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“I can do that,” Ghost said as he stepped up to them. His voice lay flat, his eyes dull with sorrow. “I think I need to do that. And then I’m going to get drunk. When we find the fucker who did this, I’m going to pop his eyeballs out with my thumbs.”
“Remind me never to get on your bad side,” Lincoln said.
****
The next few days Lincoln worked in a haze. Everyone was somber. Everyone had no idea what to say. Vivi, Leia, and Chase cooked food and brought it to them, setting it up on a picnic table for lunch and dinner.
The day of the funerals dawned dark and stormy, the perfect setting for sadness and despair. Vivi held Lincoln’s hand as they huddled under an umbrella, the minister droning in a monotone voice that had no end in sight. She wore black, as did everyone in a mixture of biker garb and suits. Lincoln had on a coat and tie, and shoes that had been shiny until the mud clung on them and the hem of his slacks.
She didn’t know Tim and had only minor interactions with Bolt, but that didn’t stop her tears. The waste of life was devastating in any situation, especially when a coward used a homemade pipe bomb. Leia huddled with Brim and Chase held hands with Thorn. Sweet butts cried and even several of the tough men had tears on their cheeks.
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, the minister finished his sermon and everyone began to leave the graveside. She saw Brim linger and place a hand on each casket. Tim and Bolt were being buried side by side. Brothers in life and death.
The rain eased up as everyone arrived at Brim’s house. Food was catered and drinks were served. Those who had dressed for the funeral now arrived in jeans and their cuts. Vivi had changed into sweats and currently sat on Lincoln’s lap.
“…We need to go on lockdown.”
She heard the snippet as Thorn walked next to Brim onto the deck.
“No, if we do that, the perpetrator will only go into hiding,” Brim stated.
“Youwantthem to come after you again? What if they succeed this time?” Thorn leaned closer. “You have a kid on the way.”
“That is something I’ll never forget,” Brim muttered. “The baby is the reason we can’t go on lockdown. Why I must find the asshole who attacked us. I need this world safe for my child.”
Thorn took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll agree to this only if you’ll have protection detail on you at all times. One of us will take turns watching your back.”
Brim scowled. “Very well.”
Lincoln patted her thigh, grabbing her attention. “Come on.”
He helped her off his lap and then took her hand, weaving her through people to make their way outside.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“I want you to go to your sister’s place for a while,” he said. “The mafia king can protect you until we catch the fucker who did this.”
He had parked his bike on the next road over since there were so many cars and bikes around. Vivi yanked her hand away and stopped walking. He turned to look at her, hands on his hips.
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “My place is by your side.”
He shook his head. “I need you safe, Vivi.”
“And who’ll keep you safe? I heard them back there. They’re going to lure in the bomber to capture him, putting you in danger. That’s unacceptable.”
He cupped her face. “What’s unacceptable is if anything happens to you. Don’t you get it? I love you, Vivi.”
Happiness bloomed in her heart. “You L-worded me?”
He smiled. “Yes, I L-worded you.”
“Does this mean we can text each other using only heart emojis?”
“Sure does.”
“And we can buy matching pajamas, the ones where the ass flap flips down?”
“We can even do matching ugly sweaters for Christmas.”
