Page 69 of Redemption

“You’re out of line,” Chicago warns.

“No, you are!”

“Why can’t we just give them a taste of their own medicine?” Knuckles asks and shrugs. His nonchalance rubs Psycho the wrong way. “Since we’re clearly tossing aside the idea to blow up their clubhouse.”

Psycho narrows his eyes as Waylon looks to the other Drifters originals sitting opposite Chicago. “What does that mean exactly?”

“Do what they’ve done to us.”

“Spit it out,” he growls. “I wanna hear you fucking say it.” The words can’t be assumed, or he’ll look dramatic when he becomes feral.

“They’re going after our women and children, so let’s go after theirs.”

The room erupts with agreement from the Rising men, minus Derek, and they all talk of ways to go about it. Psycho looks to his right and falls into a mutual angry silence with the Drifters. The real Drifters.

Chicago slams his gavel on the table. “Okay, we’ll take a vote. Everyone in favor-”

“Before we get into that,” he interrupts. “Which one of you motherfuckers is willing to kill a woman or child?”

Knuckles laughs. “You’re kidding right? Aren’t you kind of known for being, I don’t know, a psycho? It is your club name, after all.”

“Oh, so when you suggested we go after their women and children, you meant me because you’re too big of a pussy to stand behind your own fucking idea? For the record, I ain’t doing that shit. And before you all agree to move this shit idea forward, just remember one thing. I hate assholes who harm women and children and take pleasure in inflicting excruciating pain on them. Your patches won’t save you.”

“You’re the Sergeant at Arms,” Tito says. “That’s kind of your job.”

He turns to Fox. “You’d go out and murder random women and children simply because they somehow were affiliated with the Slashers when you were in this role?”

Fox looks around. “Well, no, but I’m not you.”

“Look, I take my role seriously. And I’ll do whatever I need to in order to protect my President and club. For now. But this is not protecting the club. This is retaliation in the sickest way possible, and fuck all of you for even thinking I’d consider it.”

Chicago hits the gavel on the table again to quiet the room. “Psycho, I appreciate your boundaries, but we have to do something drastic here. Show them this has to stop. And if you’re not man enough to step up-”

“No, I’m too much of a man. Because real men don’t target innocent people. If you wanna be just like them, go ahead. I’m glad I know the group of fucking pussies I’m sitting at a goddamned table with.”

“Your loyalty isn’t as strong as we thought.”

Creeper slams both hands on the table. “Fuck you, Chicago! No one would go down in a blaze of glory for the Drifters more than that man right there, but what you’re suggesting goes too far. And before you even bother to ask, we’d tell Jennings to go fuck himself if he came up with this idea, too. Difference is, he’s not a little bitch and would never suggest it.”

“Fuck you!” Knuckles shouts. “You don’t get to talk to the Pres like that!”

“We’re taking a vote,” Chicago says, his jaw tight.

Psycho crosses his arms over his chest. “If it passes, I’ll give Fox this patch back.”

“You’ll give up your role because you don’t like the outcome?” Fox asks with a humorless chuckle. “Glad I gave it up for you.”

Doc stands. “No, it’s because this shit ain’t right. This ain’t the Drifter way. It’s not the reputation we’ve ever had, and it’s not the reputation we want.”

“You don’t want to be known as tough motherfuckers who don’t take shit from anyone?” Tito asks. “Yeah, that would suck.”

“No, fuckhead, we’re not women and children killers.”

Creeper shakes his head and lets out a dry laugh. “Yeah, you’ll look real tough doing that. You’re such a fucking bitch, you know that?”

“The fact you’re even entertaining this and bringing it to a vote, Chicago, tells us you’re not the right man to have in the President seat,” Waylon says. “I said it, and I stand by it.”

“No, I think he is,” West says, jaw clenched. “But I think it’s the right seat for the Phoenix Rising, not the Deranged Drifters.”

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