Page 64

Zayne

She hasn’t noticed my tattoo yet. It’s one that’s caused me some trouble in the past but, in the end, I always knew it would be worth it. I can see why a girl not named Charlise would have a problem with another girl’s name scrolled all the way across the waistband of a guy she’s going down on. It was deliberate and a real reminder that anyone who isn’t my Charli, wouldn’t be around for long. It hasn’t even been five hours with her and I already know that I could never walk away from her again. I will just have to figure out a way to run the club and still be able to give her everything she deserves.

Finally breaking through Charli’s pissed off demeanor and allowing her to feel some of my truth told me that she might be better at understanding than I give her credit for. She has to know what goes on in the background of the club, even if she hasn’t seen it first-hand. She’s still wrapped in my arms with her head on my chest as I continue to admire us through the bathroom mirror. This is the exact picture I had in mind when I thought of what I wanted for my life. My father has always thought there isn’t room for someone in your life if you’re truly committed to the club. I will just have to prove to him I can do both.

My phone vibrating has Charli stepping back so I can pull it out of my pocket. When I see the number, I move away from her so she can’t hear what is being said on the other side of the call.

“Yeah.” I answer with my serious, all business tone like I always do with one of the club officers.

“Clubhouse. Bring Theo.” Ace is direct and demanding, ending the call without waiting for me to respond and leaving zero room for discussion. Even though I’m looking forward to taking Charli out on the water today, I know I have to prove that I can handle club responsibility first and foremost, so this is not a dilemma.

“We’ll have to do this another time. I have to go.” She looks disappointed, so I take a few steps forward to kiss her. “Are you going to be here when I get back?”

“Depends.” I raise an eyebrow at her, questioning her response. “I have a bonfire with my friends tonight. It’ll depend on how long you take.” I don’t like that she’s still planning to do something else on my first night back but I’m not about to tell her she can’t go. That’s a sure-fire recipe for fuckin’ disaster with Charli.

“Keep your phone nearby, so I can text when I’m done.” She nods as I give her one last kiss on the forehead, so I can leave.

It doesn’t take me long to find Theo. He’s the one trying to get everyone into the boats and get this damn party moving. “We have to go.”

“Fuck. Can we not just have a single weekend?” I get why he’s frustrated. He should be glad he’s made it this far into the day without a call. After the past few years I’ve had, this has felt like a full day off. That may have everything to do with Charli though.

“Apparently, not this one.”

“Who made the call?” He’s pulling his jeans over his swim trunks as we talk.

“Ace.”

“Why’d he call you?”

“No clue.” It’s odd but not completely crazy. I’ve learned to not try to make sense of the orders that come from any of the club officers. The club rolls deep, nationwide with about half of the clubs being used to calling me to handle some sort of business for them.

If what my father said is correct, he plans to have me step in as President of the Crowder Division soon. Maybe Ace is getting on board with it already.

Theo and I make our way to our bikes and quickly head to the clubhouse to make up for a little of the time we both wasted. It doesn’t take us long to get there and we both notice the eeriness of the quiet clubhouse. I know at least half of them are out at the cabin but there’s a good percent of the guys that are from Pop’s generation and none of them were out there.

“Table.” Ace walks up, continuing to be a man of very few words. He always has been. Theo and I have always known our fathers have been through some shit so that maybe we wouldn’t have to. At least when we were younger. I can’t say that about myself now. I’m not sure about everything that Theo has been through since I’ve been gone. We don’t usually talk club business over the phone. Most of the time that is done in a secluded place where we know there’s no possibility of any technology or other ears nearby.

We walk through the chapel door to find seven of the elders sitting around the table. My father sits at the end with Ace to his right. Slim is on the left and then Pappy, Eddy, JoeJoe and Vinn. I’ve learned to expect the worst when I get brought to the table, so I swallow hard and wait until someone speaks.

“Sit.” My father motions for me to sit at the opposite end of the table that he is at, leaving Theo a chair to my right. The fact that this is the first time I’ve been invited to sit at the table isn’t lost on me and Theo’s slow exhale tells me he’s feeling the same weight of the significance of this moment.

My father looks like hell. I haven’t seen him in a long time. Any contact I’ve had with him has been quick and all about business and over the phone. It’s strange to see how hard life can fuck a person out of their youth and strength in only a few years. It looks like he’s aged twenty-five years in the four that I’ve been gone.

“I’m dying.” My eyes meet my father’s the instant his words weigh down the room. “Look around this table. These old fucks are not far behind me. I’m not dead enough to not know I need to do something for the club to be able to survive for generations to come.” My eyes are drawn to the years of club loyalty in the room. I can’t imagine what they’ve all seen and how hard it has to be for each of them to watch my dad give me the position they all most likely hoped would be theirs one day.

“I’m putting Zayne at the head of the table. He’ll need all of you to help guide him through the changes this move will make for the club. I want him to choose the men who’ll sit next to him but until then you will all be there for my son, just as I have been there for you.” Two heads bow and I watch as a room a savage men fight back their own tears. “Son, you’ll respect the men at this table until their dying breath. They are to be honored in this club as legacies just as I expect will happen with you and your entire table in many years when you’re doing the same.

“You mentioned you’d only take the position if I let you have Theo at the table too. It’s your choice on who you fill this table with. But Son… the men you pick have to be someone you’d trust with your life, because that is exactly what they’ll be protecting.

“Theo is my number one and I’ll need time to fill the rest.” My father doesn’t say anything else and the room immediately seems too quiet as everyone looks to me to say something else. I take a deep breath and start asking the obvious questions.

“I know you’ve all hoped one day you’d be sitting in my father’s chair. Does his decision today offend you or do I have the same loyalty you gave my father?”

“Until my dying breath.” Vinn speaks first.

“Even in the afterlife.” Ace is next.

“We never wished for his seat. The men you sit with should understand that’s not an option. The only hope for a club is order and understanding of the hierarchy that’s required to run a successful organization.” Pappy has always been one of my favorite elders. I can see why my dad kept him close. “The single most important decision you’ll make in your life is who you allow to sit next to you. So, choose wisely. We will be here for everything until we can’t.”

“How much time?”

“They said two months. That’s if I let the cancer take me out.” He starts coughing hard and I watch him wipe blood on a handkerchief and wince in pain when he swallows.

“I’m going to change a few things.”

“I want you to take the club in the direction you want to. I know you’ll bring some new life to the way the club runs.”

“I’ll be doing it with my ol’ lady nearby.”

“We already knew she’d be around.” My father starts coughing again. None of the others seem to react except Ace. I see his smirk before he hides it from my father.

“I need to know one more thing… why did you make me leave when you knew I’d one day be sitting in your spot. Wouldn’t it have been better for me to be around and watch the club run… create bonds with the guys and have a full team ready to take the reins?”

“She would’ve made you soft. You had to prove that you could crawl through the fuckin’ trenches and still be loyal to the club.” This time Ace answers and even though he’s referring to his daughter, I know he’s right.

“You already know how I feel about bringing a woman into club business.” My father has always been clear about his feelings on the matter. I never knew my own mother because of his belief on the subject.

“I know. And look at you now, dying alone.”

“That’s one perspective. The way I see it, I’m far from alone. I have a fuckin’ empire that’s been here the entire time and will still be here long after I’m gone.”

“Does that keep you warm at night?” As long as Charli is around, my father and I will not agree on this but I just want to know if he thinks it was all worth it.

“Even close to death, your old man doesn’t have any problems keepin’ warm at night.”

“Do we have any club business that needs handled in the next few days? Half of the guys are out at the lake for the annual 4th of July party.”

“We had a hit on someone who showed up in Crowder recently. He’s a Road Captain in the Alabama charter of the Deuces. We have surveillance on him and we’re watching him closely.”

Theo sits up in his chair, his interest peaked. “What’s his name?”

“Trevor Pierce.”

“Does he know someone that’s here? Where’s he been staying?”

“The Hill Mansion. Looks like he came in for the wedding of Nora’s youngest.” I stand before Vinn is finished speaking.

“Fuck. Charli has been talking to some fuck that’s been staying out there. Name is Bryce Long. Do you have anything on him?”

“No. We ran info on him too, he checked out. The best we could tell is that he’s a younger brother to the groom.” Ace seems to know about the guy too but that still doesn’t calm this feeling I have about the guy. I know I hate him because of Charli and hopefully that’s all this is because I admit that I’m a territorial fuck that sees red the second someone even looks at what’s mine. And now that I’m back, Charli is mine. I’ll rain hell on anyone that gets that twisted.

“I don’t like it. This gives me enough reason to end whatever the fuck Charli has going on with him. There’s only one reason a Road Captain would come to town and not check in with the local club. There’s something coming.”

“That right there is why I know you’re going to do well in my seat. You have the intuition. Take this as your first order of club business and decide how to handle it. You have a party going on at the lake and you have a Road Captain in town. What are you going to do?”

“Vinn, how is he being tailed?”

“We have eyes all over town. Cameras and people who feed us information because we keep their businesses safe.”

“Where is he now?”

“I will have to ask Leo. He’s working it right now. We did intercept a phone call earlier about a beach gathering later tonight.” Every single hair on my body stood on end at his response. I looked at Theo and he grabbed his phone to start dialing.

“Jesus. Charli has plans to be there.”

“She’s not answering, let me check her location.” Theo begins tapping his phone and my lack of patience is about to take over.

“It looks like she’s driving toward the beach now.” I grab my phone and start moving toward the door only to be stopped by the sound of multiple phones going off at the same time behind me. Theo answers his and I’m close enough to hear Grady’s frantic voice.

“Fuckin’ make the all call. We’re under attack. One of the boats exploded in the water and now the dock just went up in flames. Most of us are out on the water still and I’m not sure what the fuck to do. We need backup now.”

I take the phone from Theo and answer Grady. “We’re on our way.” I look around the room as the rest of the guys stand up. They look to me for orders and thank fuck they come naturally.

“Send the all call with the pin to the cabin. Tell everyone to come loaded and to come now. We’re under attack, boat and dock already exploded. Half of our club is trapped out there. We need everyone.” Vinn is typing as I bark out the orders. “Send it to our friends at the police department too. We’re going to need all the help we can get. Let’s move.” I’m the first one out of the room but they’re all close behind. I stop at the door to the weapon room and strap on as many as I can and toss even more into a backpack with ammo to match.

My mind swarms with guilt of what I’m about to do and this is probably the exact reason my father never allowed anyone in his life that would make him consider choosing them over the club. I consider Charli as much a part of this club as I am but the fact of the matter is, I have half of the guys in one place under attack and she is driving down the fucking road towards a guy that most likely is the reason my club is under attack. But if he’s at the cabin, he can’t be where she’s headed.

“What’s the plan, Boss?” Theo looks to me for an answer, knowing this one is not an easy cut and dry decision. This is one that could make or break a man for life.

“An all call… means all. We go to the cabin.” I don’t miss the smile on my father’s face after I yell at everyone. The sound of engines roaring to life all around me is a giant boost of confidence and a reminder of exactly how much power I have.

I’m in the lead while the last half of the club soars down the road. My entire body is pumped on chaos and adrenaline and I’m not even sure how this day will end but I hope we can minimize any loss on the club and I get the chance to make Charli mine.

I’m watching for smoke in the sky and even though we’re a mile away from the cabin, the sky is clear. I swirl my hand to the guys behind me to tell them to spread out. We can’t be sure what we’re about to find. The guys scatter their bikes in every direction but I go straight toward the dock. Theo falls in beside me.

The closer we get, the more confused I become. “What in the fuck?” I signal for anyone behind me to hold and then slow roll my own bike to a stop.

The dock is still there. The boats are all either tied to it or on the trailers where they belong. I get off my bike and look in every direction to find a single fucking person that should be here and don’t see anyone that didn’t just drive in with me.

“What’s the plan, Boss?” Theo repeats his question to me. I switch my concentration to my surroundings. This is what I’m good at… or at least I usually am when I don’t have my mind elsewhere.

“Get the guys out of the house, out of the boats and out of the damn trees. And tell me the bullshit about Charli was made up too.”

“Nice. I knew you’d pass.” I shake my head and imagine what would’ve happened if I had taken the bait to follow Charli.

“What about Charli?”

“Do you really think I’d miss a Road Captain in town? Charli is fine. I have a few guys watching her at the beach party with her friends.”

“Was this your idea?”

“It was all Prez. He wanted to know if you’d choose the club.” Ace and Vinn walk up and I don’t know if they’re proud or surprised but the smile on my father’s face behind them tells me which he is. The rest of the guys start trickling toward us until I’m surrounded by what seems like the entire club.

“Yeah. Thank god this shit wasn’t real.” Theo uses two fingers to whistle and everyone goes quiet.

“Kings… tonight is the night I turn over the club to my only son. Zayne has proven his loyalty to the club, his devotion to his brothers and his dedication to being the next President. Now, we celebrate.” Everyone hollers and begins grunting their usual chant of appreciation and for the first time in my life, I can truly see all the usual stress leave my father’s face. He’s at peace. He has no worries and it almost makes me jealous of what that must feel like.

My life is going to be stressful in every direction, some of it will be more rewarding than others.

Theo is the first to give me a hug. “We’re going to run this fuckin’ county. It’s going to be one hell of a ride.”

“If I live long enough. This shit had me spinning.” Theo’s attention moves to the crowd of club pussy walking toward us with liquor bottles in each hand.

“Fuck yes.” Theo moves to put an arm around two of the girls at the same time while three of them surround me. Even though not a single one of these girls compare to Charli, I let them lean and grope on me while the guys all voice their congratulations. I even take part in the body shots the girls offer joining in on the comradery of these guys I barely know. It doesn’t take long for the alcohol to start leading some of the conversations and that’s when I start to really pay attention to what’s being said. Theo steps beside me, two different girls now draped against him. He nods for me to step away from the crowd.

“You doin’ okay?”

“Nah. I’m here though.”

“I know this is a lot to deal with but I know you can handle it. You know I’ve got your back til’ the end.”

“This was a cake walk compared to what he had me doing. Things will be different now. We’ll make sure.”

“Yes, we will.” We walk down the dock until we’re away from everyone else.

“I can’t say I would’ve chosen the same if I really thought she was in danger.” I will only ever share this weakness with Theo. I would hope he would be the one person who would not only respect it… but also expect it.

“I know, brother.”

“Do I give her up just to never have to choose?”

“How did that work for you the past four years?”

“I was fuckin’ miserable.” Just the thought of going back to that makes me want to go on a killing spree.

“Can you deal with letting her go and then not putting her through the push and pull for the rest of your life while you pretend that you’re not already past the point of needing to have this conversation. We both know you’re not capable of giving her up.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Fuck. We’re going to be related one day.” He’s as happy as I’ve ever seen him.

“I feel like we have been this entire time.”

“Me too. You want to go with me to break up a bonfire? I’ll drive someone’s car that’s parked out back. I skipped all those shots you were taking.”

“You already know my answer.”