Chapter 14 #2
“Charlie, you’re the master of intruding. Filtering your thoughts is not one of your strong suits. I love it. I’ve always appreciated how honest you are with me. I trust you. You can ask whatever you want,” I said.
“I don’t really know what to ask. That was your brother, right? The one you haven’t seen since you were a kid?” she asked, and I nodded.
“Prez and the Brothers told him to stay away from you. That you had nothing to say to him.”
“I didn’t know that, but I’m grateful. I’m not interested in talking to him.”
“Why not?” Charlie yelled. I raised my eyebrows at her tone.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell. I just… I would have so many questions. Don’t you want to know where he’s been? Why he didn’t reach out?”
“I already know everything I need to. He was with the club. Which means he’s had the means to find me the entire time he’s been a Brother.
He travels cross-country regularly, and never once thought to map out a trip that might include finding or checking in on me.
He didn’t spend any time thinking about me after he left.
He doesn’t deserve my time now.” The more I spoke, the angrier Charlie’s face got.
“You’re right. I wasn’t even thinking about that. God, I want to kill him. Wish I had kicked him in the balls when I had the chance. I’m sorry, Fee. He doesn’t deserve you, and I’m sure he’ll find out soon just how much he’s missing out on.”
Ready to move on from the conversation, I gave Charlie a small smile before reaching for the remote. I was only mildly alarmed when she stopped my hand, assuming she was going to try to ask more about my brother. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Bash
Monday morning, I stalked into the clubhouse, knowing Prez had kept Atlas out of my hair until I could come by.
I didn’t want that fucker to ruin any more of Fee’s weekend.
It was important to me that we had our time the day before.
I never thought spending the day on the couch just watching movies and cuddling could be so enjoyable, and I couldn’t wait to have a repeat.
I hated leaving her that morning, but knowing I could handle this for her gave me renewed vigor. I walked into the main room and nodded to Prez. Church was scheduled to begin in five minutes, at 9 a.m.
As if sensing my approach, the Brothers closest to where I was standing stood up and headed for the room. I hovered for a minute before following them. Once we were all settled, the room was filled with the additional SC members. Reaper took his spot at the head of the table with Guard at his side.
The typically oversized space felt confined as both charters filled the room. The meeting started, and over the next several hours, we worked out all the final details regarding which property we were purchasing for the new safe house, the security and construction plans, and the new route.
It was going to be a huge undertaking, but it was something the club was prepared for, and everyone was equally invested in getting everything set up. Teams were assigned to different tasks, and all the final details were hammered into place.
Throughout the entire meeting, I didn’t miss the looks Atlas was giving me. I avoided eye contact, afraid that if I looked too closely at him, I would lose my cool. We needed him for that project. As VP, I couldn’t let a personal issue jeopardize something so vital to the club’s mission.
My jaw hurt from clenching it for so long, holding back my urge to kick Atlas out. He was lucky we were already so deeply entrenched in the new project. Not to mention, the solid black eye that had formed made it easier to stand the look of his face. My girl had a good arm. I was proud.
The conversation moved on to the senator and his wife.
Keys presented all the information he had dug up on them, and it was infuriating.
It looked like the girl’s father basically sold her into marriage to her much older husband.
The father carried debts with several people and had resorted to using his daughter as final leverage.
The evidence of abuse at the hands of her husband was becoming increasingly clear because of the depths the local cops had gone to to bury it. It was astounding what a little bit of cash and dick waving could accomplish in a small community.
Plans to pull the young woman and her two kids out of the home began. I zoned out as relocation and new identification plans were established. Giving in to my urge to study Atlas, I was glad to see he looked like shit. We couldn’t keep him locked up the whole weekend, much to my dismay.
My Brothers were under orders not to reveal any information regarding Fiona.
Atlas had spent all of the day before grilling everyone, only to get hit with complete silence.
Somehow, Star and Roxie got wind of it, so even the club girls were ignoring him.
I had never really thought too much about Atlas.
He had joined the club within the last few years, after having been in the Army with Wesson, the VP of the SC charter.
With Wesson vouching for him, his prospecting time was easy, and his promotion to Road Captain made sense.
Suddenly, I was regretting not doing my due diligence regarding all members of the club, not just my charter.
Atlas looked exhausted, paler than normal.
He kept his hair cut short, and I hadn’t spent enough time around him in the daylight to realize his beard was red, not just light brown.
Now, though, sitting across from him, the resemblance to Fee was unmistakable.
No matter how many hours of riding in the sun, Atlas never really got any color.
His arms were covered in tattoos, acting as a mirage to hide his pallor.
He was large, comically so when you considered his stature compared to Fiona.
It was the eyes, though, that really connected them.
Especially then, when they were full of fire and ready to spit copper. The resemblance was uncanny.
After six long hours, Reaper finally called the meeting to a close.
The members of the SC charter had the option to stay another night or start heading back.
Everything faded into background noise as my gaze locked with Atlas.
He looked angry, but there was sadness in his eyes that he was trying to bury under his righteous indignation.
Leaning back in my seat, I spoke up.
“Atlas, a word?” I asked as the Brothers continued filing out of the room.
I was unsurprised to see that Bull and Match remained seated, as did Reaper and Guard.
Unexpectedly, Scythe stayed, too, lurking in the back corner like a wraith.
Once the rest of the Brothers filed out of the room, a weighty silence hung in the air.
“Where is my sister?” Atlas demanded.
“What sister?” Reaper replied calmly.
“Don’t fuck with me, old man. I thought all club girls had to be drug tested. What happened to that rule?”
The entire room was quiet, the rage simmering as the table of men looked at each other with anger and confusion. Finally, I leaned forward.
“Come again?” I asked.
“I know my sister has issues. I thought the club had higher standards than that. She needs help, not to be surrounded by potential triggers, if she hasn’t relapsed already.”
Before I could think about it, I was out of my chair, and my fist was colliding with Atlas’s stomach.
Match was close behind me, only staying back when Atlas hunched over in pain.
All eyes swerved to the back of the room, where Scythe had burst out laughing—a sight far scarier than any physical attack.
“We talking about the same woman? The straight-laced accountant who gets drunk off two beers? What in the hell is this clueless twat talking about?”
Atlas looked confused as he clutched his midsection. I was breathing heavily and wanted to get at him again. Reaper stood up and put his arm on my shoulder, holding me back.
“You are clearly incredibly misinformed about the woman you claim is your sister.” He led me back to my seat, his expression unwavering.
“Fiona is under club protection. She wants to be left alone—something you’ve done quite well in the past. So you’re going to stay away from her.
That’s a direct order—one that Dagger is aware of as well.
As not only President of this charter, but founder of this club, I will personally strip you of that patch if you try to get within 100 yards of her. ”
“Fiona is MY sister! My family. I need to talk to her. I didn’t just leave,” Atlas started, only to get cut off by a seething Match.
“You are not her family! You forfeited that role when you abandoned her without a backward glance. She doesn’t need you for a brother. She has me for that. Go back to what you do best. Run away like a little bitch.”
“She doesn’t know the whole story. If I could just talk to her...” Atlas sputtered, looking more upset and bewildered by the moment.
“Tell me one thing you know about her. Her major, where she works. Hell, what’s her favorite color? Can you answer any of that?” Match demanded.
Atlas visibly deflated, biting his tongue at his lack of answers, but Match wasn’t done.
“You got a cellphone?” he asked.
“Yes?” Atlas replied, taken aback.
“A computer?” Match continued.
“Yes…”
“And what about Pen? He still working surveillance for your charter?”
Atlas nodded, sensing the frosty tone in the room.
“Any of those things could have been used before today to check on your sister. You lost your chance.”
“Please, I have to explain,” he started again, and I’d had enough. I pushed my chair back and stood up, walking over to where Atlas was seated.
“You do not have the right to try to explain yourself now. You weren’t there when she needed you then. She sure as fuck doesn’t need you now. Believe me when I say that the only thing your sister wants from you is for you to disappear again.” He looked up at me, his eyes pleading.