I'm fine.
I'm . . . at war.
And I'm fine with that. I am. It's familiar. It's something I know.
I just hope this time I win because right now all I'm doing is losing the fucking battles.
Ineedto win the war.
Ihaveto.
Sticks clears his throat demanding my attention. "Are they your onlytwoconditions?" I nod my head. As much as I want to be in charge with the takeover of Hell's Gates it's also another responsibility on my already full plate. Having Snake as my second in command will get tasks that need to be handled done faster. "Snake being promoted to Sergeant at Arms has to come to a vote," he tells me before directing his attention to everyone.
Within Vipers MC there’s a committee of only six men given the votes. One of them being our President, Sticks. A man who is a father figure to all of us. He’s respected and admired. He’s also the perfect President. We also have a brand new member. Once a prospect, Slater, is now patched in as a member. His patch came about a month ago. To say he was beyond thrilled would be an understatement. That young man was smiling from ear to ear with mist in his eyes. Slater is a good man. He loves the club and holds everyone in it with his highest respect. And he almost died eight months ago trying to save Snake. If that doesn’t show loyalty to the club, I don’t know what does. Although he’s young, twenty-two years old, he’s proved himself.
The other members besides Snake and myself consist of Dex and Pax. They’re both equally good men. One more ruthless than the other but both good men. Pax has always been a lover over a fighter. He’ll want to pacify with words whereas Dex wants to silence his enemies with his fists. Somehow, despite their differences, they are extremely close. And maybe that’s why. They both balance each other out. Making each other see their perspective.
As much as I love and respect all my brothers there isn’t anyone else I want by my side but Snake.
“Anyone here vote against having Snake being promoted to Sergeant at Arms?” A silence falls in the room. Everyone glances at each other and then returns their gaze back to Sticks. Sticksnods his head and with the slam of the hammer my conditions are met. “Oak will be in charge of the rebranding of Hell’s Gates and thereafter and Snake is promoted to Sergeant at Arms.”
“If I’m being promoted to Sergeant at Arms who is going to be the Enforcer?” Snake asks a valid question. Honestly, I don’t see the problem with him being both.
“I can take that over,” Dex offers.
Snake scoffs. Of course, he does. “You have a newborn.” Haven, his wife, just delivered their baby two months ago. A beautiful baby girl named after her late mother, Christine. “Do you honestly think Haven wants you doing dangerous shit when you guys just started your family?” Snake makes for a very fair argument.
“You’re talking about, Haven. I’ll have to argue with her not to join me.” Another fair point. Haven is . . . something else. Fierce. Strong. Ruthless. She’s rough around the edges but once she lets you in, she loves you in her own special way. “Besides, she knows the life she married in to. It won’t be a problem.”
Snake sighs wistfully. “I’m really going to miss smashing people's faces in.”
“You’ll still be able to do that,” I remind him.
“Not the same, Oaky boy. Not the same,” he sighs wistfully but I know it’s all done for show.
“Snake, we all know you’re going to be taking over as Enforcer again once you make a full recovery. Let’s not fool anyone,” Pax comments.
“You might be right,” he agrees with him. “But I might like this new position. I’m always open to new positions.” He waggles his eyebrows, and everyone makes a gagging sound.
Everyone leaves Church after that. As we disperse to go our separate ways, I walk side by side with Snake.
“Sergeant at Arms, huh?” He gives me a sidelong glance. “I think it’s rather sweet how much you need me Oaky boy,” he snickers, and I roll my eyes.
“Fuck off.” Sad part is he’s not far from the truth. There are only a few people that are keeping me from going off the deep end and he’s one of them.
“Are we going to address the elephant in the room?”
I play indifferent. “What elephant?”
“We really going to do this?”
Yes, we are.“Do what?”
“You were lost in your head again.”
“I was thinking.” The lie is a half-truth. Iwasthinking just not about anything related to the club.
“No, you weren’t and that’s the problem. You’ve been doing it more lately,” Snake tells me seriously. I arch a brow and he explains, “Getting lost in your head. The others might not realize it yet, but they will.”
