CHAPTER THIRTY | ACE
It was the day of Asher’s funeral and the whole MC was in attendance.
Sienna looked solemnly beautiful in her black dress and hat and I held her hand the whole time we stood over my brother’s grave.
I’d tried everything I could to protect him from a fate like this, but in the end, nothing worked.
Asher joined the MC just like he wanted to, and he died a biker’s death; something else he wanted as well.
But that didn’t mean I would ever forgive myself or the people responsible.
Of course, it was Mr. Money.
They were out for revenge. Ordering hits on the High Rollers was the only way they could hit back at us and Sienna.
I watched them lowering Asher’s casket into the ground and I had to clench my fist to stop myself from screaming.
The day was overcast. There was grayness everywhere.
Just when I thought I had my life in order, and that I’d finally made all the right decisions—that we could all be a little family together. Asher was dead.
He didn’t even get to meet his nephew.
He didn’t even get to help with the nursery.
I wished I had just one more day with him so I could tell him exactly how much he meant to me.
Sienna leaned her head on my shoulder as we stood there. The priest’s voice had faded in the background and I couldn’t hear anything. No voices.
I could only hear my own heart thumping in my chest, growing louder.
If I couldn’t protect my brother, how was I going to protect baby Asher?
What kind of a father would I be?
Did I make a mistake by involving Sienna in this life? Would she and the baby have been safer somewhere else? Somewhere far from me?
“Ace, it’s going to be alright.”
I heard Sienna’s voice beside me and I looked at her, startled. It was like she’d managed to read my mind.
Her green bright eyes searched mine.
“I miss him too, we always will, but none of this is your fault. Our baby is going to be safe.”
I gulped, my throat had gone dry.
How was I ever going to move on with my life?
There was only one way.
***
We convened at the casino bar.
A private memorial service was being held in Asher’s honor.
A large framed photograph of Asher hung on the wall behind the bar counter. It was a recent picture that Daisy had taken of him while she went around photographing people at the club. We all made fun of her trying to create memories, but now I was glad she’d done it.
Asher smiled in that picture with the same blond hair as mine and a wide, heartfelt smile. A can of beer in his hand which he held up in salute.
I missed him every day, a feeling I didn’t know I could feel. In the last few months, my whole life had changed.
Nobody mattered more to me than Sienna and Asher, and now one of them was dead. Sienna had no idea how closely I was guarding her now. There was no way I would let anything happen to her or the baby.
Everyone, except Sienna of course, had a drink in their hand and we were talking about my brother.
In the short period of time that he’d been a part of the MC, it was obvious to see that he’d made an impression.
Everyone had something to say about him and everyone was upset.
He’d died in my arms, right in front of me. I’d watched him take his last breath, whisper his last words. No other horror could be worse. So soon after he found me again.
So soon after the possibility of a family had become so real for us.
Sienna and I locked gazes repeatedly and she stared at me with concern.
I knew she’d been concerned about me since Asher’s death. Maybe she didn’t know whether I’d be able to handle it. If I’d ever get over it, but she had to know I wouldn’t give up on her or our baby.
I sat on a high stool now, staring at Asher’s photograph and listening to the others speak about him. He was a good kid. He had his whole life ahead of him. It was cut too short too soon and now I was going to make those motherfuckers pay for what they’d taken from me.
When it was my turn to say something about my brother, I stood up with distinct purpose.
I knew exactly what I was going to say tonight.
“My brother has not died in vain,” I began and there was complete silence in the bar. They all stared at me, including Sienna. There was a look of something like pride in her eyes, too.
She could see the renewed sense of purpose and strength that I’d developed today.
“I’m going to make sure we get our vengeance for what has happened.”
Some of my friends nodded their heads in agreement.
“If Mr. Money wants war, then that’s exactly what he’s going to fucking get.”
THE END
Want to find out what happens next? Rook (High Rollers MC #2) will release on December 14th!
No one hurts Tenley.
Not under my watch.
She's innocent and sweet.
Perfect in every way.
But Tenley can feel the danger rolling off of me.
She has to be careful. She has a son.
She's been burned before. Hurt.
I would never do that to her.
I will do everything to keep her safe.
Including kill her ex if I have to.
Monsters like him don't belong here.
I'll remind him of that.
And make her mine.