Page 91 of Falcon

“Go near my woman, and I’ll remove you and your family from this earth.” It wasn’t a threat, but a promise.

“You wanted a war, you’ve got one.”

“Didn’t want anything. This is on you and how you raised kids. Wrong-uns all of them,” I retorted.

“Redskin bastard,” Wanda-Faye hissed.

“Yeah, and I collect scalps too.”

Wanda-Faye looked horrified and let a deputy lead her away. This shit with the Beauregards wasn’t over, far from it. However, Myka and Jayes were safe for now.

I was trying not to strangle my family as they explained what had happened. Myka was pale and Jayes shaken, but they were safe. I was barely bottling my temper when Nova appeared.

“Calm down. Myka needed you where you were. She’ll sleep easier knowing they’re dead and won’t be returning. You saw that with your eyes, better than a deputy telling her and Myka wondering if the cop ID’d the wrong body.”

That was true. Myka seemed remarkably calm. I wrapped her up in my arms and hauled Jayes in. They were safe for now. And the Beauregards must be struggling. Rawson was responsible for the deaths of numerous family members. I wondered who had been calling the shots, because it seemed wrong that Rawson had ordered his relatives to snatch Myka.

It would have made more sense for him and Dawson to grab her and Jayes while his family caused the distraction. No, something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t work out what. Calamity gave me a long look. I could see it in his expression. He also knew this wasn’t over. We were missing something big.

Myka

Rosie opened the door to the library and led me through it. It had been four weeks, and things had started to settle down. Wanda-Faye had buried three children, and the Beauregards the rest of them. They were quiet for now; it wouldn’t last. Wanda-Faye had a gut full of hate. The evil bitch had gone after Dawson’s house, and I let her have it. I wasn’t ever setting foot back there again.

I’d been talking to Falcon about what came next. My future plans had changed. He’d suggested me going to college and doing a few taster courses, which was a possibility. Falcon had also said I could stay home and be a housewife. He didn’t care as long as I was happy.

Jayes had taken a while to recover and had been clingy with both Falcon and me. But the biggest thing had happened yesterday. Jayes had called Falcon dad in front of the club, and I thought Falcon was going to cry; he looked so proud. Jayes was definitely his son in spirit; they were like fish when in the water. Falcon’s trainer had signed on to help devise a programme for Jayes as he agreed how talented Jayes was.

“Relax,” Aggie, Gauntlet’s gran, ordered, appearing. “You’re so tense, girl.”

“This is The Book Club.”

“Yup, and you’ve been invited.” Aggie grinned. She opened the door, and Rosie and I entered. Twelve heads swivelled, and grins and hellos were aimed at us.

“Come and sit down. Rosie, fetch drinks for you and Myka. We’ve got a few issues to deal with. For example, the sheriff and Nightmare were both shouting at each other in the hospital about her getting shot. There’s something between those two,” Mrs Maple said with a glint in her eye.

Holy crap, was she matchmaking? Rosie passed me a coffee and sat down. “Second, there’s Natalie. That Jess is doing her best to ruin her. We need to slap Jess down to size. Then there’s the vote regarding the new houses. It’s a no, and we need to make sure they don’t happen. Not on green land. There’s plenty of reclaimable land that can be used.” Mrs Maple looked around.

“There’s a few other minor things, and then we’ll get down to discussing Elizabeth N. Harris’s Bloodlust. I certainly wouldn’t mind being sucked on by a vampire.”

I choked on a mouthful of coffee and swallowed it.

Aggie winked at me.

“Welcome to Book Club!”

Epilogue.

Calamity

I stared out at the night sky. The urge for a smoke was almost overwhelming, even though I didn’t smoke. Although things were quiet, they wouldn’t remain so for long. The Notorious Princes MC would come for us at some point. The Beauregards were still out there. That wasn’t even nearly done with. There was the drug route which we assumed we’d inadvertently blocked. More bodies were out there, and then there was the vandalism. There was plenty to be dealing with.

“Calam?” Rosie asked, appearing and wrapping her arms around my waist and leaning her head on my back.

“Just thinking.”

“You’re the right person for president,” Rosie stated, and I laughed. Trust her to know my thoughts.

“We got trouble heading our way.”

“Yeah. But we’re strong enough to survive it. One problem at a time,” Rosie replied. “Come to bed. The problems will still be here when you wake up.”

“They certainly will,” I quipped and let her lead away.

Unknown

I observed in the darkness. They assumed they were safe; they couldn’t be more wrong. It had been interesting witnessing how they handled those backward hicks. Honestly, I’d not been impressed. The club was weak; they should have wiped them all out. Instead, they’d shown mercy, which showed their weakness. Fools. They would be crushed soon enough. I moved silently away, letting the darkness swallow me up.

They would sleep safely tonight. I had other plans.