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SMITH’S LARGE HANDS REACH for the gavel smacking it down, signaling the meeting to start.
All fifty of us are in the clubhouse in Cali, wearing our cuts with somber faces. We have a lot of shit to discuss tonight. Shit that once said is never spoken of again or tongues will get cut.
“Gregory has been dealt with. He’s six feet under, but the MC he started is still going strong. They’re voting next week on who their new Prez will be. I need all eyes and ears to the ground—they’re coming for us—make no mistake about it. We need to be diligent; lay off the hash and alcohol. We need to be alert and sober—I’m not losing one man to those thugs. They know we killed Gregory and they want payback.
I want all families moved to safehouses until further notice. We’ll homeschool if we have to. Make sure your women keep the location off-limits to anyone not in the club or the consequences could be our women and kids getting caught in the crossfire. Am I clear?”
“Aye,” the room resounds.
Smith slides the gavel over to me signaling it’s my turn to speak.
“Some of you have been here since the beginning and know our history. Others are newer members and were not. But it’s time to re-write our history. Life isunscripted, we don’t know what’s gonna hit us from one day to the next—that’s why we’re loyal to the brotherhood, love our women and protect those in our family to the death. I’m officially claiming Dee Dee Stanton’s daughter, Devon St. John as my woman; my old lady. Any attack on her or on her kin is an attack on us. Is that clear?”
Stunned faces stare back at me.
“I said, is that clear?” my voice low and deadly.
“Dev’s been one of us since the day she put herself in the line of fire to cover our ass,” Mac speaks up.
“Aye,” Federico chimes in, glaring at everyone to comply.
“AYE. Devon St. John is Creed,” my men repeat one by one. When the last member speaks, I lift the gavel smacking it down.
It’s done.
Dev’s mine in the eyes of my club. The words spoken by all here; a vow they’ll all protect her with their lives. It’s a pledge stronger than the vows of marriage although someday I’ll say those to her, as well.
“What are you waitin’ for, Silver Fox? Go back to Springdale and claim your woman.”
I grin at Smith, “When are you gonna come back? Still scared of Luce, ripping your balls off?”
He pales, gets up and stalks off without a word.
Guess him and Luce still haven’t made-up, whistling I walk out and climb on my bike. It’s about time Smith knows what it’s like to burn for a woman. They way Duke and I do.
My bike climbs through the California hills, north towards Oregon, eating up miles of highway. I’ll be home by dawn, to slip under the covers and take my girl in my arms, make love to her until she tells me she’s mine over and over again.
I’m a lucky bastard. I never saw her coming or think that I’d ever find a love like ours. But I did. Year after lonely year went by, and I gave up ever looking for her.
Thank God, she came looking forme.