“Bullshit. I claim her. My woman needed me. I did nothing more or nothing less than you would have done,” he answers and shit, he’s mostly right. Except I did handle it differently. I might not have though if Nicole and Dani had been taken in the same manner. I’m not fucking sure. Still, I can’t really back down.
“He’s right,” Dani’s weak voice comes from the door. Fucker, I want to yell at her for coming in during church. I want to cut off the prospect’s balls for letting her, since he’s in charge of watching the cameras at the front door and locking the son of a bitch when a meeting is taking place. I don’t, because this is the first real sign of life Dani has shown. Oh, she’s approached me alone since her attack, but to see her venture out into a room full of men? That takes balls of steel considering what she’s been through. I look behind her and see Nicole is holding her hand and standing behind her. Bloody hell. Vise meet my motherfucking balls.
“What’s that, Hell Cat?” Crusher asks. He gets up and goes to her. I just let it happen. Nicole has those damn girly tears in her eyes and there’s only so much a man can do here.
I watch as Dani falters back a step, but she manages to stand still and look Crush in the eye.
“I admit that I am yours. I was yours then. I…I…”
“Say it, Hell Cat. Say it,” Crusher says and the emotion in his voice is so thick, a man would have to be struck stupid to not to feel it.
“I’m yours now,” she whispers, her voice so quiet you can barely hear it.
Crush kisses her forehead gently.
“That’s my angel,” he whispers.
Dani has tears falling down her face, Nicole does too. Motherfucker, my club is turning soft. I shake my head in disgust, even though I’m happy with what has just happened.
“Go on back to your room angel, I’ll check on you when we’re done.”
“But…,” she argues looking at Crush and then around him at me. I can’t give anything away, so I do my best to remain expressionless.
Crush touches her under the chin and brings her eyes back to his.
“I’m proud of you angel, don’t worry. I’ll do what I need to do and then I’ll come to you.”
She swallows slowly and nods before walking out of the room, with her head down.
“Hell Cat?”
She stops, but doesn’t turn around.
“My woman doesn’t look down. Remember?”
Dani’s back stiffens and her head raises, “I won’t forget.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Just get your shit done, Zander, and quit busting my ass,” she says.
It has none of the old fire that Dani used to have, but she gives a damned good attempt. I can’t help but smile either. Nicole winks at me and I shake my head at her. The girls leave and the door closes. Crusher goes back to his seat, but motherfucker, the son of a bitch is crying. There are tears around his eyes and it seems so out of place on him. How long have I known Crusher? Longer than any of them, and I can’t name one time when he’s cried. He always appeared the laid back one, but Crusher is ice cold when it comes down to it. He always has been. Fuck. He’s totally gone for Dani. From what I’ve just seen though, maybe that’s what they both need. I clear my throat.
“Vote. Starting with Bull. Do we take Crush’s patch? Aye or Nay, motherfuckers.”
Crush sits staring every one of us straight in the eye.
“Nay,” Bull says.
“Nay,” Freak, Hawk and Dance join in.
“Nay,” Nailer and Six join, having been patched in right after Frog’s funeral. I breathe again. I didn’t want rid of Crush, but a man has to do what is called upon him.
“Demotion of position. Aye or Nay?”
Bull stares at Crusher and the two exchange a wordless conversation of sorts before Bull sighs his answer, “Aye.”
Hawk nods, “Aye.”
Freak shakes his head, “Fuck, no.”
Crush shoots him a half smile, but shakes his head.
Dance looks up at Crush and out of them all, his voice surprises me. “Nay. I’d have done the motherfucking same, man.”
“Two for and two against. That leaves it in your hands Nail and Six.”
“Fuck, sorry man. Aye,” Nailer says. Crusher nods in response.
Six looks around shaking his head, “Son of a bitch, sorry man. Aye.”
Demotion. I don’t disagree with the vote. At the same time, as much as I probably would have voted the same way, I’m not sure how I want to handle it. President has the final say, but I can’t say I totally disagree, so I don’t feel the need to override their decision.
Diesel, Skull and Torch would all sniff blood if they thought the club was weak. I can’t let that shit stand. At the same time, if I was Crusher? Would I have handled things differently? I think on it.