Fight(4)

I’d lost a f*cking fight.

Which was impossible… because if you lost a fight and you were one of Aldo’s guys, the punishment was simple - you were killed.





4.


(Winter)



I wore all black. I had black mascara on, a light shade of red lipstick, and big, black sunglasses. I rode in a hearse, Harlan driving, Rocky’s body in the back in the casket. The escort consisted of almost a hundred motorcycles. Guys in front of the hearse, behind the hearse, and on each side of the hearse. We took up both lanes of the road and nobody dared to honk a horn or try and stop the procession.

The cemetery was up on a small hill.

The ride took thirty minutes from the clubhouse.

Once we were there, four prospects were given the orders to carry the casket to the grave.

Stoney stood there with his hands in front of him. Black sunglasses on his face, a stray tear rolling down his cheek. He swallowed hard and let everyone get set up. The patched in members of the local charter were allowed off their motorcycles. The guys who rode in from other towns stayed on their rides.

The table members were allowed to stand on one side of the casket.

There was even a priest, the only one dressed in white, standing at the head of the casket, hands out, looking around.

It freaked me out to wonder if the MC had their hands in the church too.

“There’s not much to say,” the priest began, “as we begin the journey of goodbye deep within ourselves. We pay our last respects to Rocky standing - and sitting - together. The only family he knew. While we understand that death is the end of this life, it doesn’t mean it’s all the end.” The priest put his bible down behind him. “I could read for hours, quote scripture, sing a song even. But I know how Rocky would really want this. A few kind words from his best friend and then everyone celebrate his honor by surviving.”

The priest blessed himself. He stepped forward and blessed the casket. Bowing his head, his muttered something in a different language. He touched the casket, nodded, and stepped back.

Stoney took his sunglasses off. He blinked and swallowed again. “We can say a lot about Rocky. He was a miserable son of a bitch, wasn’t he?”

Everyone chuckled.

“Yeah, it’s okay to say that now. He can’t light us up now.”

A couple guys clapped.

“Bullshit aside, Rocky was one of our brothers. He stood beside me as VP of this MC, but also as my best friend. He’s taking secrets to the grave that nobody else here will ever know. That’s true friendship. That’s real brotherhood.” Stoney touched his leather cut. “That’s why we wear the cut. And we know what’s going to happen next. We say goodbye to Rocky but we don’t forget. Our memories won’t let him slip, and the reason why we’re here won’t ever slip.”

That was a pretty clear call for revenge, which was common. If you shot at the MC, they shot back. And whoever killed Rocky…

Just as long as they didn’t get to me first.

I shivered in the California sun and hugged myself. Sarah then appeared and put an arm around me.

“Now, let’s say goodbye to our brother and honor him,” Stoney said.

He put a hand to the casket. The table members did the same. I had to step forward and put my hand to the casket. It was then lowered into the ground. I stood there and watched it all. A man I didn’t love. A man I didn’t exactly care for. But he was the man who saved me from my dark past. That’s why I stuck it out with him.

I felt suddenly alone. Even with a hundred bikers around me, I felt vulnerable. I would never feel safe again, no matter what.

That’s when I started to cry.

Stoney walked to me and hugged me. He was tall, thin, and very strong. He held me for a few seconds and then started to turn. His fingers dug into my shoulder, his way of telling me to walk with him. So I did.

We got a little bit away from the scene and Stoney started to talk, his arm around me.

“I know you’re terrified,” he said. “Rightfully so.”

“Who did it?” I asked.

“I don’t know yet. We’re not the most peaceful of people. You know that, Winter.”

“I’m next, aren’t I?”

“Depends on the purpose of the hit,” Stoney said. “Do you feel you’re in danger? Anything you’ve done I need to know about?”

I looked at Stoney. “I think we all have demons.”

“Yeah.”

Stoney stopped and turned to face me. He held me at his shoulders. I feared he was going to make a move on me. He’d done it once before and we came close to doing something crazy. Not that I wanted him at all. But he was the President of the MC. What could I do? Especially now… I had nobody to protect me.

“Winter, look at me.”

I did.

“I made a call.”

“A call?” I asked.

Stoney nodded. “There’s protection coming for you.”

“What kind of protection?”

“Trust me, this guy will be able to protect you. He’s a fighter. He’s ruthless. He’s not part of the MC or any MC. He’s a direct guy. You don’t want to f*ck with him.”

I nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

Stoney didn’t look too confident.