Page 40 of Beautifully Shattered
They carry them with reverence, placing each box gently on the boulder in the centre of the memorial site, before Smitty steps forward and turns to face our club.
“Club brother, Stoner. Otherwise known as Theo Watson.” Smitty calls out the name of our first fallen, his voice steady but hard with grief.
Every club brother thumps his hand to his heart.
“Club brother, Tucker. Otherwise known as Freddie Tuckerson.”
Another round of thumps fill the air.
“Club brother, Mule. Otherwise known as Jamie Halley.”
More thumps, but this time, Abbey’s knees buckle next to me, and a strangled sob escapes her.
I catch her with both arms, holding her up, and Jols moves quickly to steady her from the other side.
Fuck.
Jols told me about the bond Abbey had formed with Mule. He was the one I’d ordered to be her shadow and watch her back while I was away. I hadn’t told her he was one of the dead. Mainly becauseshe didn’t ask, and I didn’t have the fucking balls to add that to the weight already crushing her.
“Club brother, Kite. Otherwise known as Rory Stein.”
Another round of thumps.
“Club brother, Roadie. Otherwise known as Tim Vega.”
Thump.
“Club brother, Barts. Otherwise known as Darryl Martin.”
Thump.
“Club brother, Bowey. Otherwise known as Ray Bowey.”
Thump.
“And lastly, club brother, Zeus. Otherwise known as Kevin Leeds.”
Thump.
The air is thick with grief. Whimpers and sniffles fill the crowd behind us, mostly from Doxies, but some of the men, too.
Even tough bastards break when it’s one of our own.
Smitty gives a nod to the side, and Celina, Casey, Nola and Helina step forward, each carrying trays lined with shot glasses.
They move through the crowd, offering one to each club brother, and to any Doxies, wives or old ladies who wish to raise a glass.
At the front, Smitty lifts his shot high, and Vender steps up beside our Prez, his voice rough as he speaks a few kind words about Stoner.
Then he raises his own glass.
“Stoner’s drink of choice,” Vender calls, his voice cracking with emotion. “Tequila.”
We all lift our shots, and beside me, I can feel Abbey taking everything in, her head moving from one side then the other.
“We toast,” Vender calls, and we all chant.
“One for the road, brother.”
