Page 117 of The Oath We Take

Ember nods and steps towards him, giving him a hug but saying nothing.

When they’re done, he walks to his bike and mounts it. “I’ll go make sure Breaker is protected, and we can figure out a plan to deal with your father in the morning.”

“I appreciate it.”

We watch Butcher as he rides slowly away. I see him pause to speak with whoever is up front of the riders headed our way.

“You’re okay, sweetheart, you did good.”

She looks over at Lemmy who has calmed in the silence and is making his way back toward us. “We both did. Even though it’s late, he deserves an extra-long rubdown.”

“I think we can make that happen.”

She looks back at the mangled quad bikes and bodies. “What will happen now?”

I tug on her chin so she looks back at me. “What always happens. We clean it up, and then we get on with the rest of our lives because as long as we’ve got each other, that’s all we need.”

Ember steps up onto her toes and kisses me softly. “I’m alive because you came. And I know you’ll come for me over and over. Take me home, Hudson.”

And so, I do. I boost her onto Lemmy, then pick up my bike to ride beside her, like I will for the rest of our lives.

EPILOGUE ONE

ATOM

“You did what?” The coffee mug my father just threw shatters on the ground, the pieces scattering over the wide-planked floors of the formal living room of the ranch.

I don’t believe it either, and I’m eager for my grandfather to repeat his words. The plan was to get my father to the main house under the guise of a ranch discussion, and then the rest of the club would surround us so he couldn’t escape.

But this is a twist I didn’t see coming.

“You heard me,” Grandpa says. And given he’s sitting next to Oscar James, the family lawyer, I have to believe he knows what he’s doing. “For the first time in Addams history, the whole ranch will not directly pass to the son. I’ve altered the will, and I’m leaving it all to Hudson.”

My father’s face is so red, it looks like he’s about to have a convulsion.

“You can’t do this,” Dad says. “There’s precedent. There’s birthright. There’s?—”

“How things have always been done means little if it’s not documented legally that way,” Oscar says. “I’ve been back through the family wills and the property documents filed as the ranch has changed hands. The legally binding documents don’t say who should inherit the ranch. In fact, it doesn’t even say what gender the child must be, and those laws are evolving anyway.”

I look to my grandpa. “Are you sure about this?”

He smiles in my direction. “As sure as the sun is gonna rise tomorrow.”

“I’ve worked for you my entire life,” Dad shouts.

“And I’ve paid you well,” Grandpa says.

“Paid me? Paid. Me? I’m going to challenge this. You’re not of sound mind,” my father spits.

“Wait a fucking minute,” I say, coming to my feet. “He’s absolutely of sound mind.”

“You’re only saying that because you’re getting the fucking ranch.”

I always assumed I’d get all of it one day, but I’d rather have it before my dad dies, which might be sooner than he thinks.

My grandfather stands and puts a hand on my shoulder. It’s enough to cool my heels.

“He’s of sound mind,” Oscar says. “He knew this would be your response, so he got three testimonies from three different specialists as to his state of mind at the time of signing. Good luck finding a lawyer who will take the case on that alone.”

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