“I know,” he replies. “I’m sorry you lost your brothers because of me.”
“Rhett, man, it’s not your fault.”
Yes, it all started with him accidentally shooting Marko’s son, but that was just that, an accident.
“I’m just glad it’s all over with and everyone is safe. Maybe now we’ll get some peace, right?”
We laugh because we know that’s very unlikely.
He leaves my office, taking Con with him. She finally agreed to go on leave, although I don’t know what will happen now.
Will he stay and make a new path for himself?
Or will he return to the Wind Dragons?
I guess only time will tell.
A week later Temper sits me down at the bar and pours me a drink. “I spoke to Rhett, and I spoke to Arrow.”
“And?” I ask.
“And they both agree that Rhett moving here is probably the best option. Arrow said the Wind Dragons don’t need a new generation; they can retire as they are.”
I nod. “There’s no point trying to outdo something that can’t be. They may as well leave the Wind Dragons on a good note.”
Temper runs his hand down his beard. “So I gave Rhett two options. One, he starts his own chapter here. He can be the president, but it will be the same shit—he will have to find members and build a community of those he can trust.”
“Or?” I press.
“Or the second option, he can join this chapter and serve under you, who will be taking over when I step down.”
I choke on the whiskey. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You’ve been running the show for a while now, Atlas. I put a lot of shit on you, and like the Wind Dragons, I’m getting older. Abbie wants to have a bunch of kids, and that’s where my heart is now. It’s time for me to step down and let you lead,” he says.
I process this information. “And what did Rhett choose?”
“He hasn’t yet, but either way, he’s in. He’s a Knight. I don’t know how you pulled off that one, but you did. And we are still on good terms with the Wind Dragons; they are like an extended family to us now,” he continues, swirling the amber liquid around his glass.
“I need to speak with Natalie,” I reply, and Temper smiles knowingly.
“You do that and let me know.”
I head straight to her house. I remember how Rhett and Cara broke up when Rhett was going to take over, but I know that was a different situation from what we have.
Still, what if it’s too much for her?
If she didn’t want me to, I wouldn’t.
She’s more important to me than becoming president, which is something I never anticipated. I always assumed Saint or Renny would be taking over one day, but maybe they don’t want that role.
I find my beautiful girlfriend out front washing her car. She smiles widely when she sees me. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
I give her a kiss and take the hose from her to wash the vehicle for her. “Temper asked if I would take over as president because he wants to step down, so I came straight here to talk to you about it.”
Green eyes widen. “You know, Temper once asked me how I would take it if this happened.”
“Really?” I ask, brows rising. “And what did you say?”