Chapter 23 #2
I don’t want to involve too many of the townspeople in all this, however, most of the town are well aware of what’s been happening.
I like the idea of staging a phony car accident and then letting the news crew do the hard work, but Pattie was right when she said that a phony car accident was far too obvious.
Also, with the way news crews are these days, they’d spot a phony a mile away.
We’d have to have the sheriff’s department on our side, which meant more people and more risk of a leak.
I’m not saying I think our sheriff’s department are on the take, but I’d bet Fury’s father or the mountain retreat has someone on the inside.
I think it is going to have to go the way Pattie was hoping for, and let him take a potshot at her.
Everyone was early for Church, even Bandit asked to be allowed to attend.
I was wary, but at the end of the day, he is still a brother.
He doesn’t know it, but he’s going to be on the sidelines for this.
We absolutely do not need a loose cannon like him running around.
Also, as soon as the Jamie issue has been discussed, he’ll be out of Church so I can discuss his situation with the officers and brothers.
I think everyone was surprised not only that Fury’s father is still alive, but that he is the assassin behind all this.
I had to slam my hand on the table to get everyone to shut up and pay attention.
I’ve asked them all to come up with ideas as to how we can make the death seem realistic enough for an assassin to believe it.
I don’t want them thinking of this as Fury’s father.
I need them to think of it as a professional hit, or we’ll miss a simple detail that could get Pattie, or any one of us, killed.
Once Bandit has been removed, I stand up for my next piece.
“We’ve all been focused on the Doc and keeping her safe, but we dropped the ball.
I’m ashamed that none of us in this MC, including me, noticed how far Bandit had declined.
He’s been taking pills to stay awake and has been running himself ragged.
Nobody noticed a brother missing meals, staying out night after night, or letting his appearance slip.
He didn’t turn up for work for two days, and no one asked where he was or why he was absent. ”
Looking directly at Guardrail, he’s my first target. “You, Guardrail, as construction chief, should have been asking those questions.”
“Pres, he told me he was on a mission for you,” he responds.
“When have I ever taken a guy from any of you without discussing it first?” I wouldn’t dream of leaving any crew or business short without talking it through, and they all know that.
“He was just an add-on for us as his punishment. Not a regular crew member.”
“I can’t believe you just tried to use that as an excuse. That is a piss-poor reason for any of us to come up with. We failed him, me included, and that is not going to happen again. We look out for each other. Is that clear?” I go around the table and get an aye from everyone.
As I sit, Fury stands, looking at me for permission to address the room.
I give him a chin lift, and he begins. “Following along on the same theme as the Pres here, I want to mention the club women. It’s been brought to my attention that a couple of the men in this room, and I can get names for the officers, but hope that won’t be necessary, are treating the club women badly.
” There are a few grumbles and some angry, raised eyebrows at this, mine included.
“We are not talking physical stuff here, we are talking about mental abuse. There are some that stick their dick in and then just walk away or toss the women from the room. They are club whores; they know what they are here for and accept that way of life. They are still women, and we wouldn’t let anyone else treat them this way so why are we doing it?
You know who you are. You know that it is wrong.
Now you know that we know. Get the attitude adjusted to the women, or I for one will adjust it for you.
” Fury is very intimidating when he wants to be, and he has certainly got the bit between his teeth on this. I’m with him on this, too.
“I wasn’t aware of this, but I’m with Fury.
We’ve just approached one of the women for help, and she’s jumped in with both feet to help protect the Doc.
If I find that it’s an officer involved, I’ll be extremely disappointed.
I’ll be harder on them than a brother, but believe me when I say that a brother will not get off lightly.
We do not mistreat women physically or mentally, no matter who they are unless they deserve it, and I shall decide that in all but exceptional cases,” I nod at Ghost at this point, “so this needs addressing from this moment forward.”
I dismiss Church, stand by the door, and watch each of them leave. I hope I never have to deal with one of them over a club woman, but I will if it comes to it.