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 doyou 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 pastbehind, 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.
