Drake had already heard part of the story about the Tokyo Game Show and the Coscon. He had read part of what had happened on the Internet. The Yakuza boss had first been seduced, tricked, and then persuaded to fake his own death. And all for a pretty face and a lethal high-kick. Already another legend in the making.
He hugged her close and buried his face in her neck. The scent of her was breathtaking. “No matter what,” he murmured for her ears alone. “No matter what happens tomorrow, or next week, or next year. I will always love you. I always have.”
“So you two are together?” Grace blurted. “That’s awesome! Sorry, I wasn’t really listening. It’s just my ears. They were trained by ninjas!” She burst out laughing and threw her head back, showing teeth.
Drake made a face at Mai. “Can we handle her?”
“Ach. Just imagine it’s Alicia without the sluttiness.”
Drake laughed.
Alicia poked her head above shoulder level. “I heard that, little Sprite.”
“Oh, I know. Taz!”
Alicia was up on her feet in an instant. “Who told you about that?” She glared hard at the bikers. “C’mon, which one of you leatherheads is gonna take a beating?”
Trace, the youngest, gave her a sad smile. “I think it was Lomas.”
Alicia deflated immediately. Drake took in the mood of the group and followed his heart. He stood up, lifting a half-full can of soda.
“A salute,” he said. “Let’s raise a glass to those we will always miss. Let’s honor their deeds by drinking to their memory. And let’s keep their memories because they can’t. To our family, gone but never forgotten.”
“To Jonathan.” Hayden lifted her arm.
“To my mother.” Kinimaka wiped the tears away.
“To Ben,” Karin said. “And my mum and dad.”
“To Romero.” Smyth licked his lips.
“To Lomas,” Alicia whispered, and the rest of the bikers named the others who had died.
“To Sam and Jo,” Drake said, and drank deeply.
Throughout the silence that followed, the fallen were remembered and celebrated. Those that remained lived on for the dead, carrying their deeds, hopes and dreams with them; a shining talisman, because in our hearts and memories our departed loved ones live forever.