The Biker's Fate Chapter 464

Finch

Hatch led me into his office at the back of the compound and shut the door, waving to a chair across from his desk. "Have a seat."

I lowered myself into the chair as he sat behind his desk and settled his arms on it, leaning forward. "We need to get some shit sorted."

I frowned. "Like?"

"Like the fact you hauled off and broke Vitaly's kneecap, then shot him in the heart."

I held up three fingers. "Three times in the heart."

"Don't be flippant, Finch."

"What are you trying to say here?"

"This is not our club, son. We might rough some asshole up, but we don't murder them."

"It wasn't fucking murder!" I snapped.

He studied me. "Break it down."

I dragged my hands down my face. "Already talked to the cops and my dad. What else do you need to know?"

"I wanna know the truth."

I leaned forward. "What makes you think I haven't told the truth?"

"Because I'm aware that you're aware, our club doesn't do this," he said. "And you and I don't fuckin' lie to each other."

I sighed, sitting back in the chair. He was right. We don't lie to each other. So I told him. Everything. The fact I wrapped the asshole's hand around his knife and staged the scene. What I said to him before I shot him in the heart. All of it.

Hatch leaned back and listened. No comments, no outward expression or reaction, just total silence. When I was finished, I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders, and my surrogate father leaned forward again. "So. Clean shot."

"Clean shot, Hatch. Swear to Christ. The animal had Remington tied down and was torturing her, but I did not lose control. I knew exactly what I was doing."

He nodded. "Doc said local PD and F.B.I. agreed the action was in self-defense."

"Yeah?"

"You were fuckin' lucky Dalton Moore was there to take credit for the capture of Sokolov. He covered your asses, even though it was somewhat murky."

"There was nothing murky about it, Hatch. I just wish I'd fucking got Vitaly's uncle too."

"Yeah, well, he's goin' somewhere he can't reach his cohorts, so it's a win-win in Dalton's opinion."

"I thought he wasn't in the F.B.I. anymore," I countered.

"He's still a consultant, and specifically involved in cases he wasn't able to close as an official agent. He's splitting time between Savannah and Scotland for a while."

"So, what does that mean for me?" I asked.

"You're clear, Finch. As is the club."

I relaxed.

"But we need to address the bigger issue here."

"There is no issue," I countered.

He raised an eyebrow. "Bud, there's an issue."

"Remington's safe, he's dead, there's not a fucking issue, Hatch."

I rose to my feet, but before I reached the door, Hatch's hand landed on my shoulder.

"We're not done."

I faced him and crossed my arms. "Just fucking spit it out, Hatch."

"When you saw Remington lying there, broken and bruised, what were you feelin'?"

"Rage."

"That all?"

"Yeah," I lied, the memories of Grace's tiny body covered with my mother's blood, bone, and brain matter flashing through my mind.

Hatch's hand went to my shoulder again. "Nothin' else?"

I shook my head but couldn't look him in the eye.

"You haven't fully dealt with all the trauma with your mom, Merrick. Think you need to do that."

"I'm not talking to a shrink. Did that right after. It didn't help."

"I hear ya. But you gotta talk to someone. Like your dad."

"Not talking to my dad about this, Hatch."

"Then me," he said quietly. "Or Maisie. Or Remington. Or the fuckin' moon, for all I care. You keep this shit locked up tight, it'll blow…worse than the Vitaly thing."

"I get it. No bringing dishonor to the club."

"You really think that's what I'm sayin'?" he asked, squeezing my shoulder. "'Cause if it is, you fuckin' walk out that door right now."

I shook my head.

"Right. So. You gotta work it out. I love you like a son, Merr. Whatever you need, I'm here, but if you get yourself killed or locked up, I'm gonna fuckin' lose my shit."

I shifted, trying to loosen Hatch's grip on me. He didn't budge. He just stared at me with his dad eyes. No judgement, just concern.

"She was so fucking little," I rasped.

"Remington?"

I shook my head. "Gracie."

"Yeah."

"She looked like something outta Carrie."

"She did," he said.

"Mom was gonna kill her."

He squeezed my shoulder again.

"I should have been there."

"You were a kid. Nothin' you coulda done," Hatch said.

"Yeah. But I'm never letting anything like that happen again. To Grace or Rem."

"Got your back on that one," he said, and pulled me in for a hug. It was quick, but it was fatherly, then he slapped me on my back and pulled away. "Gonna give you a few."

"Thanks."

Hatch walked out the door and I sat in the chair I'd just vacated, dropping my head as I thought about everything Hatch had said.

Small hands wrapped around my arms and I opened my eyes to find my sister kneeling in front of me. "Hey."

I forced a smile. "Hey, sissy."

"You okay?"

"Getting there."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Is this about Mom?"

"Indirectly," I said.

"It's about me?"

I took her hand and squeezed. "Yeah, baby sister. It's kind of about you."

"What happened?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Did you get in trouble?"

I chuckled. "No, sissy, I didn't get in trouble."

She let out a sigh of relief. "I thought Hatch was going to give you a lecture like Dad does."

"No."

"Are we okay?"

I frowned. "Why wouldn't we be?"

She shrugged, her face so much like our mother's, looking vulnerable and sad. "Because you've been so distant. I mean, before Remi."

"I'm sorry, Gracie." I kissed her forehead, standing and pulling her up for a hug. "I'll fix that."

"I'd really like that." She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. "Remi's a little worried about you, but Hatch told me to come get you." She smiled up at me. "I'm glad he did."

"Me too," I said and gave her one more squeeze before following her back to the party.

Remington made her way to me and took my hand. "Can I borrow you for a bit?"

"Yeah, baby."

She led me back the way I came and pulled me into Hatch's office.

Remington

"What happened?" she asked, closing the door.

I filled her in on my conversation with Hatch, leaving out the details about what actually happened in Savannah.

She grinned and gripped my cut, standing on her tiptoes to kiss me. "I like your surrogate dad."

I chuckled. "Me too."

"But I love you."

"I love you too."

"I will always listen, honey. You won't look weak in my eyes if you're having a tough time with what happened. It's trauma."

"I know."

I patted his chest. "Do you know in here, though?"

He settled his hand over mine. "Yeah, baby, I know in here."

"Good. Now, kiss me, then I want you to get me tipsy and fuck me."

His eyes darkened, and he smiled as he covered my mouth with his. Then he took me back to the party and got me tipsy before taking me to his room and fucking me.