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I wanted to punch him, but I felt at a distinct disadvantage, with being nearly naked, while he was dressed, with heavy boots on, and actually an inch or so taller than me.
“I didn’t play anything or anyone. I got lucky, and that’s because the Pres and VP aren’t the cunts I thought they were. You, on the other hand, seem to have turned into one. What, you got out of the wrong side of the fucking bed?”
Nick snorted. “You’re hearing insults somehow, but I didn’t say anything like that. You did good. A second chapter of the club is a good thing, and I think you’ll nail it. Just, maybe get your head out of your ass, rather than jumping down people’s throats when they’re backing ya.”
I saw him off the premises and locked up behind him, pouring two coffees to take back to bed. Was he right? Was I assuming hatred from every angle, and judgement from every voice, when maybe that wasn’t what was actually happening?
“I was just going to get up,” Sophie said as I climbed back onto the bed, and passed a coffee to her. Instead, she wrapped her hands around the mug, and settled back against the headboard.
“He’s gone, babe. Just you and me now.”
She nodded, leaning against me as I sat closer to her.
“So what happens next? I mean, they want you to build the club from the ashes, but where do you even start?”
Yeah, welcome to my first problem. I had no fucking idea where to start, and nobody to ask for advice. Who’d fucking help me, right?
Thirty-Six
Dayonewasafucking shitshow, starting with me arriving with Soph at the soon-to-be Phoenix MC Hampshire Chapter clubhouse. We were greeted warily, and I immediately called Church. With the leftovers from the showdown, and a few members who’d not been around that day, and a certain prospect who I recognised from before, we had a fairly empty room, and a bunch of hostile faces.
“Look, I get that shit went down, and you didn’t like how it panned out, but you didn’t die, so here are your options. Stick with me, embrace the new ethos of the club, and stand to be patched over in six months. If not, there’s the door. I have no issues if you wanna make a break for it, because this club isn’t going to be like it was. You’re in it for rape and shit, get the fuck out of my sight.”
Nobody moved, but those glares became more intense, and, with the exception of Harley, who’d pretty much embraced everything from the second he survived the attack, I had no idea if any of them were on board.
“This club was toxic as fuck, and had to be put down like a rabid dog. I don’t promise that I’ll be a perfect president, but what I can promise is that I’ll put my fucking blood, sweat and… everything into raising the club to fucking greatness. I’m not gonna fuck around, we have more people coming, who’ll be taking up with the club, and this is happening whether anyone here likes it or not. You want out, walk, and don’t come back.”
I stood up again, and nobody else moved. Did that mean they were staying? Nope, one guy, road name Shark, stood up too.
“Fuck you. I’m not hanging around to be part of a fucking pussy club.” He took off his cut and tossed it on the table, pausing a moment to spit on it.Charming. I forced myself to not react, instead watching him walk for the door. Was there a risk he’d do damage out there? Probably, but Soph was in the corner of the fucking room with me, and she was the only thing that mattered.
“Anyone else wanna spit on their old colours and fuck off?”
Nobody else moved, and I sighed. Maybe that wasn’t so bad after all.
“Harley, you’ll stick around, so we can talk finances and shit. Everyone else, move on. We’ll talk about everything else later, but for now, keep getting this place back in order. I’ll meet with everyone individually later.”
Not a single fucker spoke or acknowledged me as they left, but why the hell would they? In a hostile takeover of my own club, I’d have been resentful too.
“That was pleasant,” I said quietly, as I sat back down with Harley, and gestured to Soph to join us.
“Not really the norm, having the old lady here, Pres, but I get that nothing is the norm right now. I can take you through our finances, and I think you’ll be pretty impressed. We were making good profits before this all happened.”
Soph practically growled beside me. “Yeah, not paying your suppliers really helps you make a tidy buck.”
Harley rolled his eyes at her, and turned to me again.
“Wasn’t exactly shit I had control over. You’re bringing someone in to do this stuff, right?”
I shook my head. “We have a tech guy coming in, and two members of Phoenix Wiltshire, and that’s it. You able to keep the treasury role for now at least?”
He sighed. “Whatever. Look, there are two guys here you’ll need to watch. They may be playing nice right now, but I don’t think they’re on board, and I don’t think they’ll ever be that way.”
That’s what I’d been afraid of, so I nodded at him to continue.
“Burn and Roadkill are kinda insane, and they liked it the way it was. Crusher let them do whatever the fuck they wanted, and they enjoyed every sick thing they could get up to. They’re playing along for now, but they’ll try to kill you. Her too.”
Fucking great. “Give me everything you have on them,” I demanded, and he smirked.
