Ghost’s jaw tightens slightly, but he nods. “Whatever you think is best.”
“What I think is best is protecting our family.” I lean forward.
We spend the next few hours reviewing territory reports, patrol schedules, and plans for counterattacking Marcus. The afternoon bleeds into evening. Brothers start filtering back from patrols, filling the clubhouse with noise and smoke.
By seven PM, the common room is packed. Every patched member who’s not on duty is here. About forty brothers, plus some of the old ladies who know church nights mean business.
I catch Bonnie sitting on the couch near the back, picking at her nails. She looks up when I enter, and our eyes meet. I nod once.
She takes a breath.
“Church!” I call out. “Let’s go.”
The brothers start filing into the meeting room. It takes a few minutes for everyone to find their seats around the long table. Ghost and Titan flank me at the head. Barnes closes the door and throws the latch.
The room settles into silence.
“First order of business,” I say, looking around the table. “Ghost and Titan have been running VP-level operations for weeks now. Time to make it official.” I pull out the two patches and slide them across the table. “Effective immediately, we have two vice presidents. Ghost handles intelligence and strategy. Titan handles enforcement and security. Both report directly to me.”
Murmurs ripple around the table. Some brothers nod approval. Others look uncertain.
Miller speaks up. “That’s not traditional.”
“Nothing about this situation is traditional,” I say. “We’re at war. Our former president is in federal custody. We need strong leadership at every level. Ghost and Titan have earned these patches ten times over.”
“All in favor?” Barnes asks.
Hands go up around the table. More than three-quarters of the room.
“Motion passes,” Barnes says.
Ghost and Titan accept their patches without ceremony. They’ll sew them on later, but for now, the message is clear—the leadership structure just got stronger.
“Second order of business,” I say. I let the pause stretch, making sure I have everyone’s attention. “My wife is pregnant.”
The room erupts.
Brothers pound the table, shout congratulations. A few whistle. I let it go for a moment before raising my hand for silence.
“We’re announcing this now because I want everyone to understand what we’re fighting for. This isn’t just about territory or pride or revenge. We’re building a future. A legacy. This club will outlive all of us, and that starts with the next generation.”
The room erupts again in agreement.
“Marcus Stone is going to hear about this,” Miller says. “He’s going to come for her harder than ever.”
“Let him try.” My voice cuts through the noise. “Anyone who comes for my wife or my child dies. No exceptions. No mercy. We will make an example out of every single one of them.”
The brothers roar in approval.
“Savage Legion has been hitting our businesses,” I continue. “That ends now. We go on the offensive. Ghost will coordinate intelligence. Titan will lead strike teams. We hit them where it hurts, and we don’t stop until Marcus Stone is in the ground.”
More shouting. More fists pounding the table.
“The club comes first,” I say, and the room goes quiet again. “But family is part of the club. My wife is your sister. This baby will be your nephew or niece. Anyone who forgets that answers to me.”
No one argues.
“Church is adjourned,” I say. “Get back to work.”
