“Open up.” My tardy VP banged on the door.
Buff and Spectre settled into their seats.
“Ignore him,” I told them.
“I said open the fucking door!” Bone pounded on the door. He’d have to break it open because I wasn’t unlocking it. There were only two keys to the meeting room where church was held. I had one, and my dad had the other.
“Now, the second issue I wanted to discuss is the new gang art on the back of the mall. We need to find out what FF means.”
“This isn’t funny anymore, Cobra. Open the goddamn door and stop being childish,” Bone hollered, then the door swung open.
“It seems your VP was hanging out in the hallway during church. Does he need a dunce hat?” Dad stalked in with his hands in his pockets. “I might have one in the utility closet.”
“Jesus Christ. My family is a bunch of comedians instead of bikers.” Bone dropped into his chair.
“Why are you late?” I hissed. “You’re the fuckin’ VP, and you can’t be on time to church or let me know why you’ll be late?”
Bone kept his mouth shut. I was sure it had to do with our father being in the room. Our old man might not be on the council anymore, but he made sure shit got done to his standards. It didn’t bother me. I’d only been president for a year and appreciated his guidance, especially when my brothers were dickheads. Dad reeled them in. Me? I’d rather beat the shit out of them to get them to behave. Like with Buff and Spectre earlier, I would’ve let them duke it out after the meeting.
“I think he needs an ass whoopin,’” Buff muttered. “What say you, Micah Knight?” When he said Bone’s birth name, it sounded like Mike and Ike. We had all teased Bone over his name when we were kids because it sounded like the candy. He hated it.
“You might be right.” Dad laughed as he sat in the corner chair. “Take him out to the woodshed.”
Bone groaned. “Christ, enough already.”
“Next time, don’t be late for church.” I cut my gaze at him. “Or I’ll smash your pretty face myself.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Bone gritted out. Ever since Karma left me, our relationship hadn’t been the same. I hated my brother some days, and he hated me all the others.
Even so, I’d always have Bone’s back. He was my brother, my blood.
I just wasn’t so sure he’d have mine.
“Asshole,” I spat the word as I rolled my hands into fists. My brothers and I had grown up roughhousing day and night. Lady M hadn’t cared much for it, but our dad kept her out of it. He’d wanted to grow strong and maybe violent sons. We could kill a man with our bare hands. Dad had told us the only weapon we needed was our hands. I agreed with him.
“Show your prez respect, goddammit!” Dad pointed his finger at Bone. “You aren’t cocky teenagers anymore, trying to see whose dick is the longest. Yeah, I heard you all in the bathroom that one time when you were measuring your dicks with a ruler. Silas was still in elementary school.” He shook his head and laughed at Spectre. “Well, I’ll tell you, my dick is far superior to all of yours.”
I snorted and lifted the gavel. “Can we get back to the business? We need to address the new gang in town.”
“Take the floor, son.”
I issued my dad a short nod. “FF is tagged everywhere. On fast food joints, apartment complexes, even the vet clinic. We need to take down whoever they are.”
“I’ll get on it,” Buff replied.
“What about Minot?” Bone asked.
“What about it? You’re not going,” I told him straight up.
“Why?”
“Because I need you here.”
“You’re just punishing me for being late.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
“I’m not petty like you, brother. It’s in the best interest of the club to have you stay. If something happened to me, you’d take my place.”
“Cobra’s right,” Dad said from his corner. “We never want one of our own to fall, but a wise president plans for the possibility. None of us are invincible.”