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“Yeah, same,” Abel said. “I hate not being able to call Elle.”
I nodded briskly. There were no emotional conversations with these men. Understandable.
I caught Mason’s eye before I turned.
He dipped his head once. No words. No expression.
But it meant everything. It was the smallest, subtlest apology. We weren’t on good terms yet, but this was a huge start. And it was enough.
I lifted my chin, straightened my shoulders, and stalked over to the huddled Wolverines. They all tensed, watching me warily. It was almost amusing seeing these big, grizzled, tatted men flinch at a woman less than half their weight.
Maybe it was because I was the heir to the Wolverine MC—the new president—and I had the power to do very bad things to them.
But I wasn’t the same heartless Caroline Bates they used to know.
“Walter Bates is dead,” I said.
There were varying reactions to what they already knew.
“And we are all aware I was born to take his place.” I paused, looking each of them in the eye. “Moss is long dead now. Vane is dead. Heel is dead.”
I looked at the pile of bodies. Each one of them had lives, people they cared about, or cared about them, but they had pledged themselves to a man who asked them to murder for a living. They had sacrificed their humanity long ago. Were these survivors any different? Were any of them worth saving?
“The Wolverines had been led astray for a while now, while Walter slowly lost his mind. None of us was strong enough to stop things—neither was I. But now it’s done. My father is done.” I inhaled deeply, feeling the moment like committing it to memory. “As president, I’m dissolving the club. The Wolverines are no more. If any of you have a problem with that, you can take it up with me.”
“With us.”
The voice came from beside me.
Jackson Black stood there. Unblinking, unmoving.
But he wasn’t just beside me.
He was with me—a Devil, backing up a member of a rival MC.
But that wasn’t entirely true now.
He looked down at the Wolverines—former Wolverines—with an expression that said this was something not up for debate.
Jackson didn’t need to say more. That one line said everything—and my father’s former goons were smart enough to take the not-so-subtle hint.
I gave Jackson a slight nod of gratitude. He returned it and then went back to his brothers. Closure settled in my stomach in the best way.
I turned to the clubless bikers. “My father hadn’t been in his right mind for a while. I know we were all affected by Kyle’s death—and others who succumbed to Walter’s wrath. His own bloodlust turned inward on his own club members. The Wolverines have been corrupt for a long time. But now…”
I inhaled deeply again. “Now it’s over forever. Go live your lives without obeying commands from a psycho murderer. To be clear, I’m not a part of any of this anymore.” I channeled my heartlessness one more time to jerk my chin at the pile of bodies. “I’m entrusting you and whoever else didn’t come to this final battle to deal with the fallout—including the law of Reno. Without me or Walter, your crimes are unexcused.”
“What about your crimes?”
I looked at who spoke—a younger guy, Logan.
I didn’t hesitate. “I’ll deal with my own fallout.”
“So where does your loyalty lie now?” Logan asked.
Knox stepped up next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist, watching Logan like a hawk as if he was about to start flirting with me.
A strange sense of satisfaction and pride swelled in my chest. I almost—almost—smiled.