“We need to know how many of the guys have agreed to follow Jordan,” Harlen says, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “If he’s spreading that shit through the club, we need to know who’s willing to take him up on this offer.”
“As far as I know, only a couple of new guys have seemed interested. I don’t think the Stars did much research before sending Jordan into our midst. They don’t know that most of the men in this club are ex-military and loyal to a brotherhood stronger than theirs. If they would have looked into us, they would know this is the wrong type of club to bring that shit to.”
“We need a plan,” Harlen conveys, and all eyes go to him. “Jordan’s dad is Vice President. We can’t just take the kid out without blowback, but we also can’t let this stand. I understand Nico is working this case, but I say we give him a timeframe, and if he doesn’t get this sorted within that time, we cut ties with Jordan and make a statement that won’t go misunderstood.”
“Harlen’s right,” Mic agrees, and I look over at him, surprised he’s throwing in his two cents. Mic never has much to say. He’s the guy who is always observing everyone, keeping his opinion to himself. “One way or another, we’re going to have to make a statement about this shit, or we will have men who are wearing our patch committing crimes, using our name as a scare tactic. That shit is not okay with me, and I know it’s not okay with anyone in this room.”
“He’s right,” Wes cuts in, looking at me. “Others will think it’s okay to test us if we let this shit slide and don’t make a statement. We can’t have that. Regardless of what Nico wants or what he thought my reaction would be, he should have brought this shit to me. This is our club, our name, and I’m not okay with being used.”
“I didn’t want to keep this from you guys, but I got what Nico was saying.” I shrug. “I won’t apologize for my actions. I did what I felt was necessary at the time, and if given the same situation again, my choice would remain the same.”
“I know,” Wes mutters, patting my shoulder. “I get why you did what you did, and there are no hard feelings, but this shit isn’t okay with me, and I won’t let our name be dragged into some fucked-up turf war just so Nico can close a case. I won’t risk something happening to July or any of the brothers who wear the Broken Eagles cut.”
He was correct. There could be blowback on the club if shit went sideways, and at the end of the day, protecting our families and the men who have had my back since I walked into their club is more important than helping Nico. “I’ll talk to Nico, fill him in on tonight, and explain he has a limited amount of time to do what he needs to do before we step in.”
“I’ll also be talking to him,” Wes says, crossing his arms over his chest. “He should have talked to me about what was going down and let me decide my course of action.”
“You know with what happened to July, you would have shut him down,” Mic retorts, pinning Wes with his gaze. “I get why he went to Evan with this. He knows Evan’s loyal to us, but also knows what we stand for and that we wouldn’t want Jordan or anyone not loyal to what we stand for riding with us. You would have gotten rid of Jordan and any member loyal to him without hearing Nico out, and brother, as much as I hate to say this shit, I agree with what Nico is doing. I didn’t spend years fighting for what I believe in to take the easy way out when some slimy motherfucker thinks his balls are bigger than they are. He and his crew might think they found a group of men easy to turn, but they are going to learn the hard way that’s not the case.”
“Well, there you go,” Z mutters, and the rest of the guys chuckle, while Wes lets out a sigh then looks at me.
“I want to know how long he thinks this shit is going to take. When we have that information, we’ll figure out our next step,” he mutters and heads for the door. I do the same, lifting my chin to the guys before stepping outside behind him.
*
“Lane’s free. All charges were dropped yesterday,” Jax says as soon as I put the phone to my ear, before I even have a chance to say hello.
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” I growl, and June, who is asleep, draped half over me, her leg thrown over mine with her hand across my waist, stirs. “Hold on a sec,” I mutter to Jax, dropping my phone back to the nightstand.
Kissing the top of her head, I move out from under her, being careful not to wake her as I slide out of bed and pick up my sweats off the chair. Putting them on, I grab my cell and leave the room, shutting the door behind me.
“I thought they had a case against him?” I prompt, when the door is closed.
“Nothing stuck. His lawyers made it look like he was just a good, wholesome college kid with a bright future, and a fucked-up family who happens to be into bad shit.”
“Fuck.” I run my hands over my face, taking a seat on the edge of the couch and putting my elbows to my knees. “Is the no-contact order still in place?”
“No. Like I said, he was cleared of all charges.”
“I want a restraining order against him. I don’t want him anywhere near June,” I say, while trying to keep from roaring or crushing my phone, which is exactly what I want to do.
“I’ll see what I can do, but my guess is that won’t be possible. He hasn’t harassed or threatened her in anyway, so it won’t be easy to convince a judge there is a need for one.”