Chapter 32 Rowan
ROWAN
The Chapel felt heavier than the rest of the clubhouse.
Quieter and more serious, like whatever happened inside these walls now mattered more than anything else. And I guess that was true, because right now, what happened in this room would change the course of the Kings’ history.
I sat at the long wooden table, my fingers folded tightly in my lap, trying to keep my nervousness under control. Around the table sat Bear, Moose, Swampy, Ridge, Gods, and Tex. JD sat at the head of the table, calm and unreadable, as always.
And then there was Peter.
Peter Anthony, their rat.
Tex had warned me before we walked in that this was the only way, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I didn’t want to be there and I definitely didn’t want to be involved, yet I felt I owed the Kings for everything they had done to help me.
My stomach twisted again, flipping like a group of fish in too-shallow water. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like the tension, the quiet, or the way everyone seemed to sense something was different today.
I tried not to look at Peter. I tried not to think of him as a man at all and instead saw him as the monster that had taken my parents from me. The animal that had ensured that the horses and cows on the ranch had burned to death, and had almost had me meet the same fate.
I cleared my throat. “I just wanted to say thank you. To all of you,” I said, my voice softer than I intended, but I was grateful that at least that it wasn’t shaking. “For everything you’ve done for me. Protecting me and helping rebuild the ranch. I don't know what I would have done without you.”
All eyes in the room shifted to me and I tried not to show the panic that I felt. I could feel the tension rolling off every man in there, and it was making it hard to concentrate.
I reached into my bag and pulled out the check, sliding it across the table toward JD.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“I know I can’t repay you for what you or the club did for me, but I wanted to give something back as a thank you. I guess it’s more of a gesture.”
JD picked it up, his brows lifted slightly.
He gave a low whistle and looked up at me. “Well now…”
Moose leaned over. “Jesus, sweetheart.”
Bear chuckled low. “Two hundred grand. That’s more than a gesture.”
My cheeks warmed slightly, happy that they were impressed with the amount.
I had pondered over it for a long time. Too much and it could look obnoxious.
Not enough and it could be classed as an insult.
In the end, Tex had helped me come to a decision, though even he hadn’t known the exact amount until now.
“There’s just one condition,” I continued. The mood shifted instantly and I squirmed in my seat, unsure of how they would take this next part but hoping they would be understanding. “I don’t want anything moving through my ranch anymore,” I said firmly. “No drugs and no guns. Nothing illegal.”
I was met with silence as they looked between themselves and I plowed on regardless.
“I’m turning the ranch into a charity,” I continued.
“Helping underprivileged kids learn to ride and teaching them about themselves, and trying to give parents a break. Obviously I can’t have that kind of thing happening on my land with this all happening.
I mean, I wouldn’t want it happening anyway, of course. ”
Swampy scowled. “Hell of a thank you.”
I took a steadying breath and continued. “I know, and I am sorry. I understand if that’s a problem. But if it is then I’d rather sell the property and start fresh somewhere else.”
The words hung in the air, thick and heavy, and I waited for what I knew was going to happen. What I had been warned would happen.
Peter spoke. “You should sell it.”
Moose frowned and Swampy looked confused.
Bear shifted in his seat and stroked a hand down his chin, and I glanced surreptitiously over at Tex but he gave nothing away.
I swallowed. “Okay then, I guess.”
“Only thing for it,” Peter continued. He let out a dry chuckle.
“Tell me if I’m wrong, boys, but once we get things back up and running the club’s gonna be making a good kickback with the runs, and now with what we have on the cartel, we’re likely going to be making even more. We’d be stupid not to continue.”
JD didn’t react immediately; instead, he took a long, slow breath and stood up slowly. He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the shelf behind him and poured a shot, and then another. Then another.
He let out another heavy breath and sucked in his lower lip before releasing it with an exaggerated pop sound. His expression hardened and he cracked his neck from side to side, and then began pouring shots out in the small glasses.
He slid one toward Moose, who caught it without spilling a drop.
“One thing you should know about the Kings, Rowan,” JD began.
He slid another glass toward Bear.
“We weren’t built on money.”
And then another glass toward Swampy.
“We weren’t built on territory.”
Another went to Moose.
“Hell, we weren’t even built on power.”
The room was silent now, everyone hanging on his every word. JD slid a glass toward Tex.
“We were built on brotherhood.”
Another glass slid over to Gods.
“And on loyalty.”
Another shot of whiskey went to Ridge.
“The Kings were men who had nothin’, so we built somethin’, together.”
He poured another and slid it slowly toward me, his gaze holding me momentarily frozen before he looked away. I wrapped my fingers around the glass, my heart beating faster and harder than it had ever beaten before.
JD continued, his voice calm but carrying the weight of a man who was having to make a decision that was painful.
“This club and this town are where we all belong, and we protect this town and each other with everything we have, because we protect what’s ours. We protect the people who need protecting, and of course, we protect each other. At all costs.”
A couple of the men tapped their glasses against the table lightly in agreement.
JD poured another glass of whiskey out and moved it into his own place, and then he sat down. The silence in the room stretched out.
“Loyalty is everything. Loyalty to your club and to your brothers. To our code.” JD leaned back in his chair, looking calm to all the world. His eyes moved to Peter. “What do you think?” he asked calmly.
Peter frowned slightly. “I don’t know what you mean.”
JD chuckled, a sad smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I know you’re old as shit, and those ears of yours ain’t working too good anymore, but I think you heard me just fine.”
A few men shifted in their seats and JD’s eyes hardened. “Maybe it was the question you didn’t understand.”
JD looked toward Gods and gave a small nod.
Gods stood and walked around the table, stopping behind Peter.
Peter stiffened and tried to stand, but Gods’ hand landed on his shoulder, firm and heavy, pushing him back into his seat.
“What the hell is this?” Peter said, turning to look up at Gods’, but Gods’ gaze was on JD and only on JD.
JD leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with him.
“Maybe you just didn’t understand the question,” JD said quietly. “That’s all right, let me see if I can help.”
The room felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for everything to come spilling out.
All the secrets and lies, the betrayal. I felt the pain and hurt that I had gone through, but worse, I could feel the anger and betrayal coming from each man in there.
The tension in the room suddenly snapped tight and Peter’s breathing quickened.
“What is this?” he asked, his voice low.
JD’s voice dropped and he stared right into Peter’s eyes. “What does loyalty mean to you, Confessor?”