Wrath Chapter 16 #4
Nodding, I let the men talk about it. They didn’t take more than five minutes to agree that they’d be held to the same testing as the women, and we’d enact the Bunny Bonfire within reason.
There was nothing new after that, so it was time to discuss the final plans for the weekend.
I had one thing I needed to make them aware of.
Nomad went to get the others. They quickly entered and took the empty seats at the table. When we were all there, I got the ball rolling. It was confession time.
“Before we talk about where we’ll be stationed and all that for Saturday, you need to know something. It’s a piece of information that I’ve withheld from you, and I asked Crusher not to speak of it after he brought it to me.” I waited for that to sink in.
“It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, and it isn’t information that’s to leave this room.
Panther, Cougar, I’m sorry you have to hear this now, and how it’ll affect you.
The reason last weekend I wasn’t worried about Killer attacking us when Jalisa didn’t return to Athens is because Killer nor the Black Outlaws were the ones who dropped that box off. ”
Their voices rose in mutters of confusion and disbelief.
I gestured for it to calm down. When they did, I finished.
“I know this because the next morning, Crusher reviewed the video from the security cameras. The person who did it was a man dressed all in black, with a hoodie, in a nondescript car parked a distance away from the fence. When he was running back to the car, one of our hidden cameras managed to see his face. It wasn’t Killer or any Outlaw we know.
Damn, I hate this. I’ll just say it. The man was Psycho. I’m sorry, Panther, Cougar.”
This caused everyone to be in an uproar, but Cougar and his dad were the worst. They came to their feet.
Panther’s face was dark red. I debated telling them separately before church, but if I was honest, it was a test. I thought they were on the up-and-up, but by dropping the news like this, I’d be able to know for sure based on their reactions.
“You’re wrong! He wouldn’t do that,” Panther thundered.
Cougar tried to calm him without success.
I was prepared for them to say this, so I had Crusher bring the video into church.
He brought it up on the screen with a few clicks of his mouse.
As we watched it, it was clear that the man had left the box in question.
When he ran back to the car, Crusher froze the video when his face appeared. There was no mistaking who it was.
Panther stared at it with his mouth open. Cougar appeared resigned. The color left Panther’s face, and he dropped into his chair. Cougar remained standing, shaking his head. Neither could act that well. They had no idea.
“Jesus Christ, what’s wrong with him? How could he do this? I thought I could depend on him. He’s my best friend. He was supposed to be here to help you,” Panther muttered to Cougar.
“Panther, you don’t know how I hated to tell you.
I haven’t even told Jalisa. I know it’ll gut her.
I know I’ll have to at some point, but not yet.
And yes, I did it this way to gauge your reactions and everyone else’s.
I had to be positive you weren’t involved.
This is my old lady we’re talking about.
I’ll do anything to protect her. I don’t understand.
Why does Psycho detest the thought of her with me so much?
I’ve done nothing to him or any of you,” I stated.
Panther remained slumped in his chair. It was Cougar who answered.
“We understand why you did it this way. We would’ve done the same thing.
Protecting her is our number one concern.
We love Jae, and as long as you treat her the way she deserves, love and care for her, and she’s safe, we don’t care which club you’re in.
We’ll make adjustments. Why Psycho is so against it, we honestly don’t know.
When asked, all he talks about is that she has to be with a Fiend.
He never talked that way when it came up in the past, and someone asked what would happen the day she found someone.
As for why my dad is so upset, he’s expecting me to have Psycho’s help. ”
“Help with what?” I asked.
Panther grabbed his son’s hand, and then he rose shakily to his feet.
“These past several months, I’ve spent a lot of time away from my club.
I left it in the hands of Scooter, my VP, and my best friend, Psycho.
They’ve taken a lot of the load. It wasn’t because I wanted to.
It was because I was undergoing treatment.
I have colon cancer. It’s an aggressive and advanced form.
We were trying to see if the doctors could cure it.
“I planned to cure it and come back full-time to the club, or if it couldn’t be, or I could no longer lead once cured, then Cougar would be voted in as president.
Neither Psycho nor Scooter wants it. They’re happy with their roles.
My son knows a lot but still needs people to talk to and bounce ideas off of.
You know how it is, Wrath, Rage. Anyway, that’s what I was referring to.
How can I trust him in my club and to guide my son when he’s doing shit like this? ”
My heart went out to Panther, and I wanted to know more. “May I ask how you’re doing, and does everyone know in your club? Jalisa never mentioned it,” I asked.
Panther shook his head wearily. “No, not everyone knows. I told Psycho, Scooter, and my Tonda. Cougar found out after we sent Jalisa away. The rest of my club knows I’ve been away, but not why.
And the news isn’t good. The cancer isn’t responding the way they hoped.
I’ll be going in for surgery to remove a section of my bowel soon.
Then, it’ll be a combination of radiation and chemo.
If that doesn’t take care of it, it’ll spread, and I’ll die.
They gave me six months if the surgery and other treatments don’t work. ”
Christ, Jalisa would be devastated when she heard this.
Panther was a favorite uncle of hers, and she loved him.
In addition, there was the betrayal of Psycho.
How would she be able to deal with it? I hadn’t known Panther long, but I’d come to like and even respect him despite our different philosophies.
“I’m fucking sorry to hear that, Panther. I know we live an hour apart, but if you need something, let me know. Jalisa is gonna lose it.”
“Thanks, Wrath. I appreciate it. When do you plan to tell her about Psycho?” he asked.
“After we deal with Killer and his crew.”
“Then we’ll wait until then to tell her about me. Right now, she needs to be on alert and concentrate on staying safe,” Panther said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
He nodded, as did his son. Suffice it to say, hearing that made the mood somber.
We somehow managed to get through the discussion about positions and such.
Finally, we were free to go. My heart felt heavy as I watched everyone leave the room ahead of me.
I imagined how hurt and devastated Jalisa would be. I hoped I was doing the right thing.