Page 83 of Hawk's Cry

Just like the last time I was here, I’m directed to the seat Drummer’s vacated at the opposite end of the table to prez. I wait for everyone to settle, feeling awkward and out of place, my shoulders feeling light as I envy everyone else wearing their leather. When Prez bangs the gavels, and starts to say my name, I’m not surprised. They’ll get what they want to say to me said, then ask me to leave.

Wizard sits back in his chair resting the sole of his foot against the table, hands interlocked behind his head. “You did good, Eli,” he tells me. “Since last night we haven’t had a chance to catch our breath, and I haven’t had a chance to tell you that yet.”

“Yeah,” Joker butts in. “Some of us were working and burying bodies while you were balls deep in your wife.”

“Like I was saying,” Prez subjects him to a glare, “we haven’t yet met to discuss what went down. Just wanted to kick off with giving respect to you, Eli. Fuckin’ good thinking on the fly coming up with that plan. Archangel had no idea we’d be waiting.”

I shrug, brushing away any compliments, but I do explain my hastily thought rationale that had let to me suggesting the approach which had luckily worked. “Archangel thought he’d taken me unawares and had no idea I’d already spoken with you. He was so fuckin’ self-centred he totally bought that I hated everyone here. Swallowed it hook, line and sinker.”

“He called you a few choice names,” Drummer puts in from the VP seat, a smirk on his face. “Some were quite inventive.”

“While he was still capable of speaking that is.” Throttle grins, looking decidedly pleased with himself.

Wizard just rests his eyes first on his VP, then the enforcer. That’s all it takes. When he can be sure of speaking without further interruption, he addresses himself again to me. “When push came to shove, you did what you had to, Eli. There isn’t a man here who didn’t think you had their backs last night. Not one person voiced a doubt you’d play your part anything but admirably.”

As everyone’s looking at me, I raise my chin one way, then to the other. I get a few sharp nods in return.

Wizard looks to his right and makes a gesture toward Hound, who gets to his feet and comes down to the end of the table. It’s only when he approaches, I see him carrying something. When it’s placed on the table in front of me, my eyes open wide. It’s my cut, with most of the patches in place. The only one missing is the one that read VP.

I start to reach out, but Wizard snarls. “Few conditions before you put that on. You better hear what they are.”

I drag my eyes away from the leather I never thought I’d have the chance to ever wear again, emotions swirling through me. Hope, for the first time in months, and love for these men around me and their heart-warming ability to forgive.

“Anything,” I tell him, suddenly knowing I’d give my right hand to be back with my brothers around me. I left due to my fear of letting them down, not for any other reason. I’ve missed them, needed them. I never expected I’d get another chance.

“That’s a big fuckin’ pledge there, Eli,” Peg chuckles from my side.

Blade reaches over and fist bumps him. “We may need some time to come up with our demands in that case.”

Rock snorts. “Still think he should start from the bottom and prospect again. Get him back for all the times as VP he was riding my ass.”

Mouse looks at me and winks. “Nah, what about as a hangaround?”

I roll my eyes as I realise they’re joking.

“Fuckin’ F.O.Gs,” Hound says.

Wizard clears his throat loudly, and his hardened gaze shuts the conversations down. “First, to take your place around this table, you come back as a member and not an officer.”

I nod my head vigorously. I don’t want the responsibility of being VP, and no man around this table would want me to be.

“Second, you go to therapy and do whatever the fuck you’re told to. No ifs, no buts and no excuses.”

My head continues its up and down movements, no hardship there. I’ve already made that promise to Liv.

“Third, Drummer has agreed to sit to my left for the duration, but he’s not going to be in that chair forever. Once you’ve recovered, you come back as VP.”

Now I change my action, and my head moves side to side. “No—”

“Don’t contradict me. We’ve voted on it. There’s no one else here who is better suited to the position. Yesterday you made the right call, Brother. If it hadn’t been for your quick thinking, and how you made it work, blood could have been spilt on our side—”

“It fuckin’ was,” Lady interrupts, holding up his arm which is lightly bandaged. “I got stuck like a pig.”

“Screamed like one more like,” Marvel observes. “All over a little scratch.”

“I had stitches,” Lady insists.

“Will you shut up and let me finish?” Wizard roars. I press my lips together to stop myself grinning. I’ve missed this. “If it hadn’t been for you, Eli, then there might be gaps around this table today, or women missing. The problem is, you don’t trust yourself right now, but we, on the other hand, trust you.”

---