“Will do. Thanks for everything, Router.” I hang up the phone and make my way back inside to talk to Lizzie.
Inside she’s lying sideways on recliner, with her legs dangling off the arm. “How’d it go?” I inquire.
“Good. I have all the arrangements made. We’re doing a Tuesday service. She’ll be buried next to Mom and Dad. I know I thought about cremating her; but she’s already been through so much, I couldn’t bear the thought of doing that to her.”
Her tone is listless and it takes everything in me not to pull her into my arms to comfort her.
“It’s okay, baby, whatever you want.”
“What did Router find out?” she asks, breaking me from my reverie.
I fill her in on the conversation, and we head back to her board to piece the new information together. “Seems to me you all are standing in someone’s way. From what I’ve gathered, most would just go to war head-on. It would be a matter of pride to do that,” she states, looking over the board.
“Yes,” I agree, nodding in confirmation. “That would be the best route to go, if you were trying to get rid of a rival and take over the territory. Set them up for crimes they didn’t commit and get the cops to clear them out for you. Also, that phone used to contact you has just recently gone active again. Router gave me a location. We’re still waiting for the day and time. I think we should go check it out.”
“Definitely.”
“Tuesday at ten at San Fernando, right?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
“What are you doing?”
“I was messaging Six about what’s going on and gave him the information for the funeral. The club will be there to lend their support.
139
Lizzie
Today was the toughest day of my life. No more not knowing if she could be lying in a ditch, bleeding out, needing help, or in a hospital where she doesn’t remember who she is.
He steps to me and once I’m safe in those strong arms, I immediately release all of the emotions I tried to bottled up for today. “Do you think before she thought, why didn’t Lizzie care enough to come find me?” I ask Brayden.
“No. Don’t think that. Forgiveness is what you need.”
“I can’t help it. I didn’t find her, and now all I can do is pray for her forgiveness.”
“No, honey, what I mean is you have to forgive yourself. You can’t blame yourself for any of this. You did everything you could. Even when the police were done, you didn’t stop. I know she’s proud of you.”
When we made the turn to go down to the cemetery, I saw all the bikes lined up. He had them deliver flowers. The one simple thing I forgot in the craziness. Not just any flowers, but yellow roses. Linda’s favorite.
After I spoke a few words of goodbye, I stood with him by my side as they lowered the casket into the ground.
“I want to let you have all the time you need.”
Toughest part is seeing the consequences of your choices being paid by other people.
Once again, he takes me by surprise. He kneels then makes the sign of the cross, and lays fresh flowers on Mother’s grave. If I had bet money on this rough-edged man being religious, I would have said hell no. He sets his palm on our family headstone. “Mr. and Mrs. Greystone. Please don’t worry about Lizzie. I’ve got this. I’ll take care of it and make them pay for what they have done.” I stare in awe at him. “I know how special she is, I’ll always keep her safe. I promise.”
I go over to join him and link his hand with mine. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. I wanted to.” He leans down and kisses me on the cheek.
I turn around and make my way to all the people who came to be there with me for one of the hardest days of my life. “Thank you so much for coming, having you all there as we paid our last respects was such a testimony to the person Linda was. I wish you could have known her.”
“If she was anything like you, I know we would’ve gotten along.” Router says, as I pull her in for huge hug.
“Chef already headed back to finish up,” she says as we break apart. She looked at the puzzled expression on my face. “Didn’t Brayden tell you?” He’s joined us once again and I feel completely lost.
“I didn’t know if you’d feel up to or it on not, but the Dark Leopards want to have a wake in Linda’s honor for you back at the clubhouse.” Before I can say that they didn’t have to, I’m consumed by a sense of belonging. Of love.
“I have to admit, I was wrong about the MC,” I tearfully confess to Brayden. Everything they did, the way they rode around, and supported each other all had to do with their code. It was one of honor, one I was proud to be associated with. It was a very impressive ride back to the clubhouse with at least forty bikes in formation.
An incredible sound of iron thundered down the road. It said ‘Get out of our way. Don’t fuck with the brotherhood.’ All in all, there were more than 20,000 pounds of whoop-ass for my dear Linda’s send off. I could imagine her smiling down on me with the biggest thumbs-up.
While I was beating Ace and Clutch at a game of darts the call came. We were caught off guard.
“It’s going down in at four at the old warehouse on Aero Street,” Six
