Because You're Mine

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Spider

Sitting in his place at the table as Treasurer of the club he watched as his brothers filed in and took their seats at the table or against the wall. Once Dizzy gave the okay that everyone was present the doors were locked and they waited silently for their president to speak.

Slamming the shiny silver hammer onto the block of steel Orca held it in his hand, looking at it, before he gently set it on top of the steel.

He nodded at Fish and the large screen came to life showing them the entire National Council of the Iron Dogz MC was present. There were whispers and the sounds of boots shuffling before a look from Orca shut it down.

“We welcome the National Council to our chapel and thank them for being present for this very important moment in the history of the Cape Town Chapter.” Orca opened the meeting.

Hawk and the Council members nodded, not saying a word.

“Today we’re about to change some things at the Iron Dogz MC Chapter in Cape Town.” He started slow but spoke faster as he settled into what he wanted to say.

“I’ve led this club for what seems like most of my life, some of it was good but some of it was downright fucking horrible. I’ve lost brothers along the way, almost lost my old lady because I was a dick, and lost my eldest daughter for several years because again, I was a dick. When Hook became ill I nearly lost my fucking mind. I was about to lose not only my VP, but there was a good chance I was going to lose my best friend, a man who had been by my side through it all.”

He smoothed a hand over the table before he continued.

“When it became clear my friend would have to step down Hook and I immediately drew up a list of candidates for his position. We only did it because Blaze point blank refused to step up. And that’s his prerogative, we accepted his decision. Imagine our surprise and secret delight when we heard the SAA of the Joburg Chapter, Kid Warne, as he was known as at the time, was in fact not a Warne, but was the son of War Knight, President of the Sinners Sons MC in Cape Town. It was as if the fates had reached out and given us the perfect candidate for the position, the only problem being that he was deeply entrenched in the Joburg Chapter.”

Kid gave a soft snort and Orca grinned.

“I reached out to our National President and he gave me the good news that Kid would be in Cape Town to visit with his new family. Hook and I jumped at the opportunity to talk to him and were bloody happy when after some back and forth wrangling he eventually accepted the position. We’ve had some ups and downs and teething problems with him taking over but that’s in the past. He’s our brother in word and deed.”

Leaning his forearms on the table Orca ran his fingers through the grooves his rings had cut into the table top.

“I was hoping for a time of peace when I do what I’m about to do but unfortunately that’s not to be. Recently we found traitors in our ranks and it’s about to get worse. The club is under surveillance and investigation by a group that calls themselves ICI – it stands for International Criminal Investigations. Our informant let us know the club is suspected of money laundering, funding terrorism, arms dealing, dealing in narcotics and human trafficking, to name only a few of the indictments.”

Outrage and shock ran through the brothers and several let their displeasure be known with loud calls of ‘bullshit’.

“We have reason to believe the traitors at the club are working with the Fortunes gang and a crime organisation called The Foundation. We all know who the fucking Fortunes are and so far we’ve been able to deal with them with hardly any blowback. Unfortunately they have recently joined forces with this global crime organisation. The Foundation has been unable to get a foothold in Africa because of Dominick Maingarde’s Syndicate. It seems probable that they will use the Fortunes gang and their connections to other crime organisations to eliminate all those seen to be in the way of their expansion.”

He looked around the room.

“We are in the way of their expansion. The club’s links to Dominick Maingarde has never been hidden, we are allies and have been for years. That won’t change.”

Orca glanced at Spider before he continued.

“It has come to light that the Rutherfords, the fuckers who stole Spider’s son, are deeply involved with the Fortunes and The Foundation. Robert Rutherford uses his family’s real estate company to acquire properties for the organisation. Those properties are vacant at present but they are in close proximity of our assets in the harbour and our legal businesses in the city. There are several close to Dominick’s properties as well. All standing vacant, waiting for whatever it is they are planning.”

He waved at the other screen that showed a graphic of the connections between the different organisations.

Listing the men and women they had been able to confirm headed them up.

“This is what we are going to be facing. And that brings me to why we are here today.”

He slowly pushed his chair back and stood, his hands on the table as he stared at the officers around the table.

“Last night I made a difficult but necessary decision. I am retiring as President of the Cape Town Chapter of the Iron Dogz MC with immediate effect. As the outgoing president it’s up to me to choose my successor. As my VP the position automatically goes to Kid Knight, he is also the man I choose to take up the gavel and lead the club into the future. He is young, experienced and exactly what we as a club need right now. I urge you to accept my choice and support him as you’ve supported me. I ask that you support his choice of officers who will serve on his council and give them your loyalty.”

A buzz had started as he spoke and it became louder after he announced his choice of President for the club.

It wasn’t a bad buzz, it was more excitement than resentment. That might change once Kid started making changes.

“Kid Knight, stand please.”

Hawk’s voice thundered over the buzzing of voices and silence fell.

Kid stood and faced his National President, he wasn’t only his prez but also one of his best friends and like a blood brother to him.

“Do you accept the gavel as passed to you by Orca Wellington, outgoing President of the Cape Town Chapter of the Iron Dogz MC?”

“I do.”

“As National President of the Iron Dogz MC I hereby endorse Orca Wellington’s choice and appoint Kid Knight as the new President of the Cape Town Chapter of the Iron Dogz MC.” He smiled at Kid. “President Kid Knight, please take your place at the head of your table.”

Orca smiled wide as Kid took the few steps to reach him and the two hugged. Stepping back he pointed at the chair as he moved away to stand against the wall.

Kid dragged his fingers through the lines carved in the table then looked up. His expression hard and cold.

“I’m not an easy man to get along with and I won’t ever apologise for my less than friendly personality. You’ll get used to it and learn that I like things done my way. I’m not unreasonable and will always listen, and if necessary consult my council, before making a final decision. I have worked my way up in the hierarchy of the club, served as SAA for Joburg for many years before transferring to Cape Town to take up the position as VP when Hook retired. I am honoured to be chosen to serve as President of this Chapter and will lead us forward with the support of my council and my brothers. Usually the incoming president takes his time before he appoints his council, I don’t need the time. My council will consist of the following brothers, when I call your name please stand.”

A buzz flew around the room as the brothers speculated.

“As VP I’ve chosen Spider Walker.”

Spider pushed his chair back and stood, nodding his acceptance.

“Our SAA Blaze Greeff will continue on in his position.”

Blaze stood and nodded as well.

“The same with our Enforcer, Sly Campbell.”

Sly stood and nodded.

“Our Road Captain will stay as is, Lines Rademan.”

Lines stood and nodded.

“Security and Tech will be Van Jones.”

Van Stood and nodded.

“Our new Treasurer will be Dizzy Mitchell.”

Dizzy looked shocked as he stood and nodded his acceptance.

“Our new Secretary will be Wrath Campbell.”

Wrath’s mouth fell open and he shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it before he slowly stood.

“Our Tail Gunner stays as is, Vulture Schutte.”

Vulture stood and nodded.

“As Hawk has done at our Johannesburg Chapter I’ve decided to appoint a Trouble Shooter and that brother is Blacky Swart.”

Blacky looked as shocked as Wrath as he stood.

“We have a double chair for the position of Chaplain. Orca and Hook will share the title.”

Orca smiled and nodded and so did Hook who slowly and painfully stood.

“I have a final officer who doesn’t have a seat at the table or a chair in this room. This position and the person serving won’t ever be acknowledged as an officer or as part of my council, they will be completely under the radar and only serve when needed. The position as Medical Officer will be filled by Monica Wellington. From today onwards her club name will be Glass, and please note, it’s not an official road name but a name to protect her identity from outsiders.”

The buzz became not a buzz but an outcry. Several of the older brothers made their opposition to a ‘fucking bitch’ serving as an officer perfectly clear.

Kid stood silent, leaning on the table, his hands on either side of the gouges. His dead cold eyes swept the room and the voices died down and disappeared.

“If you don’t agree with my choices feel free to leave your kutte on my table and fuck off. I do not need you fuckers to make my choices for me. I am the President of this club. My word is law. You follow my fucking laws or you fuck off. Any disagreements you have with me, my officers, or each other will be sorted with blood in the ring.” He gave a wholly evil smile as he swept the room, his eyes still without any emotion what so ever. “I forget, most of you have no fucking clue what it means.”

“The empty warehouse at the bottom of the property is being converted into a gym and a fighting octagon. All brothers will be training in fighting techniques and we will work out regularly. We can’t have unfit brothers compromising our safety when it comes down to a fight. We will work out our differences with our fists, like we’ve been doing in Joburg for years. Anyone with objections to Glass, or any of my other choices put your name on the list with Sly. We’ll schedule a bout as soon as the work is completed. I’ve been assured it will be ready early next week and I’m looking forward to working out some of our differences. Now onto business, our outgoing Secretary, Dizzy, will be handing out our new flashes. We will remove the old and sew on the new in the common room while we celebrate our outgoing President, Orca Wellington.”

Dragging Orca’s chair, now his, closer Kid sat down and everyone followed his example, sitting down in their new spots at the table. Watching his new prez he saw him give Hawk a subtle chin lift. Hawk glared out at them, knowing his cousin the way he did he knew shit was about to get real. And boy was he right.

“Your new president has chosen his council and laid out some basic guidelines for this chapter going forward. I have a few things to add as your National President. The first thing you should all know is that blood law has been reinstated at all Chapters. Fighting rings will be erected at clubhouses across the country. I would like to make fitness checks mandatory but my council talked me out of it, however, it will serve you well to start working out. There will be fight nights and you don’t want to get knocked out in the first round.”

He winked and Spider knew their National Prez was looking forward to putting some of them on their asses.

“The days of being lenient with brothers who undermine their Presidents and disrespect the club is over. There will be no quarter given when they are found. We’re aware some of you are enemies of the club, and that you were with Omo when he made his plans to overthrow Orca’s council. Your new president has decided to give you a chance. You either give your allegiance to him and the club, or you leave now and get out with your life and skin intact. My advice, take the out he’s offering you, because if you stay, I personally guarantee, your lives will be fucking miserable. Take the out. Put your kutte on the table and you will be allowed to leave, but only after we’ve blacked out all IDMC tattoos. You’ll be allowed to leave but there will be eyes on you for the rest of your miserable lives. And maybe one day, sometime in the future, your betrayal of the club will be dealt with. It won’t be the club who will deal with you, it will be your worst nightmare coming to visit. It will be the Crow and his people, therefore, make your choice and do it quickly because I don’t have the patience your president seems to have. Fucking choose, and do it now!” Hawk hissed furiously.

Stunned silence greeted his words. It was obvious the men in the room thought all the traitors had been dealt with. They were wrong. Two of their brothers really weren’t their brothers at all. They were infiltrators, sponsored in by Omo and his group. They had come in and were good brothers, not hanging out with the traitors and working hard for the club. If it was up to him he would bang them back down to prospect status and allow them to work their way back up. But it wasn’t up to him. This was all Hawk’s play.

Two of the brothers stood and slowly stepped forward. There was stunned silence from the brothers as they stared at them. Neither moved to take off their kuttes.

“If I may speak, Prez?” Rich asked politely. He sounded educated, refined, nothing like his usual Cape Flats accent.

He wasn’t asking Hawk, he was looking at Kid.

“Go ahead.” Kid gave him a cold look.

“Yes, when we came here as hangarounds it was with the intent to infiltrate and spy on the club. We were eighteen, stupid, and totally indoctrinated. Our families gave us to the organisation when we were fifteen and then erased us, it was as if we’d never been born. For two years we were subjected to training that broke us down and rebuilt us as mindless pawns to be used however the head of the organisation saw fit. We were sent to central Africa, to a terrorist cell. We were there for a year and did things no one should ever be asked to do. We were eighteen when we were brought to Cape Town and given our new assignment. We had to become bikers and we did. We learnt to ride, how to talk, how to walk, how to be bikers. Then we were sent here as hangarounds. Omo was our point of contact and he gave us our orders. He had us running guns, delivering narcotics and delivering beat downs on those he chose to punish. He supplied us with kuttes long before we were patched in, fake ones. I’m ashamed to admit we did what we did wearing the kuttes as ordered by Omo. Being around the brothers and becoming part of the brotherhood, of the IDMC family, was an eye opener for both of us. The more we were exposed to the brotherhood the more we were changing, becoming better men. Up until we came to the club we had no friends, no one who claimed us as their brothers, no family. We were alone and dispensable. Then came the day Omo ordered us to do the unimaginable. He gave us a list of names. They were a list of women and children we were supposed to beat up and rape as a warning to the brothers who wouldn’t join his cause. We stalled, told him it would take time to arrange. It was a lie. What took time was making sure we alerted the club to Omo’s plans. We had to be careful how we planted the evidence of what he was doing and planning on doing. We warned the club and waited. Waited for the day we would have to face judgement. That day is today.” He looked at his stoic friend next to him and he gave a nod. “We’re only twenty years old but we feel like we’ve lived a hundred fucked up years and we’d both like it to end. Today. We found a brotherhood we respect and we’re not walking or taking our kuttes off. All we ask is that you make it quick.”

To say they were stunned would be not enough. The two men standing before them had suffered unimaginable hardships and now they wanted to die.

They were only fucking twenty years old!

They had not even lived yet and they were asking to die.

It was Orca’s gentle voice that broke the silence.

“What are your real names, boys?”

“My name is Henry McCauley and his name is Nelson Smithfield.” Rich answered quietly.

“Which organisation did your families hand you over to?”

“The Foundation.” Nelson Smithfield who went by the road name of Specs answered.

“Fucking hell.” Spider swore softly.

“Why did your families do it?” Hawk asked, his voice as gentle as Orca’s.

“To prove their loyalty and commitment to The Foundation, Prez. They gained standing and power by handing over their sons. As valuable operatives in the organisation they gain even more power, but if we fuck up, they lose it all. We’re tired, we want it to end but it has to be in such a way that they lose everything our lives bought them. When you end us we want you to put our decapitated bodies where they will cause an uproar. We’re ready for this, we’ve had our old identities resurrected. The pigs will connect us to our families and them to several crime organisations, they will be blamed for our deaths. None of it will come back on the club, we made sure of it.” Henry McCauley, or Rich, explained.

“Jesus, boys, if you think we’re going to lose those devious minds of yours you’re making a huge fucking mistake.” Hawk grinned. “I’m not ending you, I’m claiming you. Unfortunately we can’t leave you here because it might alert the enemy that you’ve turned on them. You’re going to disappear for a while. As far as the enemy is concerned they will assume we ended you and disposed of the bodies. You will be taken to an undisclosed destination where you will start to work your way back into the trust of your officers and brothers. The road names Rich and Specs will no longer be yours, you will start at the bottom and earn your new names. You will leave today and I will personally meet you at the end of your journey to settle you in your new home.”

Spider instantly knew where those boys were going. They were going home, to his mum and dad, to Bulldog and Suzy. He didn’t show it but he was relieved Hawk was taking them away from Cape Town. They would have been in danger had they stayed.

“Remy and his team will come for them within the next hour. Until they arrive they will be under the protection of Orca and Blaze Wellington. Those of you fuckers muttering about not liking my decision, I don’t fucking care, you will keep your mouths shut or I will shut it for you. It. Is. Done.” Hawk growled, his eyes bright yellow again.

Kid used the silence to slam a hand on the table and draw everyone’s attention.

“The boys will be in my office with Blaze and Orca until Remy arrives. Colt and Smiles, you’ll be guarding the door. There will be no talk of a beat down or any such shit, your National President made a decision and we will stick by it.” He glared at a couple of brothers who had been mumbling. “We’re done here for today.”

Picking up the gavel he looked at it intently, twisted it in his hands, before he smashed it down.

“Everyone gather in the common room for a beer and to celebrate what the fuck ever you want to celebrate. Get out of here.”

Feet shuffled as the room emptied, fast.

Spider walked out with Kid and he smiled when his new president slapped his back before walking over to where his old lady was sitting at the bar with two of her crew. Cuba and Mads looked relaxed but they weren’t. They were watching the brothers as they spread out in the room. He wondered what that was about.

He forgot about it when Dizzy smacked him on the back.

“Time to get to sewing, brother.” He held out a ziplock baggie with a wide smile.

Spider took it and shook his head when he saw it included a needle and thread. Trust Dizzy to be thorough.

Walking over to one of the empty tables he drew out a chair then took off his kutte and laid it on the table. Taking his knife from the sheath at his side he sat down and gently started undoing the stitches holding his Treasurer flash in place. Dizzy, Wrath and Blacky joined him and not long after they were all sewing and swearing when they poked holes in their fingers. It was part of doing it yourself, getting your blood on your kutte and in the stitching, making it truly your own.

Shrugging his kutte back on he glanced down at the VP flash and smiled. He had wanted that flash for a very long time. Looking around the room he saw it was fast turning into a party. Taking out his phone he sent his woman a quick text.

Come to the common room, sweetness.

Sliding it back into his pocket he walked to the bar, got a beer then returned to his seat. Sly and Vulture had joined them and he enjoyed having a beer with his brothers as he waited for his woman.

Kid, Noe, Cuba and Mads brought their drinks over to the table and joined them. Noe sitting in his president’s lap with her hand on the back of his neck. They looked so damned good together.

His eyes kept going towards the door at the back of the club and he stood when Vee walked in. She looked around, spotted him, smiled and made her way towards him.

When she reached him he grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a hug then settled them in his chair, his woman on his lap where she belonged.

Cuba pointed the pointer fingers of both hands at them and cackled loudly.

“I called it! I won the bet! I win!” She shouted with a wide smile. “I’m going to enjoy spending my sisters’ money, thank you, Spider my man.”

She was loud as she rejoiced over her winnings.

Eyes turned their way and he saw several of his brothers’ eyes narrowing on him. Wrath was one of those brothers who watched him. It was the brothers who had claimed her as a friend who were giving him the evil eye.

It was time to let everyone know she was his woman and off limits to the rest of them.

Holding on to her hips he lifted her as he stood, put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her tight against his side.

Lifting his fingers to his mouth he let off a loud whistle to get everyone’s attention.

“I wasn’t going to do this today or anytime soon but Noe and her crew just outed us.”

He looked down at his woman and winked.

“Today I have more to celebrate than becoming your VP. Brothers, allow me to introduce you to Vanessa Monroe, you know her as Nessa. She is mine, my woman and my old lady. There hasn’t been time to put my patch on her back but it will be there soon. Treat her with the respect she deserves as my woman and the mother of my son.”

Dipping his head he kissed her. Her lips being open in shock made it easy to slip his tongue inside and play. He kissed her thoroughly, making it clear she belonged to him.

The howls and cheering had him lifting his head, with his hand at the back of his woman’s head he held her to his chest, threw back his head and howled with his brothers.

They stood side by side, Vee getting hugs from the women and some of the brothers and him getting one armed hugs and slaps on the back, accepting their congratulations.

Eventually he could sit back down and settled his old lady on his lap.

The prospect had brought them fresh drinks and he was talking to Dizz when Vee stiffening in his arms made him aware that something was wrong.

Checking the room he saw Natalie making her way towards their table. The common room was packed so it took her a while to get to them. How his old lady had spotted her he didn’t know, but he was glad she hadn’t come up to them unexpectedly.

She started shouting before she reached their table.

“NO! NO! NO! HE’S MINE! HE’S ALWAYS BEEN MINE! HE WAS PROMISED TO ME!”

As she got closer she was almost running and that’s when he saw the big fucking knife she had in her hand, it was concealed in the folds of her long skirt but he saw it.

Jumping up he shoved his old lady behind him and held his hands up, trying to placate the fucking mad bitch who was now almost on top of him.

“Natalie, you have to calm down and drop the knife.” He snapped at her, hoping the command in his voice would shock her back to reality.

No such luck.

The bitch launched herself at him screaming like a mad woman, which she was.

“SHE WON’T HAVE YOU! NO ONE WILL HAVE YOU! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MINE!”

He reared back but not enough, the knife missed his face but sliced through his tee, cutting into his chest. It fucking hurt as he shoved her away from him. It was Cuba who punched her in the face, grabbed her arm and twisted it viciously, making her drop the knife. Then she proceeded to punch her several times before Noe pulled her off. Natalie collapsed on the floor, crying wildly, and was quickly pulled up and restrained by Wrath and Sly.

“What do you want us to do with her, Prez?” Sly growled.

“Call Doc in to sedate her and keep her locked in. I’ll call Salome, her mother, to see what she wants to do. Kriek is not getting anywhere near her, he’s the one who played on her obsession with Spider and most probably made it worse. She needs help and we’ll see to it that she gets it.” Kid shook his head, took his old lady’s hand and walked off to his office.

“Spider, brother, you’re bleeding.” Dizzy said as he grabbed his arm.

Vee was suddenly right there, gently parting his kutte and his sliced up tee.

“Okay, it looks deep and I think it might need to be stitched.” She said with a worried frown.

Coal came running up with a massive first aid bag.

“Let me take a look, babe.”

His old lady got out of his way but moved in close to his side, her hand curled around his bicep.

She helped Coal to take off his kutte and his brother used his knife to cut the rest of the tee and pull it off.

“Sit on the table for me, brother. I’m going to clean and disinfect the cut so we can see what we’re dealing with.”

He did as his brother asked, sat his ass down on the table then clenched his teeth and hissed as he proceeded to clean the cut. The trajectory of the knife hadn’t been down the middle of his chest. The bitch had gone for his heart and the knife had sliced through his pec to the right of his nipple.

“I think four or five stitches to the deepest part of the cut and butterfly bandages on the rest will do it.” Their paramedic looked up and grinned. “You want me to do it, brother, or are you going to wait for Doc?”

Spider snorted. “You do it, don’t know if you’ve noticed, but lately Doc’s hands have been shaking a bit. I don’t want to lose a nipple when he tries to sew me up. It will make wearing my nipple jewellery difficult.”

His brothers laughed as had been his intention, they needed to relax and try to forget the shitty day they’ve had so far.

He sat quietly as Coal sewed him up then bandaged his chest and gave him a shot of antibiotics and another against infection.

They had no idea where the knife had come from so it was safer that way.

He was suddenly tired, so fucking tired.

“I’m takin’ my man home.” His old lady growled as she jumped off the table where she had been sitting next to him.

“Good idea.” Dizzy growled as he stepped up on his other side.

Not long after he was being walked home by what felt like a team of guardians.

Vee passed the key of the duplex to Wrath and he went ahead, opened it up and with Sly did a walk through before they were allowed inside.

His woman had a baggie of medications that Coal had given her before they left and he knew there was no way he would be getting out of taking them at the appointed times.

He was starting to feel woozy and realised his ass would be going nowhere but to bed.

So much for the plans they had made.

They would have to watch the sun go down over the ocean on another day.

Dizzy and Vee helped him upstairs and he sank down on their bed. He was drifting by the time his woman had his boots and jeans off and the covers pulled up.

“Fucker drugged me.” He mumbled as his eyes drifted closed.

“Sleep, baby, I’ll be right here when you wake up.”

It was the last thing he heard as darkness descended.