“Then, let’s get you alcohol.”
“Promise me they won’t kill you,” I pressed.
“I promise they won’t kill me.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. “Okay.”
He kissed me then took me back to the party.
Aero
Wednesday afternoon, I left a fearful Violet at my apartment and headed out to the cabin for my beat down. Of course, I didn’t use those words when reassuring Violet I’d be all right, but secretly, I was nervous.
Admittedly, I was more nervous about how Violet would react to whatever bruises she’d find on my body when all of this was over.
“If you’re here now, it’s because you’ve run the gauntlet yourself,” Sundance addressed the crowd of Howlers assembled at the bank by the creek that ran behind the property. “You all know the rules, so I won’t fuckin’ bore you, but I will remind you to remove your rings before we start. After all, Patchy didn’t earn his nickname by sailing the seven seas. He lost his right eye during a bar fight in Tallahassee from a Killing Joker with fist full of silver and turquoise, and we don’t want Aero here starting his club life like old Patchy, do we?”
“Let’s just hope he don’t end up like old Patchy,” Rocky called out.
“That’s also a fair point,” Sundance replied with a chuckle.
“We’re good, Pres. Let us at him,” someone from the back of the group shouted to laughs and cheers all around.
“Not until I blow this whistle,” Sundance said, holding up a silver coach’s whistle. “When I think Aero’s had enough, or he’s dead, I’ll blow it again. Stop the second you hear the whistle, or your ass is next to run the gauntlet.”
Running the gauntlet was a Howler tradition that went back to the early days of the club. To prove you have what it takes to be a full-patch, one-percenter, you must endure a beating from your future brothers. The gauntlet was more than a method of hazing or a way to prove one’s toughness. It was about showing your club that you won’t crack under pressure and that you know how to practice restraint. This is vital because I wasn’t allowed to throw a single punch during the initiation.
“If Aero handles his business like I think he will, and doesn’t tap out, the Howlers will have a new patch.” Sundance patted me on the back, smiling wide. As the others hooted and cheered.
I leaned in and whispered, “Thanks again for everything. I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” Sundance replied.
“And thanks for being so cool about me and Violet. For keeping our relationship separate from all of this,” I said, motioning to the room.
“Separate? I don’t know about that,” Sundance replied, smiling even wider. “Don’t get me wrong. I give every recruit his proper licks in the gauntlet, but I’m gonna enjoy kicking the shit outta you.” Sundance motioned to Orion. “So’s he.”
