Page 19 of Festive

Zero dips his bearded chin. “I always got your back. What are big brothers for?”

Neon spins his laptop around to face me. “Got an apartment. I’ve put in an application. Just have to wait and see if it gets accepted. I’ll keep you updated.”

Letting out a small laugh, I shake my head. “I don’t know why I am always surprised at how fast you do shit.”

Neon smirks. “Fingers of a ninja.”

“I bet Shiver appreciates that,” I mock, and he grins wide.

“Why do you think her Old Lady name is Shiver?” he chimes, even though we all know that’s not the reason.

Laughing, I shake my head while he chuckles, closes his laptop, then stands. “I’ll let you know when I hear. If it gets rejected, there are another three apartments I have scouted in the area we can apply for.”

“Okay, keep me posted.”

He gives me a two-finger salute, then walks out of the Chapel. I turn back to Zero, and he slumps his shoulders. “You sure you want to wait this long? Do it this way? If you put her out on her ass, your problem will be fixed, and she won’t have a chance to cause an issue.”

“It’s not gonna be long, and she’ll be out of our lives for good. A few weeks tops. But in the meantime, she’ll be living in the apartment, working away from the clubhouse. She’ll hardly be here or around me. We just have to last the next few days until the apartment is ready. I can’t in all good conscience kick her out on her ass, knowing there’s a guy out there after her.”

Zero tilts his head. “We could always rectifythatissue?”

Lifting my chin, I purse my lips. “Go after Bradley, you mean?”

Zero shrugs. “If that’s what’s stopping you from kicking herass out, then get rid of the damn problem. Andbam.There’s your solution.”

Rubbing my beard, I nod my head. “Yeah. We find this Bradley dick. We fuck him over. That way, we’ll feel better about Amber being out on her own, and we can get her out of here sooner. Win-fucking-win.”

“Thisis what I like to hear. You have a problem, deal with it. We’re one-percenters for a reason, Six. This Bradley seems like a waste of space. Don’t think anyone is gonna miss him anyways, right?”

Smirking, I raise my brow. “We need to get Neon back in here. Have him hunt down where this Bradley could be. Find a location. In the meantime, I need to tell Amber that she’s not only getting a new job, but she’s moving the fuck out as soon as damn possible. Time to end this shit.”

Zero chuckles. “Now you’re growing some damn balls.”

“I’m tryin’ here, Zero.”

He exhales. “I know, brother… but the thing I think you still haven’t learned about being president is that you can’t be everything to everyone. You’re the president. Which means, first and foremost, you’re in charge of this club and the best interests of the people here. The people…here.Not the stragglers we take in. You gotta make the hard decisions, and sometimes that means hurting people’s feelings… and Koda, I know it’s not in your nature, you’re different from me, but sometimes you just have to be fucking brutal in your decisions, no matter who it cuts to the quick. If it is to protect the people of the club, then others have to suffer because the club willalwayscome first.”

Nodding, I get it, and I know deep down it’s what I have to do. “I wanted to try to be different. Growing up, Dad did things a certain way, then you followed the same path. Dad was murdered. You got fucking attacked and injured so badly it crippled you. I thought if I tried to rule differently, maybe theoutcome could change for me… now I realize maybe that’s just me being naïve.”

Zero’s hand comes down on my shoulder like a damn weight, and I feel the pressure of his words hit me before he even speaks. When he exhales, I can tell he’s trying to choose them carefully, but the meaning lands hard anyway.

“While it’s noble of you to think that way, being a softer president, being kinder and gentler is only gonna get you killed. You have a family. A fucking amazing family. A club that’s running tight compared to when I was president. You have everything to live for right now! Don’t waste it by not living up to your full Walker potential. Be the president you were born to be, Six. Show Houston how strong you really are.”

It hits me, right in the chest. Harder than I expect, harder than I want. There’s no sugarcoating it—Zero’s calling me out, telling me I’ve been holding back, that my softer approach is a liability. His words cut, but they’re true. And goddamn, does that sting. He’s right. I have been playing it safe, trying to find this balance between being the president I think I should be and the man I want to be. But maybe that’s the problem. Maybe I’ve been too afraid of the power in this role. Too afraid to truly own it.

I feel the tightness in my chest, that hot wave of anger bubbling up, not at him, but at myself. I’ve got a family, a crew that’s stronger than it’s ever been, and I’ve been tiptoeing around the idea of what kind of leader I need to be. And for what? To protect them? To spare them the fallout of the harsh choices I’ve got to make?

But hearing Zero tell me, “Don’t waste it.” It’s like a goddamn wake-up call. I’ve been walking this fine line, but it’s time to stop. I’ve got to stop second-guessing myself. I’m not some guy who can just sit back and hope things go my way. I’ve got a reputation to uphold, a club to lead, and dammit, I need to start playing the game.

I suck in a breath, forcing myself to stay steady. “I hear you,” I say, keeping my voice low, but it’s solid, grounded.

I look him dead in the eyes. He’s right. Time to stop questioning. Time to show everyone, including myself, just how strong I really am. My chest floods with pride. “We need to find Bradley.”

“Yeah… we do.” Zero’s cocky smile lets me know I am finally on the right path.

Smiling, I walk to the Chapel door and open it. “Neon… get your ass back in here.”

CHAPTER SIX

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