Chapter 48
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
RATTLER
“Congratulations, Brother.”
I walk into the church to the sounds of clapping and cheering. My face flashing red, I wave them off. Jayne has been showing her ring off around the clubhouse, but I wasn’t prepared for this kind of reception from my brothers.
At least Bullseye’s not far behind me, and when he picks up the gavel I know he’s going to shut this shit down, and get us back on track with normal club shit. I wait for the blessed silence and change of subject.
“First order of business,” Prez announces, “Is to congratulate Rattler for doing shit right this time. And the second is to decide when he and Jayne are getting married, and who the fuck is going to be the officiant.”
My eyes shoot to him in horror.
“I’ll do it,” Words raises his hand.
“You what?” Freak leans over the table to look down at him. “Like you did mine?”
Words holds up his hands. “Hey, I’ll do better now I’ve got some practise in.”
“I vote for Smooth. Now that was a fucking laugh.” Piston leans forward clutching his sides.
“No!” Both Short and Saint react together, and with exactly the same word.
“Hey, it’s our wedding. And we’ve already decided.” Words looks at me with such an expectant look on his face, that it’s hard to let him down. I soften my voice as I break it to him. “We’re going to Vegas.”
They all look stunned.
“You sure, Bro?” Saint asks. “You sure you don’t want all your brothers, and our nearest chapters and friends to attend?”
“After your example?” I bark a laugh. “I’m fuckin’ sure. Anyway, Jayne’s always wanted to go see what the city of sin is all about, and as I’ve not been before…”
“Road trip!” Paint slams his hand on the table. “Just what we need after all the fuckin’ business with the Mafia and Russians, we need to let our hair down.”
“You’ve not got any.”
Paint points at Piston. “You can talk.”
“At least mine’s longer than yours…”
The gavel bangs down loudly. “Christ, it’s like a fuckin’ school yard in here,” Prez remarks, dragging his hands down his face. “But maybe Paint’s got a good idea. We haven’t been on a long run for ages, and it will do us all good to get some wind in our hair.”
My jaw has dropped during their comments. I waggle my hand. “Hey, it’s our wedding, and we kind of assumed we’d be the only ones there.”
Woody leans into me. “Aww, Bro, you’d deny us all seeing you wed this time?”
“You were there before,” I object.
“But it wasn’t a real wedding.” He’s unrepentant.
Saint addresses the prez. “You think we ought to swing by the Nevada clubhouse while we’re there? They’re right there in Vegas.”
Bullseye draws in a deep breath. “At the very least I’ve got to have words with Prowler. Warn him that we’re heading his way.”
Tempest tilts his head to the side. “Something wrong with that, Prez?” Like the rest of us he’s picked up on a lack of enthusiasm from the top of the table.
Seeming to shake himself, Bullseye cracks an attempt at a smile. “Nah, it’s all good. There’s just something about Prowler that gives me the chills.”
“It’s his eyes,” Freak, who’s obviously met him, states. “Mostly they’re normal, but from time to time they seem to change to gold.”
Leaning back, Saint folds his arms and fixes his eyes on the man sitting opposite. “Forgot you weren’t there last time we had a meet. You were out with the shits, or something, weren’t you, Temp?”
Tempest shrugs. “Ate something that didn’t agree with me is all.”
Prez drums his fingers on the table. “Can we move on from the state of the sergeant-at-arms’ bowels? Rattler, when were you thinking of heading to Vegas?”
“Er, next week?”
“You asking or telling?” Winchester barks a laugh.
Freak raises his hand. “You’ll have to count me, Trix, and Ace out. Ace has got some fuckin’ science fair and he wants us there. That trip to Comic Con got him inspired, and he wants to show his new project off.
“Ah yes, that was the show yout scrounged the tickets for off Big Daddy, wasn’t it?” My mouth twitches as I ask, referring to our national prez, who also heads up the California chapter.
“Didn’t scrounge fuck. Got them as a wedding present.”
I roll my eyes. “Some fuckin’ honeymoon with your teenage son in tow? Thought you’d have wanted to get yourself some action.” I make a circle with my thumb and forefinger on one hand, and move a finger on my other hand up and down inside it.
Freak tenses, but it’s Paint who barks out, “And, Rattler’s back.”
Giving them my best scowl, I realise they’re fucking up the plans Jayne and I had come up with. “Appreciate the offer of an escort, Brothers, but Jayne and I kind of agreed we’d just like to head out on our own. A road trip combining the sights of Vegas with getting hitched.”
Woody slaps his hand down hard on my back, making me lurch forward. “World’s dangerous, Bro. Kids like you shouldn’t ride alone.”
“The road captain’s right.” Tempest furiously nods his head. “There’s safety in numbers on the road.”
“Hey, I’ve no skin in this game,” Freak speaks up, “but seems sensible for a few brothers who are willing to tag along. You can still do the ceremony shit by yourselves, while the rest are out painting the town red.”
I’m busy trying to think of excuses. “And what’s going to happen to the strip club if Freak, Paint, Stalker and me are all out of town at the same time?”
“We go mid-week,” Saint pronounces. “There’ll be enough security to handle whatever comes up, as long as we’re back by Friday.”
Piston picks up his pen and starts writing.
“Okay, I’ve pencilled in us leaving next Monday.
Hey, Woody, what you think? It’s maybe a ten-hour ride counting for breaks?
” When the road captain nods his head, he continues, “Rat and Jayne can handle their shit on the Tuesday, we light up Vegas that night, recover Wednesday, then head back on Thursday.”
My mouth drops open. But they carry on talking around me.
“The prospects staying or going?” Tempest asks.
“Staying,” Bullseye decides. “Rat can’t ride, so he can bring the crash truck.” My face reddens at the reminder, but I knew I’d be going in a cage anyway.
Saint raises his hand. “Pippa and I will sit this one out.” He pauses then shrugs. “Jade.”
“Fuckin’ kid ruins everything for you,” I observe. Then wince at the VP’s glare. But surprisingly it quickly transforms into a smile. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, brother.”
Lancelot shakes his head, whispering, “Pussy whipped.”
As all heads spin around to face him, I mimic giving him a high five while the rest of the table groans. ‘There’s fuckin’ two of them now,” Winchester moans.
“Short?” Bullseye asks.
“Bronwyn’s coming up to her finals. And I don’t feel easy leaving her alone with Trip,” he answers, his mouth twisting in a grimace. “And Vegas is the last place Trip can go.”
Yeah, I can understand that. The kid’s coming on in leaps and bounds, even talks full sentences now.
But all those noises and flashing lights?
Even I’m pleased to only be going for a couple of nights, fuck knows what it would do to an autistic child.
I smile to myself, hey, look at me, being all compassionate and shit.
“Okay, so the VP, Short, Dee and Dum are staying. Anyone else?”
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world.” Words grins.
“You just want to see how a proper wedding’s performed,” Paint taunts him.
Genie barks a laugh. “He could pick up some pointers for whoever’s next.” His words fall into a deathly silence, and a few of the brothers even cross themselves.
“Not fuckin’ going to be me,” Stalker pronounces at last.
Bullseye glares down the table. “Ain’t going to be collecting any more bi…
” He breaks off as Saint, Short and myself glare at him, and rapidly corrects, “Ol’ ladies.
” Swallowing he plants his hands on the table.
“Okay. I’ll liaise with Prowler. Woody, get the route sorted.
The rest of you make sure you get what you need in place to keep shit running while we’re gone.
We’ll leave Monday as agreed. Right, let’s get down to business. Stalk?”
Agreed with fucking who? Certainly not the main participants. But fuck, maybe it would be fun to have my brothers alongside me when I get hitched for real.
Stalker clearing his throat brings my attention back to the meeting.
“Prez and I have been discussing getting started on building houses on the compound. With the nine mill we’ll have in the bank, and the land we already own, we’ve proposing to build houses for all the brothers who want them.
” Pausing, he shakes his head, “I, for one, am getting sick of using a shared fuckin’ bathroom. ”
“For real?” Winchester asks, his face splitting into a wide smile.
Bullseye shrugs. “Seems like a good investment for the future, unless anyone wants to buy a house off the compound. Not my ideal, but we’re willing to offer a share for that if anyone wants…”
“Nah, compound is good. I like the idea of staying close.” Words’ observation is echoed around.
Stalker nods as if he expected that answer. “I’m starting to look for an architect to come in and work with us on our plans.” He glances around the table. “Just give me your names if you’re interested, and I’ll start a list.”
Freak frowns. “Won’t that raise questions if we suddenly start splashing out cash?”
Stalker grins as if expecting the answer. “Rattler came by his money honestly.” He pauses for the coughs and splutters to die down. “He’s our magnanimous donor, building on the compound as a way of honouring his dead wife’s memory.”
Lancelot shifts in his chair, the treasurer notices he wants to speak. “What you got, Lance?”
He looks nervous at being directly addressed. “Er, I was just wondering what was going to happen to the bunkhouse? Is there a chance we could bring in more pussy?”
“Fuck no.” Saint looks horrified.
“More trouble than they’re fuckin’ worth,” contributes Short.
Paint’s eyes have widened. “I like your thinking, Bro,” he tells the newest member.
Bullseye slams his fist down. “We get more prospects, that’s where we’re short.
Women, I’m not saying no, but it’s not something I want to rush into.
Those bitches can cause more trouble than they’re worth.
” At that, I nod my head vigourously. “But if the right one comes along, then maybe we’ll add to the ranks.
But the rest of the rooms will be free for visiting brothers.
Would save us a fuck ton of money having to put them up in a hotel.
” He raises his head. “Now, lets set that aside. Stalker, you going to give us a rundown of our businesses?”
While Stalker goes through the details of how everything’s running, I sit back, basking in the fact that it was me meeting Jayne that led to the club being able to sort out better accommodations for all the members.
Who the fuck would have thought this would come about that day when she’d locked herself into that fucking closet?
When the buildings are complete, we’re going to be the envy of a lot of clubs.