We both know after what.
“Whatever you’ve got and tell the others. The twins usually have an arsenal between them.”
He goes to leave when he stops and asks, “If you get the chance, can you go see Harper? Get her to try and eat something.”
“Sure.”
“But don’t say I asked you to.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t get you in trouble.”
He nods and then meets my stare. I ask, “Are you prepared for anything?”
“We’re dead if we’re not.”
I sit back out of sight as the Five Falls chapter rides in. On first count, they are three brothers down. Their old ladies follow them in, and Holly is there to greet them. I swig from my beer and watch every single brother from every chapter, how they greet each other, how they look around, everything. Mason drops on the bench beside me and lights a cigarette.
“How are we handling this?” he asks.
“Until I make a move, keep an eye on everyone without making it obvious. Let Myles know to do the same.”
“Will do.” His stare as hard as mine, he continues, “I’ve felt the club changing lately, it was bound to with the deaths we’ve suffered. Brothers gone that we’re used to seeing our whole lives, but after this, I feel like nothing is ever gonna be the same again.”
I agree. I find myself saying, “It’s not necessarily a bad thing. It'll be what keeps the club going for years to come.”
“I guess we’re going to find out.”
Grim walks over with Tack, more relaxed than the last time he was here. I stand and shake his hand.
“How many men did you lose?” I ask Tack.
“None. We were lucky.”
Lucky? Or preplanned?
“Yeah, you were. Get yourself a drink and we’ll talk later.”
He nods and walks into the bar.
“It’s fucked up about Shane. Where's his kid?” Grim asks.
“Holly’s looking after him.”
“What’s gonna happen to him? The mother ain’t in the picture, is she?”
I shrug. “Don’t know, his family ain’t interested. I'm focusing on the funerals at the moment.”
“It doesn’t add up.”
“What doesn’t?” Mason asks before I get the chance.
“How they knew we were coming.”
“You do know,” I say. “You know exactly what’s happened.”
His brow arches. “Is that why you’ve called everyone in? You think someone ratted out to Hopper?”
Shrugging, I say, “I called everyone in to lay our brothers to rest.”
