“Anything.” He nods, shoving his hands in the pockets of his dress slacks.
I get to my feet and look at the pile of fresh dirt where my wife lies. She doesn’t have a headstone yet. “They take time,” Janice told me. “I know a guy,” Bill assured me. Charlotte helped me order it, and it should be ready in a couple of weeks.
I won’t let her be like those graves in the cemetery behind the cathedral who were killed, buried, and left with unmarked graves. Everyone will know who the fuck my wife was and that she was loved.
“I’ll be back, angel,” I tell her before I turn to Sin. “Let’s go.”
SEVENTY-EIGHT
KASHTON
Isit at the biker bar in the middle of nowhere. It’s where she always led me to when I followed her. I needed something to drink.
“Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls plays through distorted speakers.
“Another,” I mumble to the brunette bartender.
“Yes, sir,” she says softly, grabbing the bottle.
“Just give it to me.”
Her eyes meet mine apprehensively. “I’m sorry?”
“The bottle.” I place my elbow on the bar and gesture with my fingers for her to give it to me.
“I don’t think?—”
I reach over and rip it from her hands before tossing a few hundred-dollar bills on the bar for her to take. “Leave me,” I order.
She spins and runs to the other end of the bar, happy to get away from me. I know I look like shit, but I fit in here. It’s not a safe space for anyone.
I tip the bottle back as I feel someone coming up next to me. “Hey, sugar.”
I ignore her. I’m not here for pussy or anyone’s company. Just had to get away from Carnage and my brothers, their wives. Eve’s funeral was three days ago, and their concern for my life was suffocating. I was beginning to feel like I was already buried with her. Unable to breathe. And Janice kept bringing me food and asking why I wasn’t eating what she had dropped off from the previous day. I understand everyone is just trying to help, but I want to be left alone.
A hand touches the sleeve of my jacket, and I tense. “Get away from me before I snap your fucking neck.”
She gasps, yanking her hand back, and then storms off. I take another swig from the bottle and then set it down, gesturing to the bartender once again.
“Yes, sir?” she asks softly over the song that seems to be on repeat. I’m gettinga headache.
“Another bottle.”
“Uh…” She raises her eyes to look over at someone and then places her attention back on me. “Yes, sir.”
I knock the one back in my hands, hoping I drown in it, but no such luck. Maybe the next one will do it.
“Here you go, sir.” She places a full bottle of bourbon in front of me. It’s got to be the cheapest you can get, but whatever. I don’t even taste it.
I go to pick it up, but it’s snatched from the bar top before I can get it. “Did you threaten to snap my ole lady’s neck?” a guy hisses from beside me.
The bartender takes off once more, and I hold in a sigh. “I’m not in the mood to pay for pussy.”
“Are you calling her a whore?” he yells.
I laugh, imagining what my wife would be doing right now if she were here. Eve would already be up on her feet, hand gripping the bottle and swinging. No questions asked. Well, if I’m being honest, she would have broken that bitch’s nose who touched me, and I’d be beating this guy’s ass, defending my Lady’s actions.
“Here.” I dig into the pocket of my leather jacket and toss him a dollar. “This is probably what she’s worth.”
