Page 54 of Saving Chains

Reaper raises his hand and answers immediately. “I’m in.”

Snake is next as road captain; he also raises his hand and nods. Popeye does the same, and so do Doc and Ghost. Next up are the prospects. Frisco nods, “Kill the fucker.”

“Pretty Boy.” I call out to Country, he looks right at me, a fierce glint igniting in his eyes.

“Do it. The fucker deserves to die for what he’s done.” His lip curls, an obvious distaste in his mouth.

“Unanimous.” Pres brings the gavel down again. “I don’t have to tell you all to be careful. The Savage Souls are just that; savage. They’re underhanded so watch your backs and each other’s. I don’t care what you have to do to find Mac, just fucking do it.”

He looks around the table at the brothers and a small smile tips the corner of his mouth. “Now on to the next course of business. As you know we still have a prospect left, but we also have an empty chair…” All the brothers look to the end of the table at Frisco who has his elbows resting on the table and his face in his hands. As silence falls in the room, he peels his hands from his face and looks at them all, before glancing at the empty chair that Mac sat in. “Frisco, I know you were hoping this day would come and lucky for you it’s come early.” Pres smirks. “So, brothers, we're gonna vote.”

“Frisco to be patched.” Pres goes to Reaper first. “VP?”

Reaper raises his hand. “Ay,” He nods.

He looks at me and I nod, raising my hand, and one by one all the guys agree. Pres stands and goes to a cupboard to pull out a cut. He moves around the table until he reaches Frisco. “Well stand up then.” Pres orders.

He does and slips off his prospect cut. Pres directs him to turn around with the lift of his chin. Frisco smiles and turns around while Pres slides the cut up his arms. He shrugs it into place on his shoulders, looking down at the member patch placed perfectly on the left side.

“Well, I guess you’re in.” Pres says to him and taps him on the shoulder before he pulls him in for a hug, smacking his back. “Make us proud.”

“I promise, Pres.” He nods his head. I’ve never seen anyone look so proud to be patched in. I’ve missed seeing the proud look on a brother’s face when they got patched. Before I went to jail, everything was a blur. I was so fucked in the head. My memories of my mom and the shit my dad did to us used to keep me awake at night. I’d have to take sleeping pills to even make me feel at least weary enough to get into bed. I’d smoke joint after joint, and I’d get so loaded that I couldn’t even remember my own name some days. Then there was Luna. She always occupied one part of my brain and heart, without her I was so lost. I have so many fucking regrets where she is concerned, but it’s time to make up for them.

“Chains?” I hear the firmness of Reapers tone and lift my head; he tips his head in the direction of Frisco.

“Shit. Sorry dude.” I say as I push my chair back and stand. “I’m so fucking glad you made member.” I wind an arm around his neck and ruffle his hair, smiling.

“Dude,” Frisco snatches his head away, “don’t touch my fucking hair.”

“Fucking ponse!” I chuckle. “Maybe I should call you Pretty Boy and find another name for him.” Frisco flattens his blonde hair that hangs just below his chin.

“Fuck you, man.” he smiles.

“Alright you lot, shhh. Sit the fuck down and let’s finish this.” Pres takes his seat again. “Keep your eyes and ears open. We meet in an hour, let’s go find this fucker.” The gavel is brought down again. “Church is over.”

“I’m going to check on Luna.” I’m out of there before anyone can answer me, and I jog down the hall to my room. I pull my key from my pocket and open my door. I’m glad she had the sense to lock it, this way I don’t have to give her shit for it.

As I go inside, I look around the open door and find her fast asleep on my bed. Closing the door quietly I go over, perching my ass on the edge and as softly as I can, I sweep her dark hair from her beautiful face. Her eyes flickering as I touch her. I don’t want to leave her while I go sort this shit out but I have to. The last few weeks that she’s been back in my life, I regret my choices even more. We’ve been through so much together; we were the one unit that should have been like glue, but I broke that. I was too cocky to realize that I didn’t hold any of the cards.

I lean down and gently kiss her forehead, her soft sighs have me lifting away from her and watch her eyes flicker open. “Hey, baby.” I greet her and enjoy the smile in return.

“Hi.”

“You okay?” I ask and Luna nods her head as she reaches her hands up to clasp them around my neck.

“Are you?” Her voice is low and husky from sleep.

I nod back. Everything that has been said in Church hangs heavily on my mind. “I gotta go out soon, but I want to take you home first.”

“Can’t I just stay here?”

“Do you feel safer?” I ask seriously.

“I’d feel safer if you were with me, but honestly, yes.”A soft sigh billows from her lips, “can you hold me?”

“Maybe for a minute…” I stretch out alongside her and pull her into my embrace, running my hand up her side to her face and smooth my thumb over her cheekbone. “You know I’ve always loved you, don’t you?” I think she knows that tidbit of information, but I need to hear it.

“What’s wrong?” She asks as a crease settles between her brows.

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