Chapter 8 #2
I removed my safety gear and put it on the table, alongside my gun.
“Do you think Matteo will cause a problem tomorrow and try to kick me out? I heard Samuel and the other guy talking about Slash’s funeral. You guys are worried about Rage causing drama?” I asked, knowing something was going on when he held my gaze for a moment before looking away.
“There are concerns about him making an appearance. Yes.”
“Is it an outside funeral? I was thinking me and the guys could sit by the trees if there’s any close by. That way if anything goes to shit, we can duck for cover and get out of there so you guys—”
“Aurora,” he said quietly, raking his hand through his hair. “We need to talk and I really don’t want to do it here.”
I frowned, sensing something was really bothering him.
“What is it? Is Matteo giving you trouble about me going? Just tell him I’ll stay out of his way. I won’t even make a speech.”
His eyes met mine again and he winced, my stomach dropping as he replied. “I’m sorry, baby girl, but you can’t go.”
“Wait, what? Of course I can. You guys can’t make it a crew only event, that’s not fair. Ty—”
“I need you to listen to me. I tried, but everyone’s nerves are fried and I hate to say it, but the crew’s pissed at you right now. They blame you, and if you show up at the funeral, all hell will break loose. Diesel tried talking to them too, but they’re too fucking angry. It’s not just Matteo.”
“Brick and Jonah are okay with me. Surely no one will do anything,” I snapped, his face hardening.
“They’re nice to you because they respect me.
The crew is on the verge of an internal war starting, and everyone’s right on the edge.
We pulled them back to heel, but if we ignore their request to keep you away from the funeral, it will cause a problem.
This isn’t a small fight, Aurora. I need you to understand that half the crew wants you dead on a good day, so now that they’re blaming you for Slash’s death?
I won’t risk that. I know he’d want you there, but my hands are tied. ”
“They can’t stop me.”
“I will!” he bit out, looking frustrated. “If you show up, I’ll have to drag you the fuck away to show them I have their backs. I don’t want to hurt you by not letting you go, but I can’t risk it. You and the guys need to stay away tomorrow.”
I stared at him, my chest aching at knowing that was the end of the conversation. He wasn’t going to change his mind, no matter how much it hurt me. Tyler was going to be devastated too.
“Fuck you,” I said quietly, collecting my things and turning away from him.
“I really fucking tried. If I had my way, you’d be going, but if I let you guys come—”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I do worry about it because I love you, and I know he did too,” he replied, grabbing my bicep to stop me from leaving. “I know you’re mad, but I really need you to understand this isn’t just to make my guys happy, it’s to keep you safe.”
“If you fucking loved me—”
“Don’t do that. You know I love you, but I’d much rather keep you safe and piss you off, than let you go and get killed. Please, stay away tomorrow. I’ll take you guys to say goodbye myself once the crew has left. Promise.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“Aurora—”
“Don’t, Skeet. If you’re going to ban me from Slash’s fucking funeral, then I don’t want to see you at all tomorrow. I will one hundred percent shoot you,” I snarled, giving him a shove.
He cursed under his breath as I left the room, walking into the room where Caden was talking to Diesel while everyone was packing up their weapons.
“We’re going. I’ll wait in the car,” I said as I held my hand out for his keys.
If I stayed in here, I was going to lose my cool and take shots at someone. I knew it was Matteo’s fucking fault, even if Skeeter claimed it wasn’t just him.
“What happened?” he asked slowly, and from the way Diesel was avoiding looking over at me as he packed up his guns, that fucker knew what had pissed me off.
“We need to go and break the news to Ty that we’re banned from saying goodbye to Slash tomorrow.”
“What?” Caden scoffed, his eyes going over my shoulder to who I assumed was Skeeter. “Is she serious?”
“I tried, but the guys are out for blood and she’s on their hit list. I know it’s not what Slash would have wanted, but for now, she needs to lay low. It was risky bringing her here around the guys today,” Skeeter murmured.
“You’re all pieces of shit,” I growled, ignoring Samuel as he rolled his eyes, but Brick put his hands up.
“Hey, I voted that you could go. Don’t bite my head off.”
“Me too,” Jonah said dryly, glancing at Skeeter. “You waited to tell her?”
“I was fucking hoping the guys would change their minds and this could have been avoided,” Skeeter hissed, moving to stand in front of me. “Ask Brick, I almost got my ass thrown out of leadership over it. I really tried.”
“Good for you,” I snorted, and Caden thankfully handed over the keys so I could get out of here. “I hope that asshole haunts you for the rest of your lives.”
Jonah winced, telling me he probably believed in that shit, but Samuel groaned.
“Jesus, Donovan. It’s not all about you. I get it, but Skeet’s told you you’re not welcome, so get over it. You’re not banned from his gravesite, just the funeral. No one will blow your head off for visiting him another time.”
“I didn’t make him jump in front of those bullets. I didn’t fucking ask him to save me. Why are you all so mad at me? You don’t like me, I know that, but banning me from his funeral is disrespectful. We were together, you asshole,” I threw back, his mouth tugging up into a cruel smile.
“Is that supposed to be something special? You jumped on his cock a few times and decided it was true love? Hate to break it to you, Donovan, but you were just another piece of ass.”
“If I was just a piece of ass, why did he sacrifice his life for mine?” I demanded, reaching for my gun, but Skeeter stopped me.
“Enough,” he warned, eyeing Samuel, who looked ready to grab his gun too.
I shook him off, stepping towards the door. “I meant what I said. Stay the fuck away from me tomorrow, or they’ll be burying you next.”
He looked torn but let me go, and I wasn’t surprised when Diesel followed me out to Caden’s car while I waited.
“He really did try,” he stated, putting his hand out to stop me from opening the car door.
I turned, glaring at him. “You’re all a bunch of selfish pricks.”
“I know,” he sighed, ignoring my swatting hands as he reached for me and pulled me against him for a hug.
I fought him, but he only held on more tightly.
“I know you won’t want to see me tomorrow either, so I’m trusting you with this information now.
He’s being buried next to Sasha so he can help keep her safe for me.
I really need you to not go there until late afternoon.
Please. Don’t make me regret telling you. ”
“D, let me go,” I gritted out, some of the fight leaving me as he continued to hold on.
“If you do go and see him, make sure you say hi to Sasha. She likes your visits, I can feel it,” he said, ignoring me. “If you do need us, just call. Even if you’re still mad.”
My body relaxed and I took a deep breath, pressing my cheek against his chest.
“He’d be murderous at you guys right now,” I whispered, his arms loosening a little when he realized I’d stopped fighting him.
“Yeah, he would be.”
He let me go so I could step back, and he gave me a small smile before heading back inside, just as Caden wandered out.
He looked frustrated, so he’d probably had words with Skeeter on the way out.
We didn’t talk until we were on the road, his hand moving to my thigh.
“We’ll do our own thing for him tomorrow afternoon,” he said firmly.
“It’s not the same.”
“I know, but it’s something.”
“You and the guys can. I might just go by myself another time,” I answered, making him frown.
“You don’t want to come with us?”
“I need to figure out what to say to him. Putting it into words is hard.”
“It can be. Let me know when you want to go. I’ll sit in the car and keep an eye out for you while you talk to him,” he promised, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze.
He left me to my thoughts for the rest of the drive, my eyes scanning our surroundings for danger.
Luckily, no one followed us or was waiting at the house to ambush us, so we put the car in the garage and headed down to the den, finding Tyler laughing and dancing on the bar while Lukas and Jensen played pool.
I headed towards Tyler and grabbed the bottle of whiskey from him, and he almost fell on his face as he jumped down to pull me close.
“You’re back! And you’re drinking with me!” he cheered, sliding his arms around me and swaying to the music. Caden was talking in hushed tones with the guys, so I knew he was likely updating them on the funeral.
“I feel like getting drunk,” I declared, making Tyler grin.
“I’m down for drunk monkey sex.”
“Rain check.”
“Aw, man. I’ve been thinking about bending you over all damn day,” he whined, encouraging me to down more than the sip I’d taken from the bottle.
“Did this plan include Caden?” I teased, making him roll his eyes.
“I mean, I can bend him over too, if he really wants me to. Pretty sure my cock scares him though.”
“I was thinking a Rory sandwich.”
“I’m suddenly in the mood for sandwiches,” he winked, giving me a quick kiss.
Getting lost in a million orgasms tonight might have been nice, but it could all change once Tyler found out about tomorrow.
“Ty, we need to talk about tomorrow.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“Slash’s funeral,” I started, putting the bottle down so I could slide both arms around his waist. “We can’t go.”
He frowned, his eyes focusing on me a little more clearly. “Why not?”
I blew out a breath, intending on trying to explain it all, but he stopped me.
“They don’t want us there? Skeet can’t change their minds?”