Page 23 of Reaper

"Let me talk to him first." The words taste like ash, but I need answers.Need to hear it from his lying mouth why he destroyed everything I thought I knew.

Ranch studies me for a long moment before nodding."Five minutes. Then we handle this our way."

"That's more than he deserves," Tank growls, but he steps aside.

Inside, Timer stands by a stack of crates, looking old and tired in the dim light filtering through dirty windows.Not the mentor I remember. Not the man who helped raise me after Dad died.Not the brother I trusted with everything.

"Should've known you'd find me." He doesn't seem surprised.Just resigned. Like he's been waiting for this moment."You always were too smart for your own good."

"Why?" The question burns my throat."After everything - the club, my father - why?Was it just about money?"

"The feds picked me up years ago." His voice carries that same reasonable tone he used to use when teaching me to ride.When explaining club business.When lying to my face. "I didn't have a choice.They had evidence of past deals, and old runs.It was cooperate or spend life in prison."

"Bullshit." I draw my gun, the weight familiar in my hand."You always have a choice. You chose to sell out your brothers.Chose to get my father killed."

"What would you have done?" He spreads his hands, still trying to manipulate.Still trying to play me. "They had evidence.Years of it. I did what I had to-"

"You sold out my father!" The words explode from me as I advance."Got him killed for profit! Set up the club to take the fall for your weapons pipeline!"

Timer moves fast for an old man, lunging for something behind the crates.I tackle him, my gun skittering away as we crash to the ground.His fist connects with my jaw as we grapple.

The door bursts open. Sandy and Ranch rush in, followed by Tank and Doc.My brothers move to hold Timer while I retrieve my weapon, every muscle trembling with the need to end this.

"You want to know the truth?" Timer spits blood, glaring up at me with eyes I used totrust."Your old man was weak. Too concerned with honor to see theopportunities.Too focused on playing by the rules to understand that loyalty only gets you killed in this life-"

I slam my boot into his ribs, cutting himoff."My father was worth ten ofyou.He understood that this life is really about brotherhood, family, andtrust."

"Reaper." Sandy's voice is soft butfirm."Don't kill him. He needs to face justice for everything he'sdone."

"Don't worry, Agent Mitchell." I smile, shifting my aim to Timer'skneecaps."I'm not going to kill him. I want him to live with every bad decision he's made for a long, miserabletime."

Timer's eyes widen as understandinghits."Ranch, you can't let him dothis.After everything we've been through-"

The gunshot echoes through the warehouse likethunder.Timer screams as his right kneecap explodes, the sound bouncing off metalwalls.

"Rot in jail, motherfucker." I nod to mybrothers."Tie him to that post. Make sure he doesn't bleed out before his new fed friendsarrive."

"You think this ends here?" Timer laughs through hispain."You think your pretty fed girlfriend can protect youforever?The life always wins, kid. Always-"

Tank's fist shuts him up. Goodman.

Behind me, Sandy pulls out herphone.The camera clicks as she takes a photo of Timer, adding a location pin before typingsomething.Her fingers fly across the screen, confident andsure.

"Here." She turns the screen towardme."What do youthink?"

Handler

Here's your rat. Consider this myresignation.Some things are worth more than thejob.

A laugh bubblesup from somewhere deep in mychest.I pull her against my side, breathing in that familiar jasmine scent that's always meanthome.

"What do you say we go celebrate the beginning of the rest of ourlives?"

Her answering smile is bright enough to chase away the last shadows ofbetrayal."Race you home, RoadCaptain?"

Timer's groans fade behind us as we head for ourbikes.Ranch gives me a knowing look as we pass, nodding hisapproval.Time to find out what we can create from the ashes of everything thatburned.

This time, with no more secrets. No morelies.Just us, the open road, and whatever future we choose tobuild.

---