Chapter 11 Killian #3
“Give it a rest, Red. Boy’s going to take over the club someday. Criminals don’t really give a fuck if you have your diploma or not.”
He moved around the space, and something in my chest seemed to expand at the idea of leading the club someday. It’s what I wanted from the time Simon took me in at ten, after my pops landed in prison for murder.
Red was glaring at our president now, and I knew if she were anyone else, she’d get in trouble, but Red got away with more than anyone else.
“You will encourage this boy to graduate, Simon Stone.”
My eyes pinged between them.
Simon finally met the woman’s gaze. She could be his mother for how big of an age difference they had.
Prez always treated Red with respect though, like she was in charge instead of him.
I wondered if it was because of her old man, Brooks, or simply because she’d earned his respect.
“Fine, he’ll graduate, but he also needs to be on that ride. We’re meeting with the mayor.”
“The mayor?” Red spun with the prez as he moved around the office, tugging open drawers and sliding a cigarette between his lips.
He smirked, and it made me want to smile too. He was the only father figure I’d ever had, and being near him made me proud. He wasn’t afraid of anything, and when I led some day, I knew I’d be just like him. Nothing and no one would ever get in my way, or make me lead from a place of fear.
“Yes, the mayor. Nothing as dirty as crooked politicians who want you on their payroll.”
Red was glaring again, but this time, she muttered under her breath while leaving the room. I returned to my sketch, lightly perfecting another circle.
“You need to graduate. Don’t care how you do it, but you’re walking across that stage in five months.”
Keeping my eyes down, I laughed, nearly snorting. “And what, my cap and gown will be made of leather and denim?”
Simon looked up from a paper, his cigarette going limp as his mouth turned down. “If you have to. Don’t fucking care, and honestly, if you don’t walk, I don’t care, but it would be nice for Callie to see. She looks up to you.”
That really made me laugh. “She does not.”
His hands cupped his metal Zippo, until the bud of his cigarette was glowing.
“She does.”
“She has that preppy kid from next door to look up to now.”
Simon inhaled, his eyes landing on the circle I’d drawn on my paper. “Wes looks up to you too.”
I rolled my eyes, sliding the sheet out from in front of me.
“Didn’t ask to be a role model,” I murmured low, aching for my own cigarette. I hadn’t had one for a while and being around the smell was making me crave one.
Simon returned to the filing cabinet where Red was earlier.
“We never get to ask for those sorts of roles. They just get set in front of us, and we do it because we love the people who set it there.”
I considered his words and already knew I’d graduate, even if it was simply because he’d asked me to.
I didn’t want to be a role model, but I wondered if Simon did either?
He was my hero, and he probably didn’t want to be.
Yet, he continued showing up for me and I knew it was because in his own way, he saw me as his kid, just like Callie was his daughter.
“I’ll graduate.”
Simon paused, looking over while he exhaled a cloud of smoke, and after a few seconds his head gave a slight nod.
“What are we dealing for the mayor?” I asked, trying to change the subject. Because I’d have to hire someone to hack the system and change my grades or pay someone to do a shit ton of extra credit for me if I was, in fact, going to graduate.
Simon smiled, letting out a laugh. “Oh, mostly we’re just offering him some padded protection at a few of his rallies. While also making a few disruptions happen for his competitors. He wants us on his payroll.”
“And in exchange?” I’d learned a few things since shadowing our club president, but one of the biggest lessons was, no matter the status of the person, we offered nothing unless we got the better end of the deal.
Sure enough, Simon smiled again, this time pulling out a file labeled, “Mayor Witt.”
“Clemency.”
My face must have conveyed my confusion. I may be failing two of my current classes, but government was actually one of the ones I had a passing grade in. We would only need clemency if we’d done something wrong.
Simon rounded the desk, and gently took my paper. He lifted it up to see the design and then gently placed a new sheet in front of me with a fresh pencil.
“One day there will be someone who wants our club to atone for a sin or two. That or they will want us behind bars. Witt, who will no doubt eventually become the governor, fuck maybe even the senator of this state will ensure that won’t happen.
He’ll protect us from measures passed that might negatively impact us, and overall, he’ll keep the powers that be away from us. ”
“You’re putting a lot of trust in him…what if he isn’t even reelected?”
With a dark chuckle and a new eraser handed over, he moved away from the desk with one last parting phrase.
“We’ll just have to make sure he is.”