Ripper hit the gavel one last time and motioned toward the door.
They all started to leave and Miller grabbed for Trev and held him back. He had a handful of Trev’s shirt and put him against the wall.
“You don’t talk out of line up here,” Miller said. “You’re not outlaw anymore. You’re in a cut. Remember that.”
“He’s full of shit,” Trev said. “Something bad is going on up here. And it’s going to filter down into us. You remember that.”
Miller showed his teeth and looked ready to strike.
“You two okay?” Ripper asked as he came back into the room.
“Fine,” Miller said. “Just keeping my men in check.”
Miller broke away and Trev adjusted his leather cut. He looked at Ripper and saw the President eyeing him.
“Got something to say?” Trev asked.
“No. You just don’t seem like you fit in here.”
“I’m filling a seat,” Trev said. “I used to run with The Lost Men.”
“Thought you looked familiar,” Ripper said. “You ever want to run outlaw again, you give me a call.”
Ripper winked and walked away.
Trev worked his way to the bar and found Eden sitting there. The guy behind the bar - West - had a shotgun up on the bar and stood there.
“Protection?” Trev asked and pointed to the gun.
“She’s Griffin’s daughter?” West asked.
“Yeah,” Trev said.
“Good man,” West said and looked at Eden. “Knew him well.”
“Did you send me the letter?” Eden asked.
“What letter?” West asked.
“Christ,” Trev said. He put a hand to Eden’s back. “Come on, beautiful. We’re going to ride. To the cemetery. Hold strong for me.”
Trev turned and offered his hand to West. “Thank you.”
“Sure,” West said. West didn’t let Trev’s hand go. “Hey, it’s good to see fresh faces up here. Things are rocky.”
“A dead brother will do that.”
“Long before Giovanni took the bullet,” West said. “Trust me in that, son.”
“What are you thinking, old man?” Trev asked. “You’re behind the bar. You observe.”
West touched his leather cut. “I’m still wearing this. I still honor it. I just don’t think all that is appearing before our eyes. I don’t know you from shit, but we’re wearing the same cut. That makes us brothers, right?”
“Of course.”
“Remember what I said then. I have no proof of anything. I just pour the whiskey and clean up the puke.”
West grabbed the shotgun and walked away, putting it up on a gun rack behind the bar.
The front door to the bar was open and all the guys poured out.
It was time to give Giovanni his last ride.
*
Eden clung tight. Trev hung with her, standing in a long line as the hearse came to a halt. Jasper, Duke, Cade, and Xavier all came forward and carried the casket to the grave. They then backed up and stood, waiting.
A motorcycle roared in the distance and everyone looked to see that it was Ripper approaching. When Trev realized Ripper wasn’t alone, he knew the risk he took by bringing Eden with him was about to hit the fan in a big way.
That was okay though.
Trev wanted to see how people reacted and how things panned out. Right or wrong, it didn’t fucking matter. What did matter was finding out the truth about Griffin and the truth about Ripper. The shit stunk really bad and chances were it was all going to fall on the Frelen charter’s lap.
The motorcycle came up the dirt path.
Ripper rode right up to the grave and killed the engine. He climbed off, dressed in black, head to toe, a black bandana over his bald head. The woman on his ride stepped off and Trev felt himself tense up.
It was Jenn. Griffin’s secret lover. Eden’s mother.
She was always a naturally pretty woman, even if the lifestyle added years on her that weren’t kind. She had long jet black hair and a skinny figure with curves in the right spots. Her skin was tan and wrinkled like leather, a combination of the life, stress, tanning, smoking, and drinking. She took off a large pair of sunglasses and looked around.
Her eyes were glossy and when she saw Trev, she stopped. There was an awkward second between them, but then it got worse. Jenn looked at Eden. And she just stared. The seconds ticked by and felt like minutes.
Ripper went to the casket and put a hand to it.
“We’re here to say goodbye to our brother. I’ve brought everyone one last drink and we throw our glasses into the grave. We forever drink with our fallen…”
Ripper’s voice trailed off as Eden dug her nails into his hand.
Trev wanted this to happen, but not here. Not right now either.
Jenn’s eyes went wider.
She then mouthed… Eden…
Eden sank into Trev’s arm.
“Tell me,” she whispered. “Right now, Trev. Tell me. Or I’m going to freak out.”
“Freak out, beautiful,” Trev whispered back. “I have to go take a shot with my brothers. Don’t move an inch.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
Trev stepped forward and looked back.