Mica leans forward and lowers his voice. “I’m asking you to come on as an officer, my road captain to be exact. You don’t need to prospect with me because you already did when I was with the Sons. I know you’re smart, resourceful, and reliable. You’d walk in wearing our patch and sit at the table with me and the other officers. You’d be a founding member and get to help make all the important decisions from day one. For once in your life, you have the recognition and power you deserve.”
Mica’s finger comes up to his eye and he adds, “I see your worth. I’ve always seen that you were meant for great things. The truth is, we need what you bring to the table.”
Tommy doesn’t answer right away. He concentrates on the table for a long moment before he looks back up at Mica.
“Road captain? Why do you want me, Mica? You’ve got six patched brothers already. One of them has to know how to read a map.”
“Of course they can read maps. That’s not what I need. What I need is a man who knows the back roads of the tri-county area like the back of his hand. I need someone who’s strategic and prior military. You have all the skills I need and that’s why I’m tapping you for the road captain’s position.”
I watch Tommy’s face while Mica says that. Tommy tries not to let it show how much he likes hearing that Mica respects what he brings and honestly wants him. Tommy is a fuckin’ good rider. Everybody knows it, but Mica is articulating it like nobody ever has before.
“That’s one hell of a compliment,” Tommy states quietly.
“It’s not a compliment, brother. It’s a fact,” Mica shoots back.
“Mica, do you happen to know why your old man downvoted me this morning?”
“Because he thinks he knows what’s best for every damn body he ever meets.”
“I appreciate the offer. I want you to know that I’m taking it seriously. But I have other things going on in my life right now that I need to consider.”
Mica looks at him intently. “I just want to remind you that becoming a founding member of an MC isn’t a chance that rollsaround every day. Hell, you were prospecting for a legacy club where all the leadership positions were filled by blood brothers. You would have never been given the opportunity that I’m offering you right now. You realize that, right?”
“Mica’s right about that, Tommy,” I say quietly. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Mike drops our plates on the table, and we take a few moments of silence to stuff our faces. Mica takes a drink of coffee and toys with his cup for a moment before saying, “If your wildest dream had come true this morning and you’d been patched into Sons, you would have spent the next twenty years being a good brother and a loyal soldier. And at the end of those twenty years you’d be exactly where you started, which is not at the officer’s table.”
Tommy says, “True. I knew that going into the situation there.”
“Look, I’m not trying to be critical of my family’s club. Rock built the club for his sons, other than Jinx, all the officers are my brothers. The only problem with that is that it doesn’t leave a lot of room for a man like you to grow into a role that takes advantage of your strengths.”
I don’t particularly like what Mica just said, so I speak up. “From my perspective, not every brother wants the responsibility of being a mover and a shaker. Some of us are happy to be just another brother.” Turning to look at Tommy, I tell him, “I guess it all comes down to what you really want out of life. Would you be satisfied being just another brother or do you want more?”
“I want more,” Tommy says as if he should be ashamed of it.
I stare at Mica, because he’s somehow picked up on what I missed. My best friend has ambitions I didn’t know about. Then I remember that out of all my cousins, Mica is the smart one. Realization dawns on me that Rock is worlds smarter than most of us and Mica inherited that quality. How did I never see that before?
“Mica,” Tommy says finally. “My sister’s at my house right now.”
“Jules, right? Is she in town for long?”
“Looks like it. She drove in from the East Coast a few weeks ago. She saw some shit she shouldn’t have and isn’t doing well right now. I can’t leave her alone right now. She needs me.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to abandon your blood in her time of need, brother. Family comes first. Whatever we work out on this, we’ll work around her needs.”
“What if it means I can’t be out at the property full-time during the build phase?”
“If that’s how it is, we’ll figure something out.” Glancing in my direction, he murmurs, “Maybe you can find someone to look out for her, someone both of you can trust.”
Mica’s a clever bastard. I’ll give him that. It’s not like I can speak up and tell them that I’m not Jules’s babysitter. That would be rude and keep Tommy from this opportunity of a lifetime that fell right into his lap.
Tommy’s eyes shift to me and back again. I can see him turning the offer over in his head. “How long do I have to think it over?”
“Take whatever time you need. Just don’t leave me hanging. Whatever answer you give, I’ll respect it. If the answer is no, you can still come to us after this thing with your sister is taken care of. Like Flint said, there ain’t nothing wrong with being just another brother until another officer’s position comes open.”
“That sounds fair, Mica. I appreciate you understanding about my family responsibilities.”
“Not a problem,” Mica responds.
