“Only thing for it,” Peter continued. He let out a dry chuckle. “Tell me if I’m wrong, boys, but once we get things back up and running the club’s gonna be making a good kickback with the runs, and now with what we have on the cartel, we’re likely going to be making even more. We’d be stupid not to continue.”
JD didn’t react immediately; instead, he took a long, slow breath and stood up slowly. He reached for the bottle of whiskey on the shelf behind him and poured a shot, and then another. Then another.
He let out another heavy breath and sucked in his lower lip before releasing it with an exaggerated pop sound. His expression hardened and he cracked his neck from side to side, and then began pouring shots out in the small glasses.
He slid one toward Moose, who caught it without spilling a drop.
“One thing you should know about the Kings, Rowan,” JD began.
He slid another glass toward Bear.
“We weren’t built on money.”
And then another glass toward Swampy.
“We weren’t built on territory.”
Another went to Moose.
“Hell, we weren’t even built on power.”
The room was silent now, everyone hanging on his every word. JD slid a glass toward Tex.
“We were built on brotherhood.”
Another glass slid over to Gods.
“And on loyalty.”
Another shot of whiskey went to Ridge.
“The Kings were men who had nothin’, so we built somethin’, together.”
He poured another and slid it slowly toward me, his gaze holding me momentarily frozen before he looked away. I wrapped my fingers around the glass, my heart beating faster and harder than it had ever beaten before.
JD continued, his voice calm but carrying the weight of a man who was having to make a decision that was painful.
“This club and this town are where we all belong, and we protect this town and each other with everything we have, because we protect what’s ours. We protect the people who need protecting, and of course, we protect each other. At all costs.”
A couple of the men tapped their glasses against the table lightly in agreement.
JD poured another glass of whiskey out and moved it into his own place, and then he sat down. The silence in the room stretched out.
“Loyalty is everything. Loyalty to your club and to your brothers. To our code.” JD leaned back in his chair, looking calm to all the world. His eyes moved to Peter. “What do you think?” he asked calmly.
Peter frowned slightly. “I don’t know what you mean.”
JD chuckled, a sad smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I know you’re old as shit, and those ears of yours ain’t working too good anymore, but I think you heard me just fine.”
A few men shifted in their seats and JD’s eyes hardened. “Maybe it was the question you didn’t understand.”
JD looked toward Gods and gave a small nod.
Gods stood and walked around the table, stopping behind Peter.
Peter stiffened and tried to stand, but Gods’ hand landed on his shoulder, firm and heavy, pushing him back into his seat.
“What the hell is this?” Peter said, turning to look up at Gods’, but Gods’ gaze was on JD and only on JD.
JD leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with him.
“Maybe you just didn’t understand the question,” JD said quietly. “That’s all right, let me see if I can help.”
The room felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for everything to come spilling out. All the secrets and lies, the betrayal. I felt the pain and hurt that I had gone through, but worse, I could feel the anger and betrayal coming from each man in there. The tension in the room suddenly snapped tight and Peter’s breathing quickened.
“What is this?” he asked, his voice low.
JD’s voice dropped and he stared right into Peter’s eyes. “What does loyalty mean to you, Confessor?”
