Page 98 of Chubs

When the room quiets, Gunner continues.

“That settles part of our problem but not all of it. We need more prospects, and we need to discuss Toes. We either patch him in or cut him loose, and that shit needs to be decided on today. He’s said before that he didn’t mind prospecting for so long, way longer than any others have, but it’s way past time to make a decision. Thoughts?”

“I’ll never vote to patch him in,” Axel immediately announces while several heads swing in his direction in surprise.

“The vote to patch in must be unanimous. Care to explain why you’re against him?” Gunner asks.

“I don’t trust him, and I don’t like how he talks about one of our women. Besides that, he’s dumb as fuck.”

“Which woman?” Trigger says while sitting up straight and zeroing in on Axel intently.

“Lucy.”

I’m the one sitting up straight now and wondering what’s been said to turn the always happy, always goofing around V.P. into this serious, determined man.

“I’ve heard him make comments too that were uncalled for. I personally have warned him twice about it. I agree with Axel. I won’t vote for his patch, either. Might as well let him go,” Horse adds.

“No point in further discussion then. I’ll tell him after Church,” Gunner states, and everyone nods in agreement.

“I’m meeting Toes in the ring after Church. I’d warned him and he knew the consequences. He ignored that warning. Tell him after our ring time instead because I’m not missing out on kicking his ass first,” Axel states with a wicked grin.

Gunner nods in agreement as several of the men chuckle.

Looking briefly in my direction, Gunner again taps the gavel down.

“Last matter to settle today. Brother Chubs and the club rules he broke. Who wants to start?” Gunner asks in a firm voice.

“He deliberately lied to his brothers, to their faces, and deserted his club for months. That has to be punished,” Trigger says with heat in his voice.

“Agreed,” Petey says in support.

“He had solid reasons for why, and each of us would have done the same to save our loved ones,” Pigeon argues.

“I know I would have done that and worse if Pippa or Craig were in danger. I fucking respect the man for risking his life for his family,” Pooh states firmly with just as much heat as Trigger spoke with.

“I’m with Pooh on this. All the fucking way. I’d kill anyone in my path to protect my girls,” Vex states.

“He didn’t have to do it alone, though. That’s what your club brothers are for. Help. We help each other. We defend each other, and we back each other up. Why be in a club if you’re fine going it alone? Leave the club and do everything your own way. No need to get approval or listen to other options or ideas. Don’t trust that your brothers would be able to help or how much they’d want to be there for you. Go it the fuck alone.”

This came from a very angry Axel. Angry isn’t quite a strong enough word for the emotion in his voice. Rage might be more accurate, and while I knew he’d be mad, I didn’t expect the level he’s reached. I’m not the only one he’s surprised because there’s a shocked silence in the room.

Axel falls silent, but I can read the agitation in his body movements. I wait, knowing he’s not done. Everyone else must read it too because no one speaks.

“He could have died, and we’d never have known. We would be the ones left telling the kids and our women that he’s never coming back. We were the ones having to watch the kids and women worry and trying to explain that it wasn’t because of them that he left. We had no fucking idea what to tell them! I watched Lucy shatter then fight each day to keep her head above water. Fuck, she even started to drink so much I thought it was going to become a problem for her. The hardest, most painful thing you did to this club, Chubs, was not leave us with options. We had nothing, and I know I wasn’t the only one who didn’t sleep because I didn’t know if you were lying dead somewhere, alone and without us. I had nothing to say to Lucy that could ease her mind about the same damn thing. I’m at a loss as to what punishment fits that crime.”

“I don’t either, Axel. I was wrong in what I did, but my intentions weren’t to hurt anyone but to keep you alive and raising your daughter,” I admit quietly.

Axel doesn’t respond, but he drops his face into his hands and sighs.

“I agree with everyone that’s spoken so far. There has to be a punishment, but I don’t know what it should be. Chubs made hard decisions, and to be honest, I might have made the same ones. I’d level Denver if that’s what it took to keep Livi, Liam, and the rest of my family safe,” Cash offers.

“Let’s first vote on whether Brother Chubs is allowed to stay in the club or not. Then we’ll vote on if there should be punishment and what it should be,” Gunner states to nods of agreement.

Gunner asks each person and nods at their vote as to whether I can keep my patch or not. The vote goes in my favor, and I’m still a member. At that point, Gunner points to my chair at the table, and I change seats.

The only person who hesitated to keep me was Axel, but it was a short hesitation. I’ve known all along how much I wanted to keep my patch, but I didn’t realize how important it was to me until Axel didn’t speak right away. A rush of relief washed over me when he voted my way. I know I have a lot to make up for with him, but I look forward to doing it.

When Church ends, we walk out of the room to find everyone, including my family, waiting silently. I smile softly at Lucy’s anxious face before walking to my mother and embracing her.

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