Hadley (The Club Girl Diaries Book 3) (28 page)

With Hadley tucked under one arm and Macy in the other, we stood outside the church and waited for the funeral to begin.

In great Brothers fashion, the curb down both sides of the street was lined with bikes. Deacon, the local police officer, had even closed it off to the public so we could have the time to say goodbye to our brother properly.

Almost the entire chapter from Troy had joined us, along with presidents and other members from other chapters around the country. They’d driven hours, and some even days, to say goodbye to a man that was loved by all.

“Leo,” a voice called to me through the crowd.

I smiled when I saw his face and passed Macy to Hadley, so I could embrace the man. “Hey Echo, long time no see,” I said, patting him on the back.

He pulled back with a wide grin. “Yeah man, wish it didn’t have to be under these circumstances.”

I nodded.

Echo was the president of our Maryland chapter, it was one of the largest we had.

He was a good man, had three boys that had all followed in his footsteps, the eldest, Junior, recently stepping up to take the Vice President’s role.

“Same here. But we appreciate you guys coming in to say goodbye.” I turned my body to Hadley and Macy. “This is my Old Lady, Hadley, and my little girl.”

Echo held out his hand, and Hadley shuffled Macy in her arms so she could shake it. “It’s nice to meet you,” she said with a smile.

“Likewise, darling,” Echo replied before turning his attention to Macy. “And aren’t you beautiful.”

Macy giggled and buried her face into Hadley’s neck.

“I’ll catch up with you after, brother,” Echo said with a small salute before making his way through the crowd to where Optimus was standing with Kit.

I took in a deep breath, wrapping my arm around Hadley’s shoulder and kissing the top of her head. This was never easy, saying goodbye. But it was made bearable by the show of support that surrounded us.

When I heard the roar of motorcycles coming down the street, my body tensed. All our brothers that we had been expecting had ridden in last night.

I looked over to Op, who raised his brows at me.

“Go and stand with the girls, okay,” I told Hadley, pressing on her back.

She looked up worriedly. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just go.”

She nodded, hurrying with Macy toward where Harmony and Chelsea stood with the other old ladies and club girls, one of the only times it was permitted for them to mix.

Optimus joined me as I walked toward the street, Blizzard, Wrench, Kit and Tally coming up behind us.

Four bikes, two with women on the back pulled past Deacon, who was monitoring the street and slowly made their way toward us. I rolled my shoulders, folding my arms across my chest as I waited for them to pull to a stop. They parked in a line in the middle of the street, and I released a short breath of air as I read the name written on their cuts.

“Royal Rebels,” I said out loud.

It was Slider’s sister and her man.

We waited silently as they switched off their engines and climbed off their bikes. One of the women removed her helmet before walking toward us. The man she was with grabbed her arm and halted her advance, pulling her back and whispering softly in her ear. She looked down at the ground, her ash blonde hair flicking in the wind as she seemed to compose herself. When she looked back up, I could see the tears that were running down her cheeks. The others of the group stayed next to their bikes while she and her man came forward.

He spoke first.

“Switch,” he said simply, holding out his hand.

I had no idea who this man was, he had long hair that was tied back and tattoos that reminded me of Skins, covering almost every inch of visible skin. But while I didn’t know him personally, I knew the Royals.

Their club was much like ours. They dabbled in illegal trades from time to time, but over the last few years, they’ve also made the move, like us, into more aboveboard ways of earning money.

“Optimus,” my president answered. He looked to the woman at Switch’s side. “You must be Callie.”

She nodded, also reaching out to shake his hand. “Thank you for finding me,” she said quietly.

“We’re sorry it wasn’t sooner,” Optimus answered sadly. “Seemed like Slider had been looking for you for a while now.”

She wiped at her cheeks, and Switch slipped his arm around her waist in a sign of support. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

“Neither can we,” I said simply. Optimus had already explained to her on the phone what had happened. “I’m Leo, it was my Old Lady he saved.”

She nodded, a small smile twitching at the corner of her mouth. “Seems like some things never change,” she said cryptically, making me curious to hear the story that went behind the statement.

Slider was never forthcoming with information about his past. None of us pushed him, but I was starting to wonder just how my sarcastic joking friend seemed to have come from a life that was really anything but.

“I’d love to meet her,” she said, her eyes shimmering.

I looked over my shoulder to see people beginning to file inside the church. I looked to Op, who gave me a gentle nod, knowing just what I was thinking.

“You’re welcome to come back to the clubhouse after the funeral,” I told them. “I’m sure you’re just as curious to hear more about your brother as we are to hear about you.”

Callie looked to Switch, who nodded and took the invitation. “That would be great, thanks. Sorry for just springing on you like this, it was kind of a last-minute thing.”

Callie laughed. “In other words, I couldn’t decide if I could handle it, and he got fed up with it and made me come anyway.”

I smirked. “We’re glad you did.”

She smiled, tilting her head to the side as though she was trying to figure me out. “I’m glad he had friends like you,” she said, surprising me.

“We could have done without his smart mouth occasionally,” Blizzard joked, making Callie laugh loudly.

“Yup. Some things definitely don’t change.”

“Come on,” I said, gesturing toward the church. “Let’s get this done.”

She sobered and nodded.

Switch turned and lifted his chin to the other members behind him, and they placed their helmets on their bikes before joining us as we walked toward the church. Switch and Callie followed us to the front, while the rest of them took seats at the back. The men all joined their women, automatically throwing an arm around them searching for support, no doubt feeling the same way I was feeling right now. Sick to my stomach.

It was lucky that the church was huge because it was completely packed to the brim with people, the air filled with love and respect for a man who’d lost his life too soon.

Tears flowed freely as the priest took his place in front of the room. Slider’s coffin sitting proudly beside him, his freshly cleaned club cut laying across the top.

I barely registered anything that happened.

Words were spoken.

Tears were shed.

I held strong, Hadley’s body tucked into my side as she sobbed. Macy cuddled into her, her little hand rubbing up and down her arm, trying to soothe her tears. She wasn’t quite old enough to realize why everyone was so sad, but she knew that cuddles and kisses made things better.

When everyone had said their piece, Optimus took to the podium. Chelsea moved with him, holding his hand in hers as he took a deep breath and forced himself to speak. I don’t know if I could have done it.

“Want to say thank you to everyone who made the trip to Athens today to show their love for our fallen brother.” His eyes moved to the coffin. “I ain’t gonna say much. Slider’s life spoke for itself. He made it through with laughter, bad jokes and a nose for trouble.” A hum of laughter settled over the crowd, and Optimus smiled. “But above all else, he was loyal to a fault. When he loved you, he loved you with every cell in his body.”

I clenched my teeth, holding my eyes on Optimus even as tears streaked down my cheeks. I wasn’t ashamed to cry. I’d lost one of my best friends.

“We may not have been born brothers,” Optimus started, saying the words I’d heard far too many times. “But the club now runs in your veins as it does mine. Brothers by Blood.”

“Brothers by Blood,” I whispered softly, hearing the same words echo throughout the church like a wave.

Hadley squeezed my hand, and I inhaled a deep breath.

The priest got up and announced that it was time for the body to be carried out to the hearse.

I saw Harmony get up from her seat and move toward the front, her guitar in her hand. She stood by the mic, and she started playing. I knew the song, and it took everything I had inside me not to break down. Her voice sent a chill through me as she began to sing.

Tears in Heaven
by Eric Clapton.

Optimus gestured to us to come forward to carry the coffin. I took a deep breath, pressing my lips to the top of Hadley’s head and making my way forward with my brothers.

The sounds of Harmony’s voice filled the church as we walked down the aisle with Slider’s body braced on our shoulders. The sunlight hit me, stinging my eyes as we walked down the steps.

“Wish he’d eaten less when he was here. Bastard is heavy as fuck,” Tally commented, breaking the harsh tension in the air and making us all laugh. “It had to be said. Let’s face it, he never let any of us get by without a laugh at our expense.”

I was relieved to feel the smile on my face as we placed him down and pushed him inside the long vehicle.

“Say goodbye to your girls and then get to your bikes,” Optimus ordered as he made a beeline for Chelsea and Harlyn. I found Hadley, wrapping my arms around her.

“We’ll meet you back at the clubhouse.”

She nodded.

I’d already explained to her that it was customary for us to go to the cemetery and help cover the body in by hand. It was our last goodbye. We never let a man be thrown into the darkness without knowing that we were there for him. Forever.

“Leo?” Callie approached us, dabbing at her cheeks with a tissue.

“Callie, this is Hadley, my Old Lady. Hadley, this is Slider’s sister, Callie, and her man Switch.”

For a second, I saw Hadley’s eyes widen and her shoulders sink. But Callie swept in, pulling Hadley into her arms and holding her close.

“I’m so sorry,” Hadley whispered through her tears as the other woman cradled her.

Callie shook her head. “Please don’t be.”

I let them have their moment, picking Macy up off the ground and propping her on my hip.

“We’ve got a couple of our own at home,” Switch said, his face softening as he looked at Macy. “Girl who’s six months and a boy who’s two.”

“I’ve got my hands full with one, man.”

He laughed, his eyes moving to the two women. “Hadley looks like she’d be a good mom.”

I didn’t miss the insinuation that said he thought that Macy was ours, but I just nodded, a smile creeping onto my face, knowing that he was right anyway.

She would be a good Mom.

Not just for Macy, but for the future children I intended on putting in that perfectly toned stomach of hers. I kissed Hadley goodbye as she headed down the street to my truck with the other women. Every club member that was there had already climbed on their bikes and started their engines. The roar was unlike any sound you’d ever heard.