Page 7 of The Prez

That gets Kit totally against me and he turns angry eyes on me. “You tried to fuck my boyfriend? You’re supposed to be my best friend, Mari!”

“Kit, I wouldn’t do that. You know me,” I plead.

He pushes past Brock, who has a shit eating grin on his face, knowing he’s turned Kit against me. “I thought I did. But I come back to find you beating Brock up because he turned you down. You think he’d be with you,” he motions down my body as if he agrees with Brock’s assessment, “when he could have someone whose slim and in shape?”

I hiss, stepping back from Kit as if he slapped me. I look at my best friend. Really look at him. I take in his short stature, his tanned cheeks, long, wavy brown hair he always has in a messy bun on top of his head and his striking green eyes, and of course his trim figure and realize I don’t know him. This isn’t my best friend. Kit is gone, replaced by someone Brock made.

He knows one of my insecurities is my weight. I’ve come to him countless times when my crash diets and workouts and starvation don’t get the weight off. He told me over and over I should love my body and I’m fine the way I am. Looks like his true colors are showing.

“Kit,” I whisper, but I don’t know what I’m going to say. I’m fucking gutted. If anyone besides my sister had my back, I figured it would be Kit. We grew up together, we’ve known each other since we were children. He stood up to bullies on my behalf until I was able to fight for myself. Now, he’s pretending he doesn’t know me, like he doesn’t know my heart.

He raises his hand to stave off my words. “Don’t. Just get your shit and get the fuck out of my house.” A single teardrops from his eye, but he wipes it quickly. “I thought I could trust you around my man. What kind of best friend are you to betray me like this?”

Though sadness clouds my mind and almost renders me mute, I force words out. “The same best friend I’ve always been. I’ve always been loyal. You’ve known me for years and you take the word of some motherfucker you met less than a year ago. In all the years I’ve known you, have I ever betrayed you like that?” Kit opens and closes his mouth a few times but doesn’t say anything. I raise my hand as if to wave him away. “Don’t bother. There’s really nothing left to say. When this piece of shit proves he can’t be trusted, don’t come crawling to me.”

Brock wraps an arm around Kit’s chest, pulling Kit back into him. “Do what he says and get the fuck out. I want my money in a month. You don’t want to know what will happen if I don’t get it.”

I glare at them both before I stomp to the guest room. As quickly as I can, I stuff my things into the few bags I have with me. I’m glad I didn’t unpack my clothes and use the closet like Kit kept pushing me to do. Living out of suitcases makes it so much easier to up and leave.

Kit and Brock are in the living room when I drag my bags out. “Leave my key,” Kit says in a hard voice.

Scoffing, I take it off my key ring and throw it at him. He yelps and flinches away when it hits his arm. “I’m not wrong about him. It’s only a matter of time before you see it too.”

I don’t give either a chance to say anything. I simply storm out, dragging my bags behind me. I get three blocks away before my strength fails me and the tears drip down my face. Breaking up with my best friend over a slimeball like Brock was not something I thought would ever happen. But there’s nothing I could have said to make him change his mind. He wants to believe Brock is a good guy and I’m thevillain, so I’ll let him. I won’t beg him when he should know I would never betray him that way.

Pulling out my phone, I look through my contacts and find my sister. Sighing sadly, I press call. When she answers, I cry harder, knowing I look a mess sobbing in the middle of the sidewalk, but I can’t help it. My heart is broken and I feel defeated. Her calming voice talking me through my crying fit is the only thing that gets me to calm down enough to ask, “Hazel? Can I come stay with you?”

CHAPTER 3

RAFAEL

One week later…

“Alright, motherfuckers!” Zeke yells good naturedly as I step into the library for our monthly meeting. “Give Prez your undivided attention.”

A collection of chuckles sound as I sit at the head of the table. I make it a point not to look to my left, where Christian usually sat. This is our first meeting since he passed and despite Zeke’s attempt to lighten the mood, we are all feeling Christian’s absence.

I slide the gavel closer to me, then lean back in my chair. I tap my middle and index fingers against my chin, preparing myself to say words I never thought I would. It takes a long moment to shove them past my throat and they taste bitter on my tongue.

“We need to elect a new vice president.”

Sadness settles over everyone and a few people clear their throats, filling the silence. I look around at the faces of my brothers, seeing their grief clearly reflected back at me.While I’d like to leave the position vacant to honor his memory, it’s not conducive to the MC and would do us a disservice. It’s time we get back to normal, even if it hurts.

“I propose Jace, our current sergeant at arms.” I let the announcement hang in the air for everyone to absorb before I say more. Once the fidgeting and sniffles have died down, I continue. “Jace is loyal to the club, smart, organized, and will be an asset as my right hand. As you all know, votes must be unanimous. A single no vote will nullify putting him forth until our next meeting.” Sounds of assent reach my ears. “All those in favor? Let’s start with you, Enforcer.”

Zeke pulls his lips in, but nods. “I vote yes.”

“Pete?”

A single tear rolls down Pete’s face, but his voice betrays nothing as he says, “Yes.”

I go around and ask my brothers one by one if they’re in favor of Jace filling the role and they all agree. “It’s settled. Jace, come up here, hermano.”

Jace blows out a long breath and comes to sit beside me. “Thanks, brothers,” he says in a voice filled with sorrow and awe. Everyone comes around and gives him hugs and shoulder slaps, congratulating him. Pete takes Jace’s cut and starts to rip the thread from his Sergeant at Arms patch to replace it with Vice President.

Once everyone has taken their seats, I get down to business. “We have a new acquisition. Another tattoo parlor. The staff has agreed to stay on board, so all we have to do is collect the money. It’s in the college district and they say business has been steady for over thirty years. It’ll be a good cash cow.”

Pete raises his hand, halting what he’s doing with Jace’s cut. “Think I can apprentice there as a tattooer? I’ve been wanting to get into it for a while.” He pauses and swallowsroughly. “I talked it over with Christian and he was going to bring it to you. At this meeting.”

---