“Yeah well, that was different,” Nero shrugs. “Plus I’m President, I don’t ask permission.”
“By that logic neither does Nashville,” Rebel says. “Does that mean we start breaking all the rules?”
“It’s not like this is something we’re used to,” Beast says, for a moment not lost in his own head over Ellie. “Until Taylor.”
He’s right. When Nero took over, he appointed a whole new council to work alongside him. None of us had an old lady or expressed any interest in getting one.
“That’s true,” Rebel agrees. “Still, it’s protocol.”
“Fuck protocol,” I keep my eyes on Nero. “She stepped up for the club tonight, Nero. She put herself in danger to protect Ellie.”
He glances toward the door where Charley is, then looks around at us all. “We can vote here and get the others approval after,” he says.
“Fine by me,” Rebel says. “If it’s what you want,” he looks to me and I nod.
“Be careful with her,” Beast tells me. “Ellie thinks she’s special.” He swallows hard. “I’m good with it too.”
I dip my chin in thanks and look at Nero.
“Told you.” He says it with a smirk. “Make sure she knows how things work.”
“She already does,” I reassure him.
He looks over my shoulder and I turn around to see Charley and Lily coming back into the waiting room. She is wearing her own clothes but still has my shirt on over her top. Nero walks over to her, and she looks at him without any fear, making my heart swell.
“You protected the club tonight, Charley,” Nero says to her.
“I had to stop him hurting Ellie.” She says it like she doesn’t want any praise for what she did.
Charley looks at me with a question in her eyes.
“You’re staying right here, where I can see you,” I tell her.
“I was going to anyway,” she says. “I want to be here when Ellie wakes up.”
“Me too,” Lily says.
Nero eyes the two women in turn and I see the smile he’s trying to hide.
I kiss Charley’s temple. “Why don’t you both go sit down, I’ll see if I can find you some coffee.”
While the women go sit down, I hand over a bunch of cash to Wheeler to get drinks. We could all do with it, given Ellie is in surgery for God knows how long.
Nero has taken a call but hangs up when I go back over.
“I’ve just called Jesse to get Taylor and Oscar to his place.” Jesse lives in a penthouse at the top of one of the most expensive and secure buildings in the city. “With a Kivisto in Baltimore I want everyone safe,” he glances at Charley, he knows why I’m keeping her close. “I’m even considering a lockdown,” he adds as Rebel comes over.
“You think it’s that bad?” Rebel asks.
“I think too many of what Storm sees as our weaknesses are getting hurt.”
He’s right and now I’m even more concerned.
“Lockdown is a big call,” Rebel says, rubbing his chin.
“And one I will not make lightly,” Nero tells him. “The last thing I want is Storm thinking he has us on the back foot. Risking our families isn’t an option.”
“Raven will tell me to eat a bag of dicks if I try to make her hide,” Rebel grunts out.
