“I’m sure. I don’t want to make it into a thing unless it becomes a thing. I just want to move on and help get us out of this mess.”
“I’m glad to see we’re on the same page. You’re suspended for six months. No runs, no meetings, no votes. If we have an emergency where we need you, you’ll serve your duty. Until then, you’re no more than the Prospects and you’ll be treated as such. Once you’ve proven you can handle your job, your rank will be restored. Is that understood?”
“I understand and it will never happen again, Mav. I promise,” he assures, standing to leave.
“I haven’t dismissed you,” I announce, striding towards Lone who braces himself for what’s to come. I tear off his kutte, nearly ripping the fabric, and fling it onto my chair. Several emotions cross his face as our eyes meet, mine filled with contempt, his with remorse. Stepping back, Steel and Nightmare come forward without a word and deliver punishing blows to Lone’smidsection. He bends over, coughing, in pain but never asks them to stop. He understands the deserved consequences of his actions.
“Remember this the next time you let your personal shit cloud your duties to the club,” I warn, nearing his face as he stands up. Lone picked the wrong time to fuck up. Although I chose not to show this part of my life to Ember, it has never hindered my role as president. Whatever Lone has going on, he better fix it or I will. A swift punch from my right fist lands on his mouth, followed by my left striking his eye, knocking him out. He’ll learn from this mistake or end up as another job for Dementor to clean up. Right now, I want him out of here.
“Get this fucker out of my sight, he’s bleeding on my carpet!” I order, walking back to my desk. Opening the bottom drawer, I pull out my bottle of whiskey and a tumbler to take some of the edge off. When I call Jameson, I need to have my shit together because he is as raw as they come. Steel holds the door open while Nightmare hauls Lone to the bathroom to clean him up. Any other president would’ve booted him out, but Lone Wolf is a badass tracker and this is the first time he’s ever made a mistake.
I can’t worry about what his personal issues are right now because I have my own. It crushed me to hear the disappointment in Ember’s voice when I called her earlier, but I need to spend some time here with my club and get us back on track. If I hadn’t been torn between my two worlds, I’d have had this situation under control, and Vandal would already be setting up a ride out to the country for some well-deserved downtime. It’s been a long time coming and my men need a break.
I grab my phone from the desk, scrolling through my contacts until I find Jameson's number. I know he's going to tear into me, and that’s exactly why Lone is on my shit list right now.Jameson picks up on the first ring, like he's been waiting for my call.
“What’s up, Prez?” I say, trying, but failing to keep my cool.
“You called me for a reason, so cut the bullshit and talk.” Jameson’s all business, no patience for excuses. He runs a tight ship, and my chapter messed up. He knows I wouldn’t be calling unless something went sideways. I give him the rundown on what happened with Lone and the cocaine, then move on to the issue with Ember and how I need advice on handling it. He stays quiet while I ramble, and that silence is anything but comforting. After what feels like the longest minute of my life, he finally speaks.
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
“I thought I could…"
“That’s the problem, you didn’t think!” he shouts, cutting me off before I can finish. “I trusted you to handle Atlanta after your father died, and you fucked it up.”
“I know I messed up, but it’s handled. Lone is suspended for six months, and he’ll have to prove himself if he wants his patch back.”
“Suspended?” He scoffs. “I would’ve taken both of you out if I were there! Who the hell am I supposed to trust if not my president?!” His anger pours through the phone, and I deserve every bit of it. “Now your personal shit is getting in the way of my fucking business, and the damn DEA is breathing down our necks. If I have to come down to Georgia, it’s going to get real bad, real fast, so fix it!”
“You won’t have to make a trip. We’re already working on a plan to get the feds off our backs. I’m just torn about telling Ember...”
“I don’t give a damn about your wife!” he growls, cutting me off again. “You’re screwing up the club, and you need to get your shit together!”
There’s nothing I can say. He’s right, I need to fix this. Being a Royal Bastard isn’t just a part of my life, it’s who I am. It’s in my blood, and I need Ember by my side to feel whole. I can’t keep this up much longer.
“Listen,” Jameson sighs heavily. “I know you’re struggling, and I know you love your wife. But what happened today should tell you that you need to be honest with her. If she accepts it, great. But if she can’t handle this life, then you need to decide which one matters more to you.” For most, this choice would be simple, but for me, it’s heartbreaking. I’d choose the Royal Bastards over my love for Ember if it meant keeping her safe. All I can hope is that she’ll understand and maybe even give this life a chance with me. If she can’t, I’ll have to accept it. My club and these men are a part of my soul, and I can’t exist without them.
After coming up with a solid plan to get the feds off of our backs, I end the call. Jameson gave me some solid advice about Ember and I’ve made up my mind to tell her about the Royal Bastards as soon as I get home. My only hope is that she doesn’t leave me and is willing to accept this part of my life. Opening the office door I see that the party is still in full swing. After the day we had, they deserve this break.
Looking over at the couch, I lock eyes with Lone Wolf, making sure we’re all good. He nods in my direction, holding his beer up in understanding that he deserved everything that happened in my office earlier and then some. His face is pretty banged up, but I suspect the two women sitting on either side of him are making him feel a lot better.
Making my way to the bar, Renegade, one of our prospects, is already filling a few shot glasses with Tequila along with an ice-cold beer. I don’t hesitate to down each one chasing them with my beer. Leaning against the bar, I look out over the room, loving that everyone is relaxed and having a good time. A beautiful woman with curvy hips, long black hair, and a sexysmile, walks towards me. I’ve never seen her here before and It’s obvious what her intentions are.
“Hey there, handsome. You look like you know how to have a good time. Why don’t we get to know each other a little better?”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m a married man. The only type of good time I’m having tonight is relaxing with my brothers,” I say, smiling to let her know I appreciate the compliment.
“Well, you can’t blame a girl for trying,” she replies, looking disappointed.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” I ask not wanting to embarrass her or leave her feeling rejected.
“Lisa,” she answers, holding out her hand for a shake.
“Give me a minute, Lisa,” I tell her, eyeing the crowd and quickly finding my road captain. “Hey, Vandal! Come over here for a second,” I yell over the crowd. If Ember were here, I wouldn’t have to fend off the countless women that try to get with me. It’s understandable since I’m always alone but I would never be unfaithful to my wife. I’m already betraying her by keeping this all a secret. Besides, I don’t want any other woman but her. She is everything I need and more.
Vandal makes his way over, curiosity showing on his face.
“Vandal, this is Lisa. She’s looking for someone to show her a good time tonight, and I figured you might be up for the job.”
