Page 73 of Going Home

"Time for what?" Diesel asks.

"Time for me to step down and pass the President patch to a new generation."

Holy fuck, he did it.

"Congrats, Tripp," Shep says and slaps the man on the shoulder.

Colt's heart sinks. Maybe Jennings hasn't said anything because he changed his mind. It's not something that will break him, but it does sting to think he'd been passed over without even a conversation.

Tripp shakes his head, and he looks like a young version of Jennings. The version Colt remembers growing up. "I don't think it's me."

This perks him back up. "Do you want it? It was always expected to be your legacy."

Pausing for a few moments, he thinks and shakes his head. "No, I don't. I'm not sure I ever did. I didn't think I had a choice in the matter."

"I'm glad you said you don't want it because you're not the one I've chosen," Jennings says with a smile. "Whether you believe it or not, I pay attention, son."

"TK and I are also stepping down," VP says. "It's time to get some new blood up here at the head of the table."

A resounding air of shock washes across the room, and Colt can't tell if he's pulling off his own act of surprise or not. If not, he doubts anyone's paying much attention to him as the murmurs start, mostly asking if anyone else knew. It stings to see Diesel looking hurt at being left in the dark. They really didn't discuss this with anyone else.

"Who are you choosing?" Diesel asks, his face stoney.

"Colton Nichols."

The conversations stop, and Colt's heart rate spikes as he tries to gauge everyone's reactions around him. Are they happy? Angry? Indifferent? The last one would probably bother him the most.

"Colt has grown a lot these past couple of years. He's shown a level of maturity that I think many of us weren't sure he'd ever possess, honestly," Jennings says.

Turning to him, Colt chuckles. "Hey!"

"You've made mistakes. Man, have you made mistakes, but you've figured out how to learn from them. On top of that, you're one of only a few men in this room who has a wife or old lady who grew up in the club with you. None of us officers had that support behind us when we first formed the club, and it's no secret to any man in this room that Lex bleeds Drifter blood. No matter how many times we've cut her, she's still one of us. She'll help you figure out a balance and perspective."

"Plus, she can kick ass," Phoenix Hankinson, Lily's husband, says. "That never hurts."

VP laughs, and he has a strange look of pride on his face that pisses Colt off. He's proud of his daughter being stronger than many of the men here because he forced her to be. "That she can."

"But it's more than that. You've learned the art of stepping back rather than jumping in headfirst on a rash decision. Dax told us about how you stopped him from killing himself at that gas station while you were in Summerville. From our conversation, you saw a bit of yourself in him that night. Something the old Colt would never have seen."

Nodding, Colt looks around the room. "I saw me. Dax was on a path of self-destruction, and I saw the man I used to be. Reckless and impulsive. Dax was set on dying that night, and I'm glad I was there to stop it. But I appreciate the ability of self-reflection," he says, shaking his head. "How my wife put up with me, I'll never fucking know, but I refuse to ever take anything I have for granted again. Especially with what we learned last night."

It's no surprise when Shep agrees with him, and he looks around to see if anyone has obvious objections. Anyone who feels he'd make a terrible President.

"I think it's a good choice," Diesel says, surprising Colt. "He's new blood with new ideas. He's helped push some of the changes we've made the past decade or so, but he understands the foundation of this club because he grew up in it. Plus, we know his wife will keep his ass in line better than any of us could. It's kind of a no-brainer on working smarter not harder."

He laughs and nods. "Thanks, D."

Everyone either congratulates Colt or agrees with Diesel. He'd expected at least one dissenting voice, if nothing else because of the fact he just returned to Griffin's Beach. No one in the room has issue with it.

"Does this mean you guys are staying then?" Ky asks. "Not going back to Summerville after Lane— After things settle?"

"I talked to Lex when Jennings brought this up with me because I would pass if she had her heart set on going back. She said we have two teenagers in high school, and we can't uproot them. I told her why I was asking, and she told me I'd be an idiot if I didn't accept."

Shep slams his hand on the table. "Jennings, I'm buying you an expensive bottle of bourbon for figuring out the way to keep Lex here with us. It hasn't felt the same without her here. Oh, and I suppose you, too, Colt."

"But mostly my wife," Colt says and laughs. "I get it. I like her better than me, too."

"So, the only other matter to discuss is who you're choosing as your VP and Sergeant at Arms," Jennings says and stands. "I assume you've had time to think about this. And maybe run the ideas past a certain curly blonde?"

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