Unity

Epilogue

This was it, what everyone had dreaded. The day of Ava's funeral. It had been a struggle for everyone who had loved her, especially Ace and Ronan. It had caused tension between the two clubs because Ronan had wanted to make a move on the ones that had killed her yet Ace had buried his head in the sand or more so the bar and strip clubs. Any club member has their presidents back no matter what, it was law amongst their community. It had caused a few street brawls until Tahlia had called them all out and they'd made promises to stick to their sides of towns. All up until today.

Tahlia had spent hours with Tony trying to work out how to make this day perfect for Ava, to send her off in the way that she deserved. It was Tahlias way of distracting herself although she always returned home to her husband with tears in her eyes that seemed to force their way out from her eyes until she slept. It had worried her entire family but she'd assured them she was grieving and it would pass even if she did question if it ever would. She made sure she was up bright and early, her outfit hanging on the wardrobe. So she woke up, forced on her brightest smile and made sure she looked perfect because Ava deserved nothing less.

The funeral was being held at the same place Axel had been buried all those years ago, with the rest of their family. Everyone had turned up to pay their respects, even though Ronan was a little late. He'd shown up with a stony face, standing towards the back as he watched people he didn't even recognise pay their respects. Charlie had shown up too, a sad look upon his features and he'd sat with Ronan. The only person who hadn't shown up was Ace, that was until they were halfway through the eulogy. His bike roared loudly throughout the graveyard, tyres squealing against the gravel and causing everyone to turn as he pulled the bike to a stop.

In this moment Ronan had to remind himself that today was about Ava and saying goodbye to her, she wouldn't want him to argue about how late he was. He stumbled over the uneven ground and ronans frown only deepened, he looked like shit. He was pretty sure the front of his shirt was covered in blood, he had a split lip and he wasn't even wearing his cut. From the corner of his eye he noticed that John was throwing a disapproving glare in his direction where as Tony was completely ignoring him, holding both Tahlia and his wife's hands comfortingly.

Tony was putting on a brave face when really he was hurting, very badly. He'd grown to know the last piece of his family over the last few years and what had turned to be a quick trip for a wedding had ended up burying his niece. It had broke him and it had only fuelled his hatred for Ace. When the first problems with the rebels had arose he'd told him he'd have full support from their members, to take them out as soon as possible because they'd never expect the numbers but his arrogance had gotten Axel and Ava killed. He wasn't sure he'd ever be able to look at him without killing him which is why he sat staring coffin below.

Ace pushed his way to the front, ignoring the people who had called to him and stared down at the coffin. A sob escaped his lips and he dropped to his knees, his heart twisting painfully to the point he felt as if he couldn't breathe. "It's real." He mumbled. Gunner had followed him through the crowd, resting a hand on his shoulder feeling a sorrow of his own. It shared between losing someone he'd known most of his life to watching one of his best friends suffer from losing his one true love. It was true that Ace had only ever loved Ava and now he wasn't sure he'd ever love another. He rose from the ground, angrily wiping away his tears before he turned to face the crowd. "They've got to die."

Ronan narrowed his eyes at Ace who was staring just as intently back. "Get your club, we're going in. Now." He ordered, sharp words that resounded through the suddenly quiet graveyard.

"No." Ronan simply responded. "Not until the service is over."

"They can't get away with thi-"

"They won't." Ronan snapped, completely cutting off his sentence. Sierra reached for Noah, already feeling the tension building between them all and worrying a fight would break out. Even ciaran shuffled uncomfortably beside his president, resting his hand on his belt where his gun was kept. He knew Ronan hadn't been the same for the last few weeks, he'd been awol for most of them and completely absent from the clubhouse with no idea of his whereabouts. He hadn't even been to visit his father, no one sure if he'd even called him. But he had. He'd spoke to his dad about a certain secret, asking for advice on the next few steps on how to deal with the rebels.