Chapter 25 #2
“Would it?” Woody asks. “I mean, Bronwyn’s his child, too. Could he get away with saying Trip was her brother?”
“DNA doesn’t lie,” Genie answers him patiently. “Doc’s wife wasn’t involved in the making, so it would be easy to prove.”
Woody leans his head forward and bangs his forehead against the table. “Will you forget I ever asked?” he growls, looking chagrined.
Prez bangs the gavel. “Have we all forgotten about the probable involvement of the MDMC?”
Using the resultant hush, I step in again. “Bronwyn doesn’t deserve to hide. She’s well on her way to becoming a registered nurse practitioner, which would benefit this club. She needs to go to school and to the hospital so she can keep up.”
Piston startles as if something has hit him. “We go up against Doc, we might lose his services.”
“Exactly,” Prez states. “Which is another angle to us agreeing to Short’s request.” He looks around the table, eyeing each man in turn, pausing on them until they meet his eyes. “We’ve got choices. We keep our medical safety net, and we turn a blind eye to the abuse that’s happening on our watch.”
“And let the Mojave Devils walk all over us, and condone the kidnapping of a kid.” Words shows he’s not just a pretty face.
“If Short keeps Bronwyn close, Bronwyn could extract our bullets and sew up knife wounds herself.” He grins.
“Hell, even I could help. I’m pretty handy with a needle and thread. ”
“You only work on dead bodies,” Paint points out and grimaces.
“Not much difference if you’re drunk.” Words shrugs.
Stalker holds up a hand. “It’s hard hearing all the details for the first time.
But I, for one, don’t like what the fuck I’ve been told.
I like Bronwyn from what little I know of her.
Quiet little thing, but I’ve seen how good she is at her work.
And as for the kid? Could any of us turn a blind eye and let an innocent child be sold into fuck knows what?
To be subjected to depravity and probably killed long before his time?
Fuck, my stomach turns just at the thought of it. ”
A lot of hands slap the table, showing they support Stalker’s words.
Again, Prez bangs the gavel to get our attention.
“We’ve laid a lot on you, much of which is supposition.
But I’m leaning toward the truth of it, and there’s a stink that leads to the Mojave Devils.
Let’s take a vote now. I want to hear you say ‘aye’ if you agree to Short taking Bronwyn as his ol’ lady, and adopting her son.
But before you raise your hands, understand a vote in favour leads to double jeopardy.
We might lose Doc’s services and risk having to take on the Mojave Devils.
That means Short will be calling on the protection his property deserves.
” He looks around. “Or say ‘nay’ if you want to keep the status quo, and leave Bronwyn to deal with this out on her own.”
The table goes quiet. Once again, all eyes come to me, and I’m not at all sure how they’ll vote. A few I expect I can count on, others I’m not sure.
Prez starts with Saint.
“Aye.”
Freak’s also a quick affirmative.
Piston looks up from scribbling his notes. “Aye.”
Stalker’s also a yes.
I move my eyes to Rattler, viewing him with some concern. He can be a contrary bastard at times.
He simply shrugs. “You had me at Mojave Devils. So, I say aye.”
After Winchester and Woody both confirm they’re on board, it’s my turn, and it’s only a formality as clearly, I’m not going to vote against myself.
Genie doesn’t hesitate to add his name to support the cause.
Tempest is the last to vote. He quickly raises his hand and barks, “Aye.”
“All for, none against,” our secretary states.
“Motion carried.” Prez bangs the gavel down, then chuckles softly. “Seems like Short’s got himself an ol’ lady. She and Trip are now under the protection of the Kings of Anarchy.”
“Nobody fucks with the Kings,” comes the cry from every mouth. Hands bang the table, and feet stomp. Looking around sheepishly, I thank them from the bottom of my heart, while at the same time, wonder what I’ve gotten myself into.
“Church dismissed.”
Slightly stunned, proud as fuck of this band of brothers who’ve proved once again, they’ve had my back, I linger as the rest of them filter out. Soon the room is empty except for one other person who stays behind.
Freak walks over to me, pulls out the chair so recently vacated by Woody, and sits down.
“Got a suggestion,” he starts. When I turn to face him, he lets me in on his thinking.
“Bronwyn and the kid carry baggage that’s too much for you to handle.
” I bristle, taking him to mean I’m not man enough to take them on, or is he critical of my ability to commit?
But it’s neither, as he continues, “They’re going to need therapy from a professional. ”
I’ve already mentioned the point to Bronwyn. “Sure. But isn’t it risky? For both them and the club?”
He’s completely serious as he considers my question, then shakes his head. “Therapists hear shit daily, and they wouldn’t last long if they betrayed confidences. In my view, it’s safe.”
It’s good advice, and an endorsement from the enforcer. I’ll be giving weight to it.
“Thanks, Freak.”
His point made, he stands, but he pauses to place a hand on my shoulder. “You’re taking on a lot with that boy.”
“Any advice?”
“Fuck no, Brother. Ace was a walk in the park compared to the problems you’ve got.
” He’s halfway to the door before he stops and turns back.
“Don’t know how much help it might be, but Ace was always on the go, hated being bored.
He always needed something to stimulate him, toys or books, something to apply his mind to. ”
“Your son’s turned out to be a fuckin’ genius.” I give him only the truth.
Freak actually smiles at the compliment, then frowns.
“Yeah, he has. And you never know, with the right help and stimulus, your son might turn out that way, too. But be careful what you hope for. Ace is too clever for his own good, but doesn’t have the sense to know what he should do, and what he shouldn’t. ”
This time, he leaves, but he’s left me with food for thought.