Chapter Fifty-Eight
I hadn't wanted to leave her with Wolf; he fucking pissed me off with his attitude when he first got here.
He corrected it quite quickly though. I'm wary of the new members.
I get that they have only been here a few hours, but the way they stepped up to Wolf has me on edge.
They were a part of the Legion Riders for so long and I'm sure it's difficult to be dropped right in the middle of an already established club.
They need to realise quickly that we are one club now, they need to be able to manage their feelings.
They looked like they were challenging Nitro earlier, and we can't have that.
When I'd grabbed the painkillers for Nova, I'd had a quick conversation with Wrath about it.
He's wary too and agreed that we need to make sure that everyone is on the same page from day one.
I want to get Nova and Mason away from here, but Nitro is pulling a meeting together and we all need to be here for that.
Part of me wishes I wasn't leaving today, but I think the sea of new faces might be a bit much for her and Mase.
Taking them away is the right thing for them.
I head over to the table where I left Nova and Mason with Wolf.
As I get closer, I notice Smokey and Chuckles are sitting with them.
Anxiety ripples through me, but as I look at my girl, she looks comfortable, she doesn't seem stressed or worried, and neither does Mason.
I let out a heavy breath and stop in front of them.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
Wolf looks up at me and nods. "Yes, brother. All good."
Smokey doesn't lift his head, instead he continues to look down at the book Mason is drawing in, and he seems to be giving him pointers.
"All good here, brother," he says, his tone light and relaxed.
Normally I'd be offended by the fact he didn’t look up, but I like that he answered without pulling his attention away from Mason.
"All good." Chuckles stands up and holds out his hand for me to shake. I furrow my brows as I look down at it. "I want to apologise for earlier. We were out of line stepping up beside Wolf before. It's kind of a habit."
I'm about to respond when Smokey chimes in, "It's a habit that we will try and break, but please bear with us.
We've been Legion Riders for years, this transition is going to be hard, but it is something we want.
It's something our entire club wants." He smiles at me and moves his focus back to Mason.
I nod, grabbing Chuckles hand and shaking it.
"Thank you. I appreciate that, brothers.
And I appreciate the honesty. I can only imagine how hard it is for you.
" I let go of his hand and he retakes his seat. It’s only now they seem to have relaxed that I realised how tense they had been when I walked over here.
"Baby, do you have your bag?" I ask Nova.
"Prospect took it and put it in the car earlier," she tells me with a smile.
"Good. We just need to have a quick club meeting and then we'll be heading out, if you're ready?" I say.
"Oh okay," she breathes, shuffling in her chair and grabbing Mason’s things. "We're ready. Come on, Mase. We'll be outside by the car," she says as she gets up from the chair, gently pushing Mason out of his seat.
I grab her arm and pull her toward me. "Club meeting, not committee.
Club means everyone, all the brothers, prospects, club girls and family.
You're part of us, so you both stay," I say gently, placing a kiss on her cheek.
I look down at Mason. "You okay, bud?" I ask. He gives me a nod but doesn’t say anything.
I drop down to my knees, bringing me closer to his level. "What is it?" I ask him.
He looks up at Nova and then back to me, before dropping his face to the floor. I grab his chin and lift it back up so he's looking at me. "Mase, talk to me, bud. What is it?" I ask, beginning to get worried. Nova hasn’t said anything, and when I look up at her she just gives me a smile.
He blinks back tears. "I get really sick when I'm travelling in cars," he says, his voice low. "I don't want to make a mess in the car or make anyone mad."
I grab at his hands, stopping him from twisting them. "Mase, it's fine. A lot of people get travel sick, there is nothing to be worried about."
"But what—"
"But nothing, buddy. I'm sure we have something that might help and if you feel like you're going to be sick, then you just ask the guys to stop the car, it’s no big deal, I promise," I tell him, pulling him to me for a hug. "Why don't we go find Doc and see if he has anything?" I ask him.
He pulls back and gives me a smile. "Okay. Thank you."
I stand and turn to look for Doc. I don't see him, but I see my sister, Georgia, and wave her over.
"Hey," she says to us all, then ruffles Mason’s hair, giving him a smile.
"You know where Doc is?" I ask her.
"Yeah, think he's in the kitchen. Everything okay?" she asks, glancing at Nova and then down at Mason. She’s a little worried.
"Oh yeah. Just wondered if he had anything for travel sickness for Mase," I tell her. I'm about to walk away when she places her hand on my arm.
"I'll take him. Come on, Mason." She reaches for his hand and leads him toward the kitchen. I turn to Nova and she gives me a smile.
"I'm going to go with them. I'll be back out in a few." She gives my hand a squeeze and walks away before I have a chance to protest.
"Ice. Brother." Wolf stands, walking to the side of me, facing me.
"I'm sorry about my attitude earlier. It was bang out of order.
I just saw those kids and I was worried.
I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions," he apologises, placing his hands in his pockets.
I glance at him. He's the former VP of the Legion Riders, and while he hasn't carried his title to the Knights, I still respect him.
Looking at him now, standing there, looking like he's ashamed only reminds me that out of all of them, he must be taking this harder than the others.
"I get it. You knew her before we did. Seeing her uncle on the screen claiming they had been kidnapped and then seeing them here must have been a bit of a shock for you.
I appreciate that you care about them," I tell him, slapping my hand on his arm and smiling, trying my best to make him feel a little more at home.
Whistling draws our attention to the front of the room.
Nitro is stood on a stool in front of the bar; Wrath stood on the floor on his right.
He gives me a nod, and I head over there, taking the floor space on his left.
I turn toward the kitchen door and smile when I see my woman walk through it with Mason and my sister.
Nova looks over at Nitro and then spots me standing next to him.
She smiles and leans against the wall, folding her arms over her chest. Fuck me, she's stunning.
My eyes run up the length of her body. She's wearing skintight black jeans with rips in the front, a Fleetwood Mac T-Shirt, and her hair is in a messy bun on the top of her head.
My dick strains in my jeans. I'd love nothing more than to drag her out of here and fuck her senseless. I can't wait to get her on the back of my bike, I'm desperate to have her thighs wrapped around me.
"I want to thank you all for coming in on such short notice…
" Nitro starts talking and the whole rooms falls silent.
"I want to welcome our new brothers and their families.
We have been working for so long in the background to make this merge with The Legion Riders work.
The club decided it was time to rest, but not all members were ready to rest their bikes.
The brothers you see here today made the difficult decision to merge with the Knights. "
He takes a breath and looks around the room at the sea of faces watching him. Wrath and I are watching everyone in the room, checking out their reactions and moods.
Nitro continues. "I know it wasn't an easy decision to make.
I know that not everyone was willing to accept it, and I know that some of you here are still unsure about this move.
But I promise you that we will try and make this transition as smooth as possible for you.
The Legion Riders blood will always run through you, but now that blood is mixed with that of The Soulless Knights. We are a brotherhood. We are family."
The rest of us shout, "When one bleeds, we all bleed. We are the fucking Soulless Knights."
Members of the Soulless Knights cheer as we all stomp our feet on the ground.
My eyes scan the crowd for Legion riders, and most seem pretty happy, smiles gracing their faces.
But there are a couple of members who don't seem to be so happy about it.
I don't know if it's just nerves or if it's something they resent. I glance to my right and Wrath is looking at me. He’s thinking the same thing I am.
Those are the brothers that we need to keep an eye on.
He gives me a nod, letting me know I can take my girl away and relax, he'll watch them.
As the room quietens down, I look over the tops of heads. Nova is smiling at me, but she has Mason wrapped in her arms, his face buried in her chest. Shit.
I glance up at Nitro and he nods; he'll wrap this up.
"While we will make this easy for you, there are rules that everyone must abide by.
Those rules are on a plaque by the entrance to Church and in the lobby at the entrance to the building.
Brothers, familiarise yourself with them.
There is an expectation that all brothers get the Soulless Knights tattoo.
I won't ask you to cover the Legion Riders one, that club was a part of you and was disbanded on good terms, but you all have a month to get your new ink.
Speak to Wrath and he can arrange for you to be booked in. "
I notice the hand going up in the air seconds before Nitro does. "Brother?" he calls.
Smokey steps forward. "I'm sorry, Prez, this might not be the right time or place, but I was just wondering if it would be possible for me to work in the tattoo shop?" He looks at Prez and then Wrath and I before scanning the rest of the room. He takes a small step back. "I'm sorry, this wasn’t—"
"Don't apologise, brother. Talk to Wrath, he works in the shop so it's up to him," Nitro tells him.
He nods to Prez and then Wrath before stepping off to the side. I watch him fall in line next to Duke, one of the older Knights. Smokey fist bumps him. I think he's going to be a good fit.
"We'll be about if anyone has questions, but tonight, let’s fucking party," Nitro yells and jumps from the stool. He turns to me and Wrath. "I think this was the right move, brothers, do you agree?" he asks.
"Yeah."
"I do."
We both agree.
"Prez. Do you need me anymore?" I ask, desperate to get to my girl and Mase.
"No, go. Get them out of here. Arthur’s men are outside, and Tongue and Prospect are waiting by the door. We'll see you in a couple of days."
Both he and Wrath hit me on the back and then walk away. I turn and rush over to my girl and her brother. I need to know if he’s okay.