Page 5 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

Lucia patted my back with a huff. “You think we’d let you handle this alone? Not a chance, babe.”

I sniffled, pulling back to look at them. “You got here just in time. I was about to lose it.”

“You’re allowed to lose it,” Dominique said. “I would be a basket case.”

“I don’t want to lose it,” I said. “I have a feeling once I start, I won’t be able to stop. Being a blubbering idiot is not going to get shit done.”

Lucia stepped back. “First things first. Let’s call that funeral home and talk about that extra charge. If they can’t explain it, we’re not paying.”

Dominique nodded, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “And we’re not letting you stay in this house without backup. Although I’m not sure if we’re enough backup, looking at the place.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “What would I do without you two?”

“Let’s not find out,” Lucia said with a wink.

I took a step back, looking them over. Lucia was in her usual uniform—ripped jeans, a leather jacket, and combat boots. A total badass. She would scare me if I didn’t know her. But having her on my side was like having a whole damn army as backup. Dominique was her polar opposite in a sleek coat, heels, and a scarf that probably cost more than my monthly rent. Her pretty blonde hair always looks perfect. Everything about Dominique was glamorous.

“You really didn’t have to come all this way,” I said, though my heart swelled at their presence.

Dominique arched a perfectly manicured brow. “Don’t be ridiculous. You needed us.”

Lucia nodded. “And you need to eat. When’s the last time you had a proper meal?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Yesterday?”

Both women exchanged a look.

“Alright,” Dominique said, clapping her hands. “Here’s the plan. We’ll handle the funeral stuff first. Then we’ll get you something to eat that doesn’t come out of a can.”

“And maybe crack open a bottle of wine,” Lucia added.

I smiled. “You two are the best.”

Lucia grinned. “Don’t you forget it.”

It wouldn’t be easy. There was so much to do, so much to process. My father was gone. I was officially an orphan. It was so hard to accept. I didn’t know why. I had been bracing for this day for years. I knew I would have to come here and clean the place up.

But it was so different now that it was actually happening.

One day at a time. That was all I had to do.

As long as life didn’t throw me another curve ball while I was back home, I could get through this and return to my normal life.

3

KANNON

Istepped in front of the mirror. I didn’t know why I cared what I looked like. No one was going to be there to see me. Hell, I had a feeling a lot of them would prefer they didn’t see me. I knew people thought I was a troublemaker. A pain in the ass. A dark stain in their lives.

I didn’t care.

I reached for my leather jacket. I wore the thing so much, the leather was beyond broken in. It wasn’t going to do shit to protect me from road rash should I go down, but it was comfortable, it kept me warm, and it looked cool.

My shirt was clean and my jeans didn’t have any grease or holes. That was about as good as it got. That was what people expected from me. And it was comfortable. At this stage in my life, I was more worried about feeling good and comfortable versus looking good according to societal standards.

I grabbed my keys and headed out. I opened the garage and started my bike, letting it run a few seconds before I revved the engine. The noise ripped through the quiet of the neighborhood. I liked that sound—assertive, unapologetic. Just like me. I kicked up the stand and rolled out onto the street, using the clicker to close the garage.

I dreaded this funeral but was also looking forward to it. It had been a slow death. Watching him fade day by day was cruel. If I could have prayed him healthy, I would have done it. Unfortunately, there was no saving him. So watching him die was the only option. The suffering sucked. It pissed me off.