Chapter 11 Killian #2
The leader glanced once at his cousin, then his men, before following me in through the church doors.
The double doors led to a spacious room: the walls covered in memories and memorabilia from over the years.
There were photos with Simon and my pops, and the original crew, retired cuts, patches, conquests.
There was a Raider cut pinned to the wall with a railroad spike after Wes used the spike to end the asshole’s life who had helped kidnap Callie when she was eighteen.
Jameson pulled out a chair and dropped into it, propping his elbows on the table.
He was taking too long. “Cut the shit, just tell me why you’re here.”
His eyes dropped to the table before he let out a small sigh.
“I have a delicate scenario that requires discretion.”
What the fuck did that mean?
I slid into the chair across from him and paused to let him continue.
His brown eyes found mine as he slouched.
“My vice president, Luke…fucked up. His old lady is in a hard way, and unlike here, where your men are protective of the women, Chaos Kings have sided with their brother. I feel responsible for what happened to her…but I don’t know if she can stay there.”
My stomach tilted. I did not need this shit right after becoming president.
With a sigh, I scratched at my chin.
“You asking for her to come here?”
King shook his head, staring at the table.
“I’m not sure…I just need to feel it out.
I need options. I was hoping I could talk to Natty without anyone else listening, you can watch from afar to make sure she’s safe, but I need her to be able to speak freely.
I need to know for sure she feels safe here.
If she does, then I might continue this conversation and see what you think about harboring her for a time. ”
“This isn’t a fucking homeless shelter, King. We don’t just take in strays.”
Even as I said it, I felt a tiny bit of shame because Stone Riders were made up of strays, misfits and people who had nowhere else to go. It’s what made our people so loyal.
“It wouldn’t be forever. I just need to deal with my men, and the situation without her being at risk.”
I stood and began pacing, running a hand over my head. My mind kept going to Laura; for some strange reason I wished she were here, so I could ask what she thought of this.
“Is there some reason she can’t leave on her own, give her money and shit. Have her take off.”
Jameson let out a long sigh and sat back.
“She’s knocked up. She’s been Luke’s old lady for two years, not married or anything but serious.
He decided to go fuck around behind her back, then found out she was pregnant with his kid and he lost it.
He dumped her, and now he’s fucking other women in the club in front of her.
It’s messed up. There’s a rift between the old ladies of the club, which is making it hard on the men.
They’re approaching me privately, asking me to get rid of Penelope, but…
I was raised better than that. We don’t treat our women like this. ”
Feeling anger surge in my gut, I sneered at him. “And yet your club is treating her like it. Just end it, throw Luke out. Make an example out of him.”
King hung his head. “I tried. It’s more complicated than that.
When Wes took over the Stone Riders, the club was loyal to you.
He was insecure about it, ask him if you don’t believe me, but if this situation were to happen in this club, the Riders would stand by you.
That’s how it is in our club. They’re loyal to him because of his legacy, who his dad was.
How he lives by an older and more fucked-up code than I’m willing to live by. ”
That settled in my chest like concrete. His pops was likely cut from the same fucked-up cloth my dad was.
Where women had no value and were disposable…
especially in clubs like this. He likely had a much bigger problem on his hands if the majority of his club was itching to stray back to the old ways.
He’d need a new VP, and strength behind him to instill the code he wanted for his club.
Which made our alliance make more sense.
It made me uneasy thinking his own club might not follow him if it ever came down to needing them.
Another problem for another day.
“Let me ask Natty if she’s okay with it. If she is then you’ll have your time but where you’re visible. I want to be able to see you at all times.”
King nodded. “Understood. Thank you, Killian.”
“Just don’t make me regret it.” I walked toward the doors and was about to exit when King suddenly stopped me.
“Oh, and Killian?”
I turned toward him, seeing he’d moved around the table.
“You might want to keep it quiet that you have the senator’s daughter here, that or place a patch on her back.
She’s completely exposed and it’s like finding a random hundred-dollar bill on the side of the road.
She’s leverage. Powerful leverage. Especially with the shit coming from these activist bloggers, stirring up shit. ”
What…who was he talking about?
I tried to keep a straight face, but I couldn’t help the way my brows dipped.
Jameson caught the look but was respectful enough not to push it. He’d caught me unaware, and I still didn’t know who he was talking about. Was it Natty, or—
“Those fucking activists have been trying to sneak onto our compound. It’s another reason I’m nervous about this whole scenario…Penelope is pregnant and vulnerable. We owe her our protection, but if it goes wrong, she could go to them and deliver secrets.”
I winced but was silently grateful for him moving past the topic that I was so obviously ignorant about. “You think she’d do that?”
He stared at the ground, lost in thought.
“Honestly, I have no idea. She’s been through a lot over the past few weeks.
Coming here is a bit of a last resort for me.
Penelope has been part of that club since she was a teenager.
It’s her home. I can’t simply tell her to leave while she’s pregnant with one of our highest-ranking members’ babies. ”
What a shitshow.
“We’ll figure it out though, right. That’s what we do as president. We handle it.”
He stood, slapping me on the back before moving toward the door, but I had to stop him.
My gut was screaming at me that I was missing something, so I blurted.
“Your men…they won’t say anything?”
Turning toward me, his expression softened.
“About Witt’s daughter? You have my word.”
Witt…Witt.
My mind flashed back to being seventeen, sitting in the office and seeing that name for the first time. Then all the times after.
“You good?” Jameson asked, and I waved him off.
“Good. Just thinking.”
I followed him out, hoping I was wrong because if that name were surfacing again and it were somehow attached to who I thought it was, then I was more fucked than I realized.
Killian
Age 17
The club was quiet for once, which was unsettling. The noise had become like soothing background music in my mind. I liked the chaos, and the extra volume always made me feel less lonely.
Which was annoying, and frankly just bullshit.
I didn’t want to rely on anyone to make me feel less lonely, let alone an entire club full of people.
Using more force than necessary, I pressed the tip of the pencil into the paper in front of me, shading until there wasn’t a single space of white available. I knew the old timers would be coming in soon enough, and they’d play a game of cards, and their laughter would at least keep me company.
I’d leave the office, but a few prospects were cleaning in the main room, and I needed a break from mine. Simon’s office had the best lighting anyway.
“You doing your homework?” A slap landed on the back of my head, making me duck down with a wince.
I hadn’t even heard Red walking in, and she wore those impractical heels, so I always heard her.
I glared over my shoulder at her flipping through files in one of the taller cabinets along the back wall.
She was like a mother to me, but it didn’t mean I appreciated the fact that she treated me like a child.
She caught me staring and raised one of her dark brows. “Well?”
I nodded, but she knew me better than that.
“That don’t look like homework to me.”
“Fine. It’s not homework.” The pink pearl eraser slid easily between my fingers until it was pressed into the paper.
Red clicked her tongue before sliding the drawer shut with a loud snap. “Killian, you have to graduate. I don’t care what Simon says, you need your diploma.”
I started with a circle, wiping the residue by blowing on it. I had to be careful with how hard I pressed and not to swipe with the side of my hand.
“You listening to me?” Red stepped closer and poked over my shoulder to peek at my creation.
“This again? Why are you always shading and erasing, it’s the most backward form of art.”
I needed to go pick up a new pack of erasers. Once the corner turned dull, it was nearly impossible to get straight lines.
My face was hovering just above the paper to ensure accuracy. This helped shut out the quiet. I could hear my favorite sound buzzing in my head, even without music playing, and it made me feel at peace.
“I’m going to have Simon chat with your teachers. If you’re not passing, I’m going to make sure he doesn’t let you ride with us this weekend. We’re going to the capital for a big rally, you wanna join us, then you’re going to need to ensure your grades are up.”
My fingers froze.
I never missed a ride and going to the capital meant we’d be riding with members from all over the state. Not to mention I’d never been to the capital before.
“Red, leave the boy alone.” Simon walked in, and out of habit, I looked up to give him a respectful nod.
I turned toward the two and let the eraser hang in my fingers.
“We’re goin’ on a ride up to Richland?”
Simon kept his focus on his phone. “Yeah.”
“You can’t come unless—”