Page 59 of The First Cut
“What Khan did to this club was fucked-up,” Havoc continues. “But none of you noticed, or if you did, you let it slide. How it got this far, I don’t know, but it won’t be happening again. Not on my watch. Initially, I thought about disbanding this chapter altogether. The locals detest you—really, I’d be doing them a favor.”
His words have people yelling out protests, but Havoc ignores them, turning a little. I follow his gaze and see him staring at Elmo, Byte, and Ferris. They watch the three of us with blank faces, but there's no surprise or hostility in their gazes. If I had to guess, I’d say the three of them have already been clued into what’s about to go down.
“Last time I was here. I realized there are good brothers here. Some of you just lost your way.” The room quiets once more. “Hannibal's going to be your new president. I’m sure those whodon’t know him have heard of his reputation. I dare you to fuck with him.”
I can tell people feel uncomfortable now. Everyone has heard of Hannibal’s reputation, even me, and I keep myself to myself.
His hands give my shoulders a brief squeeze before he addresses the room. “I won’t be letting shit fly, so if you don’t want to get this club back to where it should be, then leave now. There’s the door. Nobody will stop you, but this is the only shot you get. If you stay, you’re agreeing to me being your president. You’re agreeing to abide by my rules and to do as I ask to make this club formidable once more.”
“How come you’re making an outsider president?” a familiar voice calls out, but the room is too crowded for me to pick them out from the masses.
Havoc crosses his arms, daring anyone to mess with him. “Because I don’t think any of you are up to the job.”
“And you think you’re the right person to make that decision?” another calls out, filled with laughter. But they soon quiet down when they realize nobody is laughing with them.
“I honestly don’t give a shit what any of you think, but I’ll remind you just this once. I’m the President of the mother chapter of Raven Souls. Either learn respect, or I’m burning this club to the ground. I do not give a fuck. I owe you nothing,” Havoc warns them.
“The fact he’s giving this club a second chance is more than you deserve. But by all means, piss the boss off. See how that works out for you.” Hannibal laughs, a cold, cruel sound that has most people taking a collective step back.
“We hear you, Havoc,” Elmo calls out as he steps forward to say his piece. “There's a lot of shit you don’t know. Shit I’ve only just found out about. I’ll tell you everything later, but you need to know that Khan was a traitor to us all. He didn’t deserve to wear the Raven Souls patch. Every word out of his mouth wasa fucking lie. I’ve been investigating him since Havoc was last here.”
Shuffling and surprise in the crowd now.
“Khan was embezzling money from the club. I found an offshore account in his name with just over a million dollars in it. I’ve also found direct ties to him and at least half of the missing girls.”
“Oh shit,” someone curses, echoing my sentiments exactly. I suspected he was involved somehow, but I figured it was more a case of knowing who was behind it and turning a blind eye. Some of the women look openly distressed now— I don’t know if it’s for the poor women Khan screwed over or because it’s sinking in how easily it could have been one of them. How it could have been any of us.
“Driller was working directly with Khan. I don’t know if he knew about the money. It seems unlikely because he’d have demanded a share of his own, but money was never Driller’s motivation. He’s a bully and a narcissist.” I flinch at Havoc’s words. He has no idea just how bad his brother is.
“He’s the loose end right now. He’s considered an enemy of the club. If any of you offer him safe harbor, you’ll answer to Hannibal. And if there’s anything left of you, you’ll answer to me.”
“What about Lola? She’s carrying his kid. He’ll come back for her.”
I freeze at Manny’s question. Hannibal squeezes my shoulders again, but it’s impossible for me to relax.
“Lola's mine.” Hannibal’s voice rings out with authority as his hand slides down to cup my bump. “This baby is mine. If Driller comes for either of them, I’ll gut him like a fish before I show him how I got my name.”
I’m not surprised when nobody says anything in Driller’s defense.
“I’ll pick who I want in my cabinet at a later date. I need to talk to you all first and see who I think will work best where. The only exception is Byte. I’m making you my VP. You know this club, the brothers, and the town. You get the delightful job of being my voice of reason,” Hannibal states.
Byte notes, “If that’s what you need. I’ve stood by for too long and watched as Khan took the club I loved and turned it into something I barely recognize.” He turns to the crowd of brothers. “If Hannibal says he can bring us back to glory, I’ll happily stand beside him.”
“Good.” Havoc slaps Hannibal on the shoulder, making me jolt. “Good luck, brother. Remember, I’m only a phone call away,” he tells him, lowering his voice as the crowd behind him begins to talk amongst themselves.
Feeling his gaze on me, I lift my head and stare into the eyes I used to love, fighting back the urge to claw them out.
“Lola. We’re never going to be friends, not after what you did. But I can let bygones be bygones if you treat Hannibal better than you did me.”
Bygones be bygones? This man has systematically hurt me over and over, and I’m sick of letting him. My eyes flood with tears as I finally give up on him the way he did me. Any love I had for the man has withered and died like anything does when it’s neglected and trodden on.
No more. I’m done.
“Don’t worry about me, Havoc. Lola knows exactly what I’ll do to her if she crosses me.”
I grit my teeth and fist my hands, the pain of my nails slicing into my palm the only thing keeping me grounded. I swallow down the urge to scream—to curse, to break something. But that’s what he’s looking for. Well, fuck him. I won’t be giving away any more pieces of myself to this man.
There's an odd amount of relief that comes on the heels of my acceptance. I should have let go a long time ago. The man looking down at me like I’m something he scraped off his shoe is not my Havoc. He died in prison.
