Page 28 of Untouchable

“Hey, Daddy,” I say, getting his attention as he turns to face us.

“Oh, Sweetheart. You look beautiful.” He places his hands on my shoulders, taking me in with that same twinkle in his eye he’s always had when he talks to me. My dad can be one of the scariest people you’ll ever meet. He’s been to war, ran the club dirty for a while—even though he tries to convince me he didn’t, mama told me all about it—and he’ll put someone in their place first, ask questions later. But when it comes to his little girl, he’s always had a soft spot.

“Thanks, it feels weird,” I whisper, looking down as I run my hands along the black lace overlay of my dress.

“One day at a time, baby girl.” My eyes sting with tears when I look back up at him. He caresses my cheek, and I have to fight to keep the tears from falling. He kisses my cheek, then gives Tabitha a hug. “Thanks for coming with her today.” I hear him whisper to her.

“Of course, I’ll always be here for Kat.” She squeezes my hand tighter as we find our seats, and the service begins. I didn’t know Viper all that well. I knew he was a wild one and liked to have his fun, but always spoke respectfully to me when I was around, but as far as friendship goes, there was none between us. So I’m not sure if my emotions today are in regards to him, or if I’m simply reliving the other losses in my life.

When it’s time to leave, I realize I zoned out for the better half of the service. Tabitha pulls me along, but it’s all I can do to watch my feet as we walk to her car. She graces me with silence as we drive to the gravesite, and I take the time to try and bottle my emotions back up. I watch from a distance as Viper’s family lays roses on his casket, as well as Ace and my dad.

“My deepest condolences for your loss.” I turn around to see a guy dressed in all black, standing behind me. Tabitha turns with me, as he looks us both over.

“Um, thank you. It’s never easy losing a member of the club family.” I offer a small, albeit sad, smile.

He nods, sliding his hands into his patch-less leather jacket. “I can definitely understand that.”

“I’m sorry, do I know you?” He smiles, shaking his head apologetically as he extends his hand. I take it in mine, trying not to visibly cringe at the sweat from his palm. “Name’s Frankie.” He leaves no room for response before he continues. “Well, I don’t want to keep you, but I’m sure I’ll be seeing you ladies around.” I open my mouth to speak, but before I can, an arm wraps around my shoulder, and it snaps shut again.

“Everything okay over here?” I look up to see Bodine and Mikey, both with their arms draped over mine and Tabitha’s shoulders, and frown.

“Yeah, why?”

“You remember us, don’t you, beautiful?” Mikey smiles at Tabitha, and she raises a brow at him.

“Of course, I’ll never forget my knights in black leather armor.” Her flirty gaze lands on me, and I smirk at her before looking back at Bodine.

“Hey, who was that guy? He said his name was Frankie, but I didn’t recognize him. Is he a new prospect?”

Bodine’s mouth turns down into a confused frown. “Not one I know of. What’d he say?”

I shrug, looking back in the direction he went. “Just offered his condolences and told us he’d see us around.”

“Hm, who knows.” He shrugs, his grip on me tightening. “Let’s go. We have a wake to get to.” The guys don’t let us go until we get back to Tabitha’s car, and I realize it’s the first time today I’ve actually relaxed. No tightness in my chest, no brain fog, no fighting tears back—although my eyes are burning from already crying so many—just Bodine and Mikey making us laugh by being obnoxiously ignorant. I kind of love them for that. When we get back to the clubhouse, it’s jam-packed with people, and as much as I love this club and every single member, old lady, andmunchkin in the bunch, after about an hour, I am in desperate need of some solace. By the looks of it, Tabs is deeply invested in her conversation with Mikey and Bodine, so I take it upon myself to disappear out back for some fresh air. Hoping to clear my mind a bit and maybe, by some miracle,notstart crying again.

CHAPTER 17

Ace

“FAVORS”

You’d think funerals wouldn’t affect me after everything I’ve witnessed in my lifetime, but as it seems, they affect me more than I’d like to admit. They cause every single negative emotion I’ve pretended doesn’t exist over the past several years to bubble up to the surface like some insensitive science project. As I watch everyone fall back into the little bit of normalcy that they can, after laying one of our own to rest, I can’t move past the way my soul just feels…dry. What’s the point of moving on when death, loss, and grief are inevitable?

“Hey man, you know where Lenny is?” Bodine pulls me from my darkened thoughts. I look around the room and spot him hidden away in a corner booth with some more of the original members. I nod in his direction, causing Bodine to follow my line of sight, then he turns back to me. “There’s something you both need to hear.”

“You’ve got my attention.” I stand from my barstool, placing my half-drunk, lukewarm beer on the bar top.

“Grab him and meet me out back.” I walk over to Lenny’s table while Bodine disappears down the back hallway.

“Sorry to interrupt, El Presidente. Can I have a minute?” I offer a small smile to those seated around the table.

“You can have about five, I need a smoke.” The guys’ laughs fade as we make it closer to the exit. “Everything alright?” His brow is raised, and I tilt my head in response.

“We’re about to find out.” When I open the back door, Bodine is waiting, with a serious look on him that I’m not quite used to.

Lenny stops to light his cigarette, looking between the two of us expectantly. “What’s going on, boys? Spit it out.” That’s one thing about Lenny: he has no time for games and hates to wait for information.

“Striker’s little minion was at the graveside today. Found out his name is Frankie. It’s not much, but at least we have a name instead of calling him the little tag-a-long.”

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