Miller stuck his fingers into his mouth and whistled.
“I want to know who is financing this,” Miller said. “I want to know why. And I want him taken out.”
“Peace talks, huh?” Shay said with a smile.
“I have my version of peace,” Miller said. “Now… we vote…”
As Miller lifted the gavel, Blaine grabbed his wrist. “No. We don’t vote. This is for our town. Nobody is going to take that away.”
“Agreed,” Gaige said.
“Aye,” Shay said.
The rest of the guys nodded.
They all then busted out of the meeting room and were in the clubhouse. It was full. The entire Frelen charter stood there. Patched in members. Prospects. Even some old-timers who weren’t serving but still wore their Back Down Devil MC tattoos like prized possessions on their skin.
Blaine nodded.
This is family.
His other family was buried in the ground. He had no idea what would have happened with him and Meghan though. When it was hot, it was fucking hot. When it cold, it was ice cold. The only thing that kept them together was Janey.
Blaine leaned against the bar.
Gaige slapped him on the back. “You did good in there. I know that wasn’t easy. You know, putting down that asshole card for a minute.”
Blaine nodded. “Yeah.”
“I promise you this, brother. When we get back from this meeting I’ll have half a dozen women in your room. My treat. You take them all and just…”
“You joining?” Blaine asked.
“No.”
“What about Emily? I’d love a run at her.”
“That’s my woman, asshole. Don’t piss me off.”
“What about Ella? And those tits. She’s still breastfeeding…”
“Miller is going to kill you one of these days.”
“Yeah, I know,” Blaine said.
He needed those thoughts. Because when he buried the past in the back of his mind, Jessa came forward. He never thought he would regret sleeping with someone…
“We’re riding!” Miller announced.
He went to the door where a prospect held it open for the MC to get through. The prospects, other patched in members, and old-timers stayed behind.
The ritual seemed very odd considering they were just going to meet another crew. Then again, anything that resembled a ritual in their life had purpose because each breath was another one stolen from the reaper waiting to take them all down.
Outside, Blaine walked to his ride.
Miller came with him. “If I ever see you put your motorcycle here again, I’m going to chop your dick off, blow up your ride, and then shoot you in the head.”
“Got it,” Blaine said.
Miller put on sunglasses and walked away.
A minute later they were riding. Motorcycle after motorcycle, thundering out of the lot, each one with its steel horse cry for outlaw freedom, they were going to stand strong and defend a town that wasn’t so sure what it was the MC actually did.
Blaine wasn’t sure what Miller had planned to keep Ethan busy though. If Ethan showed up and saw two MC’s ready to battle, he’d hang back and enjoy it. Then he’d make a name for himself and take both crews out. Not with guns though. Ethan loved the game of it all. Taking it down piece by piece until it became beneficial for himself.
There was just too much to focus on right now with the club. Blaine was actually relieved he got his secret off his chest. And that he sent Jessa packing back home where she belonged.
They rolled through Frelen right to the border on the east side. There were five motorcycles waiting. All Eight Under guys.
Miller led the charge, the entire table coming to the meeting. That meant there were a total of nine Back Down Devil members there.
Miller and Gaige were in the front. The rest of the guys hung back.
Blaine climbed off his motorcycle and took out his gun. He was in charge of arms and the one who had to make sure his VP and President stayed safe.
“Looks like you have us outnumbered here,” someone said.
“Just showing you what it’s like,” Miller said. “You’re Levi.”
“You’re Miller.”
There was a slight hesitation before both men shook hands.
“Lots of bullets flying lately,” Miller said.
“Comes with the territory.”
Miller pulled at Levi’s hand. “My fucking territory.”
The Eight Under guys all took out weapons. Large weapons. The kind that shot multiple rounds per second.
“Don’t worry,” Miller yelled back. “Nobody draw on this. We’re not showing our weakness.”
“Weak?” Levi asked. “You don’t get it. You’re old. Time’s are changing. We cleaned up the table at the MC. Got rid of the dirt and recruited.”
“Good to know. Since you’re new, I’ll explain this once. You step in Frelen, you die. You think you have us figured out, right? Watching from the outside. I get that. You have plenty of your own.”
“Some of our business has traveled into your town,” Levi said. “Safety reasons. But they still need their supply.”
“We don’t deal drugs.”
“Too bad.”
“You try to push anything, Levi…”
Two other men came forward.