Page 24 of Embracing the Consequences

“What’s this mean for the war against the Psychos?” Mammoth asked the million-dollar question. His heavy brow made him look like he was constantly scowling.

“That’s why we’re here.” Johnny nodded and motioned around the room. “I had dinner with Marcos Saturday night,” he explained. He was going for total honesty here.

Muttered curses went around the table as big, burly men shifted in their seats, uncomfortable.

“I called this meeting to be completely transparent with you, my brothers. Kara grew up not knowing her brother was a Psycho. He kept that from her all this time. She only found out a few weeks ago, and she didn’t take the news well. They’ve had a rocky relationship in the last several months, and Kara invited him to dinner to try and mend the relationship,” Johnny explained, running a hand over his buzzed blond hair. “They talked shit out, and they’re good now. But it gave me an opportunity to talk to Marcos myself.” He looked around the room slowly, meeting his brothers’ stares.

“And what did the Psycho have to say for himself?” Welder asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

“He said Buckley’s been acting on his own authority. He’s been moving against his club and ours, without club votes. When his own guys question his moves, he shuts them down quick,” Johnny said.

“He’s gone full dictator.” Devil spoke up for the first time. He turned to face the club. “Candela claims Buckley was the one to shoot Rachet in Alabama.” Devil’s hands clenched into fists on the tabletop, knuckles cracking.

“He also sent Nickle to spy on us without a club vote.” Kevin interjected. He turned to his brothers and met their stares. “Buckley’s brought in five new prospects without vetting them.”

A hiss of muttered curses flew around the table as angry bikers growled in dissent. It was an unwritten biker law that any potential prospect had to be vetted and voted on accordingly. Most newcomers to the club were either family or friends or longtime coworkers. The club voted to let them prospect for the club. There was a process that Buckley had violated.

“Buckley’s gone full dictator,” Devil stated again.

“Marcos came to us and asked for help,” Johnny stated clearly, once again meeting the stares around the table.

Men stilled in their chairs as silence settled over the room.

This was the true reason for their meeting: a vote. Johnny could not make this decision for the club himself. Each brother would have to decide whether or not they would be willing to aid the Devil’s Psychos after the war between the two clubs had been initiated, after the deaths their family had already endured.

At the end of the day, the club was a democracy.

“I’m not asking you to vote tonight.” Johnny kept his voice low, eyeing his men warily. “I’m asking you to consider the facts as we’ve presented them.”

“How do we even know Marcos is telling the truth?” Welder grumbled.

Johnny ran a hand over his buzzed hair again. “You don’t, not really.” He shrugged. “I’m asking you to trust me, trust my judgment on this. Kara trusts her brother. I’m trusting her and, by extension, Marcos.” Johnny spoke frankly, leaving no misconceptions on the table.

“I told Marcos to find out who’s loyal to him and who’s loyal to Buckley. We’ll have a sit-down with Marcos later this week, see if we can broker some kind of…deal,” Johnny hedged.

There was a murmuring of agreement around the table.

Johnny banged the gavel on the table and dismissed the session of church. Guys were quick to stand from their seats and leave the room. He couldn’t blame them. He had laid a heavy truth on them. They would have a lot to digest and think over.

Anxious and angry, they would spend the rest of the night drinking to numb their minds.

It was late when Johnny and Kevin were able to leave the clubhouse. Derrick had checked out earlier, not wanting to leave their girl home alone, but Johnny and Kevin hadn’t been able to leave. They had to be available to their brothers who had questions. After the church session, they had needed time to come to terms with what Johnny was asking. It was asking a lot.

By the time Johnny and Kevin pulled into the garage of the house, it was after one a.m. The house was dark, as was to be expected. Kara was so tired most of the time she had started taking naps in the afternoon. She had been grateful TaylorConstruction had finished her office at the Carmichael building while she’d been out with her injuries. Now she could nap on her couch in peace without someone seeing her through what had once been glass walls.

Johnny and Kevin made quick work of taking off their boots by the back door in the mudroom before they headed through the kitchen. Johnny grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge and tossed one to Kevin, who caught it on the fly.

They padded upstairs on silent feet, each hoping to be the one to slide into bed next to their girl and not get stuck next to Derrick for the night. Even with the bigger bed, they’d rather sleep next to their girl than their bro.

The sight that greeted them was not of a peaceful, restful nature. Turns out they hadn’t had to mind their steps as they’d slinked through the dark house or worry about who would be sliding in next to her.

Because Kara was awake…and she was riding Derrick’s cock.

Her head was thrown back, one of her hands fisted into her long blond hair. It trailed down her naked back, swaying between the dimples of her lower back. Smooth creamy skin glistened in the faint moonlight shining in from the open windows.

Her hips swiveled and rose slowly as she chased her own high. Soft breathy moans filled the air. Derrick’s large hands were a stark contrast on her narrow waist, his fingers gripping her soft flesh as he guided her hips over his.

Johnny and Kevin stood frozen in the doorway, both men mesmerized by their girl. Kara’s free hand came up and twisted into her blond mane along with the first, both hands clenching her hair, as if she were imagining it was one of them.

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