He wiped blood from the corner of his eye.
“Fuck,” he said. “The seat is vacant, son. I’m not the President of the Reaper’s Bastards anymore. We both know that.”
“Then who succeeds you?” I asked.
He looked at me. “You want me to say you.”
“I want an answer. My boys are ready to ride. We’re ready to earn and take back our town.”
“It’s bad, huh?”
“Getting there. Ana got herself…”
“Ana, huh? Jesus Christ, Knoxville. Still dipping in the same watering hole. What did I tell you…”
“I don’t want to hear it. She’s been close to someone in the family. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder and waiting for those suited goons to show up.”
“Looks like they already did,” the old man said, nodding to the marks on my face from Porter.
“That’s why I’m starting this. I’m not stopping until I get what I want.”
“Stubborn like your mother.”
“I’ll tell Uncle Jakey you gave the blessing for him to call the meetings and swing the gavel. I want to sit as enforcer.”
“No,” the old man said.
“What?”
“You sit to the left,” he said.
“VP?”
“Yeah. You set the team. They’re your guys. Give Uncle Jakey his due by sitting at the head. Everything else falls on you, son.” The old man wrestled himself to his feet and looked down at me. “I hope you know what you’re starting. This will quickly spread on the inside.”
“If you need any resources, Dad…”
“Get the fuck out of here,” he said. “I don’t want or need anything from you, son. You want this life like I did. Now go get it. My only advice is to take your beatings as needed and never give up your loyalty to the cut.”
I patted my chest. “Never.”
The old man walked to the door and pounded on it. A few seconds later it buzzed and the door opened. He whispered something to the guard and was given a pen and a piece of paper. He scribbled on the paper and then dropped it to the floor. He didn’t even fucking look back at me. Then he was gone. I sat there for a little bit, bleeding and hurting, before I got to my feet and went to get the piece of paper.
When I read it, I thought my knees were going to give out.
I stared at the door for a few minutes, not knowing what to think.
The old man had just given me his parting gift to the Reaper’s Bastards.
That’s when I realized I would never see my father again.
“Father, son bonding?” Slam asked and pointed to my face.
“He took it as I thought,” I said.
“Yeah, well, shit’s getting crazier.”
“Why’s that?”
“Ari called and Uncle Jakey heard that we were riding with our cuts.”
“Good.”
“He’s pissed.”
“He’s going to take the head of the table, Slam,” I said. “I’m sitting to the left.”
“No shit, brother. Congrats.”
Slam came in for a hug and I put my hand to his chest. “Wait a second. You’re wearing the enforcer patch.”
Slam’s eyes went wide. “What?”
“That’s what’s decided,” I said. “You ready for this?”
“For anything.”
“The loyalty of the cut and the club.”
“Reaper’s Bastards for life,” he said.
“Good.”
Slam put a hand to my shoulder. “Hey. And whatever you need for Ana, I’m there with you. I get it. You two have been all tangled up for a long damn time. If you get what you want this time, Knox, don’t fucking give it up.”
I didn’t respond. I knew exactly what Slam was talking about.
I had my leather cut. I had my darlin’.
I wasn’t going to lose either.
My phone rang in Slam’s pocket and he took it out.
“Speak of the angel,” he said and tossed me the phone.
It was Ana calling.
I answered with a Hey, darlin’ but she cut me off quick.
With one word.
Help.
nineteen
(ana)
NOW
Porter demanded I go to his office to see him. He had an office and fronted that he worked in construction site development. His office had blueprints everywhere, along with pictures of him shaking hands with prominent businessmen in front of new buildings.
I couldn’t have Knox come crashing into Porter’s office and cause hell. I knew what Knox wanted to do to Porter but it had to be done right. The last thing I needed was Knox being put in jail because of me.
When I got there and saw two men standing outside his office door I knew it was nothing good waiting for me. I couldn’t back away and take off so I entered.
Porter sat at his desk with another man across from him. They quickly wrapped up and shook hands. The man eyed me and exited the office.
“Tony,” Porter said. “Helping with an expansion project. He owns a lot of construction equipment. Expert in digging holes.”
“Okay,” I said. “Everything okay?”
“Not at all, Ana. I’m replaying some details in my mind and I’m not sure what’s happening.”
All I could think then was that Porter had someone watch me last night and knew Knox had come over. I was tired of living like that, you know? I loved Knox and there was going to be no shame in it.
Easier to think than react to.