Page 81 of Reaper

“Everything needs to be hush-hush,” Thompson warns. “I can’t be connected to your club in any way.”

“Secrecy is paramount to everything we do,” Scar assures him. “If you’re truly willing to hunt down predators, then the MC is ready to assist in any way we can. If everyone was like you, we wouldn’t need to exist.”

“But they aren’t,” Thompson says, agreeing with Scar.

“Not even close,” Scar growls.

A somber silence settles over the room, broken only by the sound of Agent Thompson’s voice. “I want to thank you all for everything you did to end Blackstone’s reign of terror,” he says, looking at each of us in turn. “Officially, you’ll never be recognized, of course. But know that your actions have made a difference.”

“It’s what we do,” Nitro says with a shrug, as if killing predators is simple. It’s not, but we make it look easy.

“Yeah.” I nod, but there’s still a bitter taste in my mouth. This fight cost us so much, and the thought of others still suffering out there stirs a restless anger in my chest.

“I was able to track down some old files,” Thompson says, averting his eyes for a moment. “I know many of you were Blackstone’s prisoners when you were children.” His gaze lands on me, and I feel the weight of those memories pressing down. “I hope that now, with him dead, you can find some peace.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, trying to push the past away.

“Anything else?” Scar asks.

“That’s it for now, but I’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you for everything,” Daisy says before turning to Matrix. “I’ll see you back at home?”

“Yeah. Soon, babe.” Matrix kisses his woman.

We all thank the agent, knowing full well that peace might be an elusive concept for us. With a final nod, Agent Thompson and Daisy leave the bar.

Scar clears his throat, commanding our attention. “I want everyone to stay for a few minutes. We need to talk about what this means for the club now that Blackstone’s dead.”

We gather closer, curiosity and concern etched on our faces.

Scar looks at each of us before saying, “Nothing’s changed for me. There are still terrible people out in the world and plenty of victims who need our help. I’m as dedicated to our mission as ever, but I understand not everyone will feel the same way. So, here’s the deal. You can retire and live in peace, if that’s what you want, or you can renew your commitment to Underground Vengeance MC. The decision is yours.”

I don’t hesitate.

“I’m in,” I say, my voice firm. “This is my family, and we have work to do.”

One by one, Nitro, Matrix, and Talon recommit to our mission to rescue those who can’t get help from anyone else. As I look around at my brothers, I know we’re a ride or die brotherhood, and we always will be.

“Good,” Scar says, his voice echoing the pride we all feel. “We’ll continue to fight for justice and protect the innocent. Together.”

“Damn right,” I agree, my heart swelling with renewed purpose. No matter what darkness lies ahead, we’ll face it as a family, bound by loyalty and an unyielding desire to make things right.

The dimly lit bar seems to vibrate with the energy of our renewed commitment, and I feel an overwhelming sense of pride in my brothers.

Scar clears his throat before speaking again. “There’s one last bit of business we need to take care of. Throughout this whole Blackstone ordeal, Tucker has been by our side. He’s become an integral part of our club, and I propose we vote to make him a fully patched member.”

My gaze shifts to Tucker, who looks both surprised and proud at the same time. He sits up straighter on his chair and puffs his chest.

“Before we vote, does anyone have anything to say about Tucker?” Scar asks, glancing around the room.

Nitro is the first to speak up, his deep voice resonating throughout the room. “His loyalty has never been questioned. He’s proven himself time and time again, even when things were at their darkest.”

Matrix nods in agreement, adding, “Tucker’s not only loyal but brave as hell. He’s faced death more times than I can count, and he never flinched.”

“Damn right,” Talon chimes in. “He’s got balls of steel, and he’s always had our backs.”

I nod along with their words, knowing my turn is next. “Tucker’s been like a brother to us all. He’s earned his place in this club, and I’d be proud to call him family.”

---