Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
The day was brutally cold, but no snow had fallen all week. The sun had melted away what was left of the last dusting. Sway stood there staring at Tesh’s coffin. She listened as the priest read from the Bible in his aged hands. He spoke of everlasting life and love so beautiful, she should be rejoicing her brother was in such a place. She wasn’t. She wanted Tesh alive with her.
Harsh October winds reminded her of the bitterness in her heart, the hatefulness that was festering below her skin, whispering to her that nothing beautiful in life ever lasted. It all turned to rot and dust in the end. The first tear fell as the coffin was lowered into the ground.
Staring past the priest, she watched a stag as it walked amongst the tombstones. The animal was the most majestic thing she’d seen in recent years. It moved with ease, making its way through the cemetery. Lost in the movements and beauty of the stag, Sway barely heard the resounding “Amen” and looked back at the priest .
People moved over the frozen ground, making conversations, speaking words about Tesh. How they weren’t surprised that this happened to him. That a fast life always led to an early death. How terrible it was that he’d left his sister to fend for herself. She wanted them to shut up. Most of them didn’t know who her brother truly was. Tesh didn’t live a fast life. He barely got to live at all. Everything he did, he did for them. Her fingers ran over the black glass rosary beads in her coat pocket. She didn’t attend church anymore, but the beads were a comfort thing, something she held onto when nothing else made sense.
Time stood still as she tried thinking of something to say to everyone. Lottie hugged her, trying to get Sway to leave, but she wasn’t ready to go. Not yet.
Everyone who’d attended the funeral started to walk away. Even Lottie was heading to the bar where everyone was gathering to celebrate her brother’s life. Sway wanted to laugh. It wasn’t even the damn place Tesh liked to hang out at. It was a posh new pub, something her brother would have hated.
When everyone was gone, she stood alone watching the tree limbs bend to the will of the wind. They dipped and swayed, sending sounds of rustling leaves across the small rolling hills. The sun was starting to dip. She didn’t know how to do this, how to leave him there. Alone. In the dark.
Tears flooded her eyes. Pressing her fingers to her eyelids, she stopped the tears from flowing. Running her fingers under her lashes, she refused to show any signs she was falling apart. But she was, damn it. Choking down a sob, Sway pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket. She looked at the words on the paper and crumpled it in her hand. “I wanted to tell you words of love, Tesh, but I can’t find them in me right now. I’m alone and hurt, angry and starving for revenge. When my tears are gone and my head’s clear, I’m going to hunt down every last person who took you from me. And I’m gonna burn them to the ground. When that day’s over, I’ll come back and tell you the words I should say today. But not today.”
In the distance, she saw a woman laying flowers at a grave. She was bent, using a cane for stability. Sway wondered if that would be her one day, coming back to see Tesh. Would it take that long for her to forgive him? Would it take that long for the hurt and anger to fade? She hoped not.
Turning around, she headed for the parking lot. Moving through the tombstones, she thought, for a place full of ghosts, it was beautiful . Vines dotted with tiny flowers barely hung on through the bitter cold. Even in times of grief, some things still clung to hope. Hope they would re-bloom and savour the warmth of the sun once again. It was that kind of hope she would cling to.
Her shoes crunched along the leaf-covered path until she stepped onto the surface of the car lot. Opening the truck door, she climbed inside and started it, put the vehicle into gear, and drove toward home. She didn’t want to celebrate anything with strangers. She most certainly didn’t want to celebrate Tesh’s life. If she did that, it meant he was never coming home. She would never hear the sound of his voice. Never have to deal with one of his moods.
She missed his smell and his horrible cooking. Slamming a hand on the steering wheel, Sway was angry. Nothing could stop that emotion from growing. But, God, how she wished there was someone who could talk her off the cliff. Someone who would hold her through the breakdowns. There was no one.
Wiping away a stray tear, she passed through town. Knowing it was a fifteen-minute walk from her apartment to the pub, she headed home. It was easier to leave her truck there than it was to fight for parking. By the time she parked the truck, she’d run out of excuses why she shouldn’t go.
Making the decision not to give anyone ammunition to talk shit about her, Sway made her way to the bar. She took her time, glancing in store windows that were already putting together their holiday decorations. Fuck, she’d forgotten the holidays were coming up. Maybe she’d close the shop and leave town. Hide out somewhere and pretend it was just another day instead of sitting in her apartment, no doubt still feeling sorry for herself.
Twenty minutes later, Sway walked past the window-lined pub. She saw Lottie and her boyfriend standing with some of the other people from the funeral. Everyone was laughing and having a grand time. The bar was a narrow building with a long, straight bar running along one wall. Stools were lined up like a row of silent soldiers. High top tables lined the opposite wall, and four booths flanked each end of the establishment.
Tucking her head, Sway wrapped her gloved hands around her waist, holding her jacket tight to her body as she moved along the sidewalk. Passing the glass door, she caught Lottie’s eye. Now, she had to go inside. The door came open as two men stumbled out into the evening air, almost running her over. She heard the catcalls and whistles as they moved past her. Breathing in, she held her temper. Instead of slamming the two fools with harsh words, she stepped into the small alcove that covered the entrance.
A commotion caught her attention from across the way. Peering out from the alcove, she saw motorcycles lining the street. She watched as men leaned and sat on bikes drinking. They seemed to be celebrating. She couldn’t read the patch on the back of their jackets, but she was sure it was the name of their gang embossed across it.
Sway let her mind wonder a minute about what their lives were like. Were they hardened criminals? Were they upstanding citizens pretending to be warriors clad in leather? Smirking, she decided whatever they were, she would never know. Turning, she faced the door of the bar and pulled it open.
Swank jazz music and the chatter of patrons filled the room. Stepping inside, warm air wrapped around her as the door shut out the cold wind. The feel was comforting. Unwrapping the scarf from her neck, she let it hang down as she unbuttoned her long coat and shrugged out of it.
“Give me your coat and you take this.” Lottie handed her a drink. “Oh my god, your hands are freezing.”
“I walked over from my apartment.” Not wanting to hear Lottie chastise her, Sway changed the subject. “What is it?” she asked about the drink.
Lottie was worried about her best friend. Tesh and Sway were all each other had when it came to family. Without her brother, Sway would be struggling with things. Nothing the girl couldn’t handle, but enough to make Sway stumble. “Something to make you forget about your broken heart. ”
“Keep the drink. I’ll hang on to my broken heart.”
Following Lottie farther into the room, she hugged, smiled, and listened to everyone who had something to say about her brother. She appreciated the sympathies, empathies, and well wishes from everyone. If it wouldn’t have been frowned upon, Sway would have gone straight home. Instead, she now sat in a corner booth with her hand wrapped around a warm glass of beer.
She stayed for an hour and then slipped out silently as the shop employees, her brother’s friends, along with Lottie and her boyfriend, Dawson Franks, partied. Walking along the sidewalk, she focused on the other pedestrians and the few cars driving by. Old Montreal was an area where most folks walked everywhere. Her place was three blocks up and two blocks over, a quick walk for most. Wrapping her arms around herself, she huddled against the brutal winds, thinking she should have driven.
Stepping out of a local bar, Vicious was done celebrating the life of a fallen friend. The guy had been a stand-up dude when it came to having his friends’ backs. He was also one hell of a damn bike mechanic. The club had heard through the grapevine that he’d been killed in an accident. They didn’t attend the services at the cemetery to avoid causing Tesh’s family any unease. A few dozen bikers sometimes did that to people.
Moving into the street, he saw the hellcat from the party leaving a bar. A hooded figure ahead of her crossed the street, heading straight for her. Vicious moved down the sidewalk, keeping an eye on both the female and the mystery man. Knowing Player was across the street and Joker was behind him, he let his instincts take over. As the individual angled toward her in a deliberate move, Vicious went on high alert.
Sway glanced up momentarily to see someone stepping up on the sidewalk. Easing closer to the building, she attempted to let the other pedestrian get by. In a blink, she found herself shoved against the brick wall. The hood fell back, allowing her to look into the face of Jerome Michel. “I thought I’d find you in the bar toasting Tesh,” he said, leaning into her.
Sway struggled to get out of his grip. “Let go of me, you asshole.”
“I’m not letting you go. You need a man to teach you your place.” Sway shoved at Jerome, trying to get him off her. “Keeping fighting, I like it.”
His breath hot on her face as he leaned even closer made her stomach flip. Turning her face away as he tried to kiss her, she felt his tongue dart over her scar. Raising her knee fast and hard, she caught him in the balls. Before he could retaliate, Jerome was being slammed into the wall.
Quick hands pulled Sway back. She barely saw the guy’s face before being shoved behind him, but she didn’t miss the wink or the smirk he gave her before her vision was blocked by his broad back. Going up on her tiptoes, her eyes went wide as she recognized the leather-clad guy from the Royal Bastards. Dropping back a few feet, she saw the man in front of her sporting a patch on his back that read ‘Royal Bastards MC’.
Sway managed to get a bird’s eye view of Jerome being handled like a punk bitch by mister green eyes. Vicious . . . his name is Vicious , she reminded herself. How could she forget it? She’d been staring at it every night for the past week. She’d run her fingers over the deep black print of the business card a hundred times. With her eyes on him and her hand perched on his friend’s shoulder, Sway waited and listened.
“Listen to me, fucker. You come around this girl again or any of your friends come around her and you’ll answer to me.” Vicious slapped Jerome in the head, getting his attention. “Do you know who I am?”
“Yeah,” Jerome groaned, still holding his balls.
“Who am I?”
“Vicious. You’re a Royal Bastard.”
“That’s right, I am.”
“Now, get your ass gone before I don’t let you go.”
Jerome scurried down the street, only looking back once. Vicious was sure the weasel wouldn’t listen to him. He needed information on the guy. Turning to face Sabine, he saw she was peering from behind Player. Joker walked up from the opposite direction.
“Are you okay?” Vicious tried asking her with Player’s big ass in his way. “Player, move.”
“Yeah. Okay.” Player stepped aside, keeping his eyes on their surroundings. Glancing down the street, he noticed more of the brothers were paying attention. Evidently, Vicious yelling at the punk had been loud enough for everyone to take notice. He signalled all good and motioned for Joker to give Vicious some space .
“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” He’d go find the dick and break his hands if he so much as bruised her.
Sway looked at Vicious through hooded eyes. His were intense as he stared back at her. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
“Would you like a ride home?”
“No, I’m fine.” Sway stared at the man. He was definitely the one from the day she went after Jerome. And from the hospital the day Tesh died. Something about the man made her nervous. It wasn’t the colours on his back or the way he carried himself. It was the way he looked at her. It was like he could see into her soul. Rubbing her hands over her arms, she shivered.
“If you won’t take the ride, let us walk you home. Let me walk you home,” he corrected.
“I don’t know you.” Sway’s voice shook from being cold.
“I gave you my card, remember?” Vicious reminded her. “Did you keep it?” he asked, just so he could hear her voice again.
“I’m not sure where it’s at.” That was a damn lie. She knew exactly where that card was. It was on her bedside table. His name was Vicious, and he was the VP of the Royal Bastards, Montreal, Canada, chapter.
She didn’t know that much about motorcycle clubs or the lifestyle. If she believed everything she’d heard about them, she should be running away while she had the chance. But something about Vicious made her feel safe, which was crazy as she knew nothing about the man.
“It’s not nice to lie, baby,” he told her, watching her look anywhere but at him. “What’s your name?” No need to freak her out by him calling her by name. What would she think about him having Sherlock dig into her life? Probably pissed. Definitely pissed.
The butterflies were fluttering now. She’d been called hunny, sweetheart, doll, and a whole lot more, but the way Vicious called her baby had her heart going pitter-patter. “Sabine.”
“How about this? You head home, and I’ll make sure you get there without anything happening to you,” he said.
“Okay.” Taking a step toward home, she couldn’t help but watch Vicious. He let her walk away. As she walked down the street, she caught his reflection in a window across the way. It made her feel safe as she made her way home. Sway wondered if he had a girlfriend. A wife. Both. How much did she want to know about the man? He was definitely older than her. Maybe her brother’s age.
Turning the corner, she hurried along due to the cold, her mind staying on the man keeping her in his sights. Everything about him intrigued and turned her on. Once inside her apartment, she darted across the room like a teenager might. Pulling the curtain back, she looked to see if he had come all the way to her place. When she glanced down at the street, she saw him standing in the lamplight, looking up at her. Lifting a hand, she waved and then let the curtain fall back.