Page 127 of Mace

“You loyal to him still?” Ravage’s words are like ice, and I shift forwards an inch, ready to defend my best friend.

He grunts in irritation. “Fuck no. He ain’t worthy of the Sons name. It makes me fuckin’ sick to follow him, but dethroning a President ain’t something I relish… even one as shitty as Crank.”

Even though I know that’s why we’re here, hearing those words out loud freezes the blood in my veins.

Fuck.

The fact it’s necessary doesn’t help. Crank has dragged our chapter through the mud, but it still ain’t an easy thing to remove a President.

“I’d be concerned if you weren’t showing reluctance,” Howler says, leaning against the rail behind him. “Means you ain’t trying for a power grab.”

“I don’t want power, and I sure as fuck don’t want to be President.”

“Wearing those patches on your back sometimes means doin’ shit you don’t want to for the greater good.”

Nicky can’t even give him shit back. Howler had done exactly that when he’d moved into Manchester, setting up the first chapter there. He’s the youngest President the Sons has ever had, and from what I know, he’s a good one too.

Howler had served under Ravage for years before he was given his own chapter. He’d won his territory with blood, and he’d fought tooth and nail to keep it. Until recently, our Manchester brothers had still been fighting for what was theirs, but one of their prospects had taken out the head of the Dudley Pioneers just six months ago. Since then, peace resumed for both their chapter and ours. It was fucking glorious to stop worrying about being shanked in the back every time I’m in the city, but now, we’re facing a new war—one from within our ranks.

“If you want the greater good, that ain’t me.” Nicky blows out a breath, his frustration mounting that they keep pushing this narrative of him being President. “I don’t know how to lead.”

He’s wrong about that. Nicky has a way of drawing people to him, even if it’s unintentional. He’d been the one to orchestrate chasing down the few remaining members of the Pioneers in Birmingham while Howler’s boys saw to cleaning up Manchester.

Team work. It made the dream work.

I took great pleasure in killing those fuckers. We’d lost good people because of their gang, and I’m a petty cunt. An eye for an eye didn’t make anyone blind in my view.

But it should have been Crank who led that aggression. We’d buried so many brothers and family members over the years because of Richardson’s men. Where was Crank’s retribution? Where was his justice? Crank’s lack of action lost us a good brother, and not to the ground but to the road. Hawk’s decision to go nomad after Jade died didn’t surprise anyone, but it still fucking hurt. He was family, blood, and Crank shoved him out the door.

Hawk eventually patched into Manchester and is Road Captain now, but it still pisses me off we lost a good brother because of Crank.

“I don’t trust anyone else to lead Birmingham,” Ravage admits, and I wonder how far he thinks this poison has spread through our chapter.

Nicky snorts, dropping his cigarette butt to the ground and smashing it under his boot. Tension ripples through him before his hand skims over his shaved head.

“There are plenty of people who could do this and would do it better than me. You got a clubhouse full of brothers to pick from right under your nose.”

Ravage shifts his shoulders, his kutte rucking up as he does. The weight of mine is suddenly heavy. Nicky’s must be breaking his back.

“They got families and roots in London. Ain’t askin’ them to leave that behind. Not when I got someone perfect for the job right in front of me.”

Nicky shakes his head, but Ravage moves to his side, forcing his attention.

“I know you don’t want it, which makes you right forthe job. You know this chapter, and you know the city, Nicky.”

“Grub’d be a better President than me.”

“Grub didn’t come to me and tell me what’s going down. You did. I don’t know where that fucker’s loyalty lies.” He grips the side of Nicky’s neck, and I brace. “I trustyou. You’re loyal to the patch, to your brothers, and to me. That’s what matters. I need people in place I can rely on.”

“Fuck, Ravage. When I said I’d help, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”

“I know, kid. I know. But I need you. The Sons need you.”

He stares at him for a beat before growling under his breath. “You’re a cunt for expecting me to do this.”

“Yeah, I know, but I can live with that. I don’t know if Crank suspects anything, but I don’t want to give him the opportunity to rally support. This has to happen quick and fuckin’ efficiently.”

Rav lets go of Nicky and allows him to move away. He leans on the rail, watching the cars whizz along the road for a moment. I fucking feel for him, but I agree with Rav—Nicky is the best person for the job. He’ll be a hell of a President, but right now, the weight of our chapter’s future is sitting on his shoulders.That’s a heavy burden to carry.

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