Page 6 of Desert Heat

Tarak shuffled past, bleary and bloodshot eyed. The weight of all this was on his shoulders and he knew it. His brother-in-law, Edge’s crew temporarily had our backs as we took care of Danny and dealt with the fire marshal and cops.

No one would fuck with us while Edge and Tarak’s sister, Regan were on watch. Shit, Regan is just as fierce as Edge. If only we had a more formal alliance sooner, maybe Danny and our merc wouldn't be ashes and dust. But you can’t live life thinking about maybe or should haves.

Once Tarak took his seat, he waited for the rest of us to take ours. The sound of the gavel had us raising our heads. “I’ve failed each and every one of you and I’ve failed this Club. I’ve already made my calls to the other Chapters. It’s time for me to give up my patch never the brotherhood.

I’ll ride and die to the end for each and every one of you. But I failed Danny and this Club. My mind was on other things. Usually, a man thinks long and hard about succession plans. I didn’t have to. My plan is a gut reaction but one I know is right. My vote is for River to replace me as head of this Chapter of the Bastards. Hugo?”

“Aye.”

“Diego?”

“Aye.”

“Jinx?”

“Aye.”

“Razor?” His eyes briefly flicked to mine.

“Aye.”

“Sharp?”

“Aye.”

“Rogan”

“Aye,” he muttered, raising his glass to Danny’s empty seat.

“It’s settled then.” The gavel banged, sealing my new fate.

“He needs a new road name as Prez.”

All eyes glanced at me. “Blade. ‘Cause River here is about to stick one in the back of the Outlaws.”

“Blade it is,” I agreed, swallowing hard. The weight of what I know carry settling in low. I will not let my brothers down. I will see the Outlaws buried.

CHAPTER 2

The men didn’t celebrate.They were as somber as death itself despite to be the ones bringing it.

I know my father hadn’t slept for two days. Half the men slipped through the border with the cars and chrome they stole from the Bastards.

The Melendez Cartel owned it now while the Outlaws got paid in cash and drugs.

I bit my lip as my dad’s second screeched into the yard.

This couldn’t be good.

I swept my hair into a quick pony and slipped out my door. We lived in the Clubhouse. I occupied a generous room on the third floor above the sex and mayhem my father half-heartedly attempted to shield me from.

But hey, this was Club life. There’s no sense shielding me from the ways of it. As soon as I got downstairs, I made my way behind the bar, wiped down bottles, tidied up all the while trying not to make too much noise so I could eavesdrop in on the men.

“It’s official. River is the new Prez.”

“Any word on other Chapters joining Santa Fe for the blowback?”

“No, River wants to go it alone.”

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