“That sick shit again? Are you for real?”
“There’s something going on between the two of you. I can see it. Anybody with a dick can see it.”
“I don’t have a crush on Miss Meneceo. Ewww. But I do idolize her. She’s awesome, and that thing you see is called an intellectual connection. We sort of…get each other…academically. Of course, it’s not something someone like you can understand because you think with your dick.”
“How can you make me want to kick you in the balls after I literally teared up hugging you?”
He shrugged. “Beats me. I feel the same way…not about the hugging.”
“Ass.” I blew out a sigh in frustration. “Anyway, that wasn’t the question I wanted you to answer. This is it. What if the rumors were true? What if she was in the mob and screwed a student, would you still defend her and help me keep her safe from the Lanzas?”
He stared at me pensively for a few moments before he said, “Absolutely.”
I smiled. “Go wait outside and wait for me to call you in. I’m bringing your membership to the table. We’ll vote on it.”
“How many votes do you think I’ll get?”
“I don’t know, but you have one in the bag.”
CHAPTER 8
Furore
I explained Jo’s situation to my crew. Molar, Fort, Hook, Texas and Marshall.
Twisted jaws, hooked brows and jaded eyes stared back at me. Were they pissed or just feeling the shit we were in?
“I will protect Jo no matter what.” I had to make that clear.
“So will we,” Molar said without hesitation. “The question is how? We can’t hide her, and you can’t reject the invitation. Both will confirm the Lanzas’ doubts. At the same time, you can’t go to the party. Who knows who’s gonna be there? Maybe they’ll invite the fucking Larvins for fuck’s sake. She won’t be able to fool them. Nobody can look their fucking daddy in the eye and convince him they’re not his. Hell, even if she could, the Lanzas wouldn’t care. They’ll just say she is and throw her as bait to their new buddies.”
Fort sighed. “There’s no option but to go to war.”
“It means we’re all fucked,” Marshall said. “We can’t fight the mob on our own. That’s two fucking powerful families we’re talking about here.”
“We can ask for help,” Hook rasped, the painkillers taking a toll on his voice. Doc had loaded him up after Jo shot him.
“So can they,” Texas mumbled. “But let’s say we can outnumber them, other chapters, friendly clubs and the cartel won’t just come to rescue Prez’s old lady. They will want something in return.”
“Well, we have two weeks to try. We won’t say anything about Jo, not yet. It can put her in danger before we know who is on our side and who ain’t. We’ll just tell them about the new forming alliance between the Lanzas and the Larvins on our turf. Let’s hear what they have to say, and if what they want in return is reasonable, I’m down. Yay or nay?” I said.
“Fuck the Lanzas. Yay.” Molar gave the first vote. They all followed. Unanimous vote.
I scratched my beard. “There’s another thing we need to vote on.”
Molar rolled his eyes at me. “You can’t be serious. He’s in diapers, and he doesn’t know shit about the MC, our bylaws, what we do to earn our respect around town.”
“He’s ready, Molar, and he’s earned my trust. If you trust me, you’ll give him the cut.”
He just shook his head.
I nodded at Fort. He opened the door and called for Rex. My boy entered and took one of the seats lines against the wall.
“Tirone Lazzarini wishes to patch in,” I said with pride, scratching Delilah’s maiden fucking name he took instead of mine and put my last name next to his. My boy, my blood, and soon my second hand. “Would you give him his cut, yay or nay?”
With a sigh, Molar fixed his gaze on the wall across. “You know I trust you with my life, bro, but nay.”
I pursed my lips and glanced at Fort. He took a minute, and then he said, “Hell yeah. It’s Prez’s boy, y’all. He’s fucking family.”
