Tex (Hell's Ankhor #5) - Aiden Bates Page 0,20

now, after a breakfast of cereal and coffee that I’d hardly tasted due to my worrying, I was ready to bite the bullet and face my president.

I stared at the closed door to Blade’s office and took a steadying sigh. Better to just go ahead and get this over with. I knocked, and after Blade’s gruff acknowledgment, opened the door.

Blade sat behind his desk with his laptop open in front of him. Priest was sitting in one of the two chairs on the other side of the desk with his back to me, and Gunnar leaned against the wall.

It was initially a little disorienting, as I’d expected to see Blade behind the desk instead of Ankh. But I couldn’t deny it—he fit the role. Blade looked comfortable, serious, and determined. It was no shock that the club had flourished under his leadership. He also didn’t seem surprised to see me here so early.

“Take a seat.” Blade nodded at the empty chair next to Priest. “And don’t look so nervous. We’re not kicking you out.”

I hadn’t realized how much I’d needed that assurance until I had it. A weight lifted off me as I sat down; Priest caught my eye and nodded warmly.

I cleared my throat, and then met Blade’s dark eyes straight on. “What do you want to know?” I asked.

I’d thought a lot about what would be expected from me when I got back. I’d narrate the entirety of the past three years, if that’s what Blade wanted. Whatever it took to prove I was committed to the club.

Blade sighed and linked his fingers behind his head. “I want to know you’re not gonna fuck up again.”

I winced—even though I knew it was coming, it still hurt to hear the disappointment in Blade’s voice.

“Blade, Priest, Gunnar,” I said, glancing between them, “I’m sorry.”

Blade’s expression softened, slightly, but he just sat back, waiting.

“I wasn’t just biding my time in the joint. And I didn’t blow off the court-ordered therapy. I did a lot of work on myself.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I… didn’t trust myself before. I was always looking for someone to tell me what to do—and I was willing to do anything for approval. Too cowardly and scared to say no to anyone, about anything. But that’s not the case anymore.” I met Gunnar’s eyes, then, his gaze sharp and considering. “I grew a spine.”

Blade huffed a laugh. “That so?”

“Yeah. Nothing like that’s going to happen again.” I straightened up in my chair. “I know you didn’t have to welcome me back at all. I don’t take that for granted. And I’m not going to risk the well-being of the club like that again.”

Blade nodded slowly, and then made eye contact with Gunnar and Priest. I felt suddenly like I was back in school, waiting to find out if I passed an important exam.

“Good.” Blade opened the drawer of his desk, pulled something out, and tossed it to me. “I believe you.”

I caught it. I opened my hand—it was an ENFORCER patch. I stared at Priest, then at Blade, then at Gunnar.

“What?” Gunnar asked. “Did you forget how to read in the joint?”

“Actually, I read a lot,” I said, before I could stop myself. My shock was fucking up my filter. “But—what is this?”

“Tex isn’t the only one getting a promotion,” Priest said.

What—this couldn’t be right. This had to be another test. I’d just gotten out of fucking prison, there was no reason for Blade to upgrade me from just a regular patched-in member to an enforcer. Not when there were other members who’d been in the club the whole time, not getting needlessly in trouble; members who deserved the role more than I did.

“I’m grateful,” I said, running my thumb over the patch’s stitching, “But… Why? Why me?”

“We’re short an enforcer now that Tex is road captain,” Gunnar said simply. “We need more muscle.”

“Crave’s still at large,” Blade said. “The Viper’s Nest took a hit, but he’s not going to give up so easily. We’ve got eyes out as far as we can, and we’re hearing rumors of activity in surrounding cities that could be connected to him. We think he’s trying to rebuild the foundation of the club before he comes back to Elkin Lake. He’s not going to give up on this territory, even if it’s just for the sake of his pride.”

“These are dangerous times,” Gunnar said. “Enforcing’s not as appealing to the patched-in members as it used to be.”

I nodded.