Chapter 9
Solomon
The morning had broken like the sweet melody of a blackbird, full of promise, freshness and newness to come—because I was cock deep into wet pussy that was begging for me to do it harder. But now the morning sat like a cold cup of coffee waiting to be drained away. I walked out the door shaking my head. I slid my cut onto my back where it belonged. It looked badass amongst the backdrop of suburban houses, but no housewives were awake to see it. In fact, everything was so tranquil that I almost didn’t notice the woman who’d followed me out of the house.
“You’re in a gang.”
I turned to find a sleepy brown-haired woman with glasses clutching the edge of her t-shirt staring at me. This must be Jo.
“It’s a motorcycle club.”
“Right. Well. Whatever you call yourself… you need to stay away from Jen.”
I had to give it to her. Some men didn’t have the balls to speak their mind to me.
“And why is that?” I asked, walking around the car to the front seat.
“Because she’s a good girl. She’s going to college. She’s got dreams.”
I could see where she was going. If I were her, I’d think the same thing too.
I was broken. I was no good for Jenny. But in the short time that we’d spent together, she’d become more than just a girl to me and now, I was too far in. Nothing would stop me from seeing Jenny again.
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but we’re the good guys,” I said, touching my chest. “Trust me. If something bad happens to you, we’re the ones you want to call.”
I slid into the car and started it up. “Now get back in the house so I can go.”
I put the car in reverse, moving down the driveway and waiting in the street as the front door closed.
I fucked up. I fucked up bad. I only had one job. One job—an easy one at that—and I would have been golden. I would have been in. Warren had made it clear that this was supposed to be my last task and what would happen when it was done. But I failed.
I’d never botched a task before, much less forget one. Never, not until a vixen disguised as a damsel in distress caught my eye and I couldn’t resist saving her. Since when had I ever been the night in shining armor, anyway?
To say I was disappointed with myself was an understatement. If my screw up cost me my membership into the most exclusive club on the West Coast, it would be my own damn fault.
I drove home to prepare myself. I had to return my car and switch it out for my bike. We had rules on mileage and, just in case I wasn’t kicked out, I wanted to meet my daily requirement. I also needed a shower.
I could still smell Jenny on my skin. Her scent was in my nose. As much as it made my dick hard, I didn’t need the brothers to smell it too. Besides wanting to keep the scent of her nectar to myself, I wouldn’t want the brothers to know that the reason I hadn’t burned down Blue Nights was because I’d lost my head on a woman.
I dressed quickly, barely paying attention to what I was wearing because today was reckoning day. My President thought his word to be law. Amongst Bandits, it was, and I had not followed the law.
A small part of me wanted to start my bike and drive in the opposite direction. I knew what it was to leave, never come back, and start over. I was good at that, but I couldn’t run all my life. Especially from something that I wanted. I was going to face Gus’ decision head on. I was no pussy. With my leather vest gleaming and the prospect patch on the bottom back unhidden, I drove the short drive to our clubhouse.
The leaves scudded over the ground and took small flights into the air as I sped past. My town slept on Sundays and I was thankful for the lack of traffic. Despite the stress, my mind raced and I felt the happiness I always felt on my bike bubble up from within.
I turned to our entrance and Jerry opened the gate with a tilt of his head. I drove in, parked, and walked quickly inside. I didn’t need to see anyone but my president. My judge and jury.
“Gus.”
“Prospect,” he said, setting down his beer.
Warren eyed me, but I couldn’t read his face. He trailed behind me as I followed Gus to our meeting room and shut the door.
He sat in the chair at the head of the table and crossed his arms over his chest. This wasn’t good. “You fucked up.”
I winced but didn’t deny it. “I know.”
“You want to explain?” Warren asked.
He didn’t have to, but he was giving me a chance to defend myself. I’d known of guys who hadn’t been so lucky and who’d been immediately cut for less.
I took a deep breath and began. “I went, got everything ready, and while I was waiting, I saw a guy take a girl upstairs. It wasn’t my business, but something didn’t seem right. So I went to investigate and found him forcing himself on her. I stopped him before he could do more damage and brought the girl home. If something bad had happened to her, it would’ve been on me. I’d learned enough from you guys to know we don’t let women or children get hurt. I don’t have physical evidence, but I’m pretty sure Blue Nights is running some kind of sex ring upstairs.”
Disgust rolled over me at the memory.
“Why do you think we’re burning it down?” Warren asked, confirming my earlier suspicions.
We were doing the community a favor by burning it to the ground.
“One of our strippers told a member she had been dragged up there one night when she had been off. She’d come back black and blue.”
“That ain’t good for business,” Gus inserted. “So it needs to burn.”
It was the perfect initiation. They had a job to do, and they knew I always got the job done. Well… usually.
Warren stepped closer and mimicked Gus, crossing his arms over his chest. “So the question is, are you distracted?”
I answered without hesitation. “No.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
Gus shook his head. “I’m not buying it. That little story you told was the most I’ve ever heard you say in a day, let alone in one sitting, and you didn’t talk about the girls. You only mentioned one.”
“I’m not distracted.”
“So what happened after you took the girl home? Why didn’t you circle back and burn down the club?” Warren asked.
I’d expected this question, but I wasn’t going to answer him. I had a habit of speaking when I wanted to and Gus was right, I’d already said too much.
“Sounds like you took her home and then fell into some pussy instead of doing what I asked. Is that it?” Gus asked.
President or not, the topic of Jenny was off the table. “I’m. Not. Distracted.”
That was all that mattered. I could still carry out the mission. I would do whatever it took to get into this club, be a part of this family and prove I deserved to be one of the brothers.
“Hmm.” Gus rubbed his scraggly beard.
“Are you sure?” Warren asked again.
“Positive.”
“Then we’ll take it to vote,” Gus said, standing. “It needs to be unanimous. If everyone says yes, you get a second chance.”
“And if they don’t,” Warren said, answering my mental question, “you can bring your cut back tonight.”
“Chapel!” Gus said, announcing all the brothers needed to be around the table for a vote.
I had no idea what Gus would say. I couldn’t be sure if he’d tell the full story or a partial one. There were no secrets between brothers, but I was a prospect. They might choose to ignore the details and home in on the fact that I was supposed to do something, and I didn’t.
What I would do if I got the boot. They had to give me a second chance. I couldn’t give back my vest. It only had the prospect patch on it and I loved it already. That vest had taken me places. What would I do without the club? They’d been my life for the last year and a half. I’d worked my ass off for them and I would gladly do more. If they didn’t all vote yes, I would have to convince them somehow.
I sat there trying to think of ways to convince anyone who said no while also hoping and praying that my work spoke for itself. I’d worked my fingers to the bone for every member and future brother. They wouldn’t kick me out over one mistake. Would they? No. They wouldn’t. I had to believe that because there was no alternative. I steadied myself and stood up straighter.
“A Donovan never stumbles.” That was what my dad used to say. He’d said we were a strong family. Full of iron, steel, bravery, and the kind of spirit that won’t die. My dad had been an awful father and a worse husband. I’d prayed and wished he would die for years for the things he used to do to my mother. Still, I took his words to heart. And I had stumbled. That much I knew and I was willing to do what I needed to do to make it right.
The meeting door opened and Gus nodded at me from the table.
“One last chance,” Warren said as the crowd of brothers dispersed from the room without speaking to me. “Don’t let me down. I vouched for you.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding. “I swear, brother. That club will burn tonight. Nothing will get in my way this time.”