Page 30 of Honor Me (Men of Inked 6)
When the front doors closed and the church was empty, we all breathed a sigh of relief.
“Do you think they fucking bought it?” James asked, peering down at Thomas.
His eyes opened and he grimaced when he sat up. “I hope so.” He climbed out, holding on to the edge because he was still weak and sore from the surgery. “I had a cockroach crawling on me for the last thirty minutes. I don’t ever want to go through that shit again.”
“You’re a tool,” Mike muttered and punched him in the arm.
“Why does everyone look so damn sad?” Thomas stretched and cracked his neck. “It’s not like your asses were pretending to be dead.”
Even though it was a ruse, it still sucked. Seeing my brother lying there, even if he was alive, was harder than I thought possible.
“Even though you were pretending, it didn’t make it any easier, ass wipe.” Anthony closed the lid to the casket and started to buckle the locks.
“All that matters is that the leftover assholes from the MC think I’m dead.”
“I think Ma’s cries and Angel’s weeping were enough to sell it to any jury.”
“Good.” Thomas laid his hand on top of the coffin. “I’m happy you’re not burying me today. I’m not done raising a little hell yet.”
“I plan to grow old with you, brother,” I told him and nudged him in the shoulder.
“Now, go before anyone gets suspicious. I’ll hang with Father O’Toole until tonight and head back to the house when we know the coast is clear.”
“You have to lay low for at least a week, Thomas. The guys and I will handle work. You just recover.”
“I plan to do nothing but stay in bed. Scout’s honor.” He made the sign of the cross over his heart, but we all knew he was full of shit.
“Let’s go.” I grabbed the handle, waiting for everyone else to do the same. We lifted it in unison and carried it to the doorway, leaving Thomas behind us.
I glanced over my shoulder as he disappeared behind the altar. When the doors swung open and we saw the rear of the hearse open and waiting, we all pretended that the coffin was heavier and that my brother was still inside. After we set it down and the mortician moved it inside, we headed toward our cars and our waiting family.
“I think the coast is clear,” James said, sliding in next to me.
“That was so hard,” Ma said, dabbing her cheeks. “I don’t know if I can do that again at the cemetery.”
“You can do it, Mar.” Pop held her close and kissed her temple. “It’s almost over.”
“Seeing Thomas in that casket, even knowing that he wasn’t dead, almost broke me, Sal.”
“I know, baby, but he’s okay. We’re all okay.” Pop looked at me, giving me a sheepish smile.
Suzy curled into my side and placed her hand over my heart. “Life isn’t boring in this family. I’m just happy everyone is okay.” She smiled up at me and I smiled back.
“I know, sugar. I love you,” I told her, covering her hand with mine.
“I love you too, Joe.” She rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes.
I couldn’t help but think about how close we’d come to this being a real funeral. I realized how much I liked boring. I wanted it. The adrenaline rush of people chasing me had worn off.
I was ready for it all to disappear.
Maybe now that the members of the Sun Devils MC thought Thomas was dead and another member of their crew was gone, we could live in peace.
What’s Normal?
Suzy
“So it’s over?” I asked Joe after shaking the last guest’s hand as they walked out of Angel and Thomas’s house.
We had to do everything as if Thomas had really passed. After the burial, all of the members of the family were invited back to Angel’s home for a meal. I never understood why, though. Why did the grieving family have to feed everyone for coming to say good-bye?
“It is.” He kissed the top of my head. “Thomas said based on intel and the death of Cowboy, we’re in the clear.”
“For now,” I mumbled and buried my face in his shirt.
“Forever.” He stroked my hair softly, soothing me.
“We’re Gallos. Trouble seems to find us.” I smiled into his chest.
“Look who’s alive,” James said when Thomas walked through the back door.
“You’d miss me if I wasn’t here, buddy.”
“I would, asshole.” James smiled at him.
“Who wants a beer? I could fucking use one after a day like today.” Thomas headed toward the kitchen and whistled.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Angel covered her mouth and ran from the room.
My heart ached for her. Even though it was a lie, I couldn’t imagine seeing Joe in a coffin.
“I’m going to go check on her, baby.” I touched his cheek, running my fingers against the tiny stubble that had started to form.
“I’ll be here waiting. We can leave when you’re ready.”
“Let’s stay a while. I think everyone needs some family time.” I patted him on the chest, holding his hand as I walked away until distance separated us.
“Angel,” I whispered and pushed open her bedroom door to find her in a ball on the bed. “Oh, sweetie.” Lying down next to her, I pushed her hair away from her face. “Everything is okay, sweetheart.”
“I couldn’t breathe all day, Suz.” She turned on her back and stretched out. “I just kept picturing him in that casket for real. I don’t know what I’d do without him.” Her eyes roamed around the ceiling and she started to hyperventilate.
I grabbed her hand, squeezing it. “He’s fine, Angel. Relax.”
“I was so close to losing him. More than once, we’ve almost been torn apart. My heart couldn’t survive without him.” Tears started to trickle down her cheeks, plopping onto the bedspread.
“I can’t imagine losing Joe either. Somehow, other people survive when they lose the love of their life.”
“I’d die of a broken heart,” she whispered, wiping her face with the back of her fingers.
“We’d help you through it. We’re all going to be there sometime.” I frowned. I’d probably die of a broken heart too. Joe was more than just my husband—he was my everything. “We’d make it through it for our kids.” I turned on my back and stared up at the ceiling, watching the fan as it turned.
“Angel,” Thomas said from the doorway. “Are you okay, baby?”
“I’ll let you two talk,” I said, scooting off the bed.
Thomas smiled as I walked past him and whispered, “Thanks.”
“We’re doing shots, Suzy Q. Want one?” Izzy held up the bottle of tequila and smirked.
My stomach turned at the thought of getting wasted, especially on tequila. “No, I’m good.”
“You’re never any fun.” She poured another round before pushing them across the counter to everyone else.
“I have infants to take care of when I get home,” I told her, feeling like a party pooper.
“I’ll give you a pass this once.”
I
’d probably had fifty passes over the years.
“Let’s do a toast.” Anthony held his shot glass in the air and waited. I grabbed a bottle of water and joined everyone with my bottle high above my head. “To the Gallos, one kick-ass family that even a gunshot doesn’t stop.”
Mia cleared her throat and grinned. “Gunshots, punches, and everything else, but don’t mention a vasectomy without them scurrying away like little rats.” She raised her glass higher.
“Salute,” everyone murmured, not willing to make a comment after that.
“What a bullshit day,” Anthony said, pulling a stool up to the counter and making himself comfortable.
Max stood behind him with her arms wrapped around his neck. “I kept waiting for Thomas to move and hear someone in the church scream.” She laughed, nuzzling her face into his neck.
“That would’ve been kick-ass,” Anthony said, turning his face to kiss her forehead.
Izzy leaned on the counter and wound her fingers with James’s. “Don’t ever make me go through that.”
He grinned. “I have it in my will that you’re to be buried with me like the slaves in Egypt. You’re coming to the afterlife with me, baby.”
She punched him in the gut and he hunched over. “Bull-fuckin’-shit.”
He laughed and held his stomach. “I thought you’d love the idea.”
I giggled and glanced over at Joe, who was digging his fingers into his eyes.
“Where did Ma and Pop go?” Thomas asked as he walked back into the kitchen with Angel under his arm.
“They were exhausted and headed home,” Izzy told him and picked up the bottle of tequila again. “Shot?”
“I think I’ll stay sober tonight.”
Izzy’s mouth fell open and she gawked at Thomas. “Why?”
“Just fuckin’ with ya. Pour me a shot.” He laughed and nudged Izzy in the shoulder.
