Page 7 of The Secrets We Keep (Sovereign Sons MC: North Carolina #1)

GRAYSON

I called for church an hour ago, so when I walk in the room, I’m glad to see everyone in their seats. Church is what we call our meetings. It’s where we decide how to earn our money, how to spend it, and what to do about any and every situation that can arise.

Patched members are the only ones allowed to vote in church.

We have a vote on everything, and they have earned their right to have their voices heard.

We sometimes bring in the prospects, but only on less important issues, not ones that can change the club or anything that could be held against us in a court of law.

We don’t look to break the law, but sometimes it happens.

Today, I’m calling church for my first official time as president of our club. I walk to the head of our large table and take my seat. Rowan falls in alongside me on my right and Axel takes the seat to my left.

The hierarchy of our club is pretty simple.

You have club officials, patched members, and prospects.

Club officials hold the titles of president, vice president, sergeant at arms, and secretary.

Our vice president is my brother Rowan, he’s my second in command.

If I have to leave town, he’ll hold down the club in my place.

My sergeant at arms is Axel, my best friend.

His job is to protect me. No matter where I go on club business, he’s with me.

Cane, the broody bastard, is our secretary.

He’s basically our club’s money man. He supervises all our accounts and investments.

We currently have nine patched members in our club, including club officers. Trace, Atlas, Cole, Nash, and Luke sit around the table in their usual seats. Our four prospects, Noah, Theo, Ace and Levi, stand against the wall.

I grab the gavel from the table and bring it down on the block to start our meeting. Everyone looks at me expectantly.

“I know that most of you probably have questions,” I start. “I don’t know that I have answers for you.”

That makes them all chuckle.

“Why is she really here?” Nash asks.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. “She’s in a bad spot,” I tell them.

“She was staying at the Sunrise Inn, and I couldn’t let that fly.

” Murmurs of agreement rise. I raise my hand to silence them.

“She has a son, and whether we all want her here or not, it’s what John would want, his grandson safe.

It doesn’t matter what Sophie’s relationship with her father was, she’s here and while she’s here, she’s under our protection.

All our protection,” I add a little more forcefully while I pin them with a look.

“In case you missed it last night, she’s off limits. ”

Atlas groans, “Can you make an exception, pres? She’s smoking hot.”

I grind my teeth as Trace leans over to swat the back of Atlas’ head.

Atlas wasn’t in Silver Springs when Sophie lived here, so he has no idea that I have a past with her, he’s only heard the horrible things that John had to say about her over the last few years.

Apparently, that doesn’t skew his opinion of how hot she is.

“What?” Atlas asks. “Don’t act like you guys aren’t thinking it!”

I look around the table and see Nash and Luke hide their grins. They also weren’t around when Sophie lived here. Trace, Cane, and Cole grew up around the club. They know our history. All of it.

“No exceptions,” I say to the table. “Sophie’s son is named Asher, he’s not to be messed with either.

I shouldn’t even have to say that since the kid is like six years old.

You jackasses should know better.” They all laugh.

“I’m serious about not fucking around in the main room, too,” I continue while I’m met with groans.

I roll my eyes. “Keep your dick in your pants unless you’re in a room with a door that locks.

You wouldn’t want to have to explain to a little kid what the hell you freaks are doing.

” And I wouldn’t want to have to explain it to his mother.

“We’ve had a few reports that the Devil’s Knights are trying to weasel their way into Silver Springs.

I want everyone to keep their eyes out for anything suspicious with them.

We don’t want a rookie crew coming in here and thinking they can rule over our town. ”

The Devil’s Knights are a small-time motorcycle club that has been slowly moving toward our territory from Charlotte.

When I say small-time, I mean it. The last we checked; they had five members.

But I’ve seen other clubs have a jump in numbers and start to cause trouble.

We don’t need that in our town. Odds are that they left Charlotte because they couldn’t handle a big town, though.

“Other than that, it’s business as usual around here. I need someone to look at Sophie’s vehicle, it’s already in our shop and on the lift. Personally, it looks like a total loss to me.”

“I’ll do it, pres,” Cane offers.

I nod. “If it’s really bad let me know and we’ll junk it.

” Sophie would be pissed, but it would be another reason to keep her around.

To keep an eye on her. “Things are going to be quiet around here for a while, so just keep your heads down and do your jobs. I think we could all use a little quiet after the last few days.”

“Damn right,” Rowan mutters beside me.

“Is no one going to mention how weird it is that Sophie has a kid?” Cole asks.

The room goes silent and everyone who knows that Sophie and I have a past, cast glances my way. My jaw clenches.

“Why does it matter?” Atlas asks, looking around the room and then following everyone’s eyes to me.

“It doesn’t,” I grind out before bringing the gavel down again, signaling the end of the meeting.

I don’t acknowledge anyone as I stand up and exit the room, eager to get away from everyone.

I quicken my steps as I walk down the hallway, coming into the common area in a rush.

My eyes immediately find her. She’s sitting at the table with her son, both of them eating a sandwich and laughing. My chest aches at the sight of them.

The truth is it does matter that Sophie has a kid by another man.

It matters more than it should. You can’t spend your life planning a future with someone and then be perfectly fine when you see them, having that future with someone else.

Even if they’re not in the picture. Not that I know that Asher’s father isn’t in the picture, I’m just assuming since Sophie is hurting for money and Noah’s background check didn’t show any involvement.

I swipe my hand over my face and back out of the room.