He narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck does that mean? I came over to drop off Wanda’s medication I’d picked up for her.” Their relationship was such that there was always tension between them, but Jerry wasn’t going to tell the fucking badge anything more than what was necessary in finding the fucker who’d murdered his family.
“Where were you last night into this morning?”
“At the clubhouse. Pretty sure you know how to get there.”
The badge paused, then scribbled something in his notebook. “Did your sister have a boyfriend?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know shit ‘bout him except he gave her money and was into real rough sex.”
“Did your sister tell you that?”
“Nah. I saw the whip marks and the way she was dressed. He liked the hardcore shit.”
“Do you know his name?”
Jerry shook his head. He remembered Kelsey had told him when he’d been over a few nights before, but as hard as he racked his brain, he couldn’t recall. “You done?”
The heavy-set detective nodded. “Stick around. We may have some more questions. We’ll release the bodies in a couple days.” He handed Jerry a card. “Call the medical examiner and let him know which mortuary you want them sent to after the autopsy and forensic tests.”
Jerry shoved the card in his front pocket and walked outside, grim-faced, his fists clenching and unclenching. He’d find the bastard who did this, and when he did, he’d make sure he suffered more than Wanda and Kelsey. He rolled his bike away from the crime scene, then hit the throttle clutch and sped away from the trailer park.
***
A week later,the small church overflowed with people attending the funeral. Jerry recognized several faces from the trailer park, and he knew Wanda and Kelsey weren’t friendly with half of them. What was it about horrifying, gruesome deaths that attracted so many onlookers? He was flanked by his brothers, and he felt their strength and comfort while the minister spoke about the afterlife.
Jerry’s gaze fixed on Wanda and Kelsey’s coffins. A picture of Wanda when she’d just turned twenty-one was the only one he could find, and it rested next to her coffin, her smile weak, her eyes glazed. Kelsey’s picture was next to her white box, trinkets, single-stemmed flowers, and small stuffed animals encircling it. They paid homage to a girl whose life had been cut too short.
After the funeral and burial, the club held a reception for Jerry and the brothers. The old ladies had prepared steaming mounds of hot links, beef brisket, and two roasted turkeys with all the fixings. Belle handed him a plate of food. “Go on and eat something.”
“Thanks, Belle, but I’m not hungry. I do appreciate it, though.” He gave her back the plate and went to the bar to down a double.
Many brothers came by, clasping their hands on his shoulders, gripping his arms, or pulling him into bear hugs. Each time a brother gave his silent support, pride in being an Insurgent spread through him.
“Fuck, man. This must be tough,” Axe said as he placed his hand on Jerry’s shoulder.
“Yeah. Wanda was a shitty mom, but she was blood, you know? And Kelsey… Fuck, poor Kelsey.”
“Chas, Rock, Jax, Throttle, and I agreed that if you need our help in tracking and killing the bastard who did this, you can count on us.”
Jerry smiled. “Thanks, man. I’m gonna need your help, because this fucker’s not getting away with what he did.”
Then he saw her, her blonde hair a striking contrast against the black fabric of her dress. Their eyes locked in the room full of people, and she walked straight over to him. With her pale lips trembling, she leaned down, a tendril of hair grazing his arm. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” Her lips brushed against his cheek and her familiar scent hit him in the groin, then Kylie was gone before he could say anything.
As the well-known strains ofStairway to Heavenplayed over the speakers, the cigarette and weed smoke curled around, and the heat of all the brothers in one place made the room seem smaller. Not able to stand the stuffiness, he slipped out into the parking lot and walked away from the club to the creek that rushed behind it. Jerry sat back on his haunches, throwing pebbles into the clear water. A twig snapped behind him, and he leapt up and turned around, his gaze falling on Kylie.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Hey.” He wanted to run and embrace her so hard that she’d never be able to get away.
“Are you doing okay? Do you need anything?” She took a few tentative steps toward him.
I need your tenderness, your laughter, and your softness.“I’m okay. It was too stuffy in there. I couldn’t fuckin’ breathe.”
Kylie nodded. “Too much smoke.” She walked closer until she was in front of him. “Can I give you a hug?”
Smiling, Jerry stepped forward and hooked his arm around her waist, bringing her close to him. He cradled her face between his hands while he gently kissed her on the lips. She pressed into him, sucking lightly on his bottom lip then drawing his tongue into her mouth. They tasted, nibbled, and sucked each other; there was a subtle urgency about it as their kisses became deeper and more passionate. In that moment, it was like time paused, and they were the only important people to each other.
After several minutes, Jerry broke away and nibbled on the side of her neck, his voice muffled by her soft skin. “I’ve missed you so much, babe. I hated pushing you away.”
