Page 53 of Bound by Wreckage
“One, you don’t believe in that shit so stop spewing it. Two, it’s not like that. It’s not about one person living so someone dies. It’s about people’s time to leave us. We didn’t get to keep Pops to lose Dagger.”
“I’m not sure anymore. It’s fuckedup.” She turns on her side to me. “I’ve searched, trying to find the asshole too, but I’ve come up with nothing.”
“We’ll find ‘em. That I have no doubt.” It may take us busting through walls, but we will find the asshole who put my brother six feet under. And Hell have no fury like the Ravage MC.
“I know.” She pauses, flipping to her back again. “Are you ready for a full house? Ihave to go out and help Mom with all the food prep soon.”
Tomorrow will be big. Chapters from all over will be coming in to pay their respects to Dagger. They’ll be other MCs here that knew him and want to pay their respects as well. It’ll be hell, but necessary.
My heart aches at the thought. My mind can’t grasp it even though tomorrow it will be our reality.
Dagger needshis last ride.
“It’ll be fine.” I sit up. “Can you get on that? I need the info as soon as you can.”
She sits up and grabs her laptop. “On it. Then I have to cook.”
“Thanks.”
Leaving the room, I shut the door and rest my head against it. Fuck, I hope she’s safe because if she’s not, I’m going to make sure she is.
**
Dagger’s casketlays in frontof us on a trailer pulled by Rhys and Tanner. Rhys insisted he be the one to lead Dagger to his final ride with Dagger’s bike, and my dad gave him that knowing that anything else wouldn’t be an option. It took a fuck of a lot to get the bike up and running again, but we were able to get it done.
The other day Rhys decided to take out his frustrations on the pool table in the far cornerof the clubhouse. Let’s just say, we’re using it for kindling for the fire pit. He’s got it rough, losing his best friend and having to be strong for his woman and his girls. But he does it with no complaints.
We’re here for him, and he knows that.
The precession is huge following Dagger to the gravesite. Even though the day is sunny, it still isn’t enough to lift the darkness aroundthe Ravage MC. My heart breaks, but I school my features. We’re all hurting. Dagger is first then a limo with Mearna and Mazie follow—then the Ravage brothers and their ol’ ladies, and Rylynn who rides her own Harley. Then other chapters of Ravage, then other MCs that wanted to pay their respects.
There are bikes as far as the eye can see, each one honoring the one in the casket.
Mearna didn’t want a visitation, saying that Daggerwouldn’t want everyone cryin’ over him. He’d want y’all to have a beer.Which is true and went with his wishes.
We pull into the cemetery noting Diamond’s tombstone to which we lower our hand to out of respect and move across to Dagger’s final resting place. Parking our bikes, Ryker, Deke, Green, Jacks, Cooper and I go to the casket, liftingit and carrying it to set on the metal above the plot.
Rylynn helps her grandmother and sister, while Rhys takes care of Tanner.
My grandpa, Pops as we all call him, comes up and places a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it tight. He doesn’t release it for long moments, letting me know he hurts but without saying the words.
Dagger was close to everyone, but especially Rhys andPops. Pops has his arm around Ma, who’s no doubt being strong for the both of them.
Bones, a brother from another chapter of Ravage, steps up front to begin the service while the rest of us crowd around with Mearna, Tanner, Rhys, Rylynn and Mazie, who is holding on to a stuffed bear her grandpa got her, all sit in the front row. We asked for no more chairs knowing that we’d rather standfor our fallen brother.
“A brother has fallen,” Bones begins as I look down at my feet, and wetness fills my eyes. Fuck, I’ve been good, holding myself together, but this—this is final. It’s him in the ground, gone forever. Fuck.
When I was five, Dagger gave me my first taste of Jack. He saidLet’s get some hair on that chest of yours.He chuckled after that, sliding a shot glasswith barely anything inside of it. I smelled it and gave him the look of disgust because that shit was ripe. Even that young, I knew it would knock me on my ass.
Do it,he said as I lifted the glass and took a drink. The burn was terrible, and I spit it out all over the floor. Dagger laughed his ass off, and I had to get the mop to clean up the mess.
Looking back, I have lots ofthose memories. Dagger handing me a condom at sixteen knowing I was going behind the garage to fuck some chick against the cement bricks. Then Dagger teasing the shit out of me afterwards saying my twenty-five minutes behind the building wasn’t long enough.
Dagger at every single birthday party I’d had in my life runs through my mind. When I joined Ravage, Dagger pulled me aside, put twohands on my shoulders and said,Seein’ you grow up. Knew you’d be wearin’ this cut and one of my brothers. Proud of you, son.
So many moments. So many memories that I’ll forever hold dear.
I feel a tear slip out of the corner of my eye and brush it away.
