Chapter 30
Jasper
It’s been close to a month since the attack on the clubhouse. We’re almost finished putting the place back together, and I’m already looking towards the future.
Today is church, so I settle into my chair at the head of the table, the weight of my new President’s cut feeling substantial on my shoulders. My cut isn’t just leather and patches. It’s the history, tradition, and respect of our club and every brother in this room.
Glancing to my right, I see Slate sitting quietly, eyes sharp and attentive. Onyx and Mica flank him, their expressions serious but relaxed. At the far end is our old man. As the original founder, his seat at the table is assured.
The low hum of conversation fills the room as the brothers take their seats. Jinx, settled among the patched members, jokes loudly about last night’s poker game. The camaraderie and tension intertwine. Everyone knows the importance of today’s vote.
“All right,” I begin, keeping my voice calm and clear. “Let’s get this settled. This is the first meeting I’m officiating since being voted in as club president. In terms of old business, we’ve had zero sightings of the Hyenas since we kicked their collective asses almost a month ago.”
My old man speaks up, “I wouldn’t count them out quite yet. All this club’s nastiest enemies tended to pop their ugly heads back up eventually.”
Jinx adds, with a jerk of his head, “Ain’t that the damn truth.”
“Well, we know they lost their financial backing from B12, and Whitmore isn’t about to give them money since he’s worm food. I even took out their club president. It’ll take them a while to rebuild if any of them even have the guts to try.”
Jinx asks, “Did anyone come sniffing around the club lookin’ for Whitmore?”
“Fortunately, not,” I tell him. “We got a tip that Whitmore’s mother has got it in her head that the wife has something to do with his disappearance.
The police are crawling all over Mrs. Whitmore with a fine-toothed comb, and the last I heard, they found that she had been siphoning off money from their various accounts to create her own little nest egg. ”
Slate states flatly, “Sounds like motive to me.”
“Yeah, it does. We’ll be monitoring both those situations to make sure there isn’t any blowback on the club. For now, we’re on to new business. We need a new VP. Do I have nominations?”
The room quiets instantly, eyes fixing on me. I don’t think anyone really thought about it. I can tell by the way they glance at my club brother that they know who the obvious choice is for that position.
“I nominate Slate,” I say confidently, my gaze moving across every face around the table.
“He’s smart, cunning, and loyal. In a fight, he’s as fierce as five men combined.
Slate has been Sergeant-at-Arms for five years, and he’s ready to advance.
He’s also the right brother to step up if I’m ever temporarily out of commission.
He also sets a good example for the prospects, and in our club, supervising them falls to the VP. ”
Jinx is always the most outspoken brother. “Yeah, I don’t envy him being VP. Supervising prospects is like herding fucking cats.”
Several brothers chuckle, because he’s not wrong about that. Most are unwittingly nodding their approval. When no other nominations surface, I tap the table lightly with my gavel. “Let’s put it to the vote.”
Fists knock gently but firmly against the wood in quick succession, a familiar rhythm that means unanimous agreement. Since every brother is knocking, I don’t need to ask for nays. I glance at Slate. He meets my eyes briefly, offering a short, respectful nod of acceptance.
“Slate is officially VP,” I announce, pride evident in my voice. “Now, we fill Sergeant-at-Arms. Jinx, you’ve earned this. You’ve been with us through everything, and you’ve proven your loyalty repeatedly. I’m nominating you.”
Jinx’s eyes widen briefly, surprise flickering there before he masks it quickly. He straightens his shoulders, a subtle hint that he considers being nominated an honor beneath his tough exterior. Again, no other nominations come forward. Brothers shift approvingly, leaning forward in anticipation.
“Vote,” I call firmly.
The sound of fists tapping against wood fills the room again, quick and decisive. Another unanimous vote, no objections. Jinx nods sharply, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly in acknowledgment. There is usually some dissent, but both of these are obvious and solid nominations.
With the voting finished and the new appointments made, I lean back, letting the weight of responsibility settle comfortably over me.
The club’s leadership is secure, trusted, and ready for whatever lies ahead.
I feel a deep sense of pride, satisfied we’ve laid a solid foundation for our future.
We wrap up the rest of our club business, mostly talking about repairs and a request for a charter club a few counties over.
***
After church, I find Tessa in the bar area.
She’s laughing at something one of the club girls said, her face glowing with happiness.
This woman of mine is showing more now than she was before.
The gentle curve of her belly is clearly visible beneath her clothing.
Then again, she dresses to show off her baby bump.
Today, she’s wearing hip-hugging jeans, and a form-fitting T-shirt with our club name on it.
There’s something profoundly beautiful about seeing her in my property cut, surrounded by my family and brothers.
Tessa’s turned out to be a much better old lady than I ever dreamed possible.
Without fanfare, I walk towards her feeling lighthearted and playful, or as playful as a big tatted-up biker like me can feel. Stopping in the middle of the room, I reach into my pocket as casually as I can, pull out a ring, and toss it lightly towards her. “Head up, darlin’.”
When she catches it with one hand, I tell her, “Pick a date, and I’ll be there.
” It’s clearly a proposal, and I watch carefully for her reaction as she opens her hand and looks at the large diamond engagement ring I bought for her.
It’s a two-carat heart-shaped simulated diamond that still cost me a small fuckin’ fortune.
The entire bar goes silent, all eyes turning towards Tessa as everyone waits to see how she’ll respond.
Instead of irritation, Tessa’s face lights up with surprise and pure delight.
She laughs softly, clearly pleased by the simplicity of my proposal.
I watch intently as she slips the ring onto her finger, pausing briefly to admire its design.
The satisfaction I feel seeing her genuinely happy makes me want her more—like my next surprise this much too.
Her response eases any lingering doubt I might have had about us being right for each other.
Before I can say anything else, she runs to me and launches herself into my arms. Her laughter fills my ears as she wraps her legs around me, pulling me close and kissing me warmly. I hold her tight. In this moment, I feel perfectly sure that I’ve done exactly the right thing.
“So that’s a yes, is it?”
“Of course. You’re the total package. I’d be the queen of fools to turn you down.”
“Aw, shucks, ma’am. You’re gonna make me blush,” I tease.
“I love it when you’re like this, laid back and casual. I forgot to mention that you have a wonderful sense of humor.”
I fake-frown down at her and ask, “Why do I always feel like I’m losing a compliment competition to you?”
She kisses me again and I set her down onto her feet.
“Don’t turn grumpy now. You were killing it in the hot boyfriend category there for a minute.”
It’s obvious by the tone of her voice that she’s just joking around, so I ask her, “Are you ready for my second surprise?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve got a preacher hidden away and we’re doing this right now.”
I give her a lopsided grin. “No. But that’s a fantastic idea that I wish I’d fuckin’ thought of myself.”
She’s all smiles. “You’re too much, babe.”
“Yeah, I know. Come, I’ll show you.”
I guide her towards the back patio. Excitement pounds in my chest as I take her outside. She deserves something special, something that lets her know how important she is to me. I hope she fuckin’ loves what I’ve put together.
Tessa hesitates slightly when she steps onto the patio, her eyes going wide with surprise. My brothers and I made the back of the building off-limits today so we could decorate the area for her engagement party.
The setup is intentionally private. Tessa hates her special moments to be witnessed by strangers, so I only invited the club brothers, their girlfriends, and club girls.
That’s why the room was so tense earlier—they knew what I had planned, and it would have been pretty embarrassing if she’d turned me down.
I was pretty confident she wouldn’t because we are head over heels for each other.
I feel Tessa relax beside me, her tension easing when she realizes it’s not crowded or overly extravagant. I squeeze her hand gently, reassuring her that I understand what she likes.
Slate approaches quietly, offering us both genuine congratulations, and hugs Tessa. Jinx follows, his typical smirk softening into a sincere expression of happiness.
Tessa moves through the small gathering with graceful ease, personally thanking everyone. Watching her now, I realize she looks more comfortable and confident than I’ve ever known her to be. Pride fills me, knowing I’ve managed to create a moment that suits her tastes so well.
I stick by her side, moving through the gathering, accepting congratulations from everyone that matters to us. Seeing her so at ease, genuinely enjoying herself, makes me feel like I’ve successfully balanced the club’s traditions with her comfort.
It doesn’t take her long to realize my parents aren’t at the gathering. “Did Queenie and Rock not want to come to our engagement party?”