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Her wail of pain has Luca turning her into him and cradling her head to his chest, doing his best to trap her pain to him. I can’t look away.
Myles meets my eye and jerks his head for me to join them. I can’t move. From where I stand, I can see the soles of my father’s and grandpa’s boots. I can’t look at them any more than that right now, not while the bar is filled with people.
Leo stands, a glass of whisky in one hand and a clenched fist in the other.
“We… the club…” He clears his throat and says, “It goes without saying that this is a dark fuckin’ day for us. Not only did we lose a brother in Harlow, we lost a brother here at home. Pope has been a part of this club, a part of us, my whole life, and I can’t imagine showing up here and not seeing him around. His love, his loyalty, his devotion to our patch, this club, and everyone in it was a testament to who he was. There will never be another like him, not in our lifetime, that’s for fuckin’ sure. The only way we can repay him for his service to this club is to never forget him, never forget that we’re Lost Souls. It means ourhearts beat for each other, for our families, for this patch!” he yells, slapping his patches over his cut. “It means we never forget who we are. Pope never did, not once. He knew exactly who he was, what he wanted, what needed to be done. That’s who we are. We are Pope, and he will live on in us, and fuck me, we’re gonna show him we’re worthy of following in his footsteps!”
Brothers cheer, banging their fists on the tables, bottles of drink and glasses falling over the edge.
“And to Ricky,” Cas says, standing up. “A loss that will test us to come back from. Over twenty-five years of brotherhood shared, fights fought side by side, victories celebrated shoulder to shoulder, and grief shared heart to broken heart. He lost his life in the name of the club for his sons, like Pope, he will never, ever be forgotten. He’ll be here with us, each and every day.” His head hangs, but then he looks back up at everyone. “There hasn’t been a brother patched into this club that hasn’t hoped for their death to come peacefully in their beds as old men. Their loved ones around them. It’s why when we have to fight, we do so fast, brutally, and ruthlessly so we can reach that warm bed as the reaper comes for us. We may have lost two brothers, but they are not without brothers. They will be welcomed by the greats. Oak, especially, will be waiting with a glass of whiskey and a rude joke. Mark, the founder of this very club, will no doubt settle them into the afterlife just like he did with every man he brought into this place. We’re not alone, and neither are they. Pope and Ricky have just gotten to the other side before us, but there will come a day for every one of us when we’ll see them again. They will be waiting for us.”
He falls back on his chair, and Alannah rests her head against his shoulder.
There’s solace in sharing grief, but I’m not there yet.
“As Pope was already legally dead and has a plot at the cemetery, we can’t exactly hold a funeral for him there. Ourbrother, being a Lost Soul deep down to his bones, will be laid to rest on Lost Souls property. As an original member, he’s always been the foundation of this place. Now, he’ll nourish it for all eternity,” Leo declares.
Grumps would love that. He never liked the idea of being buried side by side with others in the cemetery. He only allowed Grandma a burial for Mom and us kids.
The ache in my heart grows stronger. Clutching at my chest, I use my free hand to dig out my phone from my back pocket. I bring up the contacts, and my thumb hovers over Aspen’s name.
I put my phone away and walk out. I need to dig deep and find the strength of Grumps and my father's sensitivity. Yet, I sink into the rage I’ve become accustomed to.
Chapter Fourteen
Aspen
Emma calls for the fourth time, and for the fourth time, I let it go to voicemail.
A text comes shortly after.
Call me back. It’s serious.
Emma’s always been sweet and welcoming to me. I already feel terrible for dodging her calls, so I pick up my phone and call her back.
“Finally. Where are you? Mason isn’t talking, and Myles keeps telling me we’ll talk later.”
“I’m in Dog City with Rudi.”
“Why? Mason needs you. He’s lost his…”
“I know about Ricky. I was there.”
“And Pope. He died last night. Kyla went to take him a glass of water, and he was gone.”
I sit up straighter. Pope is dead too.
“Shit.” My first instinct is to rush to Willow’s Peak, but then I remember. “Mason won’t want me there. We’re not together anymore.”
“You broke up?”
“Yeah. I’m going to stay in the city.”
“I knew you guys were going through it, but I thought it’d work itself out.”
“I’m pregnant, Em, and he doesn’t want it. There’s no working that out.”
“I guess not, no. Oh, Aspen. I’m so sorry.”
