“Vengeance… an ultimate, horrific kind of vengeance.” He paused, letting out a deep breath, then said, “We were close once, but when we got older, things changed. Derek was different… there was an evil about him that set everyone on edge.”
He looked down at the table as he took a moment to collect his thoughts. Then, he continued, “Even though he loved Derek, my uncle knew that he could never take his place as President. It was then that he took me under his wing. When the time came for him to step down, he named me as his predecessor. Derek stood there, listening to the news and it just broke something inside of him. He was never the same after that.”
“It was the right decision,” Doc interrupted. “That boy was a loose cannon. Always getting into shit. None of us wanted him taking over the club.”
“Maybe so, but Derek didn’t see it that way. He tried to stick it out with the club, but jealousy got the best of him. Never could get past thinking that I had taken what was his. I can still remember the night he came into my room with that fucking knife. Stuck the damn thing to my throat while I was sleeping. We both knew he could have killed me, but he just fucking laughed in my face. That night he promised that he’d be back, and he would do whatever it took to destroy me. I’m not a man that gets shaken easily, but the way he looked at me, the hatred in his voice… it got me,” he explained.
“So this is a vendetta?” I asked.
“Absolutely. Actually surprised it’s taken him this long to come back,” Cotton replied. “When I saw him on that screen, I knew this wasn’t over. He didn’t have the look of a man that felt threatened by us, worried that we were about to take him down. It was just the opposite. He stood there gloating, knowing that we were playing right into his fucking hands.”
“What are you planning to do now?” I asked, knowing that he wasn’t going to let anything happen to his club. He’d worked too hard to let this motherfucker come in and take it all away.
“This is about him wanting to get to me. Make me pay for what I took from him. I’m not going to let that happen… we’re not going to let that happen,” Cotton declared. It was obvious that the news he’d shared was taking its toll on him, and we all wondered just exactly how he planned to handle it. Whatever he decided, we would have his back. When things in my life hit rock bottom, Cotton was there, and he’d been there, standing by me ever since. It was that way with all of us. Cotton never failed to be there for his brothers, and it was our time to be there for him. “For now, we stay on lockdown. Keep our families close, and I’m going to make contact with Derek. In the meantime, I think it’s time to have a vote on Two Bit and Q’. They’ve proved themselves loyal and true to the club, and it’s time to patch them in,” Cotton explained. “All in favor of Two Bit being patched in say aye.”
“Aye,” we all answered.
“Q’?”
The room was filled with another unanimous, “Aye.”
“The vote has been made. Two Bit and Q’ will be patched into the club. Tonight we’ll celebrate and put all this shit with Derek on hold while we show our new brothers some heartfelt gratitude,” he ordered. With that, he slammed his gavel on the table and stood to leave.
Chapter 27
Wren
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“So, it’s official,” Henley smiled. “You’re an old lady.”
“Never thought I’d be happy to be called that,” I laughed.
Emerson leaned forward and smiled as she teased, “You sure you’re up for this? He can be pretty bossy.”
“I think I can handle it,” I laughed.
“I never thought I’d see him so happy. I’m so glad that he found you,” Emerson explained.
“I think this calls for a celebration,” Cassidy announced. “Who’s up for a round of shots?”
“Ah… you and the damn shots. Are you trying to kill me?” Henley whined.
“I didn’t say you had to drink ten of them,” Cassidy scolded.
“I totally blame you for letting me get carried away the other night. You’re supposed to watch out for your little sister,” Henley feigned a pout.
“Yeah, well, that’s a full time job, kiddo,” Cassidy laughed.
“I’ll have one,” Allie answered as she looked behind her, checking to see if her husband was still playing pool. “Maybe two if Guardrail’s game doesn’t end soon.”
Cassidy reached behind the bar and pulled out the bottle of tequila, placing it on the counter next to the salt and limes. Henley took the shot glass in her hand and tilted her head back, quickly swallowing it as she reached for a lime. When she was done, she sat the glass on the counter and said, “I heard Maverick telling some of the guys that you got out of a trunk all by yourself. Kicked your way out! Girl, color me impressed.”
“There’s nothing like the drive of a mother’s determination,” I laughed. Then I took my drink and said, “I’m just having one. Dallas is watching the boys, and I told her I’d be back early to put Wyatt to bed.”