Page 92 of Allegiance
Epilogue
Four monthslater
Lena heldthe cake box as she followed Tank up the sidewalk to his mother’s house. The first time she’d come to meet his mother, she was as nervous as a cat on hot asphalt, but the minute his mother smiled and told Lena to call herMaryinstead ofMrs. Hopkins, she knew they’d become friends.
Tank was happier than hell that she and Mary got along so well. Some afternoons, Lena would stop by with a basket of food and set up a table out in the garden, and she and Mary would have fun talking about everyone and everything.
The major topic of conversation for the past month had been the indictment of Philip Fitzgerald, Roger Ellison—the DA—Sheriff Windsor, and several law enforcement deputies. The slew of charges lodged against each of the defendants were more than a half page long. It was the scandal of the year, maybe even the decade, and it rocked the town to its core.
Quinn Fitzgerald and her mother, Estelle, sold their mansion and flew the coop. When Mason Bourne, Quinn’s fiancé, learned of the scandal involving Quinn’s father, he did what any shallow and mercenary person would do: He dropped her fast and cold.
The State Attorney General commended Lena and all the witnesses who’d come forward, on their cooperation and bravery in putting a corrupt system out of business. If things went the way Assistant State’s Attorney Rhonda Dempsey told Lena they would, many real estate deals that Fitzgerald made fraudulently would be put right. If that happened, he stood to lose millions of dollars, something Lena wasn’t losing any sleep over.
The biggest surprise for her and all the other tenants who were harassed by Cougar and Rubble, was receiving all the money back from the Jagged Outlaws MC. It appeared that the club had a changing of the guard, which Lena only found out about through her landlord, John Bourne. Of course, Tank never breathed a word about what happened behind the hallowed walls of the clubhouse, and Lena was just fine with that. And because of the club’s generosity to the tenants and the expulsion of the men directly responsible for their weeks of terror, none of the witnesses said one thing about the Jagged Outlaws being involved. Even after Fitzgerald and Sheriff Windsor tried to put the blame on the club, everyone stayed silent.
When Lena had turned in the recordings, she’d initially told the DA that the two men were bikers, but since he was part of the fraud and extortion scheme and a multitude of other crimes, no one believed him.
“Thank you, Lena,” Tank’s mother said when she handed her the small box of tea cookies and put the cake on the table.
“You’re welcome,” she said, bending down to kiss her cheeks.
“Hey, Mom.” Tank hugged his mother then sat down. “The doctor said you’re doing great.”
She smiled. “I feel good. I’m happy you found such a beautiful and wonderful woman.”
“Mom …” he groaned.
Lena laughed at the same routine mother and son engaged in each time they’d go over to visit with Mary.
“I’m just saying. Knowing that you’re settled, I can stop worrying and relax. When are you going to get married?”
“Mom!”
A huge grin cracked Lena’s face. Whenever she saw Tank and his mother interacting, she could see the boy he was when he was young, and she loved that.
“I’m just asking.” Mary turned to Lena. “Do you mind me asking?”
“Not at all,” she replied.
Tank rolled his eyes. “What do you think she’s going to say, Mom?”
For the next couple of hours they ate and talked about the scandal, the weather, and a host of other things. By the time they were ready to leave, Lena could see the fatigue on Mary’s face.
“Do you wanted to lie down?” she asked.
“I do feel tired. Maybe just a little nap. Myra can help me.”
Myra came into the room, after saying their goodbyes to Mary, and she helped her into the bedroom.
Tank grabbed Lena’s hand as they walked down the sidewalk and headed to her SUV. He’d wanted to take the Harley, but Lena was scared the cake and cookies would be reduced to crumbs in the saddle bags, so she’d insisted they drive.
“Why didn’t you tell your mom we’re living together?” she asked, sliding into the passenger seat.
Tank placed his hand behind her neck and kissed her hard, then he shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side.
“Is it supposed to be a secret?”
“No. I’ll tell her. I just want to enjoy some time together without her asking me every second why we’re living together instead of being hitched.”
