Fury - Page 74

“Definitely the fucking Hand, this,” I mumbled, glancing at Indie, who stood staring down into the hole where half the coffin lid was smashed off, white satin on show in the box underneath.

“Guys,” one of the Twins started, staring at the same thing we were. “Where the fuck is Ste’s body? Please tell me they haven’t taken it.

“Nah, mate,” I grinned at him. “We cremated Ste weeks ago.”

“What? So, we buried an empty fucking box?”

“Aye. Never bury them. Not when a war is brewing. This is the first thing a rival MC will do. And it’s a Hand speciality. They’ll be furious as fuck now.” I chuckled.

“How did you manage that? I thought Heidi would have noticed. She was all over that place.”

I swallowed slowly, not wanting anyone to see how her name affected me.

“We did it before she got there,” Indie answered. “He never was lying in those freezers out the back. He’s been sitting on my shelf for weeks. Think my mam is going to take him home with her soon. No fucking idea why, but better than the kids knocking him all over the floor and Daisy eating him.”

The graveyard erupted into chuckles. Deep, loud, throaty laughs. But none of them were mine.

*****

Christmas Eve

The Dog bounced with the thud of music. The entire club drinking together. At the far end, a new table of prospects sat, clutching pints they’d barely had time to drink. My mam poked her head through the door again.

“Boys!” she shouted over the music. “I need someone to bring this food out.”

Magnet nudged the prospects, who’d only just sat down again after the last job we gave them. But they had to earn their patches and slave labour was as good as any initiation into the club as stealing bikes and patches from the Notorious, although it would have made me happier.

A woman wiped themselves against me, cooing something in my ear that I didn’t listen to. Another of Tori’s hangarounds. She’d swamped the club with them lately. Half dressed. Tits and tattoos everywhere.

“She’s good looking.” Magnet nudged me. “What’s wrong with that one?”

“Nothing mate. Just not in the mood.”

“What? Ever? Or just because the Fischer name is all over the news again?”

I tried to ignore him, but he stood there waiting for some sort of reply.

“Jake text me to say he was making an arrest.”

“Aye. Heard they’ve arrested Leverett too.”

“Dirty bastard in more ways than one, that one.”

“Fucking was. I could hear the fucker wanking when you made me confess just to get that CCTV of you getting your end away in the churchyard. Hope you appreciate what I did for you?” Chaos leant his arm on the bar top, looking at me expectantly.

I sighed, staring into the half-drunk pint. The CCTV. The only bit of Heidi I had left, and I couldn’t bring myself to watch it for fear of the memories it might stir up. The investigation into her brother was complete. She was safe now. But she’d never returned.

*****

New Year’s Eve

The clubhouse was bouncing, heavy rock resonating the fucking windows out of their lintels. Nearly every bike club member and their ol’ lady were here. Everyone drinking and laughing. But me.

“Mate, lighten up. You’re as grumpy as fucking Reap.” Magnet patted my shoulder as I perched over a glass of whisky at the bar, one shot having lasted nearly an hour.

“Fuck off, Magnet.”

“How many of those have you had?”