Page 7 of Inglorious (Unwanted Bastards MC #1)

“How is he?” I asked, studying the sweating, dishevelled man.

Inglorious glared at me with hate. “Bitch,” he seethed.

“Whatever. I’m not talking to you,” I replied.

Doc Paul snorted. “As charming as ever.”

“Somehow, I’m not sorry. I’ve no time to deal with an alcoholic who’s disrespecting Seth and his dead brothers. How long will the shakes last, Doc?”

“Several more days. Inglorious been delirious one minute and the next he’s switching into paranoia. He’s convinced you’re here to take the MC,” Doc Paul replied.

“Well, Inglorious ain’t wrong. The club is mine until asshole here sobers up and gets help.”

“Nanci, you fuckin’ bitch, let me out. I’m going to strangle you,” Inglorious raved.

“Inglorious is riddled with guilt, Nanci. That’s why he drank. Alcohol dulled the pain he was feeling,” Doc Paul said, and I stared at him.

“Think I’m not aware? Shit, Doc, I know Inglorious better than he knows himself.

But he’s disrespecting those who died. Inglorious needs to man up, take responsibility for his actions, and get therapy.

When he’s on the straight and narrow, then I’ll hand president back.

But Inglorious isn’t getting it until I’m convinced he’s sober and learning to cope.

I might be a bitch, but Unwanted Bastards meant everything to Seth, and I’ll honour his memory. ”

“Especially as you’re Psych’s Legacy?”

“Yes. That means something to me.”

I wasn’t trying to guilt Doc Paul, but that emotion crossed his face anyway.

“Nanci, I’m still considering it.”

“Doc, you’ve got time. However, I require an answer soon. If you’re not interested in the position and clinic, I need to find a doctor who is.”

“No, no pressure at all, Nanci,” Doc Paul replied dryly.

I grinned and ignored the ranting maniac locked behind bars. “Lunch is being delivered shortly. He’s alert enough that you can leave him and eat.”

“Have Moon deliver it please, I don’t trust him,” Doc Paul said.

I sent him a searching glance, and he elaborated.

“Cold turkey goes through several stages. We’re at the begging and pleading stage, which seems mixed with paranoia and blame. Inglorious will do anything for a drink, which makes him unstable. I’d rather not leave him right now.” “Fair enough, Doc. I’ll have Moon bring lunch over for you.”

“That’s grand, Nanci, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Inglorious

It fuckin’ hurt. Everything burned. My body was wracked with pain, and I couldn’t stop shaking.

Somewhere inside me, I understood this was alcohol withdrawal.

I’d not acknowledged I was a full-fledged alcoholic, but I was, and this was my suffering.

This, I deserved. Because of me, they were all gone.

Their faces kept spinning through my mind, never leaving me alone. One moment they were healthy, the next their dead eyes stared at me. They stalked me through the clubhouse, demanding to know why I’d lived and they hadn’t. What had they done to deserve to die so horrifically?

Psych was the worst. He constantly made demands, ordering me to join him, and I was too much of a coward to commit suicide.

Instead, I’d tried killing myself with booze.

And now she was here and giving orders and upsetting what I’d planned.

Nanci never understood the word no, and if she did, Nanci bucked against it and did as she wanted.

My body curled in on itself as waves of pain flooded me. I was coming out of my skin, desperate for a drink. Just one to take the edge off. I was down to begging and pleading. But that bitch wouldn’t bend, and Doc Paul, the fuckin’ traitor, shook his head and upped my IV instead.

Fluids! Who the fuck wants fluids? I wanted a whiskey.

Hell, even beer would do. My hands trembled even as I fisted and un-fisted them.

And her . Nanci stood in front of me, all pert and cute, and was destroying everything.

I hated her with a passion. Nanci was between me and the bottle, and what right did she have?

Nanci didn’t feel this agony, didn’t have nightmares like me. What fuckin’ right did she have to judge or make decisions for me, to take—wait, was that my president patch? An angry roar escaped me, causing Nanci and Doc Paul to jump. She’d stolen my club. That bitch.

“Give me a fuckin’ drink and let me the hell out!” I yelled.

Nanci sent me a disgusted look.

My hands shook even more as my gut clenched, and vomit rose. Nanci was making me sick; she was behind this physical suffering I was enduring. The woman was a smug know-it-all. I twisted as pain struck my stomach, and I bent over. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of puking in front of her.

Nanci sent me a revolted look.

Oh baby, you’ve no idea how disgusted and disappointed I am to still be alive. Believe me. Not even fuckin’ death wants my sorry ass.

Nanci

Inglorious was in a terrible state. His recovery wasn’t simple. Doc Paul asked me to stay away for a few days because my presence upset him. Well, wasn’t that a crying fuckin’ shame?

I was here doing Inglorious’ job and leaving my life behind because he couldn’t get his act together.

He’d always been strong, and yet now he was a wimp.

I’d nothing but loathing for how he was reacting to everything.

Inglorious and Seth may have been best friends and brothers, but Seth was my blood brother and the only family member I’d had remaining.

Inglorious still had relatives, so I should be the one drowning my sorrows in a bottle.

Instead, I was the person picking up the crap Inglorious had left and fixing everything.

He was a tool, and that was me being polite.

Agitated, I headed back to the clubhouse.

I’d emailed Apache and Rock the main fixtures, however, I had to buy all the other shit that was needed to outfit a kitchen, such as blenders, crockpots, and cutlery.

My earlier joy in doing so had evaporated, and now it was a tedious chore.

Before I knew it, church had rolled around. Thankfully, I finished my last purchase and headed downstairs. I was nervous. This would be my first time in church, and I’d no idea how it had been carried out before, but I’d my own plans.

When I entered, Razor was already there. Moments later, Chill followed on my heels and offered a shocked look when he spotted me sitting at the top of the table. Chill remained quiet, taking his seat. Vortex was the last in. He shut the door and shook his head.

“What?” I asked.

“This is a sorry-looking bunch,” Vortex stated, and I snorted.

“Ain’t no shame in saying it, yeah, we are small on numbers. Okay, church is in session. Vortex has an update on finances,” I said, looking at him.

Vortex gave a report. Somehow, the businesses were still turning a real nice profit. It wasn’t too detailed, as neither of us had time to examine the accounts. After his report, Vortex fell silent.

“I don’t know how things were done in the past, but we’re working to an agenda now.

If you want to raise an issue, you need to slot your name in on the agenda, which will be posted on my door.

For today, I’ll give you an update on what’s happening.

Chill, I’ve discussed this with Vortex. Plug had no heirs, there is no Legacy for his secretary position.

We’d like you to take it,” I said and passed Vortex the patch, proclaiming Chill as such.

Chill stared down at the secretary patch and swallowed hard. “Nanci, I don’t deserve this. I’ve spent a lot of time in a bottle.”

“But you’re clean and not an addict. Take that and honour Plug,” I ordered.

Chill nodded and clenched it tightly in his hand. “I won’t let you down, Nanci.”

“I know you won’t. Get something to write with because I’ve some shit for you to do,” I replied. Chill got up and moved to a desk and pulled out a pad and pen.

“First off, release it that we’re recruiting prospects.

They’ll do a minimum year before even being considered as brothers.

Secondly, King and Moon. They’ve done over and above what a prospect was expected to.

They need to be patched in. We’re going to vote now.

Moon,” I stated and glanced around. One by one they all said, aye.

“King,” I said next. He got a similar result. “Call them in, Chill, please.”

Chill stuck his head out the door and bellowed. Moon arrived first and appeared confused why he was present. King entered a few seconds after him, his face expressionless.

“For your loyalty to the club and its brothers, you’ve earned your patches. Usually, we’d tease you and give you some shit, but I haven’t got the patience for that. Take a seat and collect your patches from Chill after church. He’s the secretary,” I said.

Both Moon and King looked surprised at the unexpected patching in, but sat down.

“You haven’t missed much, just a finance update.

Meet Vortex after this for a run-down and your new percentage of profits.

As of Monday, Blackrock Construction is coming to redo the kitchen refit.

That should be done within a week. They’re re-ordering the cabinets and everything today, so it should all arrive in time.

“After the kitchen, next will be the Trout farm and larger saloon. They’ll be the money makers for now. Apache is going to update me on building timelines. It’s possible I might need to juggle the order of construction.

“I’ve also done a list of dependants. I’m concerned about Kya, Heat’s daughter. Does anyone know what happened to her?” Those around the table shook their heads. “Vortex, track Kya down. Manda was a drugged-out skank, and I’ve grave concerns about her care.”

Vortex nodded.

“As for now, I’ve picked out colours for décor and furniture. Delivery will happen in a couple of weeks. Which means you’ve got a fortnight to paint the common rooms and offices. Get ready to get dirty, boys.

“Inglorious remains under Doc Paul’s care, and he’s nasty at the moment. I’m ordering you to stay away from him… no, Chill, I mean it. Inglorious needs to sober up and receive therapy. He isn’t fit to run the club. When he is, I’ll hand the presidency back.

“In the meantime, we’re going to be tracking down Legacies and offering them a place here. But before we give them a position, I want a deep dive done on them. If nobody here has the skills, I’ll hire Hawthorne’s.”

King gazed at Vortex.

“What is your link to the club?” he asked.

“I was a former member who quit. I’d had enough of the shit happening and left,” Vortex said honestly.

“How do we know you won’t do that again?” King challenged.

“Because Nanci is here and I wouldn’t leave her to deal with this crap alone,” Vortex shot back.

“And I looked you up. You’re a headliner in Vegas. What’s stopping you from leaving?” King asked me.

I held King’s gaze. “My word and my duty to Psych. Until Inglorious is able to lead, I’m president.”

“And if Inglorious is never fit? Inglorious is broken, losing everyone damaged him,” King pushed.

“Then you’re stuck with me, and that, King, is final.”

He stared at me, and I let my emotions show and the strength of my conviction. King nodded and sat back, satisfied. “Thank you,” he finally said. “You’re giving up a lot.”

“You’ve no idea what this has cost me,” I replied, and King nodded in agreement.

Vortex caught my gaze and shook his head, but he didn’t mean it negatively. He grasped the implications.

Such was my history with the Unwanted Bastards.