“Hmm?” I blinked and shifted my gaze to Nash. He was watching me, his blue eyes shrewder than most people gave him credit for. “What?”
“Doesn’t matter. You want a drink?”
I nodded. “I want a couple.”
“I’ll hook you up.”
He reached across me and took the gavel, pounding it on the table with a grin. “Dismissed. Get drunk and get laid while you can, boys. It’s gonna be a busy week.”
I rolled my eyes and wrenched the gavel from his hand, but the truth was I didn’t give a shit and he knew it. I didn’t run my MC like any president we’d ever heard of. My brothers rode any make of bike they fucking pleased, played shitty indie music in the clubhouse when they weren’t in the mood for death metal, and banged whoever they chose. I didn’t care where these bastards came from or what they were into as long as they looked me in the eye and pledged a loyalty I could believe.
Also, I wasn’t a precious bastard. If I didn’t want Nash’s hands on my gavel, he’d have had it buried in the back of his skull years ago. Business was business, but we deserved a little fun too.
The meeting broke up, emptying out the chapel until it was just me and Embry, the closest to a confidant I had these days.
He took Nash’s seat. “You look tired.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
“It’s Pa to you, but okay. Anything you want to talk about?”
“Nope.”
“Sure about that? I have time.”
“Course you do. Celibate motherfucker, ain’t ya? When was the last time you got laid?”
Embry gave me an angelic smile that was somehow wicked at the same time. “Is it my sexual exploits we need to talk about here? I can’t remember the last time you went home after church and stayed there.”
“Spying on me, father?”
“No, merely absorbing what the prospects tell me when I ask them why they’re getting no sleep either.”
“You think I’m fucking the prospects?”
Embry opened his mouth but changed his mind as Nash returned with a bottle of Cornish rum and two glasses. He dumped them on the table, punched Embry’s arm, and left again. Clearly he had places to be.
“You sent them home last night, then rode out before they’d left,” Embry said as the door shut behind Nash. “What happened to no one riding alone until this business with the bridges is done?”
I sighed. When rules were set, they applied to the whole club, even the president, and I relied on Saint and Mateo to enforce them. But as much as I didn’t give a shit about prospects knowing who I was fucking at any given time,man... “I needed some time to think. You know how I get if I can’t get a moment of peace.”
Embry smiled. He did know, all too well. As club chaplain, it was his job to take care of our mental health and he was the most diligent of us all. “There’s no peace to be found taking risks. You’re our most valuable asset. Without you, the club falls. And more than that, we love you. It would destroy every soul here if anything happened to you.”
I knew that. Not because I was an arrogant twat, but because I’d seen it happen when my dad died. It was why I was still here and not long gone like River, my brother. I’d never been one for the easy road. Besides, I had other brothers now, and we shared more than blood and grief.
Another sigh escaped me. I nodded to let Embry know I heard what he was saying, but we both knew it wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference. Nothing could shackle me, not even the club I’d give my damn life for. “I might’ve found us a new accountant.” I changed the subject, subtle as a breeze block.
Embry reached for the rum and poured two glasses. “Who?”
“Posh dude with a fancy watch and head for numbers. It’s not certain yet, but he’s swinging by on Thursday to take a look.”
“Where did you find him?”
“Yellow Pages.” I gave Embry a dry look Teddy would’ve been proud of.
He rolled his eyes. “Is there a reason you didn’t bring this up at church?”
“I already told you. It’s not definite yet. Besides, we don’t have much time to discuss legitimate business right now, so I want to make sure I know what I’m talking about when we do.”
