“We don’t want to make this harder than it has to be,” he announces. “We came to negotiate a surrender. Is that still on the table? If not, we go back to makin’ war with each other.”
Spark’s rough voice responds, “Yeah, it’s still on the table, but we have a few demands.”
Jasper’s chin comes up. “State them plainly.”
“You hand over the Hyena called Rash and our cartel liaison.”
Jasper speaks up again, “I can see fit to return your men, but we have some stipulations of our own.” Pausing for a second, he continues, “Moving forward, I want your club to stay at least a hundred miles clear of Sons territory in every direction. That means no visiting family, no rides through, and you don’t so much as buy gas here. You swear to that and we can all ride home, without any more senseless loss of life.”
Spark’s jaw works. I can see him thinking. “Do you agree to my terms?”
“That all on our end?” Spark shoots back.
Spark’s eyes find me, and his expression softens.
“Nora, when Pa died, the deal with Stripe died with him. That means you can come home. Brave and me would look after you. You don’t have to stay with the people who killed our father.”
“No.” The word shoots out of my mouth before I even think.
Jinx follows up with his own statement, “Nora’s my old lady by choice. She’s not part of this negotiation.”
I step forward, willing the brothers to see how serious I am. “I’m not coming home, Spark. I have a home and a family with the Sons. I know that’s not what dad or you want for me but it’s what I want for myself. Jinx takes good care of me, and we have a baby coming in the spring. Unlike you and Brave, he doesn’t see me as a commodity that can be bought or sold or traded.” I press my hand flat to my stomach.
“These fuckers killed our old man. How can you bed down with one of them and give birth to his child?”
I look at Brave, who is clearly still angry about how our father died. “Dad didn’t die because of the Sons. He died because he tried to kill the father of his own grandchild. He’s the one who started this war and kept it going. None of us wanted to see him die. I just wanted him to leave me the hell alone.”
Spark tries again, “Nora, I know you’re bitter about what went down but we can work this out. We’re family.”
“Sorry, Spark. I’m not trading the life I chose for the one that almost killed me. Not even for the two of you.”
Spark nods. I can tell by the look on his face that he’s disappointed but understands. “I figured you might say that,” he says. “But you’re family. So, I had to try.” He closes the distance between us and pulls me into a hug, carefully. He murmurs, “Be happy, Sis. One of us ought to get to be.”
I move forward and hug Brave too, because he’s my brother too. I can tell he’s hurting over our father’s death.
His body goes stiff and he doesn’t hug me back. Just before I step away his mouth comes close to my ear and he whispers, “This is all your fault. Pa’s blood is on your hands. I won’t ever forget what you did. Not fuckin’ ever.”
I pull back and look into his cold eyes, realizing there’s nothing I can say or do to make this right for him. I take a few steps back because Brave scares me. He really does.
Jinx and Spark write the terms of their deal on a piece of paper and sign it. With everything being typed and electronically signed these days, their little handwritten agreement seems almost primitive by comparison.
We ride out with the Sons’ brotherhood at our backs. The two of us veer off. Jinx pulls off at a scenic overlook. We walk out onto a precipice with benches overlooking the whole valley. We grab a seat and enjoy the fall view of leaves turning shades of brown, orange and red. A gentle breeze caresses my cheeks.
For a long moment neither of us says a word.
“You went still when you hugged Brave,” he says. “The look on your face worried me.”
“Yeah, he said it’s my fault. That my father’s blood is on my hands, and he won’t ever forget what I did.” Glancing up at Jinx, I add, “Brave scares me sometimes. He doesn’t always have a firm grasp on his behavior like you and Spark do.”
Jinx is quiet for so long that I think he’s not going to comment. Then he cups my cheek in one hand and lays his other hand flat against my stomach.
“Listen to me, darlin’,” he says gazing intently into my eyes. “Your brother is grievin’ and he’s lookin’ for somewhere to blame. He’s wrong about this being your fault. None of this is on you. Not one single drop.”
I nod. “Yeah, I know.”
“And no Hyena will get within striking distance of you or our baby ever again, especially not those brothers of yours. Trust me on that, sweetness. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure the two of you are safe and happy.”
I tear up but this time it’s in a good way. Jinx put himself between danger and me repeatedly. I know that I can trust him in ways I could never trust my brothers. He’s my future and they’re my past. It’s as simple as that.
