CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
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LIZ
THREE DAYS LATER, after Jake fixed his window and replaced his tires, all the Kings members and their girlfriends awaited the signal to begin the memorial ride in Pat’s honor. It was a warm day, the sun blasting heat over my skin. I adjusted the shades over my eyes and settled my feet on the foot pegs. Jake rubbed along my leg and glanced back at me.
“You good?”
Placing my hands around his waist, I nodded. “Yeah.”
His hand squeezed my leg, then he fired up the engine. Axel, the Kings’ Road Captain, started first, then each bike moved forward to follow. Nix and Jenna took off behind Axel, then us and the rest of the crew.
Cutting through the breeze on the warm day made the ride enjoyable given the circumstances of the ride. We all needed this though. The last few days had been rough. Everyone was on edge, wondering if Tolito and his crew would come after anyone else. Nix and Jake told the crew the Royals were likely after Jake for what he did to Rex and the other guy who attacked me, and we had no reason, so far, to believe otherwise. Nix explained Rex had beat up Angela and that alone was enough justification for Jake’s actions.
The memorial ride ended at the funeral home where Pat’s service was taking place. His remains had been cremated and given to Pat’s sister, Louise. Nix had helped her arrange the funeral and even paid for some of it.
As the warm sun sent sweat trickling down my back, a sullen feeling rested in the pit of my stomach. I was dreading our arrival at the funeral home. Pat was the third man in my life who had been ripped away from this world, and my fear of what Tolito was doing behind the scenes plagued me each day. We still didn’t know if Tolito knew more about the deal than we thought.
Nix and Jake had become cautious around the rest of the Kings members. Not enough for them to notice, but I did. Their conversations were kept private, away from the others, and they seemed to have a watchful eye on each member and their activities. Jake was on high-alert, keeping me with him at all times, and he and Nix continued to take turns staying up at night at the clubhouse.
Axel was the first to pull into the funeral home and each of us lined up along the parking lot next to him. Pat and Louise’s family and friends welcomed us as we entered. Jake held me tight and kissed my head before we took a seat.
Tears poured down my cheeks as Nix and others took turns speaking about Pat and the good memories they had of him. Jake’s fingers wound in my hair and he pulled me against him. His gentle kiss pressed against my temple.
“It’s okay, Peach. Let it out.” His hand rubbed along my thigh as the other strummed through my hair.
When the service ended, Nix and Louise stood by the exit, listening to condolences and thanked everyone for attending. Axel led the Kings and funeral attendees back to the clubhouse for an early dinner. Jake and I stayed behind, waiting while Nix took care of final details with the funeral home. The staff began removing chairs and roses, and I stood in the archway staring at Pat’s silver urn. Jake wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my shoulder.
“You okay?”
“This is our home, and we’re living our lives watching over our shoulders. It’s not right. It’s not right what they did to him. I want them gone.”
Jake kissed my neck and cheek. “Leave these things to me. None of this is your problem.”
“But it is.” I turned in his arms. “I worry about you both every day and now Jenna is involved. She’s Nix’s girl, that puts her at risk, too.”
Jake held my face in his hands. “It’s only a matter of time before Tolito fucks up and makes a mistake that gets his ass killed or in jail. In the meantime, let me take care of things. It’s my job to carry the burden, not yours.” His hand took hold of mine. “Nix is finished. You ready?”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Louise pick up Pat’s urn. My attention returned to Jake with tears stinging my eyes. “Yeah.”
Jake and I followed Nix and Jenna out. As I raised my leg over the passenger seat of Jake’s Harley, I noticed three motorcycles parked on the other side of the street, Royal colors visible on the vests, their gazes locked on us as we mounted our bikes. I tapped Jake’s arm as tension coiled in my gut.
“Do you see them?”
“I see them.”
“What are they doing here?”
“It’s a warning. They want us to know they’re watching us.”
Jake pulled back his vest, revealing the Glock strapped inside, then fired up the engine. The three riders pulled out onto the street and rode off.
Nix’s gaze fell on Jake. “He knows.”
“They just made that pretty fucking clear.”
We arrived at the clubhouse and the food Nix had catered in was already being served. We got in the buffet line, then joined the others at the tables.
Aunt May nudged me and smiled before leaning in for only me to hear. “How you doin’, doll?”
“You know it’s hard seeing another family member taken.”
Her arm rubbed along my back. “I hear Tolito might be responsible.”
“Nix doesn’t have any proof, but I know he’s right.”
A pained expression filled her face. “Of course, he’s right.”
Nix pulled his buzzing phone from his pocket and left us to go to his office. Jake stood and followed. Several members watched them leave.
“What’s that about?” Lucas asked, sounding worried.
I shrugged. “I’m the wrong person to ask.”
I tapped Jenna’s shoulder. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
She nodded and went back to her conversation with Crystal.
When I walked out of the bathroom, Dillon was leaning against the wall waiting for me.
“Where’s Jake?” I asked him.
“Still in the office with Nix.”
I attempted to move past him and he blocked me. “You really wanna be with a guy like him?”
“You obviously don’t know him well or you wouldn’t be asking me that.”
“I know him well enough to see how he treats you, like you’re another one of his fuck toys.”
“Are you serious right now?” My arms crossed and my hips shifted my weight. “That’s not how he treats me.”
“From my point of view, it is. You deserve someone better than Jake.”
“I’m guessing you mean you.”
“Me or someone else. Anyone, but that asshole.”
“He may be an asshole to you, but he’s incredible to me.” I shoved past Dillon and moved down the hall. I stopped and turned to him. “And don’t let Jake catch you cornering me like that again. Not if you want to keep those good looks.”
Returning to the front room, I grabbed my plate and tossed it. I’d lost my appetite and needed air. I placed my hands on Jenna’s shoulders.
“I’m going outside.”
“I’ll come with you.”
We walked out the front door and the evening breeze hit me, shedding some of the tension from my shoulders. I leaned against the wall and glanced at the setting sun, making its descent into the orange and pink sky.
“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked.
“Dillon had the nerve to corner me in the hall and tell me I deserved better than Jake. He’s an asshole. He doesn’t know shit about Jake. If he did, he wouldn’t be saying that.”
“Why let something that idiot said bother you?”
“It’s everything; Pat’s death, the threat Tolito’s men made today, the brick through the window. I’m on edge every day, constantly worrying when the next strike will happen and how bad it’s going to be.”
“I’m really worried about them too.” Jenna gnawed her lip and joined me against the wall. “Nix isn’t sleeping well. He’s really worried about everyone. You in particular. He’s thankful for Jake. With how protective he is of you; it’s taken some of the pressure off Nix.”
My head lifted to the sound of Harleys coming down the road.
“We have some late arrivals.”
I waved at the guys on the bikes and cocked my head at the lack of colors. “I don’t recognize them.”
I moved away from the wall to get a better look. Their bikes pulled alongside the street, but they didn’t cut the engines—two men, one bald and burly with a dice tattoo on his neck. The other biker with dark, thick hair, and a handsome face nodded his head at me.
“Nix around?”
“He’s inside.” I motioned my thumb over my shoulder. “You can park here and come in.”
The man’s arm reached out and took hold of mine, gripping it painfully. “Get on the bike.”
“Let go!”
A squeal came from Jenna and I turned my head to see the dark-haired man had left his bike and was now covering her mouth while his other arm clutched her against him. Giant arms wrapped around me, lifting me in the air. I kicked my legs out and struck the dark-haired man in the face. His grip loosened on Jenna.
“Run Jenna! Get Jake!”
Hands and arms squeezed me hard, forcing me onto the bike as Jenna ran inside. My hand was shoved into cuffs and locked onto the metal bar behind the passenger seat. My heart pounded in my ears as I kicked and thrashed at them. A fist slammed into my face and jolted my body. I slumped against the bald man’s back as the sights and sounds around me drifted away.