Page 113 of New Beginnings
When I opened my eyes, I just started to walk. I hoped Fergus wasn’t fucking with me and she was really out here. There were bushes scattered everywhere but none that I could see had a rock near them. I was venturing into the darkness, pushing the limits of the headlight’s reach, and straying further from the clearing where we parked.
“I’ve got something!” somebody shouted.
I jogged to where one of the Sinners was standing beside a bush, its leaves rustling in the dry breeze.
“What do you think?” the Sinner asked. “It’s the only bush I saw that had a rock anywhere near it.”
“Only one way to see,” Grimm said. “Dig Dagger and see what you find. If she’s here, she’s not going to be deep because there’s no fucking way Fergus would have dug a deep hole.”
Dagger started digging, and we all stood around waiting in anticipation. I sent a silent prayer up to anyone who’d listen that she was here because I wanted to bring her home.
After a few minutes I was losing hope. I agreed with Grimm—if she was here, there was no way he’d dug a deep hole. He would have dug a shallow grave and just tossed her in.
Just when I was giving up hope, Dagger stopped digging.
“I got hair,” he said.
Grimm looked at me and I took another breath.
“What color?” I asked.
“Black,” Dagger said, removing more dirt. “Jet-black and long.”
He removed more dirt, and something caught my eye. “What’s that? It looks like a necklace.”
Dagger dropped the shovel, then kneeled on the ground, and sifted through the soil with his bare hands. He grabbed the object then handed it to me.
“It’s her,” I said, squeezing the silver chain in my hand.
“You sure?” Grimm asked.
“The charm. It says Maggie.”
He let out a deep sigh, followed by a slow, solemn nod. “How do you want to do this?” Grimm asked.
“Could you give me a few minutes alone? Then we can move her.”
As he nodded, the sound of their footsteps faded away, leaving me alone with her. I kneeled beside her lifeless body, feeling the coldness of the earth seep through my jeans. Dagger had only uncovered pieces of her hair, and the sight made my stomach turn as I realized there would be nothing left of her but decaying clothes and bones.
“I’m so sorry, Ma.” With a sigh, I dropped my head, the weight of grief settling in my shoulders. “I wish I could have done something sooner. I thought you had made a new life for yourself. I didn’t know you were out here alone, or I would have come and found you sooner. But I’m here now. You won’t be alone anymore. He paid for what he did to you and for what hedid to me. He can’t hurt me anymore. You’ve got a grandchild and daughter-in-law up there with you which I know you probably know by now. But keep your eyes on Siobhan for me. I could always use the extra help. I wasn’t doing good for a while, but I’ve met someone, and she’s made it easier. So, I’m good. Now you can rest easy. I love you and I’ll see you in the next life.”
As I stood, a sense of relief washed over me, and my shoulders seemed to carry less weight. The individuals responsible for the deaths of my wife, my son, and my mother were now dead. Finally, I could leave that chapter of my life in the past. Although I know I had shit to deal with back home, now I could prepare for what was to come. I think both Dani and my mother would be happy that I would be starting over now that I could let them go.
REUNITED AT LAST
Rebel Pierce
Depression.
I think that was what I was experiencing. Never in my life have I felt this down before. I couldn’t eat or sleep. The only phone calls I’d been answering have been from Caesar. The only person I’d let come inside my apartment had been Caesar. Everyone else I’d been turning away including my parents. And of course, my sister because I was still pissed at her for sending the cops in J.D.’s direction. She won’t get a pass from me for doing that shit although every time I talked to Caesar he tried to apologize on her behalf. I didn’t want to hear it. When she worked through her shit, then maybe I’d let her back into my life. Until then I can’t deal with her.
Normally, I was the optimistic person, letting nothing get me down. However, it had been weeks since I last heard anything from J.D., and Caesar’s silence only heightened my anxiety. He wouldn’t tell me whether he was alive or dead. All he would saywas it was club business. If I hear that fucking word one more time, I was going to explode. Fuck club business, I want to know what the hell was going on.
“Ugh!” I shouted at the sound of the doorbell. “Why the hell can’t y’all just leave me alone!” I stormed to the front door of my apartment, then yanking it open. “Leave me alone!”
“But I came all this way to see you, sweetheart,” he said with his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his blue jeans and a smirk on his face that made my heart melt.
“J.D.,” I whispered with my eyes wide.
