Page 36 of Daddy Sees Snakes

"Is that a challenge?"

"Yeah, it is." Lyon pushes himself to his feet, glaring at me. "I'm challenging you, Viper. Man-to-man. Whoever wins gets the club."

"You're not in any position to challenge me, Lyon."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"Because you're outnumbered."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"You're outnumbered by your own people."

"My own people?"

"Your own men. You're the president, Lyon. That should mean something, shouldn't it?"

"It does."

"Look around you." He does.

Every pair of eyes in here is trained on me, every man waiting for my instruction to pull out a weapon and start firing. "You're surrounded by men loyal to the Crimson Reapers. But you're not in the Crimson Reapers. Not anymore."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Jaxon is no longer your brother in arms. He might be your blood, but you're nothing more than a pawn to him. He's using you."

"Using me? For what?"

"For his own gain."

"That's bullshit.I'mthe king of the Crimson Reapers."

"No, that would require you to be the President of the club. In case you've forgotten Jaxon has that title.." I gesture to the crowd. "These men are the Crimson Reapers. Not you. They'll do anything I tell them, not you. They respect me. They trust me. Not you."

"Fuck you, Viper."

"You're not man enough."

"What?"

"I said, you're not man enough."

"Why not?

"You beat your women. You treat them like trash. You don't deserve respect, and you sure as hell don't deserve Iris."

"Iris is mine," he spits, clenching his fists.

"No. She's not. She never was."

"She's not yours either."

"I know that. But that doesn't matter. I've claimed her. I've made my intentions known. You never did. You let her slip through your fingers. And now, she's mine." I shove him out of the club, and applause breaks out from the men gathered there.

"You'll never be half the man I am, Viper. Mark my words."

"Goodbye, Lyon."

---