I fling myself into my chair and continue, “I need to tell you something that’s gonna be hard to hear, and I need you to let me get through it before you all lose your fuckin’ minds.”
They all turn at the same time and scoot up to the table.
Jasper states sarcastically, “If you don’t spit it out, I’ll have to beat it out of you.”
I shoot back, “I’m leaving Sons of Rage, resigning my position as club treasurer.”
My old man growls, “The fuck you are.”
My three brothers are just staring at me like I grew a fuckin’ second head. After about three seconds they explode.
Jasper comes out of his chair. “You’re what? How can you even think of such a thing?”
Onyx’s voice booms across the table. “Mica, what the hell are you thinking? You were born and raised a Rager. You can’t just walk away from everything that you are.”
“You can’t just fuckin’ quit. We need you. You’re our money guy. Do any of us look like we can run spreadsheets and shit?” Jasper says disgustedly.
“Let me finish,” I say, and my voice carries the same level of authority it did when we were in the alley after Nova went missing. The room doesn’t go quiet immediately, but they settle enough for me to continue.
“I’m starting my own club.”
Jasper asks, “Where the fuck did this idea even come from?”
My old man is cleverer than the rest of us put together. He guesses, “This has to do with Vulture’s granddaughter, doesn’t it?”
“I’d say she’s more my wife at this point, but yes.”
“You might as well tell us all about it,” he says, looking a little dispirited.
“The club’s name will be Raging Vultures. It’ll be an independent club, allied with both the Sons and Cray’s club but not a chapter of either.”
My old man’s head jerks up. “Wait. You’re planning to take Vulture’s old territory?”
“Yeah, you can either give it to me, or I’ll have to fight you for it.”
To say he’s never been a big fan of my sense of humor would be an understatement. “You’re the brainy one, not the funny one, remember?”
“Ouch,” I respond with a feral grin.
Slate cuts in. “In order to get the territory, you need to have enough men to hold it. Where do you plan to get brothers?”
Before I can answer, Jasper snarls, “Don’t even think about poaching brothers or club girls from our club.”
I joke with him, trying to take the edge off this situation. “What, Jasper? Are you afraid the brothers would prefer me as their club president?”
My older brother just shakes his head in apparent disgust. “Oh, fuck off with that shit. You know the Sons brotherhood is loyal… except you, that is.”
That should sting, but it doesn’t. I’m having way too much fun tormenting him.
Slate brings the conversation back to the issue of manpower. “You still haven’t answered my question, Mica. Where are you getting club members?”
My old man perks up. “You and Nova are having my grandchild?”
“We ain’t never bothered with birth control. I’m not stupid. I know where babies come from. So, I’d say it’s just a matter of time.”
He lifts his chin. “I’ll tell your ma, that the two of you are trying.”
I roll my eyes, “Sure, you can tell her that because it ain’t far from the truth.”
