Utah (Knights Corruption MC: Laredo #4)

Chapter 16

16

We weren’t the first to arrive at the church. Most of the guys were already here, milling around outside. Everyone wore the same solemn expression. I still couldn’t wrap my head around what happened. Crash was gone. I’d witnessed his demise firsthand, yet the entire incident seemed like nothing more than a nightmare.

“Hey, sis.” Knox and Kyla strode toward us, his voice pulling me away from my own thoughts. His attention briefly swerved to me before focusing on his sister again. “What are you doing here?” he asked as he kissed her cheek.

“I wanted to be here for you both. I didn’t know Crash well, but he was important to the club, and I wanted to show my support.”

“That’s sweet of you.” He flashed her a grin before he looked back at me. “Can I have a word with you?”

“This isn’t about me being here, is it?” Ria tugged on his arm.

“Not at all. Club business.”

She and Kyla shared a look right before I followed Knox around to the side of the church .

“What’s up?”

“Are you still going to Mexico?” he asked.

“Yeah, why?” My heart slowed in anticipation he’d argue I wasn’t healed enough or tell me that the trip had even been postponed.

“Because I was gonna go, too, but I’m not sure now. I mean, I wanna get justice for Crash as much as anyone else, but I got other shit I gotta worry about. If something happens to me, who’s gonna look out for Kyla? My mom? My sisters?”

I squeezed his shoulder in understanding. “You don’t have to explain. Besides, your sister pitched a fit when she found out I was going. I could only imagine what she’d do if she learned you were making the trip as well.” Our mirrored half-grins disappeared as quickly as they graced our faces. “Do you know who else is going?”

“Prez, Marek, and Stone for sure. Not sure about the rest yet. I’m sure Prez will call a meeting beforehand.”

“We only got two days left.”

“I know.” Knox ran his hand over the top of his head. “I fuckin’ hope Marek and Prez put an end to this shit with Carrillo once and for all. The last thing I wanna do is go to another one of our funerals, and definitely not my own.”

“No one else is dying,” I stated, although I didn’t truly believe my response.

I couldn’t predict the future. I had no way of knowing how our meeting with the head of the cartel would go. He could side with his nephew. I’d heard his health wasn’t the best. Maybe he didn’t want to get in the middle of this war because he’d be dead sooner than later. All I could do was speculate, which I didn’t believe ever worked in anyone’s favor.

Knox bumped my shoulder. “It’s gonna be a shitty day, my friend.”

“That’s for sure. I hope there’s enough booze at the clubhouse because I plan on getting fucked up. ”

“Me too.”

Knox started to say something else but stopped when we heard a commotion. We rushed back to the front of the church only to witness some woman shouting as she crossed the street toward all of us.

Based on her anger and the same shade of red hair as our fallen brother, I’d wager this was Crash’s sister.

“Who’s the leader of this gang?” she yelled, walking toward the circle of guys standing near the steps. “Which one of you killed my brother?”

Prez stepped toward her, his subdued expression belying the tension in his stance. “Ginny, is it?” He didn’t wait for her to confirm before he attempted to calm her down. “No one here killed Crash. He was one of us.”

“Who the hell is Crash?”

“Sorry. Edgar. Like I said, none of us killed him. It was someone else, and trust me, we’re gonna find out who and take care of it.”

“I don’t believe you. And you’ve done enough. My brother is gone because of this gang.”

“It’s not a gang,” Nash corrected, moving his hair behind his shoulders. “It’s a motorcycle club. And your brother was one of us.”

Ginny’s anger only burned brighter. “I warned him not to join. I told him something was going to happen to him, but he refused to listen. He was twenty years old; I couldn’t force him to see reason.” She continued to speak, but her voice cracked. “Now he’s gone.” Tears flowed down her cheeks, and every one of us shared in her sadness. Prez placed his hand on her shoulder in a show of sympathy, but she swatted him away. “Don’t touch me. You’re the reason he’s dead.” Her palm connected with Prez’s cheek before any of us saw her raise her hand. His eyes widened, but otherwise, he didn’t react. When she attempted to attack him once more, Rez stepped in and snatched her wrist.

“Not the place, sweetheart.” She tried to snatch her hand back, but he pulled her closer and whispered something to her before he released her. She eventually moved back. He continued to stand close, and oddly enough, she didn’t appear as upset as she was moments ago.

“Who’s that?” Ria asked, pointing toward two black SUVs heading our way.

My instinct, which was shared by several of the other guys, was to reach behind me and grasp the handle of the gun tucked into my waistband. With all of us in the same place at the same time, this would be a perfect opportunity for the cartel to hit us hard. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of this possibility before now, but here we were.

As the passenger window slowly rolled down, my heart skipped a beat at the potential scene that could unfold. Instinctively, I tucked Ria behind me. Knox and I made eye contact, and we both nodded as if in sync.

“We didn’t miss the service, did we?”

I couldn’t begin to explain the relief that flooded through me at having seen Tripp’s face. Fuck!

“You almost got shot, motherfucker,” Nash shouted as he strolled toward the lead vehicle.

“Didn’t you know we were coming?” Kaden asked, peering around Nash to look at Marek, his father.

“With everything going on, I think we forgot.”

“Park in the lot behind the church,” Prez instructed. “The hearse should be here any minute.”

The two SUVs disappeared, and moments later, Kaden, Jagger, Tripp, Ryder, Lincoln, Stone’s son, Ace, and Hawke appeared. Everyone was dressed similarly in jeans but with button-down shirts beneath their cuts .

Even though our charters were separated by seventeen hundred miles, we were a singular entity. And our California brothers came through by showing up for Crash, even though most of them didn’t know him well. Club loyalty and honor meant everything.

“Seeing you all together is very intimidating.” Ria huddled beside me, and when her eyes lifted to mine, my heart swelled with protectiveness.

“I got you. Don’t worry about anything. They’re good guys.”

“How you feelin’?” Hawke’s attention bounced between me and Ria, but his question was obviously meant for me.

“I’m gettin’ there. Slowly.”

“Been there, brother. You’ll be as good as new soon enough. Well, maybe not as new, but as close as you can get.”

I’d had limited interactions with Hawke during his visits with us, but he seemed like a decent guy. He came across as serious, so whenever his brother, Tripp, would tell stories about him in the past, it sounded as if he was talking about a completely different person. The only explanation I got was that after his woman was almost killed, something inside Hawke died, transforming him into the man he was today. There weren’t many details given, and I didn’t pry. I understood the need to protect the past more than anyone.

“They’re coming,” Stone announced, moving toward the sidewalk. “Who’s helping carry the casket?”

“I will,” I said.

“Like hell you will.” Ria scowled up at me. “You’re going to reinjure yourself.”

“She’s right, Utah.” Her brother supported her objection. “No way you’re doing it.”

I couldn’t rightfully argue because, while I wanted to be there for Crash in any way I could, I couldn’t risk doing something that would endanger my trip to Mexico .

“We’ll do it.” Renner motioned between himself, Brick, Stone, and Nash. “We’d be honored.”

A solemn air enveloped everyone as we lined the walkway in solidarity as Crash’s casket was carried into the church.

We’d give our brother the send-off he deserved.