Page 17 of Brood

Chapter Twelve

The table is quiet as I stand there, president patch gripped in my fist, and accept the honor of becoming the president of the Hell’s Riders MC. “Jordyn was kidnaped by The Butcher when she was sixteen,” I start, telling my bothers the gist of the story Jordyn told me. “Who knows what he will do to her when he gets his hands on her again, I personally rather not let that happen. Way I see it, we got a couple options. One, we let her go on her way. Which would put her captured again in under twenty-four hours. Two, we keep her here.” I'm actually surprised she made it this far without being caught.

“The Butcher ain’t no fucking boy scout Bro… Pres. He’s a ruthless bastard that would do whatever it took to take us out,” Show says, putting in his thoughts. “But that girl. Fuck that tiny little thing has grown on me since she got here.” Murmurs of agreements sound out across the table. My brothers might be their own type of ruthless, but when it comes to women and children, they draw the line.

“We could dump her car somewhere. Maybe make it look like she fled the county? I’m sure either Rico or Wiz could help in that department. Maybe make it look like she’s been spotted elsewhere in the county,” Roman proposes, looking directly at me.

“I’m all for it, Pres.” Someone taps the table and gets more agreement.

“If it doesn’t work, we will be in for a fight if he finds out she is here.” I make sure to bring up the point again, but it isn’t heard.

Roman rises up, right along my right-hand side. “We got the Cental chapter and the Siberians in our corner. Those fuckers don’t stand a chance.”

* * *

The bar is a buzz tonight with the celebration of my new position. Along with Eagle stepping down, Bear— our VP— passed his patch too. Roman is now the vice president and is doing fuck all to be modest about it. He hasn’t shut the hell up about his new patch since we walked into the bar. All of the women have flocked to his new status, all except for one. Pria is behind the bar shooting daggers his way when she thinks no one is looking. The rag in her hand has been wiping at the same spot for over twenty minutes and is most likely wearing a hole in the bar top. I shake my head and stand from the table I’ve been sitting at with Show for the better part of the night. “I’m heading home.” Show gives me a nod, pulling his attention away from the woman giving him a lap dance only for a second before his attention is back on the large pair of bare breasts, sucking one into his mouth as he does. A few of the women from the town over were called to join the party. Most likely Roman’s doing. As I wave to my brothers on the way toward the door, all of the exposed flesh that fills my vision doesn’t even give me a hunger to stay. I already had to push away a couple of the women’s advances.

“Come on, Pres, this is a celebration,” someone shouts, trying to stop me from leaving.

“I got to pick my boy up and go home.” I grab a couple bills from my wallet and toss them down in front of Pria, who blinks away from the corner of the room where Roman is sandwiched between a couple of naked brunettes, then looks at me.

“What’s this? You’ve already paid this month.”

“It’s for you not to kill him.” I tip my head toward Roman. “He’s my VP now.”

“How could I forget that?” she grumbles and swipes the money up in her hand. “I’ll leave him be for tonight, but after that, I’m not making any promises.”

“Fair enough.” I grin at the woman. She’s good looking, not a damn thing out of place on her. It’s just not me she has her eye on. I watch as she flicks her icy gaze back toward Roman, who just so happens to be looking our way, a devilish smile on his face.

“Can I maybe hurt him just a little?” She flicks a long brown lock behind her back.

“You do what you gotta do, Pria. Just need him breathing in the morning.” I tap the bar top and walk past Roman on my way out. “You are an asshole, brother.” He only shakes his head and laughs as I leave him to his fun. One of these days, Pria is going to actually follow through with killing him, and I really won’t be surprised. I don’t know the whole story between the two of them, only that the sexual tension they once had, has turned into a thick animosity that is mostly coming from Pria herself. Knowing Roman, he probably promised her the world, fucked her, then in the morning didn’t deliver.

The drive is short, as is the stop to get my boy. Cammy, this time didn’t try to get me to stay, and I’m grateful for the reprieve. Having to see the hurt in her face every time I reject her advances is not only hard on her but me too. I don’t enjoy causing her pain, which is why I broke it off with her when I realized she wanted more from me. I knew I couldn’t give her what she needed. “How about we stay up late tonight, Kas? Popcorn and a movie?” I ask my boy who gives me his one jerk nod and smiles. “I’m thinking maybe that one with the fish. What’s that one called again?” I glance at my son in the review mirror, waiting to see if he will answer, but he still just stares right back at me. “Nemo?” I supply. He gives that same nod again and claps his hands together.

When the blankets are all dragged out into the middle of the floor, and the popcorn has been popped, we settle down in front of the TV. I watch the expressions fall across Kas’ face as he watches the movie. When he is happy, excited, then sad when the fish gets taken. I’m about to ask him if he wants more popcorn when a knock comes from the front door. It’s soft, but I hear it. Glancing down at Kas, I see he hasn’t heard it, so I stand and go to the kitchen, looking out the window to see who is at my house.

Thick strands of light reddish-brown hair shimmer in the porch light as Jordyn stands at my front door. I watch her for a second longer than necessary, waiting to see if she might knock again. She doesn’t. Instead, she steps away from the door and turns to walk away, shaking her head as she goes. It’s now that I kick myself into gear. I don’t know why she has shown up here, but I’m not about to let her just walk away. “I’m home,” I shout into the darkening night around her retreating form. She jolts only slightly from my voice but spins around to meet my gaze.

“Oh. I wasn’t sure. All the lights are off and…”

“Movie night,” is all I give in explanation. “What brings you by?”

“Iris and Eagle left.” She fidgets with the hem of her too big sweatshirt. I try not to think too hard on the fact it’s the sweatshirt I gave her. “They said I could stay for as long as I wanted but… it’s just too… quiet.” One shoulder rises up and falls down before she straightens.

“You waiting for an invitation?”

“What?”

“You waiting for me to ask you to come in?” Her brows knit together in annoyance, and her dainty little arms crossed over her chest.

“I didn’t come here for…” She shakes her head. “Well maybe… Look, I don’t know any of the other people that live here as well as Iris, and I have stayed here before. I just thought that you would let me—”

“Come on.” I don’t let her finish her ramblings. I know it must have taken a lot for her to come to my door tonight. “I hope you like kids’ movies.”

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