Page 26 of Wrecked By Rev

It took us a while to get here, but some things are worth the wait.

EPILOGUE

The cemetery is quiet this early in the morning.

I park the bike and walk through the rows of headstones, boots crunching on the gravel path. I’ve been here before—came to the funeral, came a few times after—but it’s been years. Too long.

I find him near the back, under a mesquite tree. The headstone is simple. Just his name, his dates, and the Sons of Ruin reaper etched into the stone.

Jonah “Wheels” Medina. Brother. Son. Rider.

I crouch down and set the flowers against the base. Yellow roses. His mom’s favorite, according to Angel. She mentioned it last week, and I filed it away without really knowing why.

Now I know.

“Hey, brother.”

My voice sounds strange in the silence. I clear my throat.

“It’s been a while. I know. I should’ve come sooner.” I stare at the headstone, at the reaper grinning back at me. “I’ve been busy. Or that’s what I told myself. Truth is, I didn’t know what to say.”

The wind moves through the mesquite, rustling the leaves. I take a breath.

“I’m with Angel now. Your sister.” I shake my head. “You probably already know that. Wherever you are, you’re probably laughing your ass off. The guy who couldn’t string two words together around her finally got his shit together.”

I pick at a thread on my jeans. This is harder than I thought it would be.

“I’ve loved her for a long time, Wheels. Since before you died. I never said anything because—I don’t know. She was your sister. It felt like crossing a line.” I swallow hard. “And then you were gone, and she was grieving, and I couldn’t make it about me. So I let her go. Told myself it was the right thing.”

I start to arrange the flowers as I talk.

“She came to me. A few months ago. She was in trouble and she came to me for help, and I couldn’t say no. I’ve never been able to say no to her.” I exhale slowly. “And now she’s mine. Or I’m hers. However you want to look at it.”

I reach out, trace my fingers over the carved reaper.

“I’m going to take care of her Wheels. I promise you that. I’m going to love her and protect her and be there for her every single day. I’m going to give her the life she deserves.” My voicecracks, just slightly. “I just—I wanted you to know. And I wanted to ask?—”

I stop. This is stupid. He’s gone. He can’t hear me. He can’t give me his blessing or his permission or whatever the hell I came here looking for.

But I say it anyway.

“I wanted to ask if it’s okay. If you’re okay with this. With me and her.”

The wind picks up again. The mesquite leaves shiver. And somewhere in the distance, I hear the sound of a car pulling into the lot.

I stand up, turning—and there she is.

Angel is walking toward me, a bouquet of yellow roses in her hands. She stops when she sees me. Looks at the flowers I brought. Looks at the ones she’s carrying.

Same flowers. Same idea. Same day.

“Rev.” Her voice is soft. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“Anniversary,” I say. “Seemed right.”

She walks closer, looks down at the headstone. At the flowers already resting against it.

“You brought Mom’s favorite.”