Reaper's Salvation: A Last Riders Trilogy

by Jamie Begley

  Feeling guilty, she looked away from him. “I shouldn’t have let you come. You have Mika and Jonas.”

  “Shut up.”

  Ginny turned back to face him. “You know I love you, right?”

  Hammer’s face turned harder. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”

  “One thing I’ve learned in life is you can’t make promises that are impossible to keep.” She had learned promises were as useless as a two-dollar bill—no matter how much people wanted to keep them, life ultimately took what it wanted.

  “I’ve kept every promise I’ve ever made.”

  “Then I want you to remember the one you made to me. If this goes bad, I want you to do whatever you have to do to get yourself out without me.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  “You swore to me.” Ginny had no intention of letting him off the hook from his promise. “I expect you to keep your promise.” He might not be able to keep his promise about her safety, but she would make sure he protected his own life. “Jonas and Mika would be devasted if anything happened to you,” Ginny emphasized, reminding him why it was so important he survived.

  “You’re just as important.”

  Ginny didn’t respond. She would be missed by T.A. and her brothers if anything happened to her, but she wasn’t important to them. T.A. had Dalton and her friends, and her brothers had each other. She wasn’t so important that losing her would make a difference in their lives. It was just one of the reasons why she made the deal with the FBI—she was expendable. Gavin wasn’t. And even though Viper had Winter and Aisha, he needed Gavin to make him whole.

  “You’re important to me.”

  Ginny stared at him ruefully. “No, I’m not.”

  “Believe me; you are. If anything happens to you under my watch, Reaper will kill me.”

  “No, he won’t. I know Gavin,” Ginny assured him.

  “You might think you know Gavin, but where Reaper is concerned, you don’t know jack shit.”

  “They’re the same man.”

  “Tell yourself that all you want, if it makes you feel better.” Hammer gave her a rueful look. “You’re going to find out the truth for yourself.”

  “When?”

  Hammer’s expression turned into one of determination. “When I bring your ass home.”

  Chapter One

  Waving at Matthew and Isaac as they headed inside their shop, Reaper got inside Viper’s SUV.

  “We’re late,” Viper snapped before Reaper could even shut the door.

  “I got that message two honks ago,” Reaper snapped back.

  “When I talked to you this morning, I told you we couldn’t be late to the meeting with the FBI. Now we’re not going to have time to meet with Diamond beforehand.”

  “We already know what she would have said—be quiet and let her do the talking. I plan to follow her advice, even though she didn’t have time to give it.”

  “You’re in a good mood.” Viper looked at him suspiciously.

  “Do me a favor; if I swear not to off myself, will you quit looking for signs that aren’t there? At least not anymore. I feel good. Actually, I feel fucking great.”

  “You back on your antidepressants? If so, pass me a couple. I had to listen to every brother in the club offer to pack Taylor’s shit back into her car. Then Knox called and told me the FBI were waiting for him when he came in this morning. They want us brought in for questioning.”

  “I’ll bring Taylor’s shit out to her car myself after our meeting, and we can let Diamond do the talking to the FBI. They have to build a case against us. They have to prove we’re responsible for Slate’s disappearance. That’s going to take time.”

  “What about Memphis? They have the tape to prove what happened to him.” Viper parked in the police parking lot.

  “I think I have a plan for that. We’ll talk after the meeting. Then I’ll go see the brothers and get Taylor out of your hair. At least Ginny doesn’t know about her being at the club,” he said, getting out of the car and then caught Viper’s expression. He knew when he was fucked. “She knows Taylor’s at the club?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fuck. Thanks, big brother.” He slammed the car door shut.

  “I was worried about how you would react. I thought Taylor was part of the reason you wanted to kill yourself—” Viper snapped his mouth shut. “Okay, I fucked up.”

  Gavin laughed, slinging a brotherly arm around Viper’s shoulders. “Welcome to my world.”

  Any visage of a smile disappeared before walking into the sheriff’s office where the desk clerk sent them to the courthouse. “Knox and your lawyer will meet you in Room 2, in the lower level. They are waiting for you.”

  Reaper and Viper shared speculative glances as they went back out the door, then headed for the courthouse.

  “We’re fucked.”

  Reaper’s good mood rapidly disappeared hearing Viper’s worried curse.

  Viper had been mired in the shitstorm Memphis had created. The betraying bastard deserved the death he had been dealt after the greedy fucker was about to blow the whole fucking club up before thankfully being caught.

  Finding Room 2, Reaper saw a state trooper guarding the door. Another state trooper was stationed outside another door farther down the hall. The trooper checked their IDs before opening the door. “Make sure you keep several feet apart.” Motioning them inside, he then shut the door behind them.

  Knox and Diamond were waiting inside.

  “Thank God you two finally showed up. They were threatening to issue warrants for your arrests if you didn’t show in the next ten minutes.”

  “Time got away from me.” Reaper took the hit for being late. “If they’re so anxious for our arrival, where are they?”

  “The commonwealth attorney is speaking with the special agents. They’ll call us in when they’re ready.”

  Diamond stared at Knox worriedly as time passed and no one came for them.

  Cognizant of possibly being recorded, they didn’t discuss any of the variety of reasons they could have been pulled in for questioning. Assuming they were there to discuss Slate, everyone was wary to mention his name. The longer it took, the harder it was to keep silent, which Reaper took for a stalling tactic.

  “Is this even fucking legal? Keeping us waiting this long?” Viper asked.

  Diamond, just as frustrated as everyone else in the room, went to the door to pull it open.

  The officer broke off from speaking into the radio on his shoulder, telling Diamond, “I was just informed to bring you to a larger room upstairs. If you all will follow me.”

  The four of them filed out of the room.

  Reaper’s gut clenched as they went up the steps, preparing himself to be arrested. Weeks ago, he couldn’t have cared less, still having felt as if he belonged in jail, but Ginny changed him—even before he realized it was her voice that had strengthened his will to survive while in captivity.

  She had kept him so busy falling for her, he had lost the desire to end his life—she’d made it worth living again.

  They entered a courtroom, but there was no judge sitting on the bench, only four suited men waiting for them in the front of the judge’s bench.

  “Please, take a seat and keep a safe distance apart,” an older agent directed them to the seats in the front row.

  “I made my clients available at the FBI’s request, despite no advance warning. Since you’re now playing games, we’re leaving.” Diamond firmly stood in front and blocked the men from going down the aisle.

  The older man, who must have been the lead agent, spoke up. “I’m sorry for the wait. Unfortunately, it was unavoidable. We were waiting for two more people to arrive. I was just notified they arrived at the airport and will be with us within the next five minutes. The FBI appreciates your cooperation.”

  As he finished speaking, the doors behind them opened again.

  Reaper turned to see Sex Piston, T.A., and Dalton step inside, looking just
as surprised to see them.

  “What are you doing here? You get lost paying a ticket? This is a private meeting,” Diamond snapped at Sex Piston as they came farther into the room.

  “I don’t know why the fuck I’m here, and neither does T.A. nor Dalton. We were dragged here an hour ago,” Sex Piston argued back.

  “Why didn’t you call me?” Diamond asked, her eyes on the group of men waiting for them at the front of the courtroom.

  “I fucking tried!” Sex Piston yelled at her sister.

  “Ladies, if you take your seats, we will be ready to get started as soon as the other two we’ve been waiting for arrive.”

  Ignoring the agent’s directive to keep a distance, Knox and Diamond sat together, as well as Sex Piston, T.A., and Dalton.

  When the agent asked them to move apart, Sex Piston opened her mouth. “Mind your own fucking business, and I’ll mind mine. I’ve had my temperature taken by three people today—I’m good. How many fucking times has yours been checked today?”

  The agent was saved by the opening of the door.

  Turning around, Reaper was shocked.

  Shade, Jonas, and Shade’s father, Will. This shit went deeper and deeper.

  Reaper didn’t know why they were there, and from Viper and Knox’s expressions, they didn’t know either.

  “Gentlemen, if you will have a seat, we can begin.”

  The new arrivals sat down in the row behind them and seeing their faces, it was obvious Will and Jonas knew what was going on.

  “Do you know what this is about?” Reaper heard Viper ask Shade.

  Shade shook his head. “Dad called me five minutes ago and told me to get here quickly.”

  The lead agent held his hand up. “I’m sorry about the delay. Now that everyone’s here, I can explain.”

  Out of the corner his eye, Reaper saw T.A.’s color had paled and she was shaking. Dalton placed an arm around his wife’s shoulders. Sex Piston looked shaken too.

  The lead agent came forward. “I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Special Agent Corey. I want to explain why the FBI is here and—”

  “Then fucking explain already!” Sex Piston yelled.

  “Very well.” Agent Corey stepped in front of Viper. “Mr. James, the FBI’s case on the death of Last Rider member, Memphis Mills, has been dropped. The file has been sealed and closed. The video provided to us of the alleged crime was inadvertently destroyed.” The agent handed him a folder. “Within that folder, you will find a document stating that no charges will be filed and will never be linked in connection with Mr. Mills or the witnesses who provided the information.”

  “Not that my client is guilty, but why has the State decided to be so forgiving?” Diamond asked.

  “If you’ll allow me to continue, all your questions will be answered.”

  Agent Corey moved to stand in front of Reaper. “Mr. James, this is the approval for the vaccine trial that PharmFYOU was seeking consent to begin. The government extends its apologies in the delay and will ensure PharmFYOU gets the highest priority available. We have also begun an investigation into the disappearance of the lab technician and will keep both you and her boss apprised of the situation.

  “Furthermore, our agency will no longer offer the man who kidnapped you federal protection. He willfully disappeared, and so the FBI is no longer interested in his location. If, for some reason, he is found, we are aware of the criminal elements with whom he associated and will research only if we deem necessary.”

  The agent opened a second folder and took out two envelopes. After handing the first to Reaper, he handed T.A. the second. “Mrs. Andrews and Mr. James, these letters are from Miss Evangeline Bellamy.”

  Reaper looked up as T.A. began sobbing and asked Viper, “Who’s Evangeline?”

  “Mrs. Andrews and Mr. James, Evangeline wanted me to make sure you knew she didn’t make this decision under duress and wants you to respect the decision she has made. She told me six times to tell you that she is safe, and Hammer will be assisting her on her journey home.”

  Tearing the envelope open, Reaper began reading the letter as T.A. began wailing in grief.

  Dear Gavin,

  This is the hardest letter I have ever written. I have a past I haven’t told you about. I’ve wanted to tell you so many times, but I was afraid, not for my own life, but for my T.A., for Hammer, and for Will.

  Trudy. is my biological sister. Freddy adopted me when I was four years old. The Colemans gave me a new life, and I will always be grateful for being a part of their family.

  Please don’t hate me for not telling you. I love you, and the thought of you hating me would make what I’m about to do so much harder. Hammer and I made the deal for me right after Killyama told me Slate disappeared. I knew he would come for you. He was smart enough to know you wouldn’t stop looking for him. He had no choice but to try to kill you first, and I couldn’t let that happen. My brothers leaving me alone that day was a trap for him, but I nearly lost you in the process. I hope his death gives you the peace you deserve.

  Viper told me yesterday that Taylor is at the club to see you. I kept hoping you would tell me she was there, but you didn’t. I know you still love her, and I love you enough to want you to be happy. The hardest part today was not leaving my family but watching you walk away to see her.

  Even if you decide not to get back with Taylor, I have to settle my past before I can have a future. I learned that lesson from you. I won’t watch my new niece or nephew grow up without me being in their lives like I had to do with Trudy.

  I wish you well, wild man.

  With all my love,

  Evangeline

  Reaper stormed to his feet. “Knox, give me the keys to your cruiser!” he shouted over T.A.’s terror-filled screams.

  “He’ll kill her! Jonas, tell them,” T.A. sobbed out, holding onto Dalton.

  After Knox gave Reaper the keys, he started running out of the room.

  “Mr. James, it won’t do you any good to look for her in Treepoint. Her plane left twenty minutes ago to an undisclosed destination.”

  Fuck, fuck, fuck!

  Still, Reaper ran toward the doorway. With his hands held out, he slammed through the second set of doors without stopping. He had seen Knox’s cruiser parked outside when they arrived at the courthouse.

  Pressing the unlock on the fob as he exited the building, he was in the cruiser and pulling out of the parking spot before Knox, Viper, and Shade came running out. His heart racing as fast as he was driving, Reaper flipped the sirens on, screeched through traffic on the main drag, and drove up the mountain toward the Colemans’ home.

  As he drove past The Last Riders’ clubhouse, he saw the men running down the steps and toward their bikes. Flying past them, he started slowing so he could make the sharp turn into the Colemans’ driveway. Hitting the steering wheel, he had to wait until an oncoming car slowed to a stop before he could dart across the lane.

  Driving up the steep hill, he didn’t have to be told that Ginny was gone. Even if the agent hadn’t told him, it was written on all eight of her brothers’ faces as he jerked the car to a stop.

  Leaving the door open, Reaper ran directly to Silas. “Tell me you know where she is,” he begged.

  Silas nodded. “I know where she’s going.”

  “Thank God!” Reaper took deep breaths at Silas’s confirmation, his hands on his thighs as he tried to catch his breath. He hadn’t taken a deep breath since he’d heard Ginny had left. “Tell me. I’ll go right now.” As he straightened up, his breathing stopped again at Silas’s expression. “What’s wrong? You said you know where she’s going.”

  The loud rumble of motorcycles coming up the driveway almost drowned out his question.

  “She’s going back to Clindale Island.”

  “I’ll get a plane.” Motioning for Viper to hurry toward him, he was already planning to get Train and a plane in the next hour; he didn’t give a fuck about whatever stumbling blocks Silas was
about to tell him.

  “That won’t work.” Silas shook his head. “No one can fly or sail in without the permission from the island’s owner.”

  “Then I’ll get his fucking permission! Who is he?”

  “The man who wants to kill Ginny.”

  Chapter Two

  Reaper took out his cell phone and pulled up Google maps. Searching for the island, he unconsciously switched into military mode. Emotions would have to take a back seat in order to strategize a way to intercept Ginny, because if he let the mixture of emotions running tumultuously through his brain rule him, he would lose Ginny, and that wasn’t acceptable.

  Finding the location, he shoved the phone back in his pocket. “They flew out of Treepoint’s airport?”

  “Fifteen minutes ago,” Silas confirmed.

  “Then we still have time. Our airport only allows for small planes, so they won’t have enough fuel to make it to Clindale Island. They’ll have to switch to a bigger plane or stop somewhere to refuel.”

  Reaper saw Silas give his brothers a questioning look. At their nods Silas offered, “I can track her for you, but I don’t know which airport they’ll land at until I can hear or see the name.”

  Reaper knew the sacrifice the Colemans were making. By discussing his gift in front of the Last Riders, they were breaking the secret code that had kept their family safe for decades.

  Turning to Train, who stood silently next to Viper, Reaper barked out his first order. “Use every contact you have and find out where they’re going to refuel or to switch planes. I don’t care if you have to call in every favor owed to you; just get it done. Get your chopper ready to fly. I want to be airborne as soon as possible.”