Page 100 of Dirty Eoin

Before she ends his life.

The words aren’t spoken aloud, but we all know they’re silently implied.

He sniffs. “Rumor has it they’ve been threatening some of the other brothers with the same thing. I don’t know if they’ll react or not. But…. but family’s family, Jaine. No one’s going to just stand by and watch something happen to their loved ones,” he sobs.

She exhales slowly. “I understand that, Abel. I also understand that you did what you did in order to protect your family. But your actions left my youngest without a daddy at only three months old.” Her voice breaks.

“I’m so sorry, Jaine.”

She stands up straight and stares down at the crying boy with his downturned face, his upset the only sound apart from dripping water.

When she finally speaks, her voice is contained. She knows she has to be strong for both their sakes. “You patched in now?”

He nods without looking up.

“Then you know the rules, Abel. That you have to live and die by the patch that you swore your allegiance to. It’s the way it is. The way it’s always been. The way it always will be. There are no exceptions. The rules apply to all of us. You and I both know that.” She speaks quietly but firmly.

He nods as he starts crying in earnest. “But… my family… Jaine.”

She places a comforting hand on the shoulder of the young boy who, in part, was responsible for Ace’s death.

She’s forgiving him.

“They will be kept safe and provided for. Nothing will happen to them. I give you my word on that, and I stand by my word. Always.”

He nods.

“You’re a man, Abel. A young one, but still a grown man. You knew what you were doing. I respect that you did what you did for your family, but I can’t condone the fact that you betrayed your club and your brothers. That your actions resulted in the death of another biker. If you’d told us, we could have helped. But you made the choice to go it alone. So while I can’t grant you absolution, I can grant you a quick redemption.”

He looks up and watches as she approaches the wheeled trolley holding the vast array of torture devices that our Paddy liked to put to use on a daily basis. It’s my thinking none of those will be needed today.

Just one.

She picks up a flick knife.

Simple. Silver. Steel.

And then she walks over and stands behind him.

He knows this is it. That today, Jaine is his judge, jury, and executioner. He tilts his own head back, his lips quivering in fear. Their eyes connect and she holds his gaze. He nods in acceptance, and she returns it in silent response. I then watch my wife as she cuts the throat of a teenage boy.

Because he was disloyal to his club. Because he betrayed his brothers. Because he hurt her family.

Because, even though he didn’t pull the trigger, he killed Ace.

His body tenses briefly as his blood spills, and then he’s still. Dripping is the only sound once more.

Water. Blood.

She walks back around and stares down at him as he sits there in a pool of his own lifeblood and bodily fluids.

I pass her a towel. She uses it to wipe her hands and the blade before passing it back. She doesn’t look at me. She hasn’t made eye contact the entire time we’ve been down here. I watch as she puts the knife in the front pocket of his cut. A gesture from one biker to another. A weapon for him to use in his next life.

“Send him back to Nevada. He died for his family. And for that, he’s at least earned them the right to have a grave to mourn him at.”

I stay where I am as she leaves. I hear the elevator door open then close. I don’t look at her. I don’t follow her.

She needs time to grieve. For Ace still, but also for young Abel. She needs time to come to terms with what she’s had to do here today. She knows if she had been in his position, she may well have done the same thing.

---