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Their club was much like ours. They dabbled in illegal trades from time to time, but over the last few years, they’ve also made the move, like us, into more aboveboard ways of earning money.
“Optimus,” my president answered. He looked to the woman at Switch’s side. “You must be Callie.”
She nodded, also reaching out to shake his hand. “Thank you for finding me,” she said quietly.
“We’re sorry it wasn’t sooner,” Optimus answered sadly. “Seemed like Slider had been looking for you for a while now.”
She wiped at her cheeks, and Switch slipped his arm around her waist in a sign of support. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“Neither can we,” I said simply. Optimus had already explained to her on the phone what had happened. “I’m Leo, it was my Old Lady he saved.”
She nodded, a small smile twitching at the corner of her mouth. “Seems like some things never change,” she said cryptically, making me curious to hear the story that went behind the statement.
Slider was never forthcoming with information about his past. None of us pushed him, but I was starting to wonder just how my sarcastic joking friend seemed to have come from a life that was really anything but.
“I’d love to meet her,” she said, her eyes shimmering.
I looked over my shoulder to see people beginning to file inside the church. I looked to Op, who gave me a gentle nod, knowing just what I was thinking.
“You’re welcome to come back to the clubhouse after the funeral,” I told them. “I’m sure you’re just as curious to hear more about your brother as we are to hear about you.”
Callie looked to Switch, who nodded and took the invitation. “That would be great, thanks. Sorry for just springing on you like this, it was kind of a last-minute thing.”
Callie laughed. “In other words, I couldn’t decide if I could handle it, and he got fed up with it and made me come anyway.”
I smirked. “We’re glad you did.”
She smiled, tilting her head to the side as though she was trying to figure me out. “I’m glad he had friends like you,” she said, surprising me.
“We could have done without his smart mouth occasionally,” Blizzard joked, making Callie laugh loudly.
“Yup. Some things definitely don’t change.”
“Come on,” I said, gesturing toward the church. “Let’s get this done.”
She sobered and nodded.
Switch turned and lifted his chin to the other members behind him, and they placed their helmets on their bikes before joining us as we walked toward the church. Switch and Callie followed us to the front, while the rest of them took seats at the back. The men all joined their women, automatically throwing an arm around them searching for support, no doubt feeling the same way I was feeling right now. Sick to my stomach.
It was lucky that the church was huge because it was completely packed to the brim with people, the air filled with love and respect for a man who’d lost his life too soon.
Tears flowed freely as the priest took his place in front of the room. Slider’s coffin sitting proudly beside him, his freshly cleaned club cut laying across the top.
I barely registered anything that happened.
Words were spoken.
Tears were shed.
I held strong, Hadley’s body tucked into my side as she sobbed. Macy cuddled into her, her little hand rubbing up and down her arm, trying to soothe her tears. She wasn’t quite old enough to realize why everyone was so sad, but she knew that cuddles and kisses made things better.
When everyone had said their piece, Optimus took to the podium. Chelsea moved with him, holding his hand in hers as he took a deep breath and forced himself to speak. I don’t know if I could have done it.
“Want to say thank you to everyone who made the trip to Athens today to show their love for our fallen brother.” His eyes moved to the coffin. “I ain’t gonna say much. Slider’s life spoke for itself. He made it through with laughter, bad jokes and a nose for trouble.” A hum of laughter settled over the crowd, and Optimus smiled. “But above all else, he was loyal to a fault. When he loved you, he loved you with every cell in his body.”
I clenched my teeth, holding my eyes on Optimus even as tears streaked down my cheeks. I wasn’t ashamed to cry. I’d lost one of my best friends.
“We may not have been born brothers,” Optimus started, saying the words I’d heard far too many times. “But the club now runs in your veins as it does mine. Brothers by Blood.”
