Page 96 of Tito

He struggled with his response.

“I’ll give you a minute to chew on that,” I said, leaning away from the table.

“The club got into something I wish we wouldn’t have,” he replied. “I can’t discuss the details, but I can say I regret what happened. There’s talk of the club disbanding. We’d remain friends, but the club would be no more.”

“The club’s disbanding because of what happened?”

“I didn’t say anything happened,” he replied. “I said we got into something I wish we wouldn’t have.”

“Let’s not bicker about semantics.” I waved my hand in his direction. “You know what I mean.”

“The club may be disbanding because we’re all older, less reliant on what the club provides, and much less eager to continue along the same oath we’ve traveled upon for the last fifteen years.”

“Is the club dissolving what’s really bothering you?” I asked. “You’ve been in it since high school, right?”

“I have.”

“So, is that one of the things that’s making you sick? The thought of losing that?”

“It might be,” he responded, pushing his cup of tea to the side. “But it’s not the thing that’s bothering me.”

“What’s the thing?” I asked.

“I’m sorry, I can’t say.”

“Is it something you did?”

“No.”

“One of the other guys?”

“Yes. But I’m as culpable as anyone.”

“Why do you say that?”

“As far as the laws are written, when anyone enters into a gang, which is what our MC falls under by definition, all members of the gang are responsible for any other gang member’s actions.”

“Was whatever the other person did a felony?” I asked.

“It was.”

My heart sank. “Oh.”

I knew Tito wasn’t a choirboy and allowed myself to fall in love with him despite that knowledge. I didn’t like the thought of him being charged with a felony, or of him potentially going to jail, but it came with the territory that I’d knowingly agreed was mine.

I stood, crossed my arms, and gave him a crisp nod. “Get up, we’re going to my fathers to eat dinner.”

“I feel like shit,” he replied.

“So do I, now that I know half the truth on why you’re sick.” I gave him a serious look. “But sitting here sulking about it isn’t going to fix it. We’ll get through this, and we’ll get through it together.”

His face washed with worry. “If you knew the entire truth, you might not be saying that.”

“Saying what?”

“That we’ll get through this together. Part of what’s eating at me is that I’m afraid the actions of the club are going to tear us apart.”

“I knew who you were when I agreed to be in a relationship with you,” I replied. “I can’t have my cake and eat it, too. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it. Together.”

“No matter what?” he asked.

“No matter what,” I replied. “I mean, it isn’t like you guys went out and murdered someone.”