CHAPTER 37
JAZMIN
I push open the door to the meeting room and hit the lights. The table will haveta wait for Nadine. I ain’t dragging it and scuffing up the floor.
It’s been five weeks since our last church—May gave us an extra Saturday—but with how fast everything’s moved, it still feels like no time at all.
The shit happening with the club is enough, but it ain’t the club that’s fucking me up. It’s Dimples. Drama has surrounded me most my life, but I can’t think straight anymore, especially when she’s around.
But I gotta keep it together. I can’t be staring at Dimples all meeting. She was with Storm and Halo yesterday, but I don’t know what they were doing. Last night, the club filled up fast, and Dimples steered clear of the bar, so I ain’t had a minute with her.
Everybody’s running their mouth about what’s gonna happen tonight. Some say Frost is gonna tear Storm up, but my money’s on Storm. More patches agree with me, but too many seem torn. It’s something I don’t plan on telling Dimples.
Some of the newer patches were talking shit, wondering why Storm doesn’t just toss Frost out.
Jesus. I’m just a prospect, but I know Storm can’t go kicking out the VP.
Clubs have protocols—rules—and Frost ain’t broken a serious enough one yet.
Unfortunately, being an asshole isn’t enough to get her kicked out.
Besides, Storm hasta play it smart since Frost has supporters, or it could rip the club in half.
I’d finished getting half the chairs set up when Nadine strolls in. Guilt hits me. She’s been scarce this week. I ain’t talked to her since last Saturday.
“How’s your grandma?” I ask.
Her brow furrows, and she stares at me. Then it clicks. “Oh, thanks for asking. She’s doing good. Got out of the hospital yesterday.”
“Sorry I didn’t text ya.” I feel bad about it.
She waves her hand. “Don’t worry about it. Last Saturday was nuts.” She chuckles. “Hell, I almost forgot about my grandma.”
I laugh. “But she’s gonna be okay?”
“Yep. Doctors say she’ll be fine.” Nadine picks up a chair and puts it in place. “But I don’t think things are gonna stay calm here. What’re you hearing?”
I’m not sure what to say. I gotta watch my mouth. Some of what I know ain’t mine to tell.
I shrug. “Everyone’s been tight-lipped. Least the officers ain’t saying shit. The girls’ jaws are flapping, though. Nothing worth repeating.”
“Oh, come on. Give me the scoop.”
We grab the table without saying anything. It’s heavy, but Nadine holds her own. We have to stop twice for her to regain her grip, but we make it up front.
“Next life, I’m coming back with muscles,” she says. “And don’t forget, you’re gonna give me the scoop.”
“Ain’t much to tell. Everyone’s trying to figure what Frost and Storm are gonna do.”
“What’s your guess?”
“Oh, hell no.” I lift my hands. “Prospects don’t get opinions.”
“Bullshit. You have to have one. Especially since you were there when it went down.”
“I wasn’t the only one there. What do you think?”
Nadine purses her lips. “If I was Frost, I’d play it down. Not give Storm any ammunition. Especially since Storm laid her hands on Frost first.”
“Last Saturday was plenty of ammunition. Besides, why are you saying what you’d do if you were Frost?”
“Chill. You asked me what I thought would happen. I was just saying that Frost would be smart to stand down tonight. Sometimes the best thing to do is back off and wait.”
Shit. I gotta be careful with my reactions. I’m already pushing my luck, so I can’t be loud about it.
Nadine and I stand in back, waiting for the meeting to start. I’m watching the officers, but they ain’t giving nothing away. Like last church, Frost skids in last minute, but this time, she came alone. Smart move.
The first half hour goes fast with a rundown of the upcoming events for the club.
We got formal invites to visit other clubs: the Daughters of Reckoning in Albany and the Satin Sirens in Syracuse.
It’s a big deal. We all know they wanna size up Storm.
See what kind of president we got now. Course Storm’s gotta go and as many officers that can make it, but everyone else is jockeying. It’s loud but good natured.
Frost’s been playing nice, so maybe we’ll get outta the meeting with no problems. I hope since I’m off bar tonight. It’d be cool to have a few drinks with the girls without there being ugliness.
Storm looks out at the patches and points at Rouge. “Next Saturday will be the first Moonlight Race. Are you ready?”
“I was born ready,” Rouge says.
It’d almost be laughable coming out of her lipstick-rimmed mouth had I not been schooled the first time I rode with her.
“I need my posse to stand up,” Rouge says.
Five patches stand with Rouge and raise their hands over their heads as we all cheer. After taking their bows, they sit.
“Looks like a fierce team,” Storm says with a smile. “Halo, I’ll turn the floor over to you now.”
Halo gives a recap of our finances and closes with the take from last week’s Casino Night, making sure to share what those working the event earned. The numbers are enough to cause whispers, which Halo lets go on for a bit as she shuffles her pages.
After allowing the murmurs to build, Halo says, “Next game is in two weeks. Nails and I will be taking names for anyone who wants to work. No guarantees that you’ll get a spot, so get your name in soon.”
I shift my attention to the patches sitting in the chairs in front of me. By their restless squirming, they’re as edgy as me. The meeting has gone too smoothly, so we’re waiting for the hammer to drop.
Storm gazes out at the crowd, saying nothing. Her dark brown eyes are intense as she scans the room. She stands. All eyes are on her.
She moves to the far end of the table and goes still. Too still. Then she points at Frost. “Stand and go to the opposite end of the table.”
Frost glances at Storm, and then her gaze scans the crowd, but she doesn’t stand.
“Now!” Storm says.
Frost glares at Storm, but she stands and walks to the end of the table.
I glance at Nails, who’s at the ready. Dimples rubs her hands together.
“Can I ask everyone that worked Casino Night to please stand?” Storm says.
Nadine and I are already standing. All the officers and the patch sisters who helped rise to their feet.
Storm nods. “First, I want to recognize the group who carried the evening.” Storm turns to Frost. “I believe you owe the club an apology, especially those standing.”
Frost frowns and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Do you have something to say before you issue your apology?” Storm asks.
“Fuck right I do.” Frost’s eyes blaze. “I fucking stopped by to help. Heard you were shorthanded. You’re the one that laid your hands on me first, so why the fuck should I apologize?”
Storm doesn’t react. Her only tell is her clenched fist.
“I wasn’t planning on doing all this in front of everyone,” Storm says. “I was just wanting you to apologize, but it seems like you wanna go there. You dishonored the club. The gamblers are skittish and don’t take kindly to having their game interrupted. It’s bad for business.”
Storm takes a few steps toward Frost. Those standing are still on their feet since Storm didn’t tell them to sit.
“The Thorns have been successful for years because everyone respects the club. Respects each other. And respects protocol. You violated that.”
Frost gives Storm a crooked grin. “How so? Like I said, I came to help since I heard you were shorthanded.”
“Really? An hour before we were done. And you decided to bring outsiders into our private club space?”
Frost laughs.
“Something funny?” Storm says in an even tone, but there’s something dangerous in her eyes.
“I thought it was okay.” Frost gives a nonchalant shrug. “Wasn’t your little piece of ass there? Who was she representing? The Thorns or the Graces?”
People gasp, and Dimples looks like she’s gonna jump over the table to stop Storm from charging Frost. Surprisingly, Storm doesn’t move.
“Ya better check yourself, Frost.” Storm never takes her eyes off Frost. “I’ll not have you disrespecting your club. Your sisters. Your fellow officers. Your president. Or your president’s girlfriend.”
Storm takes another step toward Frost, so she’s now standing at the center of the table. “This is your last chance to apologize to the club.” Storm waves her hand toward those still standing. “And apologize to those who you dishonored last Saturday.”
Frost stares at Storm before she glances out at the group. All whispers have quieted, and nobody moves.
Without looking back at Storm, Frost mutters, “I apologize to the club. And to the sisters who worked the event.”
Thank god. I can finally breathe.
“Now sit your ass down,” Storm says to Frost.
Frost’s back is stiff as she returns to her seat.
Storm remains standing. She slightly bows her head toward those of us standing. “Once again, I thank you for your service to your club. Please, have a seat.”
Once everyone sits, Storm walks around the table. She brushes her hand against Dimples’ shoulder as she walks past her. Storm doesn’t sit. Instead, she stands behind her chair with her hands grasping the back of it.
“Thank you all for coming. The beers are cold and calling our names. Meeting adjourned.”
Since Storm is already standing, everyone gets to their feet. Frost brushes past Storm, and I see her lips moving, but I can’t tell what she’s saying. Storm’s neck goes red as Frost exits first.