“Don’t tell me what I can do,” Zeus yelled.
Big Al tightened his grasp. Zeus began turning purple and wheezing.
“Zeus, if you change one rule, you make Hellfire non-existent. Which means all this reverts to Chance, and he gets to set up his own club,” Beaker hissed with a sharp eye on Chance.
“What the fuck you talking about?” Zeus snapped.
“Jesus, over ten years as president and the prick still don’t know Hellfire’s fuckin’ charter. What a motherfuckin’ joke,” Chance growled.
“Exactly that. It’s legal and everything, Pres. You challenge the charter; then it’s done and dusted. Hellfire no longer exists. Chance gets the land and clubhouse, and we’re all out. Nothing can be done about it,” Beaker said, a sneer on his face. “Bet you didn’t know I’d studied the charter back and forth.”
“As you’re so well informed, tell Zeus what happens if a brother lays a hand on an old lady that doesn’t belong to him.” Big Al grinned.
Beaker paled.
“Come on, Beaky, fuckin’ tell the president.” Chance smirked.
“The offended brother gets to fight the gauntlet with the offender. And the injured party can pick ten men of his own choice to ensure the lesson gets learned. They receive two minutes each in the ring with the violating offender. Should any of them pull their punches, they must take ten lashes from each man involved in the gauntlet. Then they will face ten brothers for three minutes,” Beaky admitted.
Zeus paled.
“I’m the fuckin’ president,” Zeus panted, trying to wriggle out of Big Al’s grip. Big Al drew him close.
“And the first words out of my mouth as soon as I entered was to claim Tati as my wife and woman. So, fucker, now we’re in the ring. I call Chance, Sunny, Bear, Tiny, Diesel, Shotgun, Saint, and then we’ll have Hammer, Sooty and Anarchy.” Big Al smiled happily.
“Fuck, those last three are loyal members of Zeus’s pissant gang. And they are the worst for fucking someone up. They’re beyond brutal,” Shee whispered in my ear. “Hammer did time for murder; he beat a man to death. Zeus liked the resume Hammer put in and promoted him straight to prospect, and the guy only did a year before becoming a full brother.”
“Stand down, Big Al. You don’t need to do this,” Zeus gargled.
“Oh, you’ve no idea how much I want to do exactly this.” Big Al growled. “You touched my bride on our wedding night. You threatened to rape Tatiana. Now asshole, you learn what Hellfire is. And it’s not your pissant gang! Shee, take Tati to my bike. Hellfire, the real Hellfire, protect her,” Big Al ordered. Shee didn’t argue, scooped me straight off my feet and strolled towards the exit. The rest of Hellfire followed.
“Any of you interfere, hold back, or refuse, you break the charter,” Chance said grimly as we walked away.
“Remember Chance; you wanna play by the charter that works both ways. Including refusing a president’s order! I’ll have you beaten daily!” Zeus screamed.
“Asshole, you need to read that shit. A brother can refuse a president’s demand should it compromise his morals and ethics. And requires support from at least two other brothers. Considering how many turn down your orders, you have shit,” Chance gloated.
Zeus screeched his rage as I was carried out the door.
“Chance knows that charter like the back of his hand. As does Big Al, there’s no way they’ll ever allow themselves or any of us to break it,” Celt muttered.
“And that’s why Chance can’t wrestle Hellfire back from Zeus?” I asked.
Shee dropped his head.
“Yeah, the charter says over three-quarters of living members need to vote for the president. Zeus still has the numbers,” Shee explained.
“And what if it’s like half and half?” I demanded, trying to figure a way around it.
“Then the majority wins, but we have a re-vote on president a year later,” Rooster replied as Shee let me gain my feet at Big Al’s Harley.
“So, we’re playing the long game?” I asked.
Rooster stared at me in approval. “Yeah, Tati.” Rooster smiled.
???
Thirty minutes later, Big Al and the others returned. All had bruised knuckles, but everybody looked smug. Big Al swung me up into his arms and laid one on me.