Chapter 8
Falcon
It took a few days, but once the ladies were settled and rested, we finally spoke to Mama Hen about the night shit went down.
She sipped her whiskey as she recounted the night, with Hawk by her side, gripping her hand in his. “We were at the club earlier and once I posted the new schedule and placed the liquor and food order, he wanted to run by the bar because the tap was sticking again.” Her brow furrowed and she ran her finger over the rim of the glass.
Butch was sitting on the other side of her, and he put his hand on her shoulder. Eagle ran his hand through his dark hair and Rooster and Red both leaned in with their elbows on their knees. My arms were crossed, but my hand was running down my beard repeatedly. We were all chomping at the bit for some details, but we gave her all the breaks she needed.
“It was a beautiful night and I wanted to feel the air. I tossed my jean jacket on because Raven insisted I covered up.” She chuckled and continued, “He said he didn’t want anything happening to his old lady and he wouldn’t let me on until I did.” She drank back the rest of the brown liquid. “That jacket was destroyed between the road and the EMTs cutting it off.”
Hawk rubbed her arm with his free hand. “Did you see who it was, Ma? Or anything?”
She nodded and took a ragged breath. “We’d just left the bar. There weren’t many other cars out that late. I was getting tired, so I let go of Raven for a second to stretch and rolled my neck. That’s when it happened. Just two shots.”
Butch gently grabbed her arm. “Mama Hen, was it a bike? A car?”
“An Escalade. I see them all the time, especially closer to the club, so I didn’t think anything about it, even when I saw the window roll down. But then I saw the barrel and I yelled. Raven looked over right as it happened, but it was too late.”
Her lip trembled and Red stood up, came back with a bottle, and poured her some more whiskey.
She wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Thanks, hon.” After another long sip, she took a deep breath and blew it out hard. “Sorry, guys. I just–”
“Don’t apologize. But did you see anyone?” Butch asked .
She shook her head. “The window was only down enough for the gun to take the shot. And once he dropped the bike, all I remember is tumbling from the road to the median. I guess I should be glad it was grassy where I landed.”
Hawk kissed her cheek and stood. “I think we have enough for Keys. You need some rest.”
Butch stood and held out his hand. “C’mon, Mama Hen. I’ll walk you out.”
Raven had a detached house on the property, as did Hawk. They were for the Prez and VP. There was space for another, but everyone else was happy to stay in the clubhouse. It had plenty of rooms. Some guys even had apartments off site but usually crashed here.
Penny had a room in Raven’s house. We still hadn’t voted on the new Prez, but I didn’t think anyone would expect Mama Hen or Penny to leave the house. But we would work all that out once we did call church for the vote.
The rest of us headed to the bar and ordered drinks. Sugar pushed mine across, leaning over so her breasts squished together and nearly popped out of her tank top.
“Looking down, baby. I can help cheer you up,” she crooned.
I rolled my eyes. “Are you really as dense as your hair makes you look?” I knocked back the shot and stood up. “Fucking Raven’s dead and all you can think about is whose bed you’ll end up in. Get the fuck outta here, man.”
Walking away, I heard her pleading for me to stay and how sorry she was as I slammed the door open and went outside.
Butch was walking back to the clubhouse. His blond hair was tousled like he’d been rubbing it repeatedly. “Hey, Fal.”
“Hey. She good?”
He looked over his shoulder and shrugged. “As good as she can be.”
“How you doing?”
He rubbed his head, mussing his hair even more. “Alright, I guess. I hate to see her like this. And I can’t believe nothing has turned up.”
“Yeah,” I slid my hands into my pockets. “Hopefully Keys can get a lead on the Escalade now that he knows what to look for. And we need to get Hawk voted in so folks don’t think shit’s up in the air.”
Butch nodded. “He mentioned calling church for that soon. Dumb fuck acts like he’s not the only one in the running.”
I smirked. “That’s what makes him the best fit.” He was already groomed for it as soon as he was patched in. His old man hoped that one day he’d rank up and eventually take his place. He’d only wished it would be because he decided to step away. Not like this.
Eagle came outside, finishing off his beer. “Hey, Hawk’s done with Keys and said we need church.”
“Well, that was fast,” I said as Butch and I headed back inside.
We all took our seats at the round table and waited for Hawk to start. “Guys, I know it’s been over a week, and I appreciate everyone’s patience. But I know the importance of structure and perception. We’ll have some damage control to deal with and need to assure our allies we are as strong as ever and will be handling this. So, that leaves the issue of the vote.”
We all straightened in our seats. Officially, club rules were everyone write down the vote and toss it to the middle of the table. But when Hawk got voted up to VP, Raven threw that out the window. Hawk wouldn’t do that, though. He was too noble to put himself up like that, so I knocked on the table.
“Yeah, Falcon? You need to say something?” Hawk asked.
I cleared my throat. “Yeah. I vote Hawk for Prez. He’ll lead us to our destiny and avenge Raven. I know we all would, but he should lead us.”
Eagle knocked on the table, chin held high. “I second that.”
Butch knocked next. “Third. It’s what Raven would want. It’s what I want.”
Red and Rooster voted for Hawk as well, so I rose from my chair. “Looks like your vote doesn’t matter, Hawk.”
Everyone else stood with me and Hawk hung his head briefly before he pushed to his feet. He clenched his jaw then pounded the table three times. “I’d be proud to lead you, brothers. Forging our own destiny.”
In unison we all said, “Destroying others.”
Once it was settled that Hawk was the new President, we got on with the voting of the VP until all the open spots were filled. Once it was all said done, we had Hawk as Prez, Eagle as Vice President, and Butch bumped up to Sergeant at Arms. Rooster was already an Enforcer, and we could add another one later if Hawk saw fit. I was perfectly happy to stay Road Captain. Red was good with the books, so I knew he was happy to stay Treasurer. Looking around, it sank in that this was our new group of officers. The next generation.
Eagle and Butch gave Hawk some spirited slaps. Before things got off track, Hawk shouted over us, “Alright, alright. My first order of business, and it’s urgent, is we need to make a run up North. We need to show Petrov this is under control.”
The mention of the run had the vision of a daisy tattoo on a perfectly round ass pop in my head, followed by those big blue eyes and juicy lips right in my face. “I’ll go, Prez.”
Hawk grinned knowingly. “Eagle, Rooster, you’ll ride up, too. Butch, Red, stay and hold it down. I have some members working on a memorial service with Penny for Pops since he wanted to be cremated. We’ll do that after we put some fires out. It’s what he’d want. Let’s get some rest. I’ll go to the club and the bar tomorrow for Ma, then we leave the day after. I need to speak with Petrov.”
My chest tightened. I was excited to try to go back and see Dixie, even though that surely was just a stage name, but I was still torn up about Raven. How could I be thinking of anything but the club right now? I never thought long about any woman, especially one I hadn’t fucked. And those I usually didn’t think of much once I realized how hard they were trying to get on the back of my bike and not just under me from time to time.
But in the midst of all the shit going on, I kept thinking of her. We usually took the run monthly, and once we went to see Petrov to explain everything and reassure him it’s business as usual, that wouldn’t change. I’d love to get that woman alone, but the runs were short, and we usually only got two rooms. We had the money to all get our own, but it was better to stick together for that shit. The bunnies didn’t mind being fucked with an audience, but if I had a chance with this lady, even if only a monthly visit, I didn’t intend to share. I couldn’t stop her from making a living, but when she was with me, she’d only be with me.
Fuck . Why am I thinking like I’ve laid claim to this woman? I needed to get my head in the game. We had club shit to handle. I needed to keep my dick under control until we knew things with Petrov were still good. But I wouldn’t be mad if Eagle wanted to stop again.