Page 58 of Bear

“Thought you’d say that.” I sigh. All I wanna do is climb back into bed with Tink, but that ship has sailed. I gotta do what I can now to help Chaos and the rest of my brothers. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll let me live. “I handled the prez.”

“Just the prez?”

“I had a score to settle.”

“Jesus, you already got your dick twisted up in another bitch, didn’t you?”

“Somethin’ like that.”

“So, you fucked a pretty piece of pussy, offed a club president, and now you want me to come clean up your mess?”

“That’s not all.” I give him the one thing I know that will have his ass on his bike, Georgia bound. “White Nation are involved.”

He coughs and splutters in the receiver. “Well, why the fuck didn’t you lead with that?”

I smile, knowing my former prez has been dying for another shot at taking them out after a beef back in the ’70s.

“We’ll be there in four hours,” he says, then adds, “Kid? If Chaos decides you’re going to hang over this, there isn’t much I can do.”

“I know. If I hang, she was worth it.”

“Stupid motherfucker. How many times have I told you not to get attached? Fuck all the pussy you want, but never let a bitch sink her claws in so deep it scars.”

I chuckle. “Not all of us operate like that.”

“Asshole, I’ve seen you carve up motherfuckers with a goddamn smile on your face. I never pegged you for a fuckin’ softie.”

“The right woman will do that to you, Prez.”

“I’mma miss you calling me that. For what it’s worth, my club hasn’t been the same without you.”

I laugh. “Now who’s bein’ a fuckin’ softie?”

“Well, kid, I hope Chaos doesn’t kill you. It’ll give me a chance to kick your ass when I get there.”

***

IPULL UP TO THE CLUBHOUSEand park my bike beside Crow’s. Everyone is here—already in church, more than likely—and I sit on my bike and take several deep breaths, looking up at the stars above. I don’t know exactly how this night will end, but I got a feeling I ain’t gonna like it. In my chapter, if someone went against the prez’s orders and brought war down upon the club, that someone found themselves in the ground. I have no reason to believe Chaos will save me from a similar fate, but a man can dream.

I stroke the chrome handlebars and then flip the kickstand down. The leather seat creaks as I slide off my bike, and I head toward my fate like a dead man walking.

Inside, everyone is gathered around the table, chatting amongst themselves. All talk ceases when I enter. Chaos glares at me. I dart my gaze toward the other members: Bouncer, Sly, Jinx, and North, then to Ruin, Sterling, and Saint. Crow and Mako stand behind their sponsors, looking equally chagrinned. Poe closes the door behind me, and Bash joins him, blocking the exit with both arms folded.

“I ain’t gonna run,” I tell them, but it falls on deaf ears. I turn my attention back to Prez.

Chaos leans back in his chair, knife in hand as he inspects the blade. “You wanna tell us what the fuck happened last night?”

“I killed the motherfucker who threatened my girl.”

Poe laughs, but it’s without humor. “This asshole doesn’t even try to hide it.”

“Would you? Would any of you sit around with your dick in your hands while someone threatened your ol’ lady?” I look at each of them. Ruin’s throat bobs as he swallows, Saint’s shoulders fall with his long exhalation, and Sterling gives an infinitesimal shake of his head. “I understand your orders were clear that we were to wait, but I wasn’t willing to stake Jupiter’s life on your timeline.”

“Well, you’ve well and truly fucked us now, haven’t you?”

“I talked to the Tennessee charter. They’re on their way.”

Chaos’s brow arches. “You invited a sister charter here without telling me first. That’s a pretty ballsy move, Bear.”

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