“Goddammit, listen to me…” he bellowed. Years of practice at shouting over motorcycle pipes made his voice louder than any other.
Since he was currently being called every name in the book, he glanced over to Diesel, nodding him into the conversation.
“Fuckin’ listen,” Diesel said, slamming the gavel down on the table over and again. “He’s tellin’ ya the fuckin’ truth. Somethin’ I didn’t think he should do.”
“My old man was stealin’. I don’t understand the depths, but he was takin’ dough from all of us. He had a drug sales business on the side, stealin’ from everyone involved in that too. I’ve seen the evidence. He planned for me to take the fall,” Dev explained, hoping it would be enough. “Different cartels and the IRS were after his ass. None of us knew. I know it's hard to hear. It was hard for me to hear. I had your same reactions, but it’s the goddamn truth. From this point forward, every one of you’s got to be more careful, and sure as fuck, this information better not leave this room. You’ll become an open target.”
“Sounds like you’re sayin’ you’re not gonna be around,” Ray-Ray said, his tone and glare made it clear he didn’t fully believe Dev.
“I’m not,” Dev said, saying his final piece. “The club needs to go on, but my old man tainted my name. I’ll be a disadvantage if I stick. He really fucked me. But the Disciples have a legacy that needs to survive. This club matters. We’re number one. You saw it durin’ the funeral. Nobody’s as unified as we are. Y’all need to get back to the roots that founded this organization. Live your pledge, but I have to be out—”
This eruption from the brothers might be worse than the last one.
“Listen to me, goddammit,” Dev yelled and reached for the gavel, beating it on the table to gain their attention. “You guys need to keep goin’. If word gets out about what my old man did, I’m not safe for any of you or the club. It’s just the way it is. My last fuckin’ act as president before I resign is to place Diesel in the lead spot. He’s been handlin’ shit behind the scenes for the club for years now. Stuff that my old man was lettin’ fall apart. Diesel didn’t know anything about anything my old man was doin’, but no matter what, he always had this club’s back at all times. He carried us when my old man failed in his responsibilities. I also put Parker from the San Diego club in as interim national president until Diesel can take that position too. Parker’s solid. It’s a good choice.”
He didn’t give the guys a single second to respond as he turned to Diesel, handing him the gavel, bypassing any formality he was supposed to use. Then shrugged out of his cut, draping it properly over his old man’s chair. “Take good care of the club. Be what my greedy old man should’ve been. I’ll always be at your back.”
His cell phone vibrated on the table. He was sure it was either Joe or Cash, so he let it go. He’d let them bitch at him later.
Chaos erupted a-fucking-gain, but Dev didn’t give two shits. Diesel held the gavel and stood. It was up to him to now guide this rowdy group.
His only focus was to get back to Cash ASAP, to begin their new life together.
He didn’t say goodbye. That would come from the million phone calls and text messages he was destined to get. He also didn’t flip off the building or say goodbye to any of the prospects or whores staring after him as he started out of the meeting then the building.
At the doorway, he heard, “Devilman,” as Ray-Ray called for him.
His shoulders tensed, but he stopped and looked back. Out of everyone left, Ray-Ray had been around the longest, and for all of Dev’s life. Dev sucked in a breath, letting it go slowly as freedom took a backseat.
“I figured somethin’ was up when you made us wait for retaliation,” Ray-Ray said, taking the steps required to meet Dev at the door. “You were a good fuckin’ son to him. He never appreciated it which was his fuckin’ loss. Same with Keyes and Smoke. What you said in there makes a lot of sense. Shit got weird. You’re like a son to me. I’d be proud if you were. I don’t wanna lose touch with you.”
Dev was taken into Ray-Ray’s arms for a tight embrace. He only participated by lamely patting at Ray’s back, at least as far as his arms would bend under such a tight hold.
“These guys are gonna need you,” Dev said as Ray held the sides of his biceps, rearing back to look at him. “Seniority should’ve put you at the top.”
“No, I’m not a leader. Answer your phone when I call.” Both of Ray’s hands cupped his cheeks and jaw, the pad of his thumb caressing underneath Dev’s eye. “Thanks for not unaliving me with all that DA mess. You’ve always been the backbone of the club. They would’ve listened to you had you wanted to do me in.”
Dev grinned and felt the stir of his heart strings tightening, pulling him back into the club. No way that was going to happen. He didn’t say another word as he started back out the door. Thank Buddha, he was parked up front. As he mounted his bike, the door burst open, his former brothers poured out followed by the others. Dev turned on his engine, hoping they’d get the point he wanted to pull out.
They did something so unexpected it took him a second to understand their actions.
Two lines formed from him to the road. Either they were going to beat or praise him as he drove out of the lot. Dev started down the middle of the two lines. He was cheered as he pulled away from the building out into the street. He swore he heard them over his pipes for at least a mile down the road. The van, with Trace and team, followed after him. Their final mission.
=♥=
As foreign as this entire moment was for Cash, his heart held nothing but pure joy. He, Abi, and Mae sat on the living room floor in Carly’s house, which had become Dev’s new residence in a way Cash didn’t fully understand. They talked to his parents by video while the Christmas tree sparkled brightly in the background.
His life had been on fast forward at warp speed. Hell, that didn’t even make sense of all the changes happening. He was sitting in a house the size of a small town with children in his lap. How had that happened?
The happiness he felt was reflected in his mother’s face. She was in high heaven as she chatted with Abi and Mae, instinctively knowing all the right things to say to get to know them. His father sat on a stool in the background, staying quiet but also completely present, watching his mother and the girls visit.
“This is Puppy,” Mae said, calling attention to the dog. Of course, the dog didn’t listen or mind. She never did. If there was a dog that fit Dev’s world, it was this one.
“I’ll get her,” he said and put the laptop on the floor, tilting the screen so the conversation continued. As far as the dog was concerned, Cash coming after her was a call to play. The dog yapped at him and took off running, her little claws scraping on the hard floor. When she took the turn down the hall, her paws slipped out from underneath making her little body slam against the wall with a whack. She didn’t hesitate as she hopped back up on all fours, darting down the hall toward the kitchen before Cash could get there.
In the loud way Dev had, he came through the back door. It banged on the doorstop, bouncing back to slam shut. That was about the time the dog hit the kitchen. “Catch her. Mae’s talking to my mom and wants to introduce her.”
Only because Puppy’s feet lost control in the pivot was Dev able to scoop her up. She went in immediate attack mode, barking and growling at Dev.
