Chapter 184 Tributes on Her

Chapter 184 Tributes on Her
Lily

Nathaniel drew in a long, shaky breath, as he rested both hands on Ash’s casket, steadying himself, grounding himself, before raising his head to look out over the sea of faces.

“If you ever had the privilege of riding beside Ash…” His voice trembled with affection, with memory. “…then you already know everything I’m trying to explain. He wasn’t the loudest. He wasn’t the strongest. He wasn’t the one making speeches. He wasn’t the one threatening people.” Nathaniel’s lips twitched with a bittersweet smile. “He’d leave that to Lucian.”

This time, the laughter was louder, rolling through the cemetery, a ripple of light in the shadow of grief. Even some of the police officers grinned, shaking their heads at memories only they could know. Nathaniel laughed quietly to himself, the sound fading into a softer, sadder place.

“Ash believed that respect wasn’t something you demanded,” he said, voice growing gentle. “It was something you earned. And God… did that man earn it.”

His gaze dropped to the casket, fingers brushing the folded cut as if it could transmit everything words could not.

“I’ve seen him ride into gunfire without blinking. I’ve seen him stay awake for three days straight looking for missing kids. I’ve watched him take beatings that would have put most men in the hospital. And not once… did he ever ask somebody else to do something he wouldn’t do himself.”

The silence that followed was heavy, reverent, filled with the weight of all the stories left untold.

“He wasn’t just a brother. He wasn’t just family. He was home.” Nathaniel’s voice cracked, splintered by grief. “And I don’t know how to explain… how empty home feels without him.”

Tears spilled freely down his face now, and he didn’t try to hide them. Instead, he reached down, ran his fingertips gently across the folded cut on Ash’s casket.

“Ride free, brother,” he whispered, voice trembling. “I’ll take it from here.”

He leaned forward, pressed his forehead to the polished wood, then stepped away, leaving a piece of himself behind.

The applause came slower this time, gentler, as if everyone understood that no amount of clapping could ever fill the space Ash had left behind.

I barely heard it, lost in the pounding of my own heart.

The pastor looked toward me. “Lily…”

My stomach dropped. It was my turn.

My legs felt numb, uncooperative. I swallowed hard. One step, then another. Each movement felt like wading through water.

Then... a hand brushed mine. I looked over. Knox. He hadn’t said a word, just slipped into step beside me, a silent promise. Then Jinx, his brand-new Sergeant-at-Arms patch gleaming in the sunlight, still holding my hand. He never let go. Darius joined on my other side.

The four of us walked together toward the podium, a wall, a family.

For just a moment, the fear faded. I wasn’t alone. Not really. I glanced at each of them. Knox gave me a small nod. Jinx squeezed my hand. Darius offered the faintest smile.

We’ve got you.

I nodded, gratitude swelling in my chest.

When we reached the front, they stopped, not behind me, but beside me. Like a shield. Like home.

I stepped behind the podium and immediately regretted it. There were so many people. Thousands. Motorcycles stretched farther than I could see. Police officers, reporters, families, children, business owners. Every single one of them looking at me. Waiting.

My mouth went dry. I looked down at Caleb’s casket, at his prospect cut neatly draped across the lid, his helmet, his favorite gloves tucked underneath. I smiled through my tears.

“Hi, bub.”

A few people in the crowd smiled, sadness in their eyes.

“He hated when I called him that in public.” Soft laughter rippled through the cemetery.

“So…” I wiped at my face, blinking hard. “I’m gonna do it one last time.” Another gentle laugh.

“He was my everything.” The words tumbled out, easier than I expected. “My brother wasn’t just my brother. He was my best friend. My protector. My biggest pain in the ass.”

More laughter, grateful and aching.

“I depended on him more times than I’d ever admit to his face.” A smile found me. “If my car broke down, I called Caleb. If I needed gas money, I called Caleb. If I locked my keys in my car, I called Caleb. If somebody scared me, I called Caleb.”

I took a shaky breath. “He always answered. No matter what.” I glanced at the sky, the blue so bright it hurt. “He taught me everything. How to change my own oil. How to check tire pressure. How to fill up at a gas station without looking like I had no clue what I was doing.” Chuckles slipped through the crowd. “He even taught me how to hotwire a car.”

Surprised laughter burst out. I shrugged, innocent. “In my defense, I’ve never actually done it. He just wanted me to know.”

Even the officers laughed, one shaking his head. “Sounds like Caleb.”

My smile lingered. “But… he also taught me things you can’t learn from a book. He taught me that family isn’t always blood. He taught me that protecting people matters. He taught me that sometimes… doing the right thing isn’t the easy thing.”

I swallowed, fighting for composure. “He believed in me… when nobody else did. He saw me. The real me. Even when I didn’t.”

My eyes blurred again. “There were days I didn’t think I was enough. I wasn’t strong enough. I wasn’t smart enough. I wasn’t brave enough. But somehow… Caleb always looked at me like I already was. He never tried to make me into somebody else. He simply reminded me… of who I already was.”

A tear rolled down my cheek. I let it.

“If you knew Caleb…” I managed a smile through my grief. “…then you knew just how wonderful he was. And also… how absolutely terrifying he could be.”

Laughter rippled across the crowd.

“He could look at you for about three seconds… and somehow know you were lying. I swear he could smell bullshit.” Even Knox laughed quietly beside me.

“You couldn’t hide anything from him. He’d figure it out before you even knew there was something to figure out.” More laughter.

“He didn’t need proof. He just… knew.” I looked back at the casket. “He was my brother. My hero. My safe place. I miss him… every single day. I miss that goofy smile. I miss that smartass mouth. I miss him walking into a room like he owned the damn place.” I laughed, watery and raw. “And God… I even miss those stupid dad jokes.”

The crowd laughed again, the sound almost bright.

“I spent years pretending I hated them.” I smiled, tears streaming. “But I’d give anything… to hear one more.”

Stillness settled, heavy and sacred. Thousands stood together, silent, unmoving.

I reached down, resting my hand on Caleb’s casket. “I don’t know how to live in a world without you yet. I don’t know if I ever will. But I promise you this…” My voice steadied, anchored by the faces beside me, by the love in the crowd. “I’ll keep protecting people. I’ll keep fighting. I’ll keep trying to become someone you’d be proud of.”

A tear splashed onto the polished wood.

“And one day…” I smiled through the ache, “when it’s finally my time, I hope you’re waiting at the gates with the worst dad joke you’ve ever heard.”

Tears and laughter mingled in the crowd.

“Because if anyone deserves one last eye roll from me… it’s you.”

I bent down, pressed a kiss to the top of his casket.

“I love you, bub. I always will.”