Chapter 20
?
— Dutch —
Iwas reviewing security protocols for the Louisville expansion when Indira’s name lit up my phone.
“My manager is retiring,” Indira said without preamble, her voice containing something I couldn’t quite identify.
“Oh?” I set down my pen, giving her my full attention. “That’s... is that good news or bad news?”
“She recommended me as her replacement. Marketing Director for the Southeast region.”
“Indira, that’s amazing. Congratulations.”
“There’s a catch.” She paused. “The position is based in Millfield. Full-time, in the office. No more remote work from Nashville.”
I went very still. “Millfield,” I repeated.
“Yeah.”
I sat back in my chair, hardly daring to hope. “Are you going to take it?”
“Maybe. Probably. Yes. It’s everything I’ve worked toward career-wise, but it would mean moving back to a place I left for very specific reasons.”
“Those reasons being me.”
“Those reasons being the person you were then.” She paused.
“I want you to understand something, Jacob. I’m taking this job.
It’s too good an opportunity to pass up, and I’ve worked too hard to let personal complications derail my career.
But me moving back to Millfield doesn’t mean I’m moving back to you. ”
The words landed like a punch, even though I knew they were fair. “I understand.”
“Do you? Because I need to be completely clear. I’ll be living in Millfield. Working in Millfield. But that doesn’t mean we’re picking up where we left off. That’s not how this works.”
“I know.” I gripped the phone tighter. “I wouldn’t expect it to.”
“Good.” She was quiet for a moment, and I could hear her thinking.
My heart hammered against my ribs. She’d said she wasn’t moving back for me. She’d made that clear. But she was moving back, and that had to mean something. Had to leave room for something.
“Could we... date?” The word came out before I could stop it, tentative and hopeful in a way I barely recognized as my own voice. “I mean actually date. Start from scratch, like two people who just met. Give me a chance to show you who I’ve become.”
The silence stretched for what felt like forever.
“There would be conditions,” she said finally.
“Name them. Whatever they are, I’ll agree.”
“Don’t say that until you’ve heard them.”
“I don’t need to hear them. If they’re what you need to feel safe, then they’re what I want too.”
She let out a small breath—maybe surprise, maybe skepticism. “Complete honesty. No more compartmentalizing your life into club business and personal business. If something affects our relationship, I need to know about it.”
“Done.”
“Respect for my career. I won’t be available whenever you want me. My work matters, and I need you to understand that my job comes first. If I have to cancel a date because of work, you don’t get to guilt me about it.”
“Understood. Your career is important.”
“And we’d be exclusive.” Her voice hardened.
“From day one. Not just physical, but emotional. I won’t share you with anyone, Jacob.
Not club girls, not old flames, not anyone.
If we’re doing this, you’re mine and I’m yours.
No exceptions, no excuses, no ‘it didn’t mean anything.
’ If you can’t give me all of you, then I don’t want any of you. ”
“Done.” The word came out fierce, immediate. “Indira, I haven’t touched another woman since you left. Haven’t wanted to. You’re the only woman I want. Exclusivity isn’t a condition—it’s what I’ve been hoping for.”
She was quiet for a long moment. “Jacob...” Her voice softened in a way I hadn’t heard since before everything fell apart.
“I mean it. Every word. Whatever conditions you set, I’ll meet them. Whatever boundaries you need, I’ll respect them. I just want a chance to show you who I’ve become. That’s all I’m asking for.”
“Then I guess we’re dating.” I could hear the smallest smile in her voice. “Exclusively.”
“Exclusively,” I repeated.
After we hung up, I sat in my office staring at the phone, hardly believing the conversation that had just happened. She agreed to date me. Not because she was moving back for me, but because she was willing to give me a chance while she was here.
The distinction mattered more than I could express. She wasn’t choosing me over her career. She was choosing her career and leaving the door open for me to prove myself worthy of walking through it.
A week later, she called with logistics.
“I start in four weeks. I’ll be apartment hunting this weekend if you know of any good places.”
I bit back the immediate offer to help her look, to suggest she stay with me while she searched, to insert myself into her process in any way. The instinct to claim, to control, to make her mine again flared hot in my chest. But I pushed it down.
“There’s a new complex on the east side of town. Upscale, professional crowd. Should be perfect for what you need.”
“Thank you.” She paused. “Remember what I said. I’m moving back for my career. But I’m looking forward to seeing if you’re really the man you claim to be.”
“I won’t let you down.”
“We’ll see.” But there was warmth in her voice now. “I’ll call you when I’m settled.”
“I’ll be here.”
?
Church that Thursday was tenser than usual. Word had gotten out about Indira’s return, and my brothers had opinions.
“She’s got you wrapped around her finger,” Handful said, not bothering to hide his disgust. “Woman leaves you, disappears for over a year, and now she’s coming back on her terms? You’re supposed to be our president, not some pussy-whipped—”
“Finish that sentence,” I said quietly, “and see what happens.”
Handful’s mouth snapped shut, but I could see the resentment in his eyes. He wasn’t the only one.
“Dutch,” Holden said carefully, “we’re just concerned about how this affects your leadership. The brothers are wondering if you’re making decisions based on what’s best for the club or what’s best for your love life.”
“Are my decisions affecting club business negatively?” I asked.
“No, but—”
“Are we more profitable now than we were before Indira left?”
“Yes.”
“Are our operations running more smoothly?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point.”
“That’s exactly the point.” I stood up, looking around the table at faces that ranged from concerned to hostile. “I’m a better president now than I was when I was fucking everything that moved and treating women like disposable property. My personal life makes me stronger, not weaker.”
“But she’s controlling you,” Handful protested. “Making you change who you are.”
“She’s not making me do anything. I’m choosing to be better because I finally found someone worth being better for.”
“And what happens if she leaves again?” Colt asked quietly.
“The changes I made aren’t dependent on her staying. They’re dependent on me staying committed to being someone I can respect.”
The room fell silent. Finally, Glitch spoke up.
“For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen you happier or more focused than you’ve been these past few months. If Indira coming back means more of that, I’m all for it.”
“Thanks, brother.” I looked around the table one more time. “Anyone who has a problem with how I run my personal life is welcome to call for a vote. But understand that my relationship with Indira makes me better at everything else I do, including leading this club.”
The silence stretched out. I was about to call the session when Handful spoke up.
“I call for the gavel.”
The room went dead quiet. In all of Venom Riders history, a vote of no confidence had only been called twice—once when my father’s VP tried to stage a coup, once when a president in another chapter got strung out on meth. Both times, the challenged president lost.
“You sure about that, brother?” I asked, my voice deadly calm.
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Handful stood up, his jaw set.
“I love you like a brother, Dutch, but I don’t think you can lead this club with one foot in our world and one foot in hers.
She’s a civilian. She doesn’t understand what we do, what we stand for.
And if you have to choose between her and the club someday, I’m not confident which one you’d pick.
” He paused, then added, “She already left you once, Dutch. What happens when she decides MC life isn’t for her again?
You gonna fall apart like you did before?
That’s not how a president carries himself. ”
“Anyone else want to speak for the motion?” Colt asked, his voice formal. As VP, it was his job to facilitate the vote.
Holden shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t want Dutch out, but Handful’s got a point. What happens if she asks you to give up something important? Change club policy? Her being back creates... complications.”
“Complications we don’t need,” Handful added. “Especially with the ATF heat we’ve been dealing with. We need our president’s head one hundred percent in the game, not worried about whether his girlfriend approves of club business.”
“Anyone want to speak against the motion?” Colt asked.
Glitch stood immediately. “I do. Dutch has made mistakes, yeah. We all have. But the club is stronger now than it’s ever been.
Our books are clean, our operations are efficient, and we’ve expanded territory without a single casualty.
That’s Dutch’s leadership. Not the Dutch who was ruled by his dick, but this Dutch who’s got his priorities straight. ”
“His priorities being his woman over his brothers?” Handful challenged.
“His priorities being excellence over ego,” Glitch shot back. “You’re pissed because he’s not the same man who used to party with you every night. But that man was destroying this club from the inside. I’ll take focused and committed over drunk and distracted any day.”