Chapter Nine. #2
Pings came from Summer’s phone, and she glanced down. “All the angry faces!” she cried. She cut the feed and turned to us. “You ruined everything!”
“Good. Because you wrecked my daughter’s wake!” Mari spat.
The manager began shoving Summer out, even though she kicked off.
“That cunt’s done,” Vortex promised. “I’ve got enough contacts to ensure that bitch is blacklisted no matter what state she ends up in.”
When we returned to the dining room, Summer was gone. The manager was falling over himself apologising, and even offered to comp the buffet.
“No. My daughter doesn’t get a comped meal. She deserves better,” Mari said quietly. The guy was beside himself, but Mari charmed him. He did promise some free meals in the future, which Mari accepted.
The remainder of the wake proceeded smoothly. Gossip about what had happened in the toilets was whispered, but most guests had common decency. As the afternoon wore on, people began to take their leave, leaving just us.
“Mari, come home with us tonight,” Papa said. Mari smiled wearily.
“Philip, that’s a nice offer. Maybe we can have a PJ night,” Mari replied.
“Nice idea. Amy, Vortex?” Dad offered.
“No thanks, Dad, I’m going to crash somewhere quiet,” I answered.
“A clubhouse is peaceful?” Papa demanded.
“No. But my room is. It’s on the second floor, so away from everyone,” I said.
“Okay. If you need us, you know where to find us.” Dad hugged me, and then Mari and Papa did.
They shook Vortex’s hand and asked him to thank the other MCs for their help.
Because of them, Natasha’s funeral hadn’t turned into a circus as it could have.
At least she’d been laid to rest with peace and dignity.
Vortex
I don’t think Amy was aware, but I was still rooming opposite her.
So, when Amy screamed, I was jolted awake and out of bed within minutes.
Usually, I slept naked, but I’d taken to wearing shorts while Amy was here in case she needed me.
I barged into her room and found Amy tangled up in the blankets.
Her hands grasped at thin air, and sheer terror was on her face.
Worse, Amy remained asleep.
“Amy,” I whispered, shaking her gently. A wail escaped her lips, and I knew she was caught up in a nightmare.
“Come on, babe, wake up,” I ordered with a gentle shake again.
Amy sat bolt upright, and her eyes flew open. They latched onto me, and Amy flung herself into my arms moments later.
“I was aboard the Titanic of the Skies. The explosion had just happened, and I was thrown away from Natasha. Tash was screaming for me to help, and I couldn’t reach her, and then flames surrounded her.”
I rubbed Amy’s back in an attempt to soothe her. She was sobbing in my arms, and I knew the nightmare had been triggered by today. Slowly, Amy began to ease up, and her sobs grew softer until they stopped. I reached over and grabbed a box of tissues, and Amy made a weird hiccup noise.
“Sorry, I used you as a tissue,” Amy said, wiping my wet shoulder.
“That’s what I’m here for,” I replied. “Lie back down, I’ll go get some hot chocolate,” I offered.
“That would be nice,” Amy whispered as she lay down and stared at the wall. “Vortex?”
“Amy?”
“Will this grief ever end?”
“No. But the sharpness of the pain will fade, and you’ll be able to remember Natasha without breaking down. One day, the memories won’t hurt, and they’ll make you smile.”
“Promise?” Amy begged.
“Definitely, brave girl, I’ll be back soon.” I dropped a kiss on her forehead and left, leaving a lamp on. Somehow, I knew Amy didn’t want to be alone in the darkness.
“Amy alright?” Inglorious asked as I hit the kitchen.
“You heard her?” I shook my head. “Sorry.”
“Kya had me up. She had a nightmare. I’m making her hot chocolate, and I guess that’s why you’re here too,” Inglorious replied.
“Is Kya okay?”
“Yes. Kid misses Heat and sometimes remembers Manda doing cruel things. Nanci and I reassure Kya as best we can that she’s protected now.”
Heat was Kya’s dad and a brother who’d fallen in the Venomous Fang war. Kya had ended up with Manda, her abusive mother. Inglorious, while drunk, had forgotten he was Kya’s legal guardian. Luckily, Nanci had come along, and now Kya was safe. But the kid still had nightmares.
“Here,” Inglorious passed me a mug of hot chocolate. I smiled at the whipped cream, sprinkles, and marshmallows. “Amy strikes me as someone who’d appreciate that.”
“Yeah.”
“Claim her gently, Vortex. Amy’s more than halfway to being yours already, but go easy with her. It’s going to be a long time before Amy’s one hundred per cent herself, if she ever is. Losing her friend like that, it scabs over but never heals,” Inglorious said softly.
Suppose anyone knew that it was him. I nodded in acknowledgement.
“Amy won’t allow the dark to suffocate her, because she has you to pull her through,” Inglorious added.
“Do you wish me, Hercules, and the others were there for the war?” I asked.
“No, because I’d have buried you too.” Inglorious looked at me and left the room. Those few words held a wealth of meaning.
I carried the mug back upstairs to Amy. She peeked out from her duvet, and her eyes widened when she saw it. A small smile crossed her lips as she rubbed her tear-stained cheeks.
“You made that?” she asked in wonder.
I hesitated. Should I take the credit? Better not. “No, Inglorious did; he was making one for Kya. She woke up with her own nightmare. But I would’ve made the same as him.”
“Oh.” Amy looked a little disappointed that it hadn’t been me.
“Next time you’ll know it’s me. I add cinnamon to mine.”
Amy smiled softly, but there was grief in it. Without even second-guessing myself, I shunted Amy over and climbed into bed. Amy gazed at me wide-eyed.
“Drink your chocolate and go to sleep. I’ll keep the nightmares away,” I murmured, kissing her forehead.
My cock immediately sprang to attention.
The little fucker. It was in bed with the girl who’d been starring in all his dirty dreams lately.
I willed my cock to chill and had to think of Kyleah to make it behave.
Jesus. Amy didn’t need to worry that I was going to jump her bones when she was grief stricken.
My cock and I would be having serious words.
◆◆◆
The next morning, I woke up with Amy plastered against my chest and my arms hooked around her waist. It had made me want more mornings like this. Amy was sound asleep, so I left her in bed after her rough night and headed down to grab her breakfast.
I had been thinking of taking her out riding, but the weather had turned nasty. Now I was kicking my heels. Unfortunately, the morning went tits up when Monroe and Sully walked in. Their timing was impeccable, as Amy had finished breakfast and was showering.
“What now?” I growled out.
“We’d like to see if Amy can identify someone,” Sully stated.
“A suspect?” I asked. Ten days had passed since the crash. If they’d just discovered a person of interest, there was a fuckin’ big problem.
“Need to see if Amy recognises him,” Monroe insisted.
“I’ll fetch her,” Nanci said as she passed. I nodded and sat down at a table and waved for the two Feds to join me.
“How is the investigation going?” I inquired.
“We can’t discuss an active inquiry,” Sully replied.
“Seriously?”
“Yes,” Monroe snapped.
“Remember whose land you’re on. Show respect,” I retorted, and both Feds frowned.
“Respect is earned,” Sully quipped.
“Yeah, and you haven’t gained mine. However, my club’s bent over backwards for you and your team. Don’t forget,” I growled out.
Monroe inclined his head in acknowledgement. Amy broke the standoff when she entered the room. She was pale but composed.
“Miss Wright, how are you?” Monroe asked.
“I’m managing,” Amy replied honestly.
“We’re sorry to bother you, but would you mind looking at some pictures? We’d like to know if you recognise anybody,” Sully said.
“Sure.” Amy glanced at me for reassurance, and I moved next to her.
“Vortex, these are for Amy’s eyes only,” Sully stated apologetically.
“I’m not moving. Amy needs support, and she has it.”
Sully and Monroe swapped glances. “Fine. Please don’t discuss this with anyone or the images.”
I sent them a glance that would have made lesser men flinch. Surprisingly, they both met and held my glare.
“Here,” Monroe said, handing Amy some pictures.
I watched as Amy studied each one carefully. They were all young, dark-haired men.
“No, I don’t recognise anybody. Sorry.”
“Please check again,” Monroe asked.
Sully’s phone rang, and he moved away to take the call. While Amy rechecked the images, I glanced at Sully. His body stiffened, and he appeared angry. He barked down the phone and didn’t seem to like the reply. Sully hung up, and I guessed bad shit must have happened.
“No. None of them are familiar. Should they be?” Amy said.
“We needed you to confirm that. Thank you,” Monroe replied and checked his partner.
Clearly interpreting Sully’s body language, Monroe thanked Amy, and they took their leave.
“Something happened, didn’t it?” Amy whispered as she watched them walk out.
“Yeah.” I was already texting Inglorious when he sent me a message. I read it and felt a chill run down my spine.
“What is it?” Amy demanded.
“Nicole Tompson was killed. She was the lady who broke both her legs. She died in a freak accident,” I replied. “Willow just found out. It’s being treated as suspicious.” There was no way to break this to Amy gently.
“Is death hunting us like in that film?” Amy gasped.
“Nope. But something is definitely wrong. Inglorious has asked Willow to meet us.”
“Hopefully she’ll have some answers,” Amy said.
I could only hope so too.