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.