The party continued back at the clubhouse for hours. It was a beautiful sight, like the good old days. The days of rowdy parties, live shows from bunnies in the main room, drinks everflowing, and not a care in the world because we were on top of it.
Hard to believe that was just earlier this year. We’d had some gatherings since then, one of the largest being Pops’ memorial, but nothing like this. Not since he’d been gone.
Sitting at my table, looking around, I wanted to believe this was a new beginning. A rebirth of how it was. That the last few months were merely a pause. Something still nagged at me,though.
“Prez, it’s time,” Eagle said.
Some of the guys from other chapters had to head back early for various reasons, and I knew nobody would be going to sleep after the wedding. Plus, Eagle and a few of our guys were heading to PCB soon for a few days. Thunder Beach was starting midweek so they were going down early to have some quiet fun before the rally. We needed time to reset after all this before they headed out. So, we set the vote for midnight in Church.
Pushing through the throngs of bodies grinding and dancing, I headed down the hall. Stepping inside the room, I paused, only for a second, at the sight of the packed house.
Each chapter handled the majority of their own business, but usually after the national president was notified. Even then, the rest of the club didn’t need input. There’d been plenty of times all the chapters were together. But this was the only time I’d ever seen all the officers piled into one place for a vote. And this vote was about me.
“Brothers,” I said as I finally stepped to the chair I’d been using since Pops had been gone.
The presidents of the other chapters stood, the other officers filling in the space between the huge, round table made of heavy oak, and the walls. The table was old. Years of private meetings, votes, and schemes wore the shine from the table, leaving a dull and nicked finish.
The presidents sat, so I followed suit. “This has been a long time coming. It should have been handled immediately upon the loss of Raven, but we had a lot of interference along the way. With that said, I’m gonna hand this over to Eagle.”
Since the vote was for the national president, I wouldn’t put it to the table. Regardless of what happened in the vote, Eagle would still be the VP for the national chapter so he would do it. He was always true and loyal to the club, but he stepped up as VP and learned a lot since Pops passed. Watching him level up filled me with pride. We’d been friends a long time, and he had moments he stumbled through, but never for the club. Since he filled the VP spot, it seemed as if he grew up.
Eagle stood. “Gentlemen, your votes are important. We did an impromptu vote to bring some order after Raven was killed and everyone was notified. We got no pushback. Still, we need to get this behind us. I may be biased,” he said, putting his hand to his chest, “but I can’t think of anyone better for this. For the honor of president of the National Chapter, I submit Hawk Jones. But you know the drill. Write it down.”
When we’d had our private vote, Falcon had stood to put my name in for president. Our official rules had been for everyone to write their vote down and toss it to the middle of the table. But Raven had thrown that out to submit me to VP. So when Falcon suggested I take over in Pops’ absence, we hadn’t done it then. It was quick and informal. But this was different. This was a national vote. I didn’t want there to be any question on who earned the spot, so I told Red to be sure there was paper and pens for everyone before we got started.
Judging by the pieces of papers being tossed to the middle of the table, many of them had already written down their vote.
We waited a couple of minutes as a few guys scribbled on their slip then tossed it in the pile. Looking around, I had no clue what was about to happen. Some of the current presidents had been in place a long time, even the VPs. Anyone could writetheir own name, or nominate someone else. It was a majority vote.
The treasurers from each club had to count and tally the entries, then give their findings over to each VP. The VPs would each call out their results after also showing the Sergeant at Arms to ensure there was no fuckery. DEMC had a loyal and honorable group, but this year we learned that even the strongest club could have a weak link.
That was exactly what Butch was: weak. He wanted something he didn’t deserve and tried to find an easy way to get it. He paid the ultimate price for it, but it taught me a lesson about trust:just because it was given, doesn’t mean it was earned.
Looking around at all the poker faces, I started to realize that maybe some of the guys didn’t think I’d earned this spot. Honestly, I’d always stayed humble and just tried to do right by the club. Pops groomed me to take over one day, but it wasn’t meant to be so soon. I’d honor whatever was voted for myself, but wondered how it would affect Ma and Penny.
Should I marry off Penny to Petrov? I had to make sure she was safe and taken care of. Ma was an Old Lady, and the First Lady at that. She’d forever have their protection. But she was living in the president’s house. I didn’t need it, and Eagle had been fine staying in the clubhouse. But if I was voted out of President, Ma would have to leave her home, the one she shared with Penny.
Sure, they wouldn’t kick me out of the club. Hell, I’d probably be assigned an officer to the club of whoever was chosen for this. But Penny was never one of us. And Mawouldn’t live in the clubhouse.
As I started wondering just how much Penny would hate me to be offered up to the Bratva and how fast I could have a new house built or bought for Ma in a new town, Red had been chatting with the other treasurers. They’d collected the votes and were going about the process of tallying them up.
A few of the guys were looking over their shoulders. It wasn’t a secret. If anything, the more eyes the better to ensure someone didn’t miscount or slip one up their sleeve. I’d love to believe all of our brothers were honorable, but I didn’t know all of them as well as I knew the Atlanta chapter. It pissed me off that Butch was still haunting me but what he did led to me being suspicious of everyone.
Red and the other treasurers all conversed in code with more grunts and nods than anything. Red waved over Eagle, and he and Rooster walked to the other side of the table. The other Sergeant at Arms and VPs did the same and the exchange began.
Eyes all darted around the room as we waited for the announcement. Finally, Eagle was joined by all the VPs. His dark eyes were like stone as he stood with his arms crossed. I’d mastered the poker face so I appeared to be patiently waiting, but my mind was racing with all the changes that would happen if I wasn’t voted in.
As if Falcon could read my mind, he cleared his throat loudly. Eagle looked around and after each VP nodded, he finally uncrossed his arms, a single piece of paper between his fingertips.
“Brothers,” Eagle announced. “The voting is completeand the tallies have been confirmed. It is my duty to announce that our new national president is…”
This time, Knox, the president of the Bristol chapter, cleared his throat. Macon chuckled and everyone shifted.
“Fucking get on with it, Eagle,” Falcon said.
Eagle’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll let that slide since we go way back.”
Jackal turned in his chair and gave Eagle a light blow to the ribs. “Get on with it.”
