••••••7 Years After Kings of Hawkings••••••

When Jaiden graduated from Hawkings, he didn't take the traditional college route like the others. Instead, he bought a motorcycle and started traveling. At first, they heard from him regularly, but by the time he turned 19, he became more distant. He never gave them details about what he was doing or where he was. Whenever he visited, he was vague about his life and would often change the subject. However, he always looked healthy and happy, so they didn't press him too much. They just wanted to make sure he was safe.

One night, though, he scheduled a call with all of them. When the video call began, they could see he was nervous. He paced around the room with a glass of tequila in hand. His face was flushed, and his eyes were glassy—they knew it wasn't his first drink of the night.

What surprised them even more was that he was rambling in Spanish, speaking a mile a minute. They hadn't even known he could speak Spanish.

"Jaiden," Hugh interrupted, "Take a fucking breather."

"Mierda," Jaiden groaned, slumping into the chair in front of his computer.

"Are you safe?" Jonas asked, his tone serious.

Jaiden looked shocked by the question, then dissolved into laughter. "Sí. Yeah. I'm safe."

"Then what's going on?" Jonas probed. "Do you need us to come down to you?"

Jaiden shook his head. "No, but thanks. I just... I don't know how to say this."

"Did you get married or something?" Hugh teased.

"God, no," Jaiden shook his head. "I'll leave that marriage bullshit to all of you."

"Do you need bail money or something?"

Jaiden froze, then burst into laughter, harder this time. He wiped away the tears that were streaming down his face. "I'm not even in jail. Why would I need bail money?"

Hugh shrugged. "It's always best to preplan these things."

Jaiden chuckled and shook his head, still smiling. "Preplan? You make it sound like I'm out here plotting my own arrest. Trust me, Hugh, if I ever need bail money, you'll be the first to know. But until then, I'm keeping things above board."

"Sounds boring," Hugh sighed.

"Mira, I called to tell you all something about my... uh... career. It's not exactly what you'd expect."

"Stripper," Sam called out.

"Escort," Rodgers chimed in.

"Oh my god, guys! Let him speak!" Travis tried to yell.

"Those were stupid guesses," Hugh said, rolling his eyes. "He's obviously in the mob."

Millan chuckled. "Idiots."

"Santa María!" Jaiden exclaimed, placing his head in his hands. "I'm a fucking cop."

The group fell silent, and Hugh tapped his screen as if the computer had malfunctioned. "Say that again?"

Jaiden sighed. "I know we didn't have a great experience with the cops back home, but the law enforcement life kind of fell on top of me."

There was a brief silence, and then the others erupted with cheers and congratulations.

"I know the assessments to become a cop can be rigorous. Congratulations on passing!" Travis said happily.

"Actually," Jaiden started with a flushed face, "I've been a cop for a while—five years now, down in New Mexico."

"Holy shit, that's amazing," Jonas said.

Jaiden rubbed the back of his neck, his blush deepening. "I, uh, kind of got promoted today, too. You're now talking to one of the youngest detectives in Las Cruces."

Despite his initial hesitation, the group burst into even louder cheers. They were thrilled that Jaiden had finally opened up and proud that someone like him was out there with a badge. They trusted him to be honorable, and it was almost unbelievable that he had risen to detective at such a young age. He must have been working non-stop to earn that promotion.

After years of keeping a distance because of his profession, Jaiden finally opened up about his life in New Mexico. He had arrived there at 19 and found it impossible to leave. It seemed that he had fallen under the care of his mentor, Carlos, and his wife, Valeria. They had taken him in, guiding him through his early career. Carlos, already a seasoned detective, became a mentor and father figure. Jaiden often bragged about Carlos, clearly proud of the man who had taken him under his wing.

That night, Jaiden and the others stayed up well into the early hours, discussing his career. He happily recounted some of the most interesting cases he'd encountered, and they could all see his pride in his work. The only downside, he admitted, was that he hated the uniform—but as a detective, he no longer had to wear it.

The group was thrilled for Jaiden, proud he had found a path and people who supported him. Despite his busy workload, he never missed a fight and always cheered them on from afar. His constant messages made it feel like there was no real distance between them.

In fact, after seven years of friendship, they all seemed closer than ever.

Six months after the call with Jaiden, the Kings and most of their friends found themselves in the stands in Nevada. It was one of Jonas' most important fights, and everyone had rallied together to support him. Despite the years, their bond had remained unbreakable.

Eli and Travis, Rodgers and Lucy, Sam and Emilia, Millan and Robin—all of them were there, sitting together alongside Hugh and Brett, united in their mission to cheer on Jonas as he defended his belt against his latest opponent.

Jaiden, meanwhile, was stuck in Las Cruces, tied up with a case. But that didn't stop him from tuning into the fight. The group cheered when Jonas landed a heavy right hook two minutes into the second round, sending his opponent crashing to the mat. It was a perfect KO. Hugh and Brett didn't waste a second, rushing into the octagon when Jonas' hand was raised in victory.

As the celebration continued, a text message buzzed into the group chat.

Jaiden: Fucking beautiful hit!

Everyone responded to him, wishing him well and telling them they missed him.

After a while, another message came in.

Jaiden: Found a break in our case. Talk to you guys later!

They wished him luck, knowing that he and Carlos were working on a tough case that had been weighing heavily on him. Jaiden hadn't gone into much detail but mentioned that it was brutal, leaving him feeling like he was grasping at straws. Finally, catching a break in the case was good news, something he desperately needed.

But they didn't hear from him for the rest of the night. Or the next day. By the second day of radio silence, everyone began to worry. They called him repeatedly, but they were met with his voicemail each time. The sense of unease grew, and they started searching for any information they could find.

Using his contacts at the law firm, Eli finally uncovered what had happened. On the night of Jonas' fight, Jaiden and Carlos received a tip that their suspect was hiding in an abandoned church. They responded immediately, hoping this lead would finally bring the case to a close. They did find the suspect, but the night ended in a shootout with two fatalities.

One of the fatalities was the suspect they were after. The other was Carlos.

Jaiden had to watch his mentor, friend, and father figure die.

Jonas didn't take the news well. The thought of losing someone like Chuck was unbearable, and the parallel to Jaiden's situation hit too close to home. They all knew Jaiden couldn't be alone during such a devastating time. So, without hesitation, the entire group dropped everything and headed to New Mexico.

The Kings, along with Eli and Travis, found themselves standing outside an old adobe home. The structure was simple yet charming, with weathered walls that told stories of time and resilience. When they knocked on the door, it was answered by an older woman who looked worn but strong. The moment she opened the door, they recognized her. Jaiden had often shared pictures of his found family in New Mexico, and this was Valeria, Carlos' wife.

She looked at the large group with tired eyes that softened as she realized who they were. Her face broke into a gentle smile, a bittersweet expression of sorrow and gratitude. She knew exactly who they were—the friends who had come all this way to stand by Jaiden in his darkest hour.

"Gracias. He needs you, but he's too stubborn to say so." She said while ushering them through the door.

"Tía, quién es?" A tired voice called out from another room.

"Tu familia está aquí," she answered, her smile never fading.

Jaiden came out to see what she meant.

"Mi familia?" He asked with a confused look but saw everyone waiting for him. His tense shoulders dropped a little as if he felt like he could finally relax. "Ah, you're right. My family."

Over the last seven years, Jaiden had changed. His once youthful frame had become more muscular and chiseled, his hair grown longer, and his face now unshaven. The happy innocence that defined his expression had long vanished, replaced by a hardened exterior. The bright smile they were so familiar with had faded, and his eyes—once warm and lively—had grown colder, framed by dark circles that hinted at countless sleepless nights.

When he finally smiled, it was strained, a mere shadow of the grin they remembered. Jonas, unable to contain his emotions, rushed forward and pulled him into a tight hug. Jaiden stiffened at first but slowly wrapped his arms around Jonas. He shuddered, the weight of his grief too much to bear any longer, and then, finally, he broke down. That embrace was the catalyst he needed to begin the grieving process he had been avoiding for too long.

The group stayed with him for as long as they could, taking care of him and Valeria, helping to pull Jaiden out of the suffering void that had consumed him. Travis, who had been closer to Jaiden than the others during high school, took the time to sit with him, talking for hours. As a psychiatrist, Travis was uniquely equipped to offer the support Jaiden needed, and eventually, Jaiden opened up. He explained in harrowing detail what had happened the night he lost Carlos, revealing the deep scars that the incident had left on his soul.

Travis was Jaiden's pillar of strength during those conversations. However, when Travis returned to his hotel room with Eli, he broke down. The weight of Jaiden's story shook him to his core, and he needed to grieve for his friend. Seeing Travis' distress, Eli realized that Jaiden had suffered far more than just the loss of his mentor. Something terrible had happened that night, something that continued to haunt him.

The group didn't press Jaiden or Travis for details; instead, they offered their unwavering support in any way they could. When they eventually had to return to their own lives, they checked in on him regularly. Over time, Jaiden moved to another city in New Mexico, perhaps seeking a fresh start, and slowly, they began to see glimpses of the old Jaiden resurfacing. The grief that had shackled him was starting to loosen its hold.

Two years after Carlos' death, the group received an unexpected message from Jaiden. It was a short video.

The video was illuminated by a bright orange and pink sky. The colors soaked into the mountains, which seemed to kiss the skies. The cascading light reflected off the ground, making it glow and shine. It looked practically magical.

In the middle of the scene was a man handling the reins of a black horse and speaking softly to it. He turned towards the camera, and he seemed absolutely picturesque with a warm smile on his face.

"Mi sol, what are you doing there?" He called out with a Spanish accent.

"Admiring the view." Jaiden's voice was picked up from behind the camera.

The man chuckled. "We still have about an hour before it gets too dark. Did you still want to go riding?"

"Absolutely. Just needed to send an important update." Jaiden said with a laugh.

The video ended.

A new message came into the chat.

Jaiden: I met someone.

••••••A/N••••••

Death & Tequila is completed and published on my page. Thank you, everyone, for your ongoing support!

Although the original version of King of Hawkings ended here, I have released one more chapter. It was a request I had seen several times, and I was excited to write it.

Enjoy!