Page 24 of Sniper

They normally don’t come into this room. If every patched brother needs to be aware of something, then we will do it in the common room.

Tats sighs, and orders, "Alright, brothers, stop fucking staring, will y'all…."

Snake chuckles before banging the gavel. "Okay, let's get this meeting started. I know you're all wondering why we're in here and not the common room. Well, it's simple," he nods Tats’ way, "fucker over there wants his woman close, and apparently down the hallway isn't close enough."

Every one of us nods in understanding.

If it were my girl, she’d be fucking sitting on my lap, so right now, he’s keeping his shit together well.

I look at the old timers again and stand, taking over from my brother, not allowing those fuckers off easy. I state, "Right, we're here because those fuckers," I point toward the old timers, "treated our brother like shit growing up, all because of who his birth mother was, and we didn't pick up on that shit."

The brothers all flinch but don't back down. They know they fucked up.

Breaker stands next, stating, "We're all here because we know time is running out."

Tech stands and continues, "We know you want to hand in your patch. We all know you've had one foot out the door for years."

Doc stands next, and I see the moment Tats realizes what’s going on; we’re all uniting because like fuck are we losing him. He’s our brother by heart, our fucking friend, our family.

Doc rasps, "We didn't know it until four or five years ago. If we'd known, we would have fought to make sure you held your patch with pride. You're our brother, our enforcer."

Smokey stands and says, "Our Violet, she's an amazing woman. Not only did she call Snake to inform him of your decision to leave the brotherhood, that the words you said weren't fucking heated in the moment, but she made you realize what love is; she helped you fucking see how much we," he spreads his arms out wide, "the brothers, fucking love you. She helped you see that we're your family." He slaps his arms down as Tats looks down.

His father stands next. “Finding out that a clubwhore potentially trapped me was fucking hard. I thought, along with us old timers," he gestures beside him to every old-timer who then steps forward with sorrow, and continues, "that abortion was best, because we knew Snatch would pull us down. She'd fucking destroy us and our livelihoods. When she refused, we knew we had to tread carefully around her. I took the DNA test first, and when you came back mine, I was fucking scared. I wasn't ready to be a father, and because of that, I failed you. When you were born, I struggled to be around you, and not because I didn't want you like you thought. I struggled to be around you because I had that instant connection with you, only for me to remember that I asked her to abort you."

My dad steps forward and admits, "He felt guilty, son, and he couldn't handle it."

Doc's dad, Crow, steps forward next and offers, "Your dad, he flew off the handle, son; he turned to drink and drugs, not able to handle his guilt, and we brothers…." He pauses as pain enters his brown eyes. "Fuck, son, we took our anger out on you instead of being there for you, not willing to see you as an innocent child."

Eagle, Tech's dad, steps forward next and admits, "There was a chance you could have been mine." He swallows hard. "I was with my old lady then. It was the early stages of our relationship, and she told me she was pregnant. I gave her my patch only to find out she lied, so I ended up cheating on her as revenge—" Tech cuts in with a rasped, "Fuck, dad," but he continues, ignoring his son, "I was going to end things with Carol, but then she stated she was pregnant again, which was confirmed. Don't get me wrong, I love my woman, but I resented her, and when Snatch claimed to be pregnant, fuck, Carol made my life hell. I decided to blame you, an innocent child, for the treatment I had to deal with."

Tats winces and admits, "Carol was the main old lady who starved me when she was on Tats watch."

Fuck…. I suck in a breath as Tech kicks his chair over at his mother's actions, shaking his head.

I guess when you're forced to watch a child you thought could have been your husband’s after he cheated, it could change you and turn you bitter, even to the innocent.

Dad continues, "We all failed you, son, for selfish reasons. We didn't see what the women of the club and Snatch were doing because we didn't want to see it, and I know we can't fix that. I know you spiraled in your younger years. I had the phone calls from my brother-in-law. I know you turned to drugs and alcohol. I know it wasn't just a little bit of weed, it was hardcore cocaine…." I look at Tats in shock, and Dad says, "We don't want to lose you, Jayden. You may not be family by blood, but you're my nephew by heart, and I fucking love you, son." My dad holds his arms out. "We all fucking love you, and I know we haven't shown it enough. We treated you like an enemy to the club, like a fucking traitor—fuck, your own father ensured you didn't take your rightful place as an enforcer for years because of Snatch."

Snake leans forward as Tats shows us his pain, his tears falling, and my big brother rasps, "We can't lose you, Jayden. I can't fucking lose you; you're my best friend. I know you were worried about the club and the women in it destroying your relationship. I know that's why you only wanted something casual with Violet, I know that's why you kept your three and a fucking half-year relationship quiet. I fucking know she's the main reason you want to move away from us, but haven't we proven that we've got your back? Haven't we proven how much we fucking love that girl?"

Tats sniffles and admits, "How can I let go of all the hurt?"

I look down, squeezing my hands into fists as his father rasps, "By letting us prove to you that we'll be there. By letting us help you and Violet through this difficult time. By fucking letting us show you how sorry we all are…."

“Please Jayden…don’t fucking leave us,” Crow whispers, and we all suck in a breath, waiting for Tats’ decision.

Tats looks down, thinking for a few minutes, before looking up and making eye contact with all of us. Then he rasps, "I've made my decision?—"

Phil bangs on the door three times, the knock we came up with if there was a problem with Vi.

Tats knocks over his chair hastily, panic overriding all of us. Every brother rushes to the door behind Tats, allowing him to go out first.

An hour later, I’m standing near the bar watching Tats dote all over Violet, who’s fallen asleep in his lap.

When we left church, Vi was in the middle of a panic attack. After being held for so long, she struggles being away from Tats; I think it’s something we all understand.

They have a connection that all of us brothers wish for, a connection I’m gaining with my woman.

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