Page 63 of Blood of Vengeance

I glanced around the room, checking the overall feel of the place. Letting my wolf out to take a peek as well. Nothing off, no one seeming disgruntled or upset. Looked like Cutter had his team…if he wanted it.

A fact I wasn’t the only one to consider.

“Reminder that the prez picks the executive team,” Zed said, his low voice breaking the silence. “You’ve got my vote, Cutter, but are you looking to make any changes?”

Banger and Mule—the two older men on the team and Chiggy’s crew, for sure—sat a little straighter, jaws tight and feet planted firmly on the floor. Cutter turned his gaze to them specifically, looking each man over.

“We have a solid team here, one I trust. The only changes I would want to make would be to bring on a new VP and add a role.”

“What role?” Banger asked, looking a lot more relaxed after being told his job was safe. “What are we lacking?”

Cutter sighed and sat deeper, somehow taking up even more space. “We’ve got vamps, boys. I know they’ve always been out there, but they came for us and we took a direct hit with the loss of Chiggy. I don’t want to take another one, so I’d like to add another enforcer to the team. Someone to work with Preacher on upping the security around here.”

Banger looked toward Preacher. “You good with this idea?”

The ever-stoic club enforcer nodded. “Cutter and I have talked about it and are in line with our thinking. Bringing on a second means we can focus on figuring out the vamp issue while keeping the clubhouse secure. I’m good, boys, but I can’t be in two places at once.”

A rumbly chuckle circulated around the room. Even Cutter had a slight rise to one corner of his mouth.

“We good?” Cutter asked after everyone had quieted down. “Second enforcer, a position which Preacher agrees with, comes on this week. Preach and I have already discussed options, so let’s finalize that today.” He paused until he got a nod of approval from the enforcer. “Good. And If I get the vote, I bring on my own second. Everyone else stays the fuck where they are. If you’re in, give me an aye.”

Every man in the room called aye without delay, including me. Cutter would make a good prez—the man was strong and sure without the reactivity of younger wolves. That was why Chiggy had brought him on as veep. Which left me wondering about who Cutter’s second would be.

Once all of the day’s business had been covered and the announcement of Cutter’s presidential run had been planned, the rest of the men moved on to the bar itself for a drink and chat. I stuck with Cutter and Zed in the conference room for a few.

“What’s up, boys?” Cutter asked, obviously aware that we had questions.

Zed cut right through the bullshit. “Who you bringing in as veep?”

“Why? You want the spot?”

Zed coughed a sarcastic-sounding laugh. “That’s a big ol’ fuck and no, sir. I just want to know who we’re going to be spending Sundays with.”

Because club business was usually handled on Sundays. Some men called it church. I preferred just to think of it as business meetings.

“You two got opinions on who I should or shouldn’t ask?” Cutter asked, his voice a warning.

I shrugged. “Not really. But you pull one domino, and the rest could start to fall. We need to keep our eye on the internal politics bullshit.”

“Exactly,” Zed agreed. “We’re just looking bigger picture.”

Cutter sighed and looked up at the ceiling, worrying his lip for a moment before saying, “I think Diesel for veep and Rush for second enforcer.”

Zed met my stare, giving nothing away. I could only nod, thinking over everything I knew about both men.

“Rush can be impulsive,” I said, knowing that fact wouldn’t affect his chance of getting the spot. But the next one…maybe. “He’s got a connection to Eloise that you and Preacher need to know about in case he blows up. Otherwise, they’re both solid choices.”

“What kind of connection?” Zed asked.

No fucking way was I outing another man stuck in my position. “Ask him.”

Cutter frowned. “Is that related to what you two were cleaning up the other night? He step over a line?”

I kept my mouth shut, staring right back at the man. Not in disrespect. Just as I would have told anyone who asked—shit only went sideways for two reasons: being unprepared, or being an idiot. Telling Cutter details about the human Rush had murdered would fall under the being an idiot category. Wouldn’t be happening.

“I get it,” Cutter finally said. “You think he’d be a liability?”

I sat with that. Really gave the idea some thought. The kid was pretty solid—the only issue had come into play when someone had fucked with his mate. Now that I had one of my own, I understood Rush’s reaction a bit more. But the kid would need to be talked to, would need to understand the rules. Fuck, he would need to claim his mate and tuck her away someplace safe to get his head out of his ass.

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