Page 5 of Alex

I slam my hand to my forehead as does Wire, Mick, and Max. I love the kid to death but Clean isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.

Archer throws his head back in laughter before he turns towards the dartboard, takes a few steps back, and allows Clean to tie a piece of cloth over his eyes. He doesn’t even bother to look at the dartboard again.

Hell, none of us have to look at the dartboard. There’s not one person in here besides Clean who thinks Archer’s going to miss. There’s just no way.

Archer stills for a second. “Am I clear?”

I look toward the wall where he’s about to throw the knife. That would be fucked up if someone was to walk by just as he throws the knife. He’d never forgive himself for that shit.

“Yeah, you're straight.” I tell him and he quickly flings his knife straight at the wall. The knife hits the bullseye so hard it cracks the board in two and it splits directly in the center, causing it to fall to the ground.

“Motherfucker! That doesn’t count!” Clean yells out as we all start to laugh at him.

Archer rips the blindfold off, and I can see the look of confusion on his face.

“What happened? Where is it? What’s going...” He looks down to the floor and sees the board there. “Don’t welch!” Archer walks over to Clean with his hand held out waiting for his winnings.

“Bullshit! I said if you hit the bullseye!” Clean tries to argue.

“Hey asshole, he did hit the bullseye. He hit it, then went through it, then he fucking broke it! You lost Clean, give it up.” I joke with them.

“You bastards finish playing your fucking games, or should I wait here for another ten minutes while you get your shit together?”

I swiftly turn around to see Prime leaning with his foot up and braced against the door of the church. His arms folded across his chest.

“Shit. We didn’t even know you were there.” I say and start walking in his direction.

“I need everyone. Church. “ He calls and Max, who is SAA, starts walking too. Clean, Archer and Wire stay out since they don’t usually come in for church. Even as the enforcer, Wire isn’t considered one of the higher ups yet.

“No, everyone. This business affects us all.” Prime says and instantly that heavy stone I’ve been trying to ignore in my gut flips, twisting my insides up with it. Something is wrong. Something major is happening. What I don’t understand is why the fuck I don’t know about it. As the VP if something was going down then I should be one of the first people to know. When I walk into the room with everyone else behind me, I see Ryder and Mick in the church already. There's a bottle of Jack on the table and they all look like they’ve been drinking.

“Prez, what’s going on?” I ask.

“It’s the Rolling Cobras, isn’t it?” Clean says. The jokes and immaturity melted away from him the second he walked through the doors of the church.

Prime falls into his seat and scrubs a hand down his face. The man looks tired. He lets out a long sigh before he starts talking. “You know when I started this group, it was just me, Mick, and a few other degenerates trying to find a way to make money and stay off the fucking streets. I had no idea what this would become and what it would mean to me and my family. I had no idea that I’d find my fucking home here.

I’d rather die than see anything happen to this club or any of you. And if I stay on as the Prez that’s what’s going to happen. I’m too old, I’m too conflicted. I just want to move down to Florida and be with my daughter and grandchild. I’m so focused on the peace and quiet I don’t see the war brewing right in my face. I’m no longer suited for the chair. As of today, I’m stepping down as President of the Wings of Diablo club.”

A deathly silence slams into the room. He looks at me, pride and fear pouring out of his eyes. “Alex. Prez, this is now your family to lead.”

“What the fuck is going on? Is this serious?” Gin is the first one to speak up. It sets off the explosion needed for everyone to open up.

“Prime, you can’t be serious. How can you just leave?” Archer says.

“What about the club. You disowning the patch?” Clean says.

“Alex isn’t ready.”

That comment grabs my attention and I look over to Ryder who’s looking down. The man is supposed to be one of my closest friends but he’s questioning my ability to lead already.

“Excuse me?” I say louder.

“Hey! Shut up!” Max barks out.” And everyone does as he asks.

I repeat my question and glare at Ryder.

“Alex, I love you. You’re my brother and a good fucking man but you’re not ready to take this on.

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