“I just have one last question,” I state, turning to Hermes.“If we’re pointing fingers, why didn’t you go to anyone about who she could’ve been?When shit went down with Relic, we all know that Raider had you digging into everyone—most closely the club girls and hangers-on.Why didn’t you tell everyone what you found out about Charlie?Where she was from and who she was married to?”I snap my fingers and point to Raider.“Or Raider, why didn’t you bring her or even your VP when you found Relic's records on the fact that the Knight’s new Pres, NOS, reached out looking for missing property and Relic thought maybe she might be it.”
All the brothers are now looking between the two self-righteous pricks.
“Yeah, didn’t think you would have an answer,” I slide my cut down my arms, laying it on the church table.I lay my hand on top of it, and everything inside me screams that this is wrong.
But in my head, I know this is right because these men are not holding true to who we say we are as a club—as a family.Turning away, I head for the door when a hand lands on my shoulder, stopping me mid-step, and I hang my head.
The hand squeezes slightly.“Pick it up and put it back on.”
“I can’t, Pope.I cannot keep doing this,” I whisper, shaking my head.
“It’s not a request.Pick it up and put it on!”Pope's words are sharp.“I will not watch you throw away your family for this.”
Spinning around, I glower, “That’s just it.We aren’t a fuckingfamily.This,” I throw my hand out in a sweeping motion, “is nothing but a bunch of self-righteous assholes who are so blind to the fact that we no longer hold any trust or respect for each other.There’s only an illusion of a family.”
“Blitz, pick your fucking cut up and put it back on,” Pope snaps through gritted teeth.
“I’m sorry, brother, I can’t do that.”The words feel as if they’re being ripped from my soul.
“You’re going to throw away everything for a woman?A woman that you know very little about?”Token calls from his place at the table.
His words tell me that they truly do not see it.“I’m not throwing anything away.What I am finally seeing is what we’ve become, clearly.Staying would mean that I put aside everything that I stand for and once was assured this club stood for.I cannot and will not.Mercy was willing to spill everyone's blood for Ainsley.No one blinked.Raider was willing to sacrifice us all for Tasia, but because I refuse to agree that Charlie is what you claim, I’m throwing it all away?The difference is you lot were willing to take us all down with you, where I’m willing not willing to do so.”
“Blitz,” Raider finally calls.
My eyes move to him, but I don’t acknowledge him any further.
“Why don’t we move this to the conference room and have a conversation with Charlie?Making decisions in anger always leads to chaos,” he tries to console me.
“Now we’re being reasonable and will hear her out?”I question mockingly.
Raider’s eyes darken before he sucks in a long, drawn-out breath.“Fuck you, Blitz.You took your cut off and laid it down.What do you think that’s going to get you?”
“Raider, what the hell?”Terro finally speaks up.
Raider starts to say something when Blender finally stands up off the wall, moving to stand in front of the church doors.I shift so that he isn’t at my back, and I can keep everyone in my line of sight.Blender crosses his arms over his chest, lifting his chin.I fight to swallow the retort because I may not be happy at this scene, but I do not have a death wish.Terro comes around the table to stand next to Pope, who still has his hand on my shoulder.
“Look, you’re not wrong.Currently, the club is struggling but walking out isn’t the way to fix it.Stay and let's clear the air, get it all out on the table, and then you can make your choice on if you're staying or going.”Terro’s words sound good, but there is no way to know if we’re all telling the truth.
“Supposedly that was already done when Raider took over and again.Yet, here we are,” I deadpan.
“And as we stand here all untrusting, I recall you to were still lying as well.How can you stand here throwing stones and acting as if you’re not just as guilty?”Terro words aren’t harsh or even condemning, just truthful.
He isn’t wrong.That is exactly what I’ve been doing, casting blame on them all when I too have been keeping secrets.Giving a single nod, Terro and Pope both step back to reveal Mercy standing there holding my cut out to me.I watch him in shock because the last person I would have ever thought gave a fuck is the one handing me my lifeline.
Folding it over my arm, still not ready to put it back on just yet, I move to stand behind my chair, as without my cut on my back, sitting at the table is not okay.Everyone takes their seats once more, not saying a word, just letting the heaviness of what has happened settle over us all.The only sound that can be heard is that of Hermes typing away on his laptop.
“Blitz is not wrong.I found many journals of my brother’s about what he and Shea were doing and who was involved.I’ve spent many days and nights going over all of them.They are in my office and available to anyone who wishes to read them.In those journals, it was mentioned that the President of Lucifer's Knights, Six, was killed and that his Ol’ Lady, Sunshine, had then gone missing.I was not aware at the time that she could be Charlie,” Raider finally breaks the silence.
“When Blitz came back with Charlie years ago, I dug into her as per the usual course of action.At the same time, Relic had me digging up dirt on people who we could use to do what we needed.Her background didn’t throw up any red flags.So, I didn’t dig any further into her.I have been requested by Raider to dig deep and thoroughly into everyone here to be sure no other surprises come up to bite us in the ass,” Hermes tells us, not looking up from his laptop.
I’m not at all shocked by what he is telling us.No one says anything for a long time before Remedy sighs, placing his elbows on the table and running his hands over the top of his head.
“The last woman the Senator tried to kill is currently at my home healing,” he finally states, and the room erupts with everyone talking at once.
“What the fuck?”
“Are you fucking joking?”
