Page 40 of Emergence: Prequel

“What’s going on?” Cop asked, eyes ping-ponging between Dad and me.

Not wanting to drag it out, I laid it out, “Maestro offered me my own chapter today.”

The occupants around the table erupted with shouts of joy, and I was pulled into hugs by various siblings and finally Mom.

“I’m so proud of you,” she tells me. Wrapping me in a hug, I felt her start to cry.

Tightening my arms around her, I swayed from side to side, “Why are you crying, Mom?”

“I’m going to miss you so much, but I’m so proud you’ll be getting this chance. And I know that your brothers will too. I just wish we were here to see it.”

“You will see it,” I assured her.

“What?” Mom looked up with confusion.

“Yeah. You guys didn’t let me finish. The new chapter is in Southampton, UK. We’ll be coming with you.”

Mom’s eyes widened in delight, “Really?”

“Really,” I assured her.

“Did you know?” she turned to Dad.

He grinned at her, “I found out this afternoon from Maestro, but Coal had the right to tell you himself.”

Mom squealed loudly, then hugged me again before she moved back to her seat, demanding, “Tell us everything that you can.”

At this point, there isn’t much I can’t tell them; we’re having Church early tomorrow to let everyone know, and those on the list will have the option to come with us or not; it will be up to them. Maestro had said he’d ask for volunteers if those on the list didn’t want to move, but he didn’t think that he’d have to do that.

We didn’t get to bed until the early hours, and we had to be in Church for eight in the morning. I’d told Copper and Nickelthe positions that Maestro had them down for, and they’d both agreed that they’d be honoured to fill them.

When I’d told Bolt about the Road Captain position, he’d been surprised but happy. I saw a change in him instantly. I knew then that my baby brother had decided it was time to grow up. It was time; we all knew he’d found losing the baby all those years ago and then the following breakup hard. The next few years, he’d partied so much that we’d all worried about him. It looked like he’d made a decision that he was done with the hard partying.

We’d all breathe a sigh of relief if he was. It had been hard to watch some of his destructive behaviour over the years.

It was surreal, all of us spending the night in our old rooms. While we’d all slept at home for one reason or another over the years, I can’t recall all of us being under one roof at the same time in the last five years. Most of the time, we slept in our rooms at the clubhouse, it was just easier. Our mother had been ecstatic at having us all under one roof tonight. It would likely be the last time for a long while.

Church the next morning was interesting; the suggestion of opening up a chapter in the UK was voted in.

I’d wanted to speak to my brothers first, so Maestro and I had met this morning before Church with the brothers he’d suggested to fill a few of the positions. Iron, Brass, and Cross, the three other suggested brothers who weren’t my blood brothers, were honoured and happy to be chosen. None of them had an issue with moving to the UK, as most already had ties to the country and carried dual citizenship.

Cross would be our oldest brother other than my dad. We were going to be a young club with all the members under the age of thirty. Cross was around thirty-five. He was a quiet brother, andI didn’t know much about him, but what I did know I liked. I’d been surprised but happy to see his name on the list and had no objections to him joining us, and he’d make a good chaplain.

There were no objections when it was put to a vote for the brothers to accompany us. It filled me with a feeling of satisfaction when they agreed not only to move to a new chapter but to a different country.

Maestro caught my eye and smiled with a look of pride on his face. We’d often knocked heads but that he was proud of me for taking this on meant a lot.

Our list was finalised with the vote—there would be ten of us, including my dad, who would be in the club. Maestro had said there would be two prospects, and he’d fill me in on them when we had our meeting with my new chapter brothers. He had something to tell us that would blow our minds.

As it stood now, I was President, with my brother Copper as VP, and I couldn’t think of anyone more suited to the position. Our Sergeant-at-Arms and our enforcer were both ex-military, Iron and Brass were also blood brothers to each other. Another ex-military brother was Cross as our Chaplain. Bolt was our Road Captain, a position that I thought he’d excel at, and then my dad as Secretary.

We’d find the prospects when we arrived in Southampton.

My attention was brought back to Church when Maestro hit the gavel on the table, calling out, “Everyone except the Southampton chapter is dismissed.”

Slowly, the brothers left Church, tapping us on the shoulders in congratulations as they left.

“Feels good,” Maestro said.

---