“I want first watch,” Reaper comes down the line stepping in front of Stone.
“I’ll take second,” Riot steps up next.
Down the row of brothers, each one claims a spot to stay with our fallen brother until the funeral.The respect they show proves that we are more than just a bunch of men who sit around drinking alcohol and working on bikes.
We’re a family.
A family that celebrates together with the big wins and victories, but we are also a family that mourns together.
We are all standing around a green tent after the pastor finished his message and was dismissed.A light-colored wooden casket is in the center of us.Several hundred Dead Road members are here to lay our fallen brother to rest.
The women are all sobbing in their chairs as Stone and Blaze stand at each end of the box.Melissa has been inconsolable since the hospital, and I’m not sure if she’ll ever be the same.Crusher has her under his arm as he stares straight ahead.All of us are wearing shades to hide our emotions over what has happened to our brother.Fuck my chest burns looking down at the casket where Rocky’s body is.
“Rocky was one of a kind,” Stone says aloud to the club as he places a hand on the casket, clearing his throat.“He didn’t let his disability slow him down.He worked hard to be part of Dead Road, and even though he didn’t ride, he was one of us.Rocky loved hard—” Stone pauses and works his throat again.He shakes his head then faces where his little brother is laying.“Your death will not go unpunished.I’ll avenge you, little brother.”He pats the top of the pine box.“Rest easy, Rocky,” Stone says then turns to us.“One Road.One Family.One Fate.”
“One Road.One Family.One Fate,” the entire club recites back.
“I’m soglad you could stay longer,” Raegan hugs Ivy as she comes into the main area of the clubhouse.
We just buried Rocky and laid him to rest and are back at the clubhouse.The mood is solemn and sad.Rocky made such an impact on so many lives and not just the brothers.
“When can I go to the hospital to see Sutton?”Ivy asks looking around.
“We can go in a little bit.I haven’t been up there today.Ian volunteered to sit with her while we laid Rocky to rest,” Raegan says as I listen to their conversation by the bar as all the brothers toss back a drink.The mood is heavy.No one’s really talking.Crusher and Melissa are sitting down at a table as other chapters come by and pay their respects to one of the founding members of Dead Road MC.Melissa’s been having a hard time the last few days and from the bags under her eyes, she hasn’t slept much either.
“I’m just glad to be here and not heading back to Europe.I need these next two weeks to go by slow so I can catch up on sleep,” Ivy tells her.
“I’ll take you over when you’re ready to go,” I interrupt their conversation.I need to be with Sutton after today.Right now, even though the doctors say we are living day to day with her condition.I still am holding out hope that she’ll pull through.They want to start weening her off the pain meds in the next few weeks and rouse her from the coma they’ve put her in to help heal some of her body.Her upper body took most of the brunt of the explosion and fire, and she’s been covered up with dressings since she’s been brought to the hospital.
“Thanks, Havoc,” Raegan quietly says.
We sit there for a while and I numbly listen to Ivy telling about her adventures in Milan and Paris, not really paying attention, which is probably why I didn’t see Melissa come over.
“I need to get out of here,” Melissa utters.“I can’t do this right now.”
“Want me to get Crusher?”I ask, looking around the room for her husband.
She shakes her head.“I don’t want to go home, and he needs to stay to talk with some of the men from Tucson.”
“We’re about to head over to see Sutton for a bit,” Raegan offers.
“Can I come?I need to grab a few files to look over since I’m taking a few weeks of leave,” Melissa asks looking over at me.
“Of course, Doc,” I tell her.“Are you ready right now?”
She nods and we stand to our feet.The girls grab their purses as Melissa goes over to tell Crusher.They share a long embrace and then she makes her way over to us.Crusher and I both make eye contact, and I nod at him, letting him know that I’ve got his Ol’ Lady.As we make our way over to the door, Stone stops us.
“Where you heading, Wildcat?”
“Havoc is taking Ivy and me to see Sutton.Mom wants to come and get some fresh air too,” Raegan tells him.
Stone looks around the room at all the smoke and at the brothers flooding into the clubhouse, then back at us.
“I could use a few minutes outta here,” he remarks.He must feel that weight pressing down on his shoulders too.
“You ain’t riding without me, Prez,” Reaper states.I didn’t even see him near us.With the person or persons still at large who mowed down Rocky, we’re riding in groups to stay safe until we have a lead or eliminate the ones responsible.
He nods and we all walk out into the parking lot.Stone and Reaper head to their bikes as I lead the ladies over to my truck.
