Chapter 30
DEAN
W hen I enter the War Room, my Brothers are already seated around the table waiting for me.
“Are you okay, bro?” Viking asks. “You don’t look like you slept at all last night.”
I didn’t. In fact, I don’t think I’ve had a worse night’s rest since Jack Fuckin’ Nero’s release. “How’d our fucking guest fair last night?” I ask, avoiding the question while glancing at Viking and Axel as I claim my seat at the head of the table.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Axel says.
“I checked his pulse a few times to make sure he was still alive,” Viking replies. “Whatever the vet gave him kept him pretty comatose, even into this morning.”
“Those drugs should be wearing off soon,” I say, eager to interrogate him.
“Val called me earlier this morning, too,” Viking goes on. “Said if we need the vet to come back and check on him, she would after her practice closes, later. Mentioned a few of his cuts could probably use stitches.”
Chopper lets out a gruff sigh. “I think this is a rude awakening that we need to keep Legion a little closer… I’m not saying patch him in …
But fuck… He almost got killed. We either have to step up and take keeping him alive more seriously, or we have to dismantle his fucking contingency plan somehow. ”
The argument I got into with Vanna last night springs to the forefront of my mind. She had put Ace to bed and returned to the kitchen, where I was waiting in anticipation of round two with my double-shot of whiskey.
“ D ean, Legion isn’t the way he is because he just woke up one day and decided to be the villain in everyone’s story,” she’d said.
“Don’t make excuses for him. We’ve all been through shit, Vanna,” I argued back.
“And you told me yourself you weren’t always a good guy .”
“I was never the kind of dreg Legion is… Do not compare me to that piece of shit.”
“I’m not… I know… I’m just saying… He’s trying to find the light, Dean… We should help him find it.”
“ Help him …after everything he’s done to us… As soon as we manage to neutralize his contingency plan, I’ll help him find the fucking light all right.”
“He killed his own brother to prove to you he was no longer your enemy… Give him a chance.”
“ He’s already forced that upon us!”
Vanna nervously touched my hand, a gentle reminder to keep my voice down for Ace. I grabbed the shot glass and threw back the remainder of the whiskey in one hard swallow.
“Show him he doesn’t need to,” she said softly.
“Legion is as incapable of trusting me as I am of him… What you’re asking is an impossibility , Vanna. The shit just runs too fucking deep.”
“He’ll trust me…”
“What does that mean?”
“You asked me for my help with Legion when he first came back to our town… I’ll earn his trust and get the leverage from him.”
“No… I don’t want you forging anything with Legion.”
“I’m the only one who can get it,” she pushed.
“Vanna. No .”
“You don’t think I’m capable?”
“I think you’re very capable… I don’t want you getting close to him.” Why was this so difficult for her to comprehend?
“ Trust me …”
“ God-dammit! I forbid you to insert yourself in this! Do you hear me? As your husband , as the president of this fucking MC, I fucking forbid it! This is club business! Stay out of it!”
That defiant look settled over her expression after I’d yelled at her. She didn’t say anything. She simply turned from me and stormed down the hallway to the bedroom. If Ace wasn’t asleep in his room, I’m sure she would have slammed it.
I spent the night on the couch. Tried to talk to her, apologize to her for losing my temper when she got up this morning to make Ace breakfast.
“ You don’t get to pull rank on me ,” she’d snapped at me while our son was occupied at the table with his meal. She’d kept her voice a low whisper so as not to alert him. “I’m not one of your MC Brothers, or one of your damn groupies. I’m your wife.”
I’d tried to tell her she was right, but she didn’t want to hear it.
“I’m dropping Ace off with Rosita today, and I’m going to the clubhouse to make sure Legion is alive and looked after… I don’t think Ace should be around us today, anyway.”
As much as it hurt to hear, she was right about that, too. Ace would realize there is something off between his mother and me. I tried to touch her, but she brushed me away, busying herself with the dishes in the sink in an attempt to ignore me.
“I’ve got Church in a few hours with the guys, I’ll drive you,” I offered.
“I’d rather drive myself. I don’t want to have to rely on a ride anywhere from anyone.”
That might have been part of her refusal, but I knew she just wanted distance. “Fair enough,” I’d reluctantly agreed and rode Serene here.
“ W ell, while we consider what all that looks like with Legion moving forward, we’ve got the next month’s schedule with Medusa’s gates to review,” Viper announces, pulling my focus back to Church.
“There are a few court appearances coming up that require our escort services. Oh, and we’ve got another bit of club business we need to discuss regarding our South Carolina chapter.
They want to patch over a smaller crew from their region and expand.
They’ve already conducted the background checks and interviews to ensure these new guys are a fit for our mission.
They just need our Charter’s nod of approval and blessing. ”
“As long as everyone is cleared, I have no objections,” I say, but Viper winces. “What?” Like I need anything else piled onto this shit day.
“There may be a problem… I’m not sure whether you care or not, but…the VP of this patch-over crew…he’s dating Lucinda ,” Viper explains.
“You think I care who she’s fucking?” I sigh.
“No. But I think you might care when she starts showing up to Saviors’ events, casting a dark cloud over everything we do.”
Fuck. That’s a valid point . “Fuck my life.”
“This bitch is like a raging case of herpes,” Viking scoffs. “Not that I’ve ever had herpes, but you know what I mean.”
“Who am I to tell either of them they can’t be together?” I sigh.
“As far as I’m concerned, as the original Charter’s Sergeant at Arms, Lucinda is a security threat. Blame the call on me if you want to. I don’t give a fuck,” Viking offers. “Bitch is a loose cannon of toxic drama.”
“The blame will still land on me. And despite all the vile shit she’s done, I still feel like a dick agreeing to this stipulation before giving my approval for this patch-over,” I admit.
“You could be saving this VP’s life, bro,” Viking says, and he isn’t joking. “What did this sorry son of a bitch do to deserve being subjected to Lucinda? You know he hasn’t seen her true colors yet.”
“Still. Their relationship isn’t my business.”
“Alright. Then how’s Vanna gonna feel about seeing her at our events? You gonna force that situation on the First Lady?” Viking presses.
“Maybe we should table this vote until I speak with our First Lady,” I say, wondering when the fuck that will be. Vanna’s still pissed at me, and I’m sure bringing this shit up to her is going to work fucking wonders on our present situation.
“Fair enough,” Viking agrees. “Just keep in mind I’m happy to have this conversation with the VP before we vote.”
“I appreciate it, bro,” I say.
“Very well then, let’s go over this next bit of business before we get into schedules with Medusa’s Gates…” Viper says, gesturing to Diesel as he opens up his laptop. I let out another tense sigh in anticipation of more shit news.
“Our financials,” Diesel announces.
“ I can’t help but notice the way Dean’s walking around like a lost puppy today, and you’ve barely said two words to anyone since you got in,” Cherry says, leaning in the doorway of Legion’s room. “Ace isn’t here either… Are you guys fighting?”
I glance over my shoulder at her from my seat at Legion’s bedside and offer her a little smile I hope is reassuring. “It was just a disagreement,” I say. “How did Legion do last night?”
“I checked on him a few times. Viking and I got him out of his boots and jeans last night, so he’d be more comfortable.
I’m not sure he can tell yet. But anyway, we should probably change a few of his bandages.
I stopped by Walmart for some more supplies and to grab him some clean clothes.
” She nods to the chair against the wall, where there are a few plastic shopping bags.
“Some sweatpants, t-shirts. A couple of boxers and socks. When he wakes up, if he can’t change into them himself, one of the guys will help him.
They’d rather do it than leave it to either of us. ”
“I’m sure he will appreciate this. Thank you, Cherry,” I say, grateful that she seems to care to some small degree, too.
“The vet said she’d come by later today to remove the IV from his hand and reevaluate him.”
“I hope she comes alone. That Val person is a real bitch.” I frown at the memory of her callous comments last night, though I am curious where her hatred for Legion really stems from.
Cherry doesn’t comment, asking instead, “Do you need me to get you anything?”
“How about some ice in a Ziploc and a towel? I’m sure the bruising on his torso is even worse today, and a cold compress of some sort will help.
I’m going to start changing these bandages and cleaning him up a little while he’s still out.
One less unpleasant experience for him to go through when he wakes up. ”
“Okay. The nylon gloves are in the night table there,” Cherry says with a nod. “I’ll be right back.”
While Cherry goes to the kitchen, I slip on a pair of gloves and move the sheet covering Legion’s battered body down to his waist, exposing his torso.
As I anticipated, the bruising is worse.
He looks like he was trampled, even with all of the tattoos covering a majority of his skin.
My eyes land on one of the larger pieces that spans his chest. He didn’t have this one that night at the wine cellar when he cut himself and swore his allegiance to me.