I flinch, curling into Max.
Butch stares at Konnor, anger like I've never seen before raging in his eyes. "He was going to use you against me," he hisses. "He knew this whole time."
Clay uncrosses his legs, leans forward onto his knees, and cups his forehead. "Fuck." Concern shines through a crack in his usually guarded and emotionless manner.
"You know what this means? Made-men don't lie to made-men," Xander says, standing up. "Jimmy broke a vow. This is war."
War. . .
I start to scratch a layer of pink polish off my nail. War means casualties and I only just got Max back. Before I can object, Bronson steps forward, rousing our attention.
He grins and it's anything but nice. "Not for you, Xander."
Xander frowns at his big brother, but Bronson just continues, shifting his gaze to each of us. "This means nothing for any of you. Be good little Butchers." He shares a meaningful exchange with Max and Clay "Work for the City. Stay clean. Be family men."
Nodding his agreement, Butch states, "Nothing changes. We plant ourselves in the City. We let Jimmy think he's the head and-"
"The fish rots from the head." Bronson's winks at Max. "One of his favourite sayings. . .I'mgoing to be the rot. I'm going to deteriorate that fucker. And he won't even know that it's happening."
"Dustin is mine," Max says through a low growl while my breath shudders at the mention of his name.Dustin.
"No," Butch bites out. "I won't see you lose more years and you can't leave the District while you're on parole. They will have eyes on yo-"
"I'll hunt him down for you, my beautiful brother. Bring him to you," Bronson states, vengeance playing with his wicked smirk.
Offering Konnor a quick glance, wanting to reach out to someone on my wavelength, I find only determination in his eyes. A flare of acceptance. He's ready for the people who hurt him to pay for their crimes. I blink at these dangerous men I call my family. And I feel my lips curl, curl up into a smile.
I’m ready for that too.
My mother once told me that 'if you avoid conflict to prevent a battle, you often start a war in your heart.'
My heart belongs to Max. And Iamwilling to support him in this battle. His family -my family -is the most powerful family in the District and they don't need to bully the innocent. Taunt the lambs and the deer. They don't hurt people like me. Butch should be at the head. At that thought, my heart picks up pace. I want to watch him put a torch to the District's web of lies because now I know exactly who will burn along with it. . .
Jimmy Storm.
I softly stroke my fingernails down Max's forearm, over the red and black tattoos, little hairs rising in response to the gentle stimulation. His sigh rumbles behind my spine.
I'm with you, menace.
To the end.
Harris' notes: A bittersweet goodbye.
Dear Max and Cassidy,
So I was going to write a note to your readers, but instead, I drank a bottle of red wine and this is the result. . .
You are my favourite book couple. Two individuals with strength and promise and yet, unknowingly living a kind of half existence.
Cassidy with your beauty and talent and hopefulness. Your brother's trauma cloaked a shadow over your life, but you never held any resentment. You are pure and kind.
And Max, with your intelligence and no-bullshit and inner gentleness. You were forced into a life that bred toxic masculinity and crushed weakness, but you managed to hold on to your integrity.
You shine a light on each other, illuminating hidden pieces and becoming whole.
I wanted to break you out of prison, Max. Have you snatch Cassidy away and run, to another place, to a different book world, and protect her and Kelly. I wanted you to be there throughout the pregnancy, irrational in your pursuit to protect her while she's in, as you would put it, a ‘delicate condition.'
I daydreamed about you in the delivery room with her, scowling at the doctors and then tearing up when you hear that first high-pitched cry. I imagined you being unwilling to share your baby with anyone besides your wife, being the one to bottle feed her every night so that Cassidy can get some sleep. . . Kelly falling asleep on your chest.