I had to remember that Finley was Flame’s younger sister. She was his family. He took care of her, and protected her way before I was around. She’d told me what he did to get her away from her fucked up mom, and I was grateful for him, but it didn’t mean I’d give her up. He needed to realize it was my turn to protect her now, big brother status be damned. She was mine.
Flame didn’t say a thing, both of us stuck in our little show down.
Zeus sighed next to me. “Banshee, knock it off. Tell him Finley’s safe so we can get down to business. I don’t have time for this childish shit. Someone is killing my men and I want to kill the fucker, hopefully tonight.”
This was why Zeus was president. He was always the levelheaded one of the group. I’d only ever seen him kill when it was completely necessary.
“Flame, I’m sorry she ran off on you like that, but I’m not sorry for taking her in. I’m sure you heard the Reaper’s Rebels are very protective when they find the woman they are supposed to be with. I can promise you, Finley will want for nothing. I’ll protect her with my life. And if you’d take her phone calls you’d know that. It’s hurting her that you’re locking her out, and that pisses me off.”
“Banshee,” Zeus warned.
“Call her so you can confirm she’s safe and happy. But Zeus is right, there is shit going on, and our men are getting killed. Let’s figure this out, and then you can kick my ass when I ask for your sister’s hand in marriage.”
Flame jumped across the table, but it was too big for him to reach me. The anger on his face made his cheeks turn a deep shade of purple. “I will never let you marry my sister. It will be over my dead body before I let her marry you.”
Zeus, Marshal, Doc, and Hawk stood up ready to enforce the situation. The three guys behind Flame inched closer as if they had the same idea with Flame.
Flame stood when he realized he couldn’t reach me. His attention went to Zeus’ standing form, dismissing me by ignoring my presence. “You’re right. We do need to get this shit figured out. I agree with you Zeus, this isn’t a coincidence, someone is taking out our men. The Outsiders would like to become a chapter in the Reaper’s Rebels, it’s the only thing that makes sense, and it’s what’s best for my men. What’s between me, him and my sister has nothing to do with this. I’ll behave until we figure this out, then Banshee and I are going to have some words.”
Everyone sat down calmer now that we had a mutual enemy. Zeus stroked his chin as he mulled over our situation. My blood burned with pent up aggression. It was getting harder and harder to respect Flame, but I’d do it for the club. I’d do it for Finley. He thought he had his sister’s best interests at heart, but he was too clouded by anger. This was one of the reasons why Finley was safer with me. Nothing would get in my way to protect her, even her dumbass brother.
Especially her dumbass brother.
I was looking forward to our little talk.
Zeus waited, letting the room get back to a less tense situation before he addressed Flame. “See that’s not going to work, Flame. The Reaper’s Rebels will help the Outsiders find out what the fuck is going on, but that’s because this is our god damn city, and nobody takes one of our men without retaliation. But I can’t extend the Outsiders invitation into the Reaper’s Rebels unless you are going to accept your sister and Banshee.”
“What the fuck?” Flame slammed his fists on the table. The three men behind him looked uncomfortable at the outburst. It was clear they wanted to be apart of the Reaper’s Rebels. Hell, who the fuck wouldn’t? Flame’s anger at me was fucking up his whole crew, and if he wasn’t careful he’d end up like the Outsiders last president Raymond.
Dead, and buried in the desert somewhere.
“The fuck,” Zeus snarled answering Flame’s outburst, “is my Enforcer has found the woman he loves. Being a man who has just found his old lady, and had his first kid, I don’t fuck around with that shit. I’m not an idiot, Flame, and I suggest you remember that. Your sister loves Banshee, my wife and daughter love her, too. She’s a Reaper now, and until you can accept that, the Outsiders will not be a part of the Reaper’s Rebels.”
Flame stood, the chair flying back. “This is bullshit, Zeus. You can’t do this.”
This time I stood with Zeus and the rest of the Elite. “I can, and I did. Go back to your place, get your head on straight. I’m not going into a mission with a murderer on the loose with someone who isn’t in their right mind. I refuse to put my men in more danger than they already are. And as a president I’d assume you feel the same way.”
“My head is perfectly fine. It’s your head that’s all fucked up with this one chick one biker shit. You don’t just fall for someone you’ve just seen. Zeus, you’re getting soft and that’s what’s going to put your men in danger,” Flame screamed back at Zeus.
“Flame, that’s the last time I let you talk to me like that. Now get the fuck out of here. My men are mourning the loss of one of our own, and I suspect your men will be doing the same tonight. Go home, get drunk, smoke a fucking joint, and get fucking laid. Hell, take a couple chicks to your bed. Get your head straight. I’ll call you when we have a plan. But don’t for one second think I won’t leave you out of this if you’re still caught up on this shit. Your sister is safe, protected, and loved by the Reaper’s Rebels. I can’t say the same about you and the Outsiders at the moment. Now get the fuck out of my face.”
Zeus said all of this with a quiet calm that was scarier than if he shouted like Flame had done. Flame glared at me one last time before walking out of the room without saying anything more. It was the one smart thing he’d done since walking in here.
“You had to fall for his sister.” Zeus rolled his neck from side to side, sitting back down in his seat.
“Sorry, Pres. The heart wants what the heart wants, and well so does the dick. Thankfully they were both in agreement.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Marshal said with a mock salute. Marshal was one of the Elites that had just lost his heart and dick to a chick.
“I’ll drink to that, too,” Zeus said.
“Aren’t you two glad you’re out of this?” I asked Hawk and Doc, feeling sorry for them that they hadn’t experienced what Zeus, Marshal, and I had.
From the look on their faces, they weren’t as out of this fucking love shit as I thought they were. Interesting, we all knew Hawk was hung up on the cop he secretly followed when he was off duty, but Doc had never said a thing about a woman. Hell, he didn’t even talk about the biker skanks he plowed like the rest of us used to.
“Come on, let’s go get drunk for Cletus, and then you three pussy whipped fuckers can go home to your women,” Doc said, but there was a note of steel in his voice, as if he had too many things on his mind.
I didn’t bother figuring it out, because after a couple shots I planned on sneaking out of the Clubhouse to go get consoled by the soaking pussy I left at home.
