by Zoey Parker
“It doesn’t work that way,” he grumbled, heading for the small bathroom. Brittany scrambled up and followed him. There had to be something he could do about learning of Zack’s fate.
“He’s my brother,” she announced, her heart almost breaking as she considered possibly having to speak about him in the past tense.
“Maybe everyone died last night,” Max shrugged, leaning into the tub to turn on the overhead shower. Hot water gushed out, filling the room with steam and almost drowning out his words. “Maybe some people survived,” he continued, his voice level. “Either way, we risk being hunted down and blamed for whatever went down in Colridge. I can’t stress to you enough how dangerous these people are, Brittany.”
“But my brother is one of these people, and he’d never hurt us.”
“Are you hurting now?” Max gave her a long, hard look. “Did his decision last night hurt you?”
Brittany lowered her head as a solitary tear slid down her cheek.
“Yes,” she replied softly. “He did hurt me.” Which meant that he had the capacity to do so again. But while Zack might be quick to cast her off, she wasn’t about to do the same. They were family, and that meant something to Brittany.
“All I want to know is whether he’s alive or dead,” she straightened, wiping at her cheek. “Once I know that, I’ll let it all go. I promise. We’ll get on your bike and go wherever you want and I’ll never look back. Ever.”
She could see Max considering her offer, his expression stern with contemplation.
“If I do this,” he sighed, “we leave immediately after. We leave the state and we never return. We go down a whole new road together, one which no one can follow us down.”
Brittany felt a thrill of excitement dance down her spine, and she edged towards Max, placing her hands on his bare chest. He shuddered with delight at her touch. The thought of the two of them going off on some grand adventure together was thrilling. It was as if they were about to ride off into the sunset together, to forget all about Zack and Colridge and forge their own happily ever after.
“I’ll make one call,” Max told her sternly. “That’s it. After that, we’re gone.”
“Agreed.” Brittany was pushing Max back, towards the tumbling heat of the shower. As he stepped into the tub, she hastily removed the T-shirt and panties she’d slept in. Max broke out in a wide grin as she climbed beneath the spray of the shower with him. They melted together in a passionate kiss as the water soaked them both. Brittany stopped worrying about Zack and lived only in the moment. That was what she loved most about Max – his power to make her forget about all the bad stuff she’d lived through and just savor the present. With Max, she saw the beauty in the sunset, heard the sweet melody of bird song. He gave her an appreciation for life which she assumed had died along with her parents. In Max’ arms, she was truly alive. She just hoped that the same could be said for Zack, that he wasn’t lying in a ditch somewhere slowly bleeding out and questioning all the choices that had led him to his own dark end.
Chapter One Hundred Two
Max towel dried his hair and pulled on some jeans and a fresh T-shirt. Brittany was busy packing up their things.
“Make sure you head over to the 7-11,” he reached into his pocket for several ten dollar bills. “Fill our bags with as much as you can.”
There was a gas station across the street where Brittany could visit to grab some essentials while he fulfilled his promise to her. There was a pay phone in the parking lot of the motel. Max was willing to use it but only briefly. He didn’t want to dwell on the line long enough for the call to be traced.
He watched Brittany hurry across the street before entering the pay phone booth. It stank of stale urine and Max instantly recoiled. But then he steeled himself, knowing that he had to do this to help truly set Brittany free, once and for all. He read the number from his cell phone and typed it into the pay phone, then dropped a quarter in the relevant slot. It landed within the depths of the pay phone with a dull thud.
Max wasn’t sure he was even expecting anyone to answer. Maybe they really were all dead. As sad as that was he’d be relieved. He wouldn’t need to worry about someone stalking their movements across America. He and Brittany could live their life without fear. But on the third ring someone picked up and Max’ heart sank. A male voice said hello, a voice Max recognised.
“Aaron?”
“Who’s this?” the voice on the other end of the line demanded. Then it softened as it realised who was calling. “Max, that you?”
Max swallowed uneasily.
“Yeah, man. It’s me.”
“Shit,” he exhaled. “I didn’t expect to be hearing from you again.”
“And I didn’t expect you to be answering the main phone at the bar. Where’s my uncle?”
“He…he,” something broke in Will’s voice. “He didn’t make it.”
Max leaned against the glass in the phone booth and sighed. He knew this would happen. Going to war with the Kings was never going to lead to a happy ending, only bloodshed.
“That’s too bad,” Max stated sadly.
“And neither did you.”
Max stiffened.
“Because you’re not coming back, are you?” Aaron added, lowering his voice. Max glanced across the street at the store and shook his head to himself.
“No,” he confirmed. “I’m never coming back.”
“So we’ll just say you died along with the others. You’re a good guy, Max. You always have been. We’ll do this for you.”
“We?”
“Me and Henry,” Aaron gave a dry laugh. “We’re running the Skeleton Kings now, can you believe it?”
“Seriously?” Max was momentarily stunned. The leadership of the pack had always been promised to him by his Uncle. But now Alex was gone and so was Max. The pack should be claimed by guys like Aaron and Henry, guys who would always be loyal to the Reapers.
“Hey, man, that’s awesome for you guys,” Max congratulated him.
“Thanks. We’ll see how it pans out.”
“So last night, things got ugly?”
“Yeah,” Will breathed softly, his voice sounding fragile as though it might break any second. “Things got real ugly. You’re better off out of it.”
Max coughed and cleared his throat. For so long he’d been part of this gang that it had formed a large part of his identity. The pack had been his family and now he was finally being released from it all. He’d no longer be running, he’d just be living.
“I appreciate you doing this for me,” he told Aaron sincerely.
“It might not be best for the pack,” Aaron admitted, “but it’s best for you, and I can see that. I want to be the kind of guy who will always be able to see that.”
“I’m sure you will be.”
“I hope so.”
“You need to stay level-headed to balance Henry out.”
This made Aaron laugh heartily. “He definitely does need reigning in, doesn’t he?”
Max noticed Brittany returning from the store, carrying two plastic bags of groceries.
“Look, before I go, there’s one thing I need to know. Did my girl’s brother make it? His name is Zack, he runs with the Red Riders”
“You mean he’s running the Red Riders,” Aaron stiffly corrected him.
“Seriously?”
“A lot of changes went down last night,” Aaron sighed. “I’m still getting my head around them all. But yeah, my intel tells me that Zack is now the head honcho over at the rival gang, with some guy with a scarred up face.”
Jameson.
“And like I said, the Skeleton Kings won’t be causing you any trouble in the future. But I can’t say the same for the Red Riders. He might come looking for his sister.”
“Let him come,” Max growled. “He’d have to catch us first.”
“Good luck out there.”
“Thanks, man. You too.” Max listened as the line went dead, and then slowly hung up.
Brittany was peering anxiously at him through the glass, her eyes wide with desperation.
“So?” she prompted before Max had barely had a chance to come out.
“Your brother is fine,” Max told her as he began swiftly returning to their motel room. He wanted to put even more distance between them and Colridge, especially if Zack now had what was left of the Red Riders at his disposal. What was to stop him chasing them down and killing Max just so that he could have Brittany all to himself again?
“He is?” Brittany’s voice brightened with hope. “Really?”
“Yes, but we can’t stay here,” Max paused to turn around and place his hands upon her delicate shoulders. “We have to keep running, Brittany. We’re still not safe.”
Her beautiful features scrunched up in confusion.
“We need to outrun our past, Brittany,” Max squeezed her shoulders protectively. “We’re both connected to the packs. We need to drive until the highway becomes just a hazy blur around us. We need to drive, and never look back. Are you with me?”
“Always,” Brittany didn’t even pause to consider her response. “Max, I’m always with you.”
“I love you,” Max lowered his head to press his lips against hers. She kissed him back passionately, confirming that she loved him too.
Epilogue
The late afternoon sunlight warmed Brittany’s bare legs as she locked up the door in front of her. She was closing up early for the day seeing how it was a special occasion. She was smiling to herself and humming as she turned the key in the lock. The wording painted on the glass door read ‘Brittany’s Tattoos.’ There was no need for a metal shutter, the locked door would suffice. This was a nice neighborhood, the kind of place where people paused to greet one another on the street and smiled and waved when they drove by in their cars. It was the kind of place Brittany had always hoped she’d someday live in.
Walking away from the store she owned, Brittany held her head high. She headed over to a nearby parking lot where her bright red convertible was parked, waiting for her arrival. From the lot, she could see the ocean, which sparkled in the sunlight like the rarest of jewels. Brittany took a moment to enjoy the stunning view, as she often did. She could taste the salt in the air, and it tasted good. Everything here was so fresh, so perfect. Eventually, Brittany climbed into her car and turned on the engine. It purred like a kitten as she manoeuvred out of the parking lot and commenced on the short drive home.
As she drove, the ocean remained on her right, reminding her of how beautiful this part of the world was and how lucky she was to live in it. Several cars honked at her as they passed, most just waved. Everyone in town knew Brittany. She’d even worked on most of them. People knew her name, and they liked her. They’d stop by her store just to catch up and ask her how things were. But no one knew about the past she’d been running from for so long. All they knew was that she’d been drawn to their beautiful coastal town and had decided to set up a shop there and plant some roots for her future. And who could blame her? They lived in their very own little slice of heaven.
It took less than ten minutes to reach the high-rise condominiums in which Brittany now lived. She parked in her usual spot and glanced at the distant turquoise waters of the complex’s communal swimming pool and considered taking a quick dip. She started and ended most of her days with a brisk swim and it showed. Her golden legs were sculpted and made her look athletic and healthy. Even her dark hair had turned as golden as the sun which kissed it daily.
Brittany decided that she didn’t have time to swim. She instead headed towards the main building.
“Hey, Freddie,” she smiled warmly at the uniformed security guard drinking his coffee in the reception area.
“Hey, Brittany. You’re home early,” Freddie noted kindly.
“Yep, it’s a special day today,” Brittany grinned excitedly at the old man as she hurried for the stainless steel doors of the waiting elevator.
“He already told me,” Freddie laughed jovially. “Have a nice night, Brittany.”
“You too,” Brittany called out as the doors closed on her and started taking her up to the eighth floor. They opened once again with a soft ping, and Brittany entered a lavishly decorated hallway. There were solid wooden floors and beige walls decorated with fancy pieces of art. It was a beautiful building to live in. But the real selling point was the view. Brittany let herself into her condominium and held her breath, just as she always did. The far wall was made entirely of large windows which boasted a spectacular view of the ocean beyond. It was simply beautiful.
“You’re home,” Max was striding over to her. He quickly enveloped her in his powerful arms and kissed her. Brittany melted against it. The best part of coming home was being with Max. He still smelled of oil from his day spent working as a mechanic, but Brittany liked it. She clung to him tightly, trying to drink him all in.
“How was your day?” Max asked as they eventually parted.
“It was great,” Brittany smiled. And it truly had been. She’d worked on two new clients today. Everyone had loved her work and gushed about it to her. The look on their faces, as they admired Brittany’s art, which had been permanently inked into their skin, was priceless. Each time, Brittany would swell with pride and remember what had drawn her to becoming a tattooist in the first place.
“And it’s about to get even better,” Max was disappearing towards the sleek modern kitchen, which was attached to the main living area. The entire apartment was based on an open plan creating a ton of room and brightness. Glorious natural light flooded in through the large windows making everywhere seem even more perfect.
When Max returned, he was carrying a small gift bag which appeared to be from the boutique jeweler in town. Brittany’s face lit up as he handed it to her.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” she swiftly protested.
“Of course I did,” they sat down together on their leather sofa as Brittany opened the bag. “You already gave me my gift.” Max made a fist, revealing how Brittany’s name had recently been tattooed across his fingers.
Brittany rummaged through the tissue paper, to find a small black box at the base of the bag. Her heart was racing as she pulled it up to her chest and slowly opened it. In the box was a beautiful golden ring with diamonds set in it to the shape of a perfect bow. It was beautiful. Each precious stone sparkled magically in the sunlight.
“Oh, Max, it’s perfect,” Brittany gushed. It was the ring she’d admired in the window as they’d been walking through town together on one lazy Sunday afternoon.
“The lady at the store said the size should be fine but, if not just pop in and ask for Giselle.”
Brittany was only half listening as she slipped the ring onto her left hand. It went nearly all the way to her knuckle but was blocked by the golden band which was already sitting there. Brittany extended out her hand and admired her new ring.
“I love it.”
“And I love you,” Max reached over and cupped her head in his hands, kissing her softly. “Happy one-year anniversary, baby,” he murmured contentedly.
Brittany closed her eyes and let the kiss deepen, remembering how a year ago, she and Max had driven up to Vegas and made a promise to love each other forever. They were done running, done hiding from demons that might not even be chasing them. As man and wife, they made the decision to find a town in California that they both liked and stayed there. And now a whole year had passed, and life was better than ever, better than Brittany could ever have imagined it would be.
“I was thinking we could go grab dinner at the fish place down by the docks,” Max said when their kiss ended. Brittany reached for his recently tattooed fingers, interlocking them with her own. She loved how small her hand felt when she placed it in his. Max always made her feel so safe, so protected.
“Do you think one day I can call him?” she wondered dreamily. Max leaned forward to plant a tender kiss upon her forehead.
“One day,”
he vaguely promised. Brittany gave a wistful smile and started to think about what she’d wear that evening. She didn’t dwell on the topic of her estranged brother any longer. Zack was back in their hometown. He was leading the Red Riders and embracing his choice to lead a life of violence and crime. Did he ever spare a thought for Brittany the way she did for him? One day when she did eventually make that fateful call and reach out to him, would he welcome it? Or had the divide which erupted between them grown too wide, too impassable?
“Thank you for marrying me,” Max’ lips grazed against hers as he kissed her one last time before standing up. “I’m going to go and shower.”
Brittany felt her heart flutter when she looked up at him. He was still so handsome, so powerful. He could make her feel giddy with just one look.
