3. Chapter 3
Myth
The clubhouse was quiet today, the air around us somber with what was going to take place today. Fang was leading someone over to me.
“Prez, this is Creed from the Jacksonville chapter.”
I shook his proffered hand and let my VP head off, leaving me with a brother in arms from overseas. “Let’s talk in here.”
Creed followed me into Chapel. We both stood by the wall with all our photos of past brothers who were no longer with us, Camo being the latest to be put up this morning. It was hard to see his face on the wall, knowing I couldn’t call him at any time and talk like we used to.
“You good, Myth?” he asked, his American accent reminding me of my own father.
“Yeah, tough day.”
“Understandable. Thank you for letting us come. It’s unofficial, of course, I’m only here for my ol’ lady.”
“You’re welcome to join us after as well. We usually kick off a bonfire after eight.”
“I’ve heard the Australian chapters parties are well worth the raging hangover the next day,” Creed smirked toward me. “We may take you up on that.”
Creed continued to look along the wall and pointed to my old man.
“This is Trig?”
I nodded.
“He’s legend back home,” he replied. “You look like him, that must be hard when running in his footsteps.”
“I never did,” I replied with ease. “I made the club my own. He’d be horrified if he knew the shit I’d done to some of his rules.”
Creed barked out a laugh. “Right. Where’s your ol’ lady? My Devil will want to talk with her, you know, greet the other ol’ lady and all the shit they do together.”
“She’s not here,” I replied, feeling my back stiffen at the mention of her. It was no secret I had one, but I didn’t like admitting she was still deep in my heart and no other could get close. “I don’t know if she’s coming today.”
Creed was silent for a moment. “How long’s it been?”
“Fifteen years.”
“Unlucky for some,” Creed remarked. “When we pick our ol’ lady, it’s for life. We all know that. If she’s still known as your ol’ lady, even to us overseas, then she’ll come back.”
“I don’t think she will, brother.” I tried to laugh it off. “She’s as stubborn as they come.”
Creed chuckled. “I know the type,” he said as he turned to face me. “What’s your play if she does come today?”
The thought occurred to me as I witnessed her booking a flight, but I hadn’t been brave enough to open that link again, to live in hope that she was coming back. I didn’t want to feel the burn of her rejecting me, even though I’d been the one to let her go.
“Her life is in London now. It’s a non-issue.”
“Still…if she does turn up…how’s that going to go down? I can see it in your eyes that you’re torn up over her, even fifteen years after the fact. A distracted President is a liability to his club.”
I knew that. Fuck didn’t I know that.
“Listen, we have an ally in the Nottingham chapter. Name’s Bully. He can help with your ol’ lady, if it ever comes to it. Had trouble with his own ol’ lady not too long ago, so I know he would understand.”
“Come on,” I said, changing the subject so I didn’t get lost in the what ifs of whether my woman would come home or not, and opened the door, leading Creed out into the clubhouse. “Have a drink, brother, and enjoy.”
I watched as Creed headed over to the bar, where his woman was seated. She had a large smile for him, and seemed to blend in with the others effortlessly.
“All good?”
Menace was at my side and I nodded, brushing off the ideas Creed had put in my head when it came to Rox.
I couldn’t afford to get distracted. We had a very real problem with the Bloody Scorpions, and a possible rat in my own club.
“Right, we’re out in ten, any non-members, get the fuck out and we’ll see you at the church,” our enforcer, Destroyer, hollered from the doors of the clubhouse.
The only ones who remained were our officers.
It was quiet as we waited for the others to get out of the compound, making way for us to ride with the hearse.
I made a move out to the row of bikes parked by the gates of the compound, my chest felt heavy with the day we were about to have.
It was almost as if I had been putting all thoughts of Camo out of my mind, knowing I was going to feel it today, but there was no avoiding it now.
Not when his black matte coffin was sitting in the windows of the hearse.
Not known for my emotions, the only people who could pull them out of me was my Rox, Camo and Fang. Rox, being the main one. I was feral for that woman, and had been since we met in high school. There’d never been anyone to come close.
That was the problem.
I climbed onto my Harley and waited for the others.
Our mourning parade meant we didn’t need to wear our helmets today.
I never liked wearing them and when I could, I’d ride out to the outskirts of the city so I could do just that.
Ride uninhibited. Rox had always hated it too.
She preferred to have her hair whip around us both in the wind, her hands skating over my abs while I rode hard and fast.
Fuck, just remembering that had made me hard.
Once the rest of the boys had climbed onto their Harleys, I revved my beast. Our road captain, Doom, gave the all-clear that we were ready, and I peeled out of the compound first. Fang on my left, Menace on my right, and the rest of them riding in formation behind me, with our tail gunner, Gears, at the back.
The wind was refreshing on my face as I rode through Sydney toward our destination.
Our clubhouse was set up in Balmain, just outside of Sydney CBD, so we got all the action, but I had to admit, I liked riding along the coast, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Why my father had set up the Royal Bastards right dead centre in the city, I had no idea, but it kept our supply lines free from danger.
Until now.
Fucking Bloody Scorpions.
I should have hit them hard when they came into town. No one encroached on our territory, and now we had supply issues. My anger at losing Camo, and seeing Rox but not being able to touch her, was going to need to be taken out on someone.
The ride to St. Michael’s wasn’t a long one, and we were there before most of the others had turned up, thanks to the back streets I knew so well.
The hearse would arrive soon. The boys all lined up on either side of the driveway, awaiting our fallen brother.
It was harder to see everyone milling about, wondering if she was here or not, but not being able to search for her.
I felt like a schoolboy with a crush. Hell, I always did around her, even back then when I was a schoolboy. There’d always been something different about her.
The boys were all solemn as the hearse was slowly making its way down the driveway, passing us by. I spied his casket, laid out in black just as he would have wanted.
Once the hearse pulled up to the side of the church, the boys and I all moved off our bikes, and headed to the doors.
We stood on either side of the entryway, watching as everyone entered.
Something caught my eye and I turned to see Camo’s brother, Lucas, motion me over to him.
I signalled to Menace that I was heading over and he nodded, taking my place.
Moving down to where Lucas stood under a tree on the other side of the parking lot to the church, I braced myself for it.
Lucas and Camo had been close growing up, but in the last couple of years, there’d been a divide.
I knew it was because of Lucas’ substance abuse issues but he looked cleaner than he ever had.
“Lucas.”
“Hey, Myth,” he said, offering me a small smile. “Thanks for coming over. I don’t think I’m welcome in the church.”
“Why? He was your brother.”
“Not like he was yours.”
“No, I suppose that’s right,” I replied. “I never sold his Harley for drugs.”
Lucas winced, ashamed at the memory. “I wanted to pay my respects. I loved him.”
“I know,” I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. “He loved you too. How do you think all your debts got paid and you didn’t end up with missing limbs?”
Lucas nodded. “I know. I wish…I just wish he knew I could change.”
I looked at him, really looked at him, and even though his head was hung low, he wasn’t twitching like he used to. His hands were steady. “How long you been clean?”
“Six months.”
Fuck.
“You never told him?”
Lucas shook his head. “He had his own thing going on…with Grace and the kids.”
Fuck. We always thought we had more time. “Come inside, Lucas.”
“My parents…they won’t….”
“I’m telling you to come inside and pay your respects, mate. If they have a problem with that, they can come talk to me.”
I turned around, my hand on his shoulder as I pushed him along, toward the doors of the church. Most of the mourners were inside, as was the casket, sitting at the front of the church, with a photo of Camo on top. Fang and Menace hung back for me.
“Everyone in?”
Menace nodded, a slow smirk making its way on his face.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Fang shoved Menace inside and stood in front of me. “This is for Camo, yeah? No drama. No shit.”
I nodded, understanding what he was saying. She was here. She was inside.
But I couldn’t think with my dick.
This was for Camo.
Afterward, well that was a free for all, wasn’t it?