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Scar
It's been a few weeks since the shitshow that happened, happened. Steel is dead, Ray’s off her rocker, and I fucked up. I let her down, and of all people, I should have believed in her, but I didn’t. I believed the worst, and I don’t know that she’ll ever forgive me for that. Dad pulls me close. “It'll be fine. Worst-case scenario, she'll punch you, and you'll take it and move on.”
“Dad, that really doesn't help. I would probably end up in the hospital bed next to fucking Bas.”
“That's the spirit!” He smiles at me.
“It's like waiting to be hung.” I whisper to Dad.
“Or shot.” He grins.
“You’re really not being fucking helpful, Dad.”
“What if she’s on Bas’s side now and takes us all down?”
“Have you learnt anything? Ray has a reason for everything. You all think Steel’s death has tipped her over the edge, and maybe it has, but she wouldn't just toss you all aside and join him after everything she’s been through and lost. She must have an angle, something. This is Ray. I just want my girls happy and back together.”
I smile at him, as his girls might be back together soon, but one of them might be missing a fucking head.
My phone blings with a message, and I open it.
Ray: I’m gonna call you. Don't answer it. Let it go to voicemail, then gather everyone at the barn and play it for them.
Scar: Ray, please, can we talk?
Ray: Just do as I ask. You owe me!
Scar: Okay.
My phone rings, and I ignore it. I climb into my car with Dad, and we head towards the club. Dad calls Uncle Bernie and Uncle Cade on the way, and they're gonna call Bran and Dane and meet us there. Dad tries Ares, but there's no answer. When we get to the clubhouse, it's empty, so we head to the barn. Pulling up, they're all there. “What are you doing up here?” I ask them all.
Ares just says, “Ray,” and points to the hay bale.
I hear the truck pulling up outside. “Bernie,” I say.
“Ray left me a message asking me to play it for you all.”
Demi shakes her head. “I can't right now. I just can't.”
“Demi, we need to hear what she has to say. She lost everything, and most of us didn't help her.”
“I did, Scar. I had her back, and she couldn't even go to my brother's funeral. Where was she when I needed her?”
“We just need to listen, then we can decide how to proceed. Maybe it will be enough insight so we can make an informed decision,” Dad says. He's always the voice of reason when it comes to Ray. He always believes in her, and she never lets him down.
We all gather closer. Cade, Bernie, Bran, Marie, Dane, Dice, Demi, Blade, Skye, Tray, Tank, Priest, Viking, Ares and me.
“Ready?”
We all nod.
I hit “Play”.
“Hey, so if you're listening to this, then things have taken a turn. Firstly, I want to say I'm sorry, Demi and Skye. I'm sorry I wasn't there at the funeral to support you, but I was being selfish, and I knew if I went, I would break, and I can't afford to break right now! I fucking miss him so much, and every time one of the babies moves and kicks, it tears out a piece of my soul, knowing he’s never going to see them be born or grow up. But I can't think about that right now. Ares, I know you never trusted me, and I'm sorry I made you feel like that. Tank, Skye, and my favourite little man, Tray… you supported me through everything. I'm sorry I let you down. My brothers, I love you all. I just can’t be with you guys anymore.”
“Wait, pause it!” Ares says. “Fuck… the message is she saying goodbye to us all? Is that what this is? She’s gonna do something fucking stupid. Shit, we need to get down there now. How the fuck do we get down there?” He turns and runs to the hay bale, kicking and smashing at it, throwing the hay everywhere. Guilt finally kicked in and did a real number on him. “Ray!” he starts shouting. “Ray, let us in! Ray, please.” He drops to his knees, trying to clear the last bits of hay before finding the solid steel trap door and pounding against it. “Ray, I can't lose you too!”
Viking steps forward and crouches down, taking Ares’s hands in his, looking down at his bruised and bloodied knuckles. Ares takes a shaky inhale, and Viking pulls him to his feet.
