Page 108 of Bear
“I want all of yall to see this shit!” I said, raising my voice above Dad’s agonizing groans. “Never let your arrogance get the best of you.” I sliced across his stomach again. More thick crimson spilled from the gash. “Never think you’re above this fate.”
“Kill…me,” Dad grunted. His body was slouched over while his life force slipped away.
“No. Not yet,” I smiled. “I’ll let you bleed to death. Slow and alone.” I knew that would be the ultimate blow. I dismissed all the soldiers. Both my men and Tito’s. I sent Titan, Lane, and Cecily in the house too. I stood alone in the backyard with my father, sputtering and dying slowly.
“You don’t deserve to go out in a grand fashion with everyone standing around for your performance. You deserve to die alone with your own demons to see you off to hell. You don’t get to absolve your sins.”
“Bear…” he coughed. I knew he was going to try and mutter out an apology. One last act of humility before death. I wouldn’t grant it to him though.
I raised my hand and slashed him across the face, snatching away his ability to speak. I wiped my bloody blade off on his shirt then folded the gleaming knife in on itself before tucking it away in my waistband.
I walked away from my father knowing he’d be dead the next time I saw him. I stopped at Ace’s body and stooped down to close his eyes. I pulled off my blazer and covered his face with it.
“I love you, man. I’ll see you when I get there.” I walked into the house and refused to look back at Dad. He deserved exactly what he was getting.
He had to suffer slowly and in pain knowing there was no way out. Nowhere to run and nobody to blame anything on but himself. I was the last face he’d ever see and that’s how I wanted it.
I didn’t know where people’s energy went after they died but I hoped wherever Hawk was, he was satisfied.
CECILY
It took three hours for Bear’s men to clean up the backyard because everyone had to say goodbye to Ace. Every fucking one. Soldiers from everywhere in Louisiana dropped whatever they were doing. If they weren’t at the party already, they came and they looked at Ace and they wept. It made my heart shatter into a million pieces.
It was heavy to see hardened men that killed people on a regular basis break down after seeing one of their own dead and gone. It was easy to see why Ace meant so much to everyone though. He was Bear’s right-hand man. He had been ever since Bear took over Griffon’s business. Bear didn’t realize it until later but Ace was his best friend.
My soul ached for Bear.
He finally opened his heart and it was being broken. He kept busy the entire time his men said goodbye and cleaned up the body. He stayed in the house or checked to see if his father was still slowly bleeding to death.
Which, by the way, it took that monsterforeverto die. I stopped counting after the two-hour mark. I never knew it could take someone so long to bleed to death. It’s nothing like how TV shows make it seem.
“You okay, Cecily?” Titan’s voice was a welcome one. He sat across from me in the study where I was, keeping an eye on Bear. He didn’t check on Bear though because he already knew what the answer was.
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll be okay.” I held my hand out and it trembled. “Still shaking.”
Bear’s brows crashed together and he motioned for me to sit on his lap. I did so gladly and the scent of him alone calmed some of my nerves. “I’m sorry you had to experience that shit, baby doll.”
“Yeah, having someone killed in front of you is rough but practically on top of you…” Titan shook his head.
“I wish it wasn’t Ace,” I said, staring off into space.
“That’s how everyone feels right now. He didn’t deserve that. The only thing I can tell myself to make it better is that I killed the motherfucker who did it. I killed him personally by my own fucking hand.” His grip on my thigh got tighter and it made my heart skip a beat.
“That shit struck a nerve,” Titan said, blowing out a puff of air.
“It was tough. Now I’m out a right-hand man and a brother.” His fingers tangled themselves in my hair when I knew he only meant to stroke it. I felt the tension and anger building inside of him and I knew he needed to release it.
“Well,” I said, rubbing his shoulders. “You still have a right-hand man.” I looked at Titan and Bear looked too.
“Titan isn’t in the game though.”
“I know, Bear but he’s still there for you when it comes to business, right?” I touched one of his locs.
“I guess you’re right.”
“Bear, you know we’re family, man. If you ever need anything I’m there. No questions asked.” Titan stood to his feet and walked over to the desk. He reached in his pocket then dropped something hard and metal in front of Bear. When he moved his hand, he revealed a still bloody ring.
“One of the guys took it off of Ace’s finger. It was his class ring.”
