“Uh-oh,” Zombie comments.
Lyric opens his mouth to argue with me, but my expression must make him rethink that because he closes it and nods.
After a few tense seconds, he speaks, and his tone is cold. “Let’s ride.”
I turn on my heel and walk to Lyric’s Harley. I’m pissed at him for keeping such a big secret from me, but I refuse to let my ire dictate how we honor Rowdy.
The ride from Death’s Door and through Tacoma is melancholy as we make a point to pass all of Rowdy’s favorite places. There were a few that he expressly requested in his finalinstructions, and with each one we pass, new tears roll down my cheeks only to dry with the wind.
When we reach the clubhouse gates, Lyric slows to a stop, and I climb off the bike so that Rowdy’s spirit can ride home one last time. I walk next to the Harley, and Lyric keeps his pace as slow as possible.
As each biker parks in a row in front of the clubhouse, Peach steps outside. She was asked to remain here, along with all of the club whores, so that the food and booze could be ready for the party that’s about to commence.
Lyric hops off his bike and stalks toward me. He’s no more than two feet away when Peach launches herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck. I expect him to hug her back, but he stretches his arms out to his sides, so she’s left to hang like a rag doll.
“I miss him so much,” she cries.
“You’ve got two seconds to get your hands off him,” I bite out.
Lyric’s eyes lock on mine as he grins. “You heard her, Peach,” he says casually.
Savvy, another club whore who must’ve followed Peach outside, groans. “C’mon, bitch,” she says, grabbing the back of Peach’s shirt. “You know the rules.”
Peach reluctantly lets go of Lyric. “But I’m trying to comfort him,” she whines.
Savvy spares me a glance and then spins Peach around so they’re face-to-face. “Pretty sure that’s Mellie’s job. Or have you forgotten that she’s the queen around here?”
“She doesn’t even remember him!” Peach shouts, shoving past Savvy and stomping into the house.
“Sorry ‘bout that,” Savvy says to Lyric. “If you’re okay with it, I’ll handle her.”
Lyric looks at me as if to ask if I’m okay with that, and I nod.
“Fine, but she’s on thin fucking ice,” he tells her. “She steps outta line again, and it’ll be both of you paying the price.”
Savvy nods before rushing inside, and he closes the distance between us to cup my cheeks.
“You were jealous,” he teases.
“No, I wasn’t,” I insist.
“Yeah, Mellie, you were. But like I told you before, you have nothing to be jealous of. I loveyou, not her.”
His words fill me with warmth, and suddenly, the events of the day crash over me. I whirl around and run inside… away from the feelings he invokes, away from the chaos, away fromhim.
16
LYRIC
“You’re not gonna go after her?”
My eyes never leave the door of the clubhouse as I shake my head. Quake slaps me on the back before moving past me and heading inside.
“That was brutal,” Copper comments as he passes next.
“Fucking whore needs put in her place,” Undertaker states, stepping up next to me. “Want me to send her to Death’s Door?”
I chuckle dryly at his question. “No. Savvy’s gonna handle it for now.”
