Extended Epilogue
Rhylan: Twenty Years Later
“You wanted to see me, Dad?” Deacon had just returned from college for summer break, and at almost twenty, we agreed to give our son the choice. “Mom?”
Dakota insisted we wait until he turned eighteen before approaching the topic.
But when the day had finally arrived, I saw the look in her eyes that said she still wasn’t ready to start the discussion, which was fair.
I understood her reasoning for holding back.
He was still her baby, even as a grown man.
I wrestled with the idea for years myself. Wondering if it would be wrong to mention anything at all. To make him feel as though he needed to choose a life in the MUR over one of normalcy.
“There’s meaning behind passing down a legacy.
One that you’ve earned after twenty-five years at that.
I won’t stop you, and yes, I’m terrified about what will happen if he fails.
But he’s the spitting image of you, personality and all…
And deep down, I know our son can handle whatever the brotherhood throws at him, and you’ll be there every step of the way… Right?”
“Of course I will, darlin’. I’d throw myself in front of a bullet to protect our son, just as I would for you...
I’ve got a plan already mapped out, and to give you that added reassurance, I’ll be stepping in as his sponsor.
You’ve got nothing to fear if he chooses to go through with his initiation next year. ”
“Then we do this together. As we’ve always done, Cowboy.”
“How was the drive home this time? Traffic?”
While excited to take this first step with him, I was also nervous, recalling what happened to Declan all those years ago. He was just another guy; but Deacon… he was blood—my son.
“Eh. Same old, same old. Quiet. Boring… What’s going on? I thought it was just you who wanted to talk.”
Dakota took my hand as she perched on the armrest of the couch, her grip tightening around my fingers.
“Your mom and I have a serious question for you. It’s something we can’t give you any details about until after you’ve made a decision.” How the hell do you explain something that can’t be disclosed?
“Sounds a little cryptic and slightly unsettling. Why? Did something happen to Liam?” Deacon quickly took his phone out of his back pocket, ready to call his little brother—or the police. God only knows what was running through his head right now.
“No!” Dakota reached out in a panic, placing her hand over his screen to prevent him from doing anything rash. “Nothing happened to your brother. He’s staying the night at a friend’s.”
Knowing there was only one current legacy in the MUR, I reached out to Dallas Ryan in Las Vegas for advice on how his dad had broken the news to him, without fracturing their relationship.
“You have two options. One: everything stays the same, and nothing changes. You finish college, earn your degree, and shape your life from there, however you decide. Or two: you put your trust in the unknown, with the guarantee that you’ll be able to do things others could only ever dream of...”
“Is this supposed to be a difficult decision? Option two, obviously.” Well, Dakota wasn’t wrong about him being my carbon copy. He didn’t even hesitate a little bit with his answer.
“Deacon—”
“Why don’t you take a second and think a little bit longer before answering the question. There’s no rush.” I interrupted Dakota, hearing the distress in her tone; her hand was trembling in mine.
“What’s there to think about? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy now, but who doesn’t want the chance to seek out adventure and excitement when they can?
Life is all about what you make it. Mom taught me that when I was just a kid.
” And she’s probably regretting that statement now for biting her in the ass…
“Just know that you can’t take this choice back, Deacon. Once you’ve started on this path, the things your Dad and I will disclose to you—”
“It’s all or nothing, sport. So you need to be one hundred percent certain that this is your decision, even if you might not like what’s coming next.”
Our son went quiet, slipping deeper into thought as he took a seat on the chair beside us, his eyes staring vacantly at the carpet while he weighed out his options.
Just like hesitation, reckless decisions would get him killed. I needed my son to be confident because I knew all too well that not everyone had the stomach to handle the MUR’s requirements.
“Alright… I’ve thought it over.” Deacon sat up straight, and Dakota’s hand tightened around mine once more.
I gave her a reassuring squeeze back, looking up into my wife’s eyes with a nod that said, ‘Everything’s gonna be okay.
’ “I’m still choosing the second option.
I don’t wanna go through life wondering what could’ve been if I’d never played it safe.
It’s all about the risks we take, right? ”
And this would be a monumental one for him.
“Then I suppose we’ll start at the beginning.” Dakota took a deep breath before standing from the armrest, offering a hand to her son. “Come on. There’s a bar on Main Street that you’re about to become well acquainted with.”
“I’ll grab the keys to the truck.”
And just like that, Kerosene was getting its first legacy.
My son.
THE END.