and we cried with laughter. On the back was the Hellfire patch. They turned back chuckling, and the music started again.
Rascal turned away and then, mimicking the famous Tom Cruise scene, spun back to me and began belting out You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling. The old ladies screamed their approval as the brothers surrounded them, all wearing white caps.
Cameras were out as people filmed it, and I was laughing so hard. King showed up dressed the same as Rascal, and the two of them sang together. Chey and Celt appeared on top of a truck and sang a chorus.
This was just too funny. As the last note rang out, Rascal scooped me up and swung me around.
“Love you,” he said and kissed me. When he broke off, he stepped back and held out a cut. There was uncertainty in his eyes as I hesitated. King nodded at me, and I shrugged it on as Hellfire whooped and roared with the town people.
Chance approached with a grin. “Ain’t doing this shit again, lady. So you better take our apology!”
“That had to be totally humiliating for you,” I teased, and he nodded. “I think I can accept it.”
“That’s all that matters. Welcome to the family,” Chance said as everyone crowded round.
I waited for someone to mention dropping the charges.
Nobody did. Even with them pending, they welcomed me.
Tomorrow I’d contact Harry and the police and get the charges dropped. I was sure the evidence could disappear from lock up if necessary. After all, I knew a cop who owed me a favour or two!
Rascal’s arms wrapped around me, and I sank into them. What a totally unexpected outcome. I’d not expected this after being released. But I wouldn’t change it. Not for nothing!