Page 26 of Powerless
"He can ride," Dallas went on. "He used to build custom Harleys. Used to bow hunt for sport, so he's a good shotandcan score us meat for the winter probably."
"I could use an extra hand in the shop," Jandro mused. "Especially after this trek home."
"You'regetting on board with this?" I looked at my VP in disbelief. "You already have the fucking prospect!"
"I have toteachthe prospect. I could use someone who actually knows what they're doing."
"Well, since you've gotten to be such good bosom buddies, tell me this," I crossed my arms, "is he loyal? Is he a man of his word? Will he ride with us to the center of Hell if I tell him to? Becausesomeonewho has sworn their loyalty, who I consider a brother, tried to get us all fucking killed!"
My fist slammed into the tabletop, creating a split in the flimsy wood. No one hardly dared to breathe as I shook my hand out.
"Who wants to keep the snitch in the club?" I growled through my teeth.
Jandro, Dallas, Brick, and Shadow raised their hands.
"You?" I looked at the large, silent man in surprise. "Youtrust the prisoner?"
"I'm not the best judge of people, but he seems genuine to me,” Shadow answered. “If Jandro trusts him, then I do as well."
"All right, then." I looked at non-approving members. "We take him on as another prospect. He's not privy to church, patches, or any other privileges until Jandro and I both deem him worthy. Fair?"
A murmur of agreement rose from around the table. Satisfied, I struck the gavel.
"Any other club business to attend to?"
"Can we just come out and say it instead of dancing around the subject?" Big G asked.
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you referring to?"
"Did you not hear me about keeping your mouth shut?" Jandro leaned over the table like he wanted to cross over and strangle him.
"Gunner is the one who sold us out to Tash. Isn't it obvious to anyone else?" Big G looked around the table, apparently for rallying cries of support but was met with silence.
"Gunner isourbrother.Yourcaptain, until he rightfully kicked you out,“ Jandro seethed. "Why do you have such a hard-on for throwing him to the wolves?"
"Why can'tyousee what's right in front of you?" Big G shot back. "He's the only one in regular contact with Tash. He's got all these mysterious black market connections outside the club, and now he's just taken off to fuck knows where!"
"He's headed to the Colorado territory to work out new deals," I said. "Because Sheol depends on him and he's the only one who can make that happen."
"Sure, that's what he toldyou, Reaper."
"Do not take me for a fool," I warned him, my hands closing into fists. "I'm still your president, whether you agree with my decisions or not."
"You didn't answer my question," Jandro jumped to his feet, rounding the table toward the loudmouth. "Why are you so quick to be pointing fingers? You got something to hide?"
"Like what?" G brought his palms down on the table as he stood up. "I'm fucking loyal! I ain't hiding shit!"
"Everyone out," I barked, slamming the gavel down as I stood up. "Except you, G."
Jandro didn't move an inch, his shoulders squared and tense as a brick wall.
"You want to question your president's leadership and sow distrust, you're in the wrong fucking club." Even as he defended me, Jandro seemed to forget I was there, even when I brought a hand down on his shoulder.
"Easy, VP." I moved to stand at his side, arms crossed against my chest as we stared down Big G together. "You're not leaving this room until you tell us what your fucking agenda is."
"The fuck?" His mouth dropped open. "My only agenda is outing the son-of-a-bitch who sold us out!"
"It's not Gunner," Jandro hissed through his teeth. "We would know. So get that notion out of your head before we beat it out of you."
