I faced the window, looking out on the street and remembering Butch unloading the van with mine and Laney’s things in it.
“Last night, after he left,” Rider started. “He crashed his bike.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“They say he was drunk,” Dom said angrily. “But he knew better than that. Butch wasn’t some dumb fuck.”
I turned to look at him, the anger burning brighter. “Who’s ‘they?’”
“The cops,” he replied, darkly.
I shook my head. “Butch would never ride drunk. The man lived to ride, no fucking way he’d do that. He knew the risks and he wouldn’t take those chances.”
I was certain of it. One hundred percent fucking certain.
Dom shrugged and let out a long breath like he was relieved that someone else thought the same thing as him. “That’s what I said to them.”
“Cops said there was beer all over the road. They’re checking his blood now, but that’s what it’s looking like. Between riding his bike too fast and drinking…I’m sorry, brother,” Rider said. “He was a good man. The best.” He dragged his hands through his silver hair, holding my gaze steady, unsure of what to say to make this okay, and already knowing that there was nothing. He grabbed me and pulled me into a hug, before patting my back and letting me go. “The club won’t be the same without him.”
“Nothing will,” I replied.
“I hear that.” Rider looked down but didn’t say anything else.
“Laney upstairs?” Gauge asked and I nodded. “Mind if I go up?”
I shook my head. “I’d knock first if I were you, but go on up.”
He nodded and made his way up the stairs. I sat down on the sofa and put my head in my hands, listening to the mumble of voices coming from our bedroom, and then her cry as the reality forced its way in and destroyed the final part of our bubble.
Casa sat down next to me. “I’m real sorry, Jesse.”
I listened to Laney crying, and I heard Casa speaking, but his words didn’t make any sense. Nothing made any sense anymore. Butch would never drink and ride. Never. Not unless someone told him to. Not unless someone told him to bring more beer and hurry back.
And that someone was me.
