CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE Reparations

Rebel—

Glancing around the room, I see all of Brayden’s brothers and everything he’ll be giving up for me if he comes to Birmingham. One of us has to move; one of us has to make this sacrifice for our relationship, and I’m incredibly honored that Brayden would do this for me. I think what he said to me before is true. It would be incredibly hard for me to leave my family, maybe more so than it would be for him, but still, I hate to ask him to do this.

None of this is fair, and my father is so sure that Cole will never release Brayden, never give his permission for the transfer. Everything is so up in the air, and my stomach is in knots.

Movement draws my attention toward the hall door, and I see them all filing out.

Brayden walks toward me, and I try to read his face, but it”s inscrutable. He moves to my side and puts an arm around me but says nothing.

Cole approaches Shades, and the two men faceoff. I study them. They’re both strong leaders, hardened by this life, but under it all, they’re just fathers who love their children. None of that gives me any clue how this all is going to end.

“I owe you an apology, Shades,” Cole says, shocking me, and—I think—everyone in the room. “I’ve owed it for a goddamn long time. I’m sorry I haven’t said the words. I was wrong all those years ago.” He looks at my mother. “And I’m sorry for all the hell it put you through, Skylar. Had I known at the time, I never would have done it.” He shakes his head. “All I ever wanted was to protect you and Letty.” He looks at Shades. “I was also wrong in not telling you about a situation that came up not so long ago with the Devil Kings. I think you know what I’m talking about.”

My father stands with his arms folded, shocked, but I can tell this apology means a lot to him. He nods once.

“I’m sure you’d like to beat the shit out of me. So, if you want to try it, way I see it, there’s only one solution. We take it to the cage.”

My father’s arms come unfolded. “What cage?”

Brayden’s mother steps in front of her husband. “Have you lost your mind?”

Cole lifts his chin at his VP. The man steps forward and guides Angel away.

“Come on, honey. Let them have at each other. Get it out of their systems once and for all.”

“You’re just as crazy as he is,” she complains, trying to wriggle free, even as all the men file down the hall. Some of the brothers start hooting and hollering and yelling out wagers and betting on the outcome.

I turn to Brayden. “What’s happening?”

He looks as stunned as I feel. “They’re going to fight it out.”

“Fight it out? You can’t be serious.” I whirl on my mother. “You have to stop him.”

She holds her hands up and laughs. “I learned a long time ago to let him be. If they all want to act like fools, there’s nothing we women can do to stop them.”

“That’s insane,” I hiss.

“Come on, Rebel.” Brayden pulls me along to follow the other men.

We walk down a long hall, through another door, and out into a huge, cavernous room.

“This used to be the manufacturing part of the place,” he tells me.

The men are already gathering in a crowd, and I see an honest-to-God MMA fighting cage. There’s a room off to the side, and some of them head in there.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“Locker room. I’m sure they’re changing clothes.”

“Is this a good idea, Brayden? I mean, they’re not young men anymore.”

“Probably not, but nothing’s going to stop them. Pride won’t let them back down now.”

“What’s going to happen?”

“I suppose they’re going to beat the shit out of each other to prove a point.”

“That proves no point.”

“No, I guess not, but maybe they’ll work their shit out, and this goddamn feud will finally be over.”

“Amen to that,” I say.

A man walks over with a big grin and his fingers wrapped around several ice-cold long-necks. He offers us each one. “Enjoy the show, young’uns.”

Brayden grins and grabs us each a bottle. “Thanks, Green.”

The man dances through the crowd, making his way to the front.

Brayden clinks his bottle to mine. “May the best man win.”

The two men enter the cage, and Brayden points out the tall man with them.

“That’s Red Dog. He’s playing referee tonight.”

I turn to him with a sudden thought. “Have you ever fought in that thing?”

“All the time, babe. Fought with the best this club has to offer. Learned from the best, too.”

“Are you good at it?”

He grins. “I can hold my own.”

Rafe and Kyle sidle up beside us.

“He more than holds his own. He’s probably the best in the clubhouse these days,” Kyle says.

“I can’t watch this,” I say, spinning around as the fight begins. The crowd cheers on their man. Most, of course, cheering for Cole to win, since this is his chapter.

“Come on, darlin’, take a peek.” Brayden drags me around, and I see the two men dancing around the cage and taking jabs at each other. You’d never know looking at their bodies that these men are in their fifties.

My father does a roundhouse kick, and it lands on Cole’s hip. He staggers against the cage but keeps fighting.

Cole throws a series of rapid punches at my father’s ribs, then connects one powerful blow to the man’s jaw, and Shades staggers back. He straightens, spits blood, then narrows his eyes and attacks Cole.

The fight goes on, the men trading hits, leaving each other bloody and bruised, and it looks like a pretty even match, each holding their own.

Eventually, they’re down on the mat, wrestling, and somehow my father gets Cole pinned. I know he’s got the age advantage, being younger, but I’m still amazed. Brayden’s father isn’t able to break free. The bell dings, and the men break apart.

My father stands, offering Cole his hand and pulling him to his feet. Red Dog lifts my father’s arm in the air, declaring him the winner.

I’m thrilled for him, but more than anything, I’m just glad it’s over. “Thank God neither is too badly injured,” I murmur.

“Except for my father’s pride,” Brayden replies.

They’re both exhausted and breathing hard, but my father approaches the chain-link and hooks his fingers in it. He emits a sharp whistle and the room silences, then he motions his hand.

“Brayden. Come here,” he shouts.

My hand in his, we walk forward.

“Yes, sir,” Brayden replies.

“That spot in Birmingham… It’s yours if you want it.”

Brayden’s eyes shift to his father, and I know he’s waiting for permission.

Cole nods. “You want to transfer, son, then I give my okay.”

Brayden nods once. “I want it.”

“Welcome to the Alabama Chapter, kid.”

Brayden turns to me and swoops me up in a hug and spins me around. His entire chapter is silent. I don’t expect them to cheer. They aren’t happy about this. I totally get that. But I’ve got my man, and I swear I’m going to make him happy every day for the rest of his life.