Allegiance - Chiah Wilder Page 0,41
never kiss him again made her feel hollow inside. Too often, her mind wandered, until she was lost in the memories of being with him. When he kissed her, held her tight, and murmured softly in her ear, she felt desired and safe.
But at the moment, there were enough complications in her life, and she couldn’t handle anymore. Maybe when the nightmare with the bikers was over, she’d be ready to foster a relationship with him.
Pocketing her phone, she started the SUV and pulled onto the road.
Tank
The Devil’s Surfboard was a hole-in-the wall restaurant that catered to the biker clientele. The ribs were juicy, the beer was cheap, and the waitresses were easy, which was the perfect combination for outlaw bikers.
Standing at the head of a table, in front of a dozen Jagged Outlaw members, Tank cleared his throat as he scanned their tense faces. He’d called the impromptu meeting to discuss what Raptor had told him a few days before, and he wanted to see where their loyalties lay.
“Is Raptor coming tonight?” Neon asked.
Tank snatched his beer off the table and drained the bottle in one long swig. Wiping a hand across his mouth, he paused for a few seconds, then placed his hands on the edge of the table and leaned forward. “No, he’s not.”
Neon pounded the table with his fists. “What the fuck’s his deal?”
“Calm the fuck down and give Tank a chance to speak,” Maniac said. “He’s the one who talked to the prez, so let’s hear what he has to say.”
“Raptor not being here says it all,” Neon growled.
“He’s right,” Ice huffed. A few of the brothers nodded their heads, muttering their agreement.
“Yeah, Raptor should be here,” Tank said, “but he’s not, and we know that’s the fuckin’ problem. I went by his house on Sunday and he’s in a bad way. His boy’s real sick, and he’s waiting for a bone marrow transplant.”
Running his hands over his face, Reaper sighed. “That’s gotta fuckin’ suck. I can’t imagine what I’d do if any of my kids had cancer. I know I’d want to be with them all the time if I could.”
“So what the fuck are you saying?” Neon’s tone was fierce. “Raptor’s okay to let Hammer destroy the brotherhood?”
Reaper narrowed his eyes. “Fuck no. I’m saying that Raptor needs to step down and appoint someone to take his place. But the way he’s handling it, is pussy bullshit, and it’s pissing everyone off. That shit’s no good. Brothers who were loyal to him are starting to stray toward Hammer.”
“We don’t need that fucker taking over,” Axle grumbled.
“But he’s gonna,” Tank said. All eyes reverted to him. “Raptor knows about the protection bullshit.”
Maniac jerked his head back. “And he’s all right with it?”
Tank pursed his lips and nodded.
Neon jumped to his feet and waved his arms. “He’s gone fuckin’ mental!”
Some people in the restaurant looked over at the Jagged Outlaws’ table.
Tank narrowed his eyes. “Sit the fuck down. We don’t need anyone knowing our business.”
Neon returned his look and sank back down in the chair. “Raptor needs to go.”
“I agree,” Maniac added.
Tank clenched his jaw. He felt torn between his loyalty to Raptor and his loyalty to the brotherhood. Raptor had guided him and supported him when Tank was new to the club, and then when he’d decided to go nomad. He hated the position he was in, but Raptor had shirked his presidential responsibilities, making a tough situation even worse.
“We’re all tight with Raptor, and this is fuckin’ hard for all of us.” Maniac fixed his gaze on Tank.
“I know, but Raptor’s got too much on his plate, and he’s letting Hammer do what he wants.”
“He’s abandoning the club.” Ice took out a cigarette and lit it. “So there’s no way he’s that fuckin’ stupid to think we’re gonna let Hammer and the others destroy it.”
“He said the extortion is necessary because the club’s broke.”
Maniac frowned. “That’s fuckin’ bullshit, and I outta know. I’m the damn treasurer.”
A sudden coldness hit at Tank’s core. “Raptor said the club owes the Insurgents on a weed deal and Romano for arms.”
“I arranged to pay off the Insurgents in payments. I set it up with their prez, Panther. He was cool with it.”
“Did Raptor know about it?”
“Fuck yeah. Everything that goes through the club has to get his approval.”
Ice looked pissed. “He lied to you, dude.”
“Seems that way. His boy’s illness has him all fucked-up in the head.”
“Which makes Hammer even more dangerous.” Snake, the club’s enforcer, rose