“Good.” Jason looks at me, his eyes caressing my face. “Let’s go.” We step outside and a gust of wind whips my hair back as I inspect the graveyard. It’s beautiful, calm, and has green grass. My dad would never believe he’d be buried in such a beautiful place. One time, he told Benny and me to leave him at the hospital and have them deal with his remains.
A tall man, maybe Ryder’s size, except probably a hundred pounds lighter, stands in a black suit talking to Leah. The funeral director notices us and nods our way. Leah hurries over. Hugging me, she says to Jason, “He’s nervous so please put him at ease, Jason.”
She wasn’t kidding. The poor man is sweating—not that I blame him. This quiet graveyard of beauty and tranquility is being taken over by bikers. The rumble of their bikes causes me to look at the entrance.
“Prez, the Devil’s Aces are here from San Francisco. So are the Demons from Arizona to pay respects.”
Jason looks around. Actually Jason is gone. It’s Blade who stands before me. He grabs my arm and I shiver at his touch. There’s something exciting when Jason becomes Blade, yet I’m disgusted with myself. I shouldn’t be thinking like that. I’m getting ready to say my final farewell to my father. “Give me a second.” I watch as he shakes the funeral director’s hand and turns back toward us. I suck in my breath at his physical beauty.
“I did good, didn’t I?” Leah has a small smile as she watches her son come back to us.
“You did, Leah, you definitely did,” I whisper as Blade takes my hand.
“Let’s go.” He walks us down a path—not too fast since both Leah and I are in heels. I cling to his arm as we get closer to the burial spot. White chairs have been set out and Leah squeezes my hand as she sits in one. It’s truly happening. I’m at my father’s funeral. There are flowers everywhere and the sweet scent floats through the air.
“Who are all these people?” My voice cracks as my eyes take in all the different arrangements. I spy Edge and Dolly in the parking lot. They look like they are arguing and I feel like a bad friend. I haven’t even talked to her this week.
“It’s respect, Angel. Stay right by me or by Axel’s side.” The noise level is growing loud as Harleys arrive in an awe-inspiring line. Looking down at the grave, which has already been dug, for a moment I want to run, hide even. Then maybe I won’t have to go through this.
“Prez, you ready?” Ryder walks up in dark dress pants, a dark shirt, and his cut. For a moment, I wonder if my imagination’s in overdrive.
“Hold on.” Jason tilts my face up and rubs away my hot tears. “You ready?”
I shake my head yes because if I talk it’s all over. The anger, the loss, all the shitty things that happened to me and my dad. All of that and more might come out.
“Let’s start, Ryder,” he announces without taking his eyes off me. “It’s getting too crowded and we can’t control things if it gets bigger.” Ryder nods and gets on his phone.
I look around, my eyes swimming with tears again. This is insane. There are bikers everywhere—at least over a hundred. The frazzled funeral director rushes over and I watch Blade take over. Then a gun goes off and I jump. The funeral director looks as though he might faint and wisely steps behind Jason and me as I watch in agony as Edge, Ox, Dewey, and three other Disciples carry my father’s dark silver casket by us and place it on the pedestal that will lower him to the ground.
“Breathe, Eve, I mean it.” Jason pulls me closer and a whoosh of air fills me as I obey him. The priest I picked walks up carrying a bible and starts talking.
“Why?” I ask Jason, not caring if anyone hears.
“Better to cover all the bases.” He pulls me into his arms and a strange giggle starts to escape. Am I losing it? I mean, what the hell was I thinking getting a priest? My father wasn’t religious or even a good person. I loved him, but he did a lot of bad things. I stare straight ahead and pretend to listen. The wind blows, reminding me that I do feel. I feel Jason. His strength radiates into me as his thumb caresses my palm. I stare at my feet. They’re aching and I feel that too.
“Angel?” I look up at him and gasp. He’s so magnificent, like a fierce, sleek lion.
A boy… My dad had said we are having a boy. Jason looks down at me and our eyes meet, and everything I will ever need is in his look. He’s mine. I don’t even worry about the club sluts anymore. Jason only has eyes for me. I lean back into him as he lays his large hands on my belly. Finally, the priest finishes. I have to give it to the bikers—they have way more patience than I do. Another two minutes and I was going to tell Jason to remove him. I roll my head to the side and freeze. Over in the parking lot, my brother stands, leaning against a car.