Feeling ostracized, she remained sitting, watching as Rider went to stand next to his cake. She was confused. At Train’s birthday, he had opened his presents before the cake.
When Rider then made no move to cut his cake, Killyama looked around, seeing the whole club had gathered at the back door.
“Aren’t we supposed to watch him open his presents first?” she asked Train curiously.
“No. Just wait. We have a surprise.”
“I don’t have to watch someone strip, do I?”
“No, babe, you don’t have to watch anyone strip,” he said softly.
“Thanks for my birthday dinner.” Rider nodded to Viper who stood up from his seat to stand by the cake.
Killyama, feeling even more confused, watched Rider go stand with the members at the door.
“Today is Rider’s birthday,” Viper stated, and Killyama turned her attention to him. “But it’s also our opportunity to thank someone who accomplished something we couldn’t have done. Killyama brought Gavin home.”
Viper’s expression wrenched her heart. Her and Stud had gone to the hospital a few times to see Gavin, but he had been too bad off to visit. Viper had explained that the withdrawals were so severe that, as soon as he could be stabilized, he would be going to a rehab center that Dr. Price had suggested.
“I will never be able to express my gratitude, or The Last Riders’, with words, because they don’t exist. It doesn’t matter that you belong to the Destructors’, because you belong to us, too. Stud and I agreed you’re just too much for one club to handle. You not only got all eight votes, you got every man and woman’s who is a Last Rider.”
The yells and cheers that came from all the members had her covering her face with her hands.
“Gavin said you deserved a dozen roses, and since Gavin can’t be here to show you his appreciation for what you did for him, we wanted to make sure you got them.”
When Train pulled her hand down, she saw Sasha place a red rose on the picnic table in front of her.
“Thank you, Killyama … for everything.”
She moved away, and Jewell placed another one down.
“Thank you.” Jewell wiped her tears as she moved away.
One after another, the women laid red roses down in front of her.
After Lily laid her red rose down, she came around the table to lean down to hug her. “Thank you, Killyama.”
Beth then followed her sister’s example, and it was everything Killyama could do to maintain her composure.
She was relieved when the women stopped passing by her, almost ready to break.
“I’m the birthday boy, so I get to go first.” Rider laid a pink rose on the growing pile of red roses. “I bought my first collector Harley motorcycle for myself on my twenty-sixth birthday. I don’t want it. It’s yours.” He laid a keyring down in front of her. “Thank you, Killyama.”
Rider’s façade as a ladies’ man was missing. What she saw instead was heart-felt gratitude. She bit her lip to keep it from trembling.
Shade came next. At first, he didn’t speak as he laid down the pink flower. When he did, Killyama placed her hand over Train’s on her lap, gripping it tightly.
He laid a pistol case down on the table. “I got this gun from my father for my sixteenth birthday. I was saving it for John. I don’t want it anymore. You can have it.”
Lucky went next, setting down a Bible, a bottle of tequila, and a pink rose. “My mother bought me this Bible for my fifteenth birthday. I carried it with me every day when I was in the service. I don’t want it anymore. The tequila, I got for my last birthday. I don’t want it, either. May God bless you, Killyama. Thank you.”
She blinked back the tears that were gathering in the corners of her eyes.
Razer went next, laying down another pink rose. “Beth bought me a booklet of gift certificates for a year of meals at King’s restaurant. I don’t want it anymore. Thank you.”
Knox laid down a pink rose and a DVD collection of Zombie Apocalypse. “When I saw The Last Riders belt buckle that Train got for his birthday, I wanted one, too, so Diamond ordered one for me. She gave it to me as an early birthday present, and we already watched the DVDs. I really don’t want them and the buckle was too small. She’s going to buy me another one, so I don’t want it anymore. It’s yours. And anytime you get tired of bounty hunting, let me know. I’ll hire you as a deputy. Thank you.”
Cash laid down his pink rose. “My grandfather gave me this fishing pole for my birthday,” he said as he looked over the pole still in his hands. “It was the last birthday I was able to celebrate with him. It’s yours. I don’t want it anymore. Thank you, Killyama.”