“What the fuck?”
“Acted like she’s grieving Angel.”
My vice shakes his head. “Sorry.”
“For what? Giving me sound advice? The only mistake you made was worrying about my safety. If I were you, I’d direct the security detail to guard the Dead Dogs. I’m out for blood. I want to settle this shit about Angel and then move on with my life. Serafina is my first chance at doing that.”
Tonsils sits in the guest chair across from me and leans over my desk. “You’re serious about the girl?”
I fold my hands under my chin, considering everything. “Yeah. If I can get her to talk to me again.”
Forget the service. I’ll go in your place so we don’t lose face with anyone.”
“Too late,” I say. “That bitch is going to report everything I said to Bear. If I don’t show up, he’ll think I’m afraid of retaliation. Everything I told that woman is true.” I scrub my face with both hands, my heart pounding.
“You visited Angel already, right? Said what you needed to. Let this go, Eagle. Like you said, get on with your life.”
If I’m going to start over, I need closure. I want to look the man in the eyes who is equally responsible for Angel’s death. I want to hear his lies, see his face when he honors the sister he never loved. “This one is for Angel.”
“That’s what we’re all afraid of, Eagle. You’re not thinking clearly. None of us blame you.”
“Us?”
“A few of the brothers.”
“Is that what you’ve wasted the morning over? Gossiping like the old ladies in the kitchen? Trying to find a way to keep me away from the service?” I open my desk drawer and retrieve the silver flask I keep stashed in case I ever need a drink. I open it and take a swallow. “Well?”
“We’re so close to jump starting the new chapter in Shreveport. To finalizing the deal with Lazaro. We need you alive to do it, Eagle.”
I narrow my gaze, angry at his constant disagreement. “Last time I checked that patch on your chest says vice.”
“What the fuck, Eagle?”
“Lazaro and I already shook hands. Whether I’m here or not, the Iron Norsemen are going to funnel his money into the Mexican bank accounts in Veracruz. The first deposit happens next Wednesday. As for the new chapter . . .”
“Gangrene called earlier. The nomad is on his way.”
“Already?” In order to ensure our hold as the dominant club in Shreveport, I called in a favor to another Iron Norsemen prez in Philadelphia and asked him to send me the best enforcer he had.
“Left the city last week.”
I drum my fingers on the desktop. “Attending the service doesn’t change anything. It reinforces how I feel about things in general. Angel belonged to me—to this club. We can’t just leave it, Tonsils. It’s a matter of honor, what’s right.”
“She’s dead, Caleb.”
‘No shit, Brother. That doesn’t mean I just forget about everything. Remember, Bear wantsmedead—all of us gone.” He shrugs and sighs as he stands up. “I’ll be here at five forty-five to escort you to the park.”
The hours pass in silence. I’m close to being drunk when someone knocks on my office door. “What?”
“It’s time, Eagle,” Sunny calls.
“Be right out.” I cross the office and check myself in the mirror on the back of my door.
I’m wearing a black ribbed T-shirt under my vest and dark jeans. The gold Thor’s hammer Angel gave me for my twenty-second birthday is hanging around my neck, fully visible. I cleaned my boots yesterday. I smile down at the steel-toed Dead Dog stompers I’ve always worn.
I leave my office, calm and steady. My brothers are waiting, their Harleys in a two-column formation, organized by rank. My Pan Head is at the front, the chrome freshly shined and the engine running. I climb on, signal my brothers, and merge into oncoming traffic, which comes to a complete stop.
Most of the residents in Holly Beach know us. We’re given every consideration, like the fire department. People honk their horns out of respect as we ride by. Angel meant something to this small town.
