Page 2 of Roxy's Independence
Weston clears his throat then says, “Like our hands, we’re united for now and always. We may not always be within touching distance, but I’ll always be holding you. Neither of you will ever be alone and scared again. Your mom and I have you. We’ll hold you up when you feel unsettled, we’ll catch you when you fall and dust you off. Family is more than blood, it’s honor. It’s sacrifice. It’s commitment. It’s forever.”
“Forever sounds good,” Canyon adds. “What do you think, Egypt?”
“Forever is a long time, but I like it. It makes me feel good,” she muses.
“On the count of three, we’ll yell family. Is everyone ready?” Weston asks us.
“We’re ready,” Canyon says.
“Ready,” I state, nodding.
“Ready,” Egypt quips.
“One. Two. Three.” As if we’d rehearsed it, we all shoutfamilyas our palms lower then rise over our heads. Our family and friends holler the word behind us, showing us their support by following that up with shouts of encouragement and wolf whistles.
Judge Conners smiles down at us, stating, “This is the reason I keep doing what I do. It’s a blessing to bring this family together! For now, and for always!”
CHAPTER
ONE
Saber
Sittingon the grass with Roxy nestled between my legs, I watch with rapture as the technicolor of fireworks blast off in the air in a burst of rainbow flowered designs. My entire family and MC are here surrounding us, supporting us, celebrating us. Blood and mayhem aren’t the only reasons for us all to gather in one place lately. These days, when we ride it isn’t into dangerous situations, it’s simply for the joy of it.
Throwing down our Reject cuts didn’t drag us down, if anything, it lifted us. We were able to rebrand and form a stronger, more united brotherhood. We still have future plans on going after the community fuckers who have taken several of our women and children then holding them hostage for their cause’s personal gain. Unfortunately, we’re at a stalemate until Selah, Beast, and Hawg can dig deep and uncover the hidey hole they’ve crawled into. We know that they have some big guns working for Uncle Sam protecting and sheltering them, but until we can crack who those fuckers are and publicize that information, we’re stuck.
Some of our guys are growing restless. Some want to go in with guns blazing and take back our property, but the rest of us, we feel at home here in Roanoke. Roxy and I discussed this a few nights ago and we’ve agreed that this is where we want to stay. Our children have grown up here, they have friends here and seeing as they’ve lost enough already, we don’t want to rip them away from their roots.
Prowler and Striker are the two I’m most concerned about. They’ve become more vocal about reclaiming our homestead. Dragon’s had to restrain them and give them things to do to keep them occupied and their brains busy enough that they don’t go rogue and get themselves killed.
My eyes must’ve stayed on the twins too long because Roxy nudges me and asks, “You’re worried about them?”
“I am,” I admit with a long, drawn-out sigh. “They’re pretty adamant that they want to go back to Texas and kick those letters out of our clubhouse.”
“Those letters? What’s that mean, Weston?”
“When one of us says letters, we mean the FBI and the ATF,” I explain.
“Ah. Nice pun on the alphabet,” she laughs. “I can’t help but wonder if there’s a reason they’re anxious to get back. Can you think of any reasons, perhaps of the feminine persuasion that’d have them ready to give up this peaceful existence and ride back into the fray?”
“They had many of those,” I chuckle. “Just ask Harper, she all but destroyed their black book.”
“Oh, that’s a story I definitely want to hear.” She nestles back into me, tilting her head back and asks, “What about you? Is there something back home you miss?”
“Is that your sly way of asking if I had a girl back home, Foxy Roxy?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I know there wasn’t because we already had that conversation, Weston. However, I can’t help but wonder if there’s anything you miss. You’ve told me about the reasons your crew decided to give up Cedar Creek and come this way. I know about those communion assholes, but I find myself thinking that there might be something you long for in Texas.”
“My brothers were the only thing that kept me there, Roxy. Wherever they were is where I wanted to be.”
“Were?” she probes. “Can you expand on that?”
“Theywerethe reason I wanted to be there. They are my family, as you know, but now, my family branch has extended. Wherever you, Canyon, and Egypt are, that’s where I want to be. Even if it means turning in my cut.”
“What, no! You can’t do that Weston,” she cries out, shock vibrating in her voice. “We’d never ask you to do that, they aren’t just your brothers, Weston. They’re mine too. They’ve been damn good uncles and aunts to Canyon and Egypt.”
“It’s good to know you feel that way. It’d be a sacrifice but it’d be one I’d be willing to make for you three. I lost you once, Foxy, I’ll never survive losing you a second time. It’d destroy me.”
