Anger shot through Gavin. His eyes blazed with fury as he stared down into the pit.
“Just like you let all those poor, innocent men get violated? Then murdered? Alone?” Gavin shouted down at the terrified man. “At least for you, you won’t be alone when you die,” Gavin said with a coldness to his voice. “You have all of us here to watch you.”
Clive looked up at Gavin one last time. The look in his eyes was one that Gavin would never forget.
Regret.
It happened so quickly. Two cougars lunged forward, attacking the top half of the man as he screamed. Seconds later, the other two attacked, greedily tearing away limbs that they coveted for themselves.
Standing next to the edge of the pit, Marcus wrapped his arm around Gavin’s shoulders and kissed the top of his head. It was such a simple and loving gesture.
Marcus would always be his protector, but he was also so much more. He was his love, his best friend, the man he turned to when he was feeling scared or lonely. He was a giant, scary biker with a hidden heart of gold. The love that Marcus had for him and his crew was one of the reasons that Gavin had fallen so hard so quickly. Kindness and love like that were rare in this world.
Standing next to each other, they both watched as the monster of Gavin’s dreams was devoured by the monsters of the mountains.
Most would have looked away in disgust. But Gavin and Marcus didn’t. They stood side by side, watching with cold contempt as justice unfolded for the victims who would never have the chance to claim it themselves.
One by one, the parents of the victims began to log off. They had finally been given the closure and justice they had always longed for, and Gavin found himself grateful that he was able to give them that.
“Thank you for this,” Gavin whispered, looking up into those gentle brown eyes.
“Anything for you,” Marcus responded, giving him a kiss on the forehead, even though he was still wearing his mask.
His nightmare was over, and he now had a knight in shining armor to protect him against any future threats.
33
GAVIN
Scary. And awkward as fuck.
That’s what they must all look like, crammed into the first two rows on the left-hand side of the stage. A bunch of grown-ass, tattooed bikers, all dressed in leather, some with beards that looked like they hadn’t been trimmed in weeks.
Oh, and one ex-stripper turned bartender, squeezed in among them, whose top was doing little more than barely covering her nipples.
Gavin was aware of the looks. Some came from concerned parents, quietly wondering why a bunch of leather-clad bikers were in attendance at a children’s dance performance.
Others recognized them immediately and knew exactly who the Shadow Vipers were. They were well aware thatone of their members—Lucas—was the director of the class and was currently dating one of the bikers sitting in the front row—the one gleaming with pride and never taking his eyes off the cheery brunette smiling back at him.
The theater was packed, every seat filled with parents and children of all ages, their laughter and smiles carrying through the room as the performance unfolded.
Gavin had to admit, the show was fucking awesome. He’d never been to a children’s performance, but seeing the level of enthusiasm and excitement in each of the kids’ eyes was something he knew he would never forget.
To have a job like Lucas’s, one so impactful and important, must be so satisfying at the end of each day.
Given everything he had been through recently, Gavin was beginning to realize that he wanted to do more with his life. Something that actually meant something to him. Maybe a job where he was able to help survivors of violent crimes cope with their trauma and find a way forward, like he was learning to do himself.
He didn’t know exactly what that would look like yet, but for the first time, he found himself looking forward to figuring it out. One thing was certain though—being a social media influencer was not what he wanted to do anymore.
Once the performance was over, they all spilled out onto the streets to take the party back to their bar. This was Lucas’s night, and all the Shadow Vipers were there to support him—their brother.
Just like all of them had been there for him to keep him safe and help put an end to the Valentine Killer, Gavin had come to realize that the Shadow Vipers were now his family too. While his birth parents might be too busy and self-absorbed to give a shit about him and how he is doing, Gavin had come to realize that true family was those who showed up for you.
Like Marcus. And Ace and Lucas, and all the members of the Shadow Vipers.
That was family. That was love.
“What’s on your mind?” Marcus asked, holding Gavin’s hand as they waited with the others for Lucas to wrap things up inside the theater.
