Chapter 37
DEAN
I t’s never just one thing. That’s something else I’ve learned about life.
It’s never just the marriage hitting a rough patch, or the club getting backed into a corner under my leadership, or the town sitting on the edge of a fucking war our citizens are oblivious to.
It’s all of it. All at once. Like life’s got a fucking vendetta against me or just a sick sense of timing, waiting until my arms are already full to drop another damn weight on my chest, just to see if I’ll fold.
“When is all this going down?” Viper asks, dragging my attention back to the matter at hand. I turn to him from my place at the head of the table in the War Room, feeling more and more like the trust my men have in my judgment is being measured by the inch.
“Legion only informed me of the plan last night,” I say. “ Phase one is already in effect, and the meet is happening tomorrow night, in neutral territory outside of Jocsan. We’ll be contacted with an exact time and location soon.”
Viking lets out a gruff sigh. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get anything with the Jagger connection… This is all happening fast.”
“Gives them less time to come up with a plan to ambush or strong-arm us. Like grabbing a loved one for leverage ,” I mutter.
“The prospects will remain at the clubhouse to watch over any of those who feel safest here. The rest of us are riding out. We need the numbers to make an impression. Our South Carolina brothers from both chapters are riding with us. They’ll be here tomorrow. ”
The room falls silent again. Not because my crew is on board with what is coming, but because we all know as much as we hate the Ace up Legion’s sleeve , his plan puts our enemies in checkmate when it comes to our territory and Jocsan County.
“We don’t have to like it…but we do have to vote on it, and it has to be unanimous to pass,” I say. “We’ll deal with Legion down the road. For now, the Demon is our best shot.”
“It keeps our allies and our county safe.” Viper sighs, glancing around the table at our ranking members. “All in favor?” He raises his hand, casting the first reluctant vote. The rest of us follow suit, one by one, until the unanimous decision is solidified.
“It’s settled then.” I hit the gavel against the sounding block.
“ May our fallen brother forgive us,” Viper quietly says, a level of remorse in his tone.
I lean forward to place my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to reassure him. “Snowy would have voted the same.”
The rest of our brothers file out to inform their loved ones of the impending lockdown. Viper, Viking, and Axel remain behind with me.
“What’s up?” Viking asks, a casual concern to his words.
I lean back, resting one hand on the arm of my chair, rubbing my stubbled jaw with the other. “I just need a goddamned minute to breathe.”
“If you’re stressed about this pact with Legion, I actually think he means well,” Axel offers, sinking into his seat again.
“I’m not worried about Legion fucking us over,” I say. Not if he’s equating this negotiation with keeping Vanna safe.
Viper and Viking exchange a quick glance before Viking speaks up. “You cut out of the patch-over party early last night. Did you get into something with Vanna?”
I don’t say anything. I don’t need to. It’s obvious. And although Vanna and I came to a pseudo-compromise, I know I’ve only managed to secure a short stay of execution.
“Club shit aside, we’re still your brothers, Dean. You can talk to us, and it won’t leave these four walls,” Viking says.
Viper clears his throat, almost as if he’s unsure of what he’s about to say. “Rosita’s been on me about it, too.”
“And you’re not on board?” I try not to sound relieved at the fact that he may be in a boat similar to mine.
Viper shrugs. “I’m perfectly content, but…two to four years seems to be the window when this conversation pops up.”
“Pulling the blinds on the baby conversation pissed her off… Made me the enemy in her eyes,” I explain.
Viking and Axel exchange glances next, obviously uncomfortable with the topic.
“We’re here for moral support, bro,” Viking says, his large hand clapping the back of my shoulder before he chucks a thumb at Axel.
“But our areas of expertise lie elsewhere. We should go make sure things are getting done for the lockdown. Vanna’s already here with Ace.
I’ll make sure she understands what’s going on.
And we can’t let Cherry or any of the girls go on a supply run without an escort. ”
“I can go pick up Rosita and Mia if you want?” Axel offers.
“I’ll go get them in a minute,” Viper says, cocking his chin at the door to dismiss them. “I got this.”
Axel gives me a tight-lipped, sympathetic smile on his way out of the War Room with Viking. They shut the doors behind them, and I turn my attention back to Viper.
“She gave me time to think…but, what’s fair?” I let out a sigh laced with frustration and building anxiety. “You know my… situation… She’s been off the birth control for four months already… Started bringing up the sibling talk back in October of last year.”
“She’s clearly got an idea of a timeline in her head. This is all normal shit. I’d say a year is fair, but you’re already seven months into it. I wouldn’t take too long.”
“Where are you on it with Rosita?”
“It feels right for us. Like we’re building something together. But you gotta feel it. You already know what she wants… But nobody can do the soul searching for you.”
“I just want to keep her happy… What if I can’t?”
“You have Ace… Maybe things aren’t as bleak as you fear?”
“Maybe.”
“I can try putting it to you another way…” Viper leans back to fold his hands in his lap, surveying me the way he does. “Are you waiting for perfect? Because life doesn’t give you perfect. There will always be shit to handle and time keeps marching forward, brother.”
“That’s the thing. Another kid is another worry,” I sigh.
Viper lets out an empathetic huff. “Sure is… But it’s something else, too.”
I glance over at him curiously.
“ Purpose , brother.”
T he Twisted Throttle is closed tonight.
The gates outside are locked and manned by a few prospects standing guard.
The air inside feels heavier without the sound of laughter and music that usually fills the roadhouse on any given night.
Instead of locals stopping in for a drink and conversation, or bikers shooting pool and blasting classic rock on the jukebox, the bar and a few of the guys’ private rooms are occupied by their women and children. Their loved ones.
We’re in lockdown.
I glance over at Ace, perfectly at ease on one of the leather couches Cherry and I thoroughly cleaned yesterday when we were informed the lockdown would be taking place. He’s with Mia and a few of the other kids, watching The Goonies on a big screen Axel brought in.
“Has the MC ever had to do this before?” I quietly ask Cherry. She’s standing beside me near the bar, surveying the room herself. The way she’s got her arms folded, one hand tugging at her bottom lip, makes me wonder if this is a first time for her as well.
“I’ve only gone through it once,” she says. “Shortly after I got here. This was more common when they were first carving out their territory. But that was decades ago. Axel said this is just a precaution. They don’t expect anything to go wrong.”
“Do you need us to do anything else right now?” Maxi asks, approaching us with three of the other patch-chasers who usually hang around the bar.
As Dean’s wife and the First Lady of this MC, it’s on me to make sure everyone is as comfortable as we can make them.
Most of the wives and girlfriends are sitting in small clusters at a few different bar tables, chatting quietly or scrolling their phones. Some are more at ease than others.
“I think everyone is alright for now,” I say, glancing back at the clock behind the bar. “We should start making dinner soon. I hope everyone likes spaghetti and meatballs. I also grabbed a few loaves of Italian bread when we stopped at the store on the way here.”
“If everything is in the kitchen, we can start prepping now,” Maxie offers. I wonder if she’s anxious and just wants something to do to keep busy. The Saviors haven’t been one-percenters in a long time, and if they’re all she’s used to, this might be her first lockdown, too.
“Sure,” I nod. “I brought fresh basil and garlic. There are a couple of onions in there, too. Maybe ask the kids if they want pasta or nuggets and fries.”
“There’s a head of lettuce and some cucumbers in the fridge. Tomatoes on the counter,” Cherry adds. “Chop it up for a salad. We’ll set up a buffet, and everyone can just take what they want. The guys will devour whatever’s left when they get back. They aren’t picky.”
The patch-chasers head for the kitchen, just as I hear the distant growl of a motorcycle outside.
“All the guys are in the War Room, aren’t they?” I ask.
Cherry clears her throat. “All but one.”
When Legion steps through the steel door of the Twisted Throttle, heads turn and conversations stop.
He walks in like he owns the place…or maybe he’s just through taking any more shit.
A few of the women tense under his searching gaze.
I’m sure he’s been the devil in whatever stories they’ve been told, not that I can’t imagine why.
The moment he spots me, the air shifts again, and I don’t know if I should find it more unsettling than being under lockdown.
“I’m going to see if they need help in the kitchen,” Cherry says, as if she felt something too. She walks away when Legion crosses the room to me. The other wives and girlfriends pretend they aren’t watching us, that they aren’t aware of the strange kinetic energy building with every step he takes.
“Hey,” I say, attempting to sound casual despite the cocktail of emotions making my pulse race. Instinctively, I cross my arms and bring my left hand to the base of my throat to toy with my wedding rings.
“Hey,” he replies.