The whole situation was one fucked up mess.

Jaxson felt as if he would let Bruno and his brothers down if he didn’t take the role as president, which would put the future of the club at risk. The issue was… should he take the position, he knew the consequences that followed might be even worse. All the things that would constitute warning signs had already occurred. Whether Antonio blew today, next week, or next month, he would be out to get him for sure. With Jaxson as president, Antonio would be a dangerous man with nothing to lose.

Jaxson stayed inside the office a few minutes longer to gather his thoughts and prepare for the interrogation Antonio would throw his way. He heard the steel latch clatter as the main door slammed shut behind Bruno.

After a few minutes, Jaxson emerged from the office into a room that felt unnervingly tense. The men sat in silence until the sound of Bruno’s engine had left the parking lot. As soon as Bruno rolled out of the lot, Antonio lit up a cigarette and sat on the arm of the couch where Jaxson had been – waiting. His dark eyes squared-down on Jaxson. His free hand clenched into a fist by his side, as if he tried to resist the urge to fly at him in a fury.

Fuck.

Antonio was already dangerously worked up.

Dino and Jaxson exchanged a look. They knew they needed to leave before he got out of control.

Too fucking late.

Antonio stormed up close to Jaxson. His clothes smelled strongly of motor oil and gasoline. Pissed as hell, he sneered through gritted teeth, “Guess you’re President now. Guess we don’t even have a say in this. Guess I don’t even have a say in this.”

His words caused everyone in the room to still.

Jaxson kept his voice level as he replied, “I have no idea what you’re talking about. None.” Jaxson turned his attention to the group, “We need to be ready for the shipment on Thursday. Whiskey is passing through and we’re going to have to be careful. No going out to the bar the night before or it’s my neck on the line, am I clear fellas?”

Everyone nodded.

Everyone except Antonito, he looked livid. “You heard damn well what I just said! What the hell did my father just say to you?” His voice a warning now.

Dino interjected, “You need to learn when to shut your fucking mouth,” he shouted, defending Jaxson.

Jaxson held up a hand at them both. “It’s nobody’s business but ours.”

Antonio took off his jacket and tossed it on the counter.

Jaxson’s mind swirled as he tried to come up with anything he could do to get the motherfucker to back off. He knew Antonio wouldn’t let this fly. “We weren’t discussing anything except our plan for Thursday. Rod is into Bruno for fifty-grand, and he’s paid nothing back. Bruno wants his money that’s all. If his guys help us out with this shipment, we’re even.”

“Yeah, you forgot to mention how he plans to put you in charge of all local operations,” Antonio snapped back.

“He’s fucked in the head,” Dino muttered under his breath.

Jaxson growled, “I fucking told you what he said—”

“Let’s cut through the bullshit Jaxson.” A dark expression crossed Antonio’s face as he cut Jaxson off. “We all know what he was talkin’ to you about. So spill it,” he demanded, furiously.

“Goddamn it. You heard what I said. And if you have a problem with that, you know where the door is.”

With nothing to say, Antonio turned his back on Jaxson and walked through the open doorway to the bike shop area. Inside, he knelt down tinkering with his bike – sulking. As Jaxson attempted to discuss plans for Thursday with the guys, he revved the motor over Jaxson’s voice in a pathetic attempt to work him up.

This guy is fucking ridiculous. He has no business being so damn cocky. Jaxson shook his head, swallowing his laughter. No respect.

As Bruno’s only blood relative in the Black Devils, Antonio thought he was untouchable. The thought of him ever becoming president of the club Jaxson cared for so much for was, in a word—unfucking-thinkable. Jaxson suddenly understood why Bruno refused to allow this clown to become president. De Lucas Empire would fall at his hands…if he didn’t get himself killed in the process. At that moment, Jaxson felt a strong impulse to protect the integrity of the club he was proud of, no matter what.

The air around them was saturated with the promise of violence. Jaxson wanted nothing more than to grab that skinny frame of his by the throat, rough him up, and straighten him the fuck out. But that little boy wasn’t worth the effort.

Grabbing his jacket, he signaled to Dino that it was time for them to leave. As the pair headed out the door, Jaxson shook his head, and glared a warning at Antonio.

Antonio’s eyes flared back, and his jaw ticked.

Leaning in close to Antonio, Jaxson growled a word of advice, “A little respect goes a long fucking way.”