CHAPTER NINETEEN
Brick
The general atmosphereinside the conference room is tight-lipped, my new brothers shooting me the occasional look. I feel like screamingwhat the fuckand shaking them awake. Everything that happened to Starlet goes against what the Iron Norsemen stand for. We’re outlaws, not monsters. Her testimony should have won them over, instead, it confused the shit out of them. Why?
If I could resurrect Starlet’s old man, I’d blow his brains out. “She’s a victim and deserves our protection.” What else can I say? I’m on probation for six months. At this rate, I’m going to tell Eagle to take the VP offer and shove it up his ass. I don’t like what I’m seeing and hearing here.
“Maybe she has a big fucking mouth and her old man punished her accordingly,” Axe says. “Wouldn’t be the first time an old lady needed an attitude adjustment.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d take him seriously. But I’ve seen the way he treats his teenage daughter and ex old lady who hangs out at the clubhouse all the time. Still doesn’t mean I don’t want to feed him a fist. “Don’t…” I growl, turning to face him. “Don’t make this personal.” It already is though.
Axe points at me. “Shouldn’t have tapped that sweet ass so many times—belongs to someone else.”
I try to ignore him, but the building pressure is too much. I scramble over the polished wood table top and tackle Axe out of his chair. We hit the floor hard, but I’m on top, giving me the advantage. I land a solid blow on his left cheek, then raise my fist to strike him again. Someone grips my wrist and holds on tight.
“You made your point,” Shorty says. “The only one who needs an attitude adjustment is Axe, not that little lady.”
So, I have Shorty’s support? Good.
“Get off me.” Axe protests underneath me.
I laugh and slide off him, admiring the red mark I left on his face like a badge of shame.
“I’ve had enough of this bullshit,” Eagle roars. “Axe, accept the fact that it wasn’t your time for advancement. Brick…”
I meet his intense gaze.
“Every time someone says something to piss you off, are you gonna hit them?”
I grit my teeth. “Maybe.”
A couple brothers chuckle. But I know Eagle isn’t entertained in the slightest or pleased with my performance so far.
“Back to your seats,” Eagle says. “We have the hard facts on Starlet. It’s up to each of you to choose what to do. Do we offer protection or send her home?”
Instead of sitting, I elect to stand at the table, still hungry for a piece of Axe. Motherfucker can’t keep pushing me or I’ll hurt him.Nothing lasts, I remind myself.Not this charter, not your feelings for Starlet, and not this life.Only the patch. Only the idea behind it. Brotherhood has its benefits, but the open road is the real shit. That’s what I live for.
“All in favor of offering Starlet protection?” Eagle prompts.
“Aye,” I say loud.
“That’s nine ayes.” Eagle looks at me. “Sorry, Brick. We need a unanimous vote.”
“Christ.” All I see is red and turn on the wall behind me, driving my fist into the plaster and leaving a gaping hole. There’s blood on my knuckles but I don’t care. I take one look at my prez and shake my head. “Guess I should tell her the news.”
“Do you want to make the call to Silver Donovan, or should I?”
Does Eagle really trust me enough to call the president of the Devil’s Crusaders, the man Starlet is expected to marry? I flex my hand at my side, considering it. “I’ll make the call. Give me tonight with her.”
“Take what time you need, brother.”
The room empties quickly, but Shorty stays behind. “Wish it turned out differently,” he offers. “She’s worth the trouble.”
“Thanks.” We fist bump, and for the first time since I’ve been here, I realize Shorty is a true ally. Most of the brothers are, but there’s inside politics that divide even the closest charter.
“Here.” He offers me a set of keys. “I have a cabin three miles down the road. Nothing pretty, but it’s clean and quiet. Take your girl there, say goodbye the right way.”
I study his features for a long moment. “Why are you doing this?”
