Page 32 of Rogue

“I don’t know how to put it mildly, so I’m gonna just say it. You’re the President of this MC and you need to tighten the reins.” His words are like a gust of the devil wind straight to the face when you’re least expecting it. “You’re losing them, Rogue. And that’s not what anyone wants.”

Nothing like going from blood boiling to a cold reality check in half a second for leaving you speechless. The silence that follows makes me feel like I’ve run smack into a concrete wall and been bounced back on my ass.

I never wanted to lead anyone.

But after ten years of doing it, I can’t exactly say that whiny little line.

Although it’s true.

Back when we first started on this crime fighting path we’re on, we didn’t bother with titles or hierarchy or delegation. We just all did what we did best. Blade brought his level-headedness and coolness which he can retain even in the most dangerous situations. Alice brought her bravery and steel determination and Creed could always be counted on to keep us on track and make sure we had everything we needed.

When the MC swelled, we decided we needed a frontman. I was it, because I’m good at talking people into seeing things my way. And then that morphed into the title of President. But I never considered myself anything other than just the first among equals.

“Are you saying I should step down?” I ask.

They all gasp at the same time, an almost identical look of shock on their faces.

Alice recovers first. “No, Gabriel, we’re not saying that at all. You’re a great leader.”

Even Blade looks shaken, something that never happens. “That’s not what I meant. There’s no one better than you to lead us. This is your MC… that’s not what I meant…”

“What did you mean then?” I ask.

My blood’s neither boiling anymore nor is it cold. It’s lukewarm, the worst thing it can be.

“You need to get ahead of this, Rogue,” Alice says. “Dissent like what we’re seeing can lead us down the wrong path if everyone starts demanding vengeance. It could lead to total chaos. And you also need to address what happened to Lotus last night.”

This is why she’s the Sarge. Because she knows how to handle our people and keep them happy much better than I can.

But how come I didn’t notice any of this?

“All right, I’ll talk to everyone,” I say. “Call an Assembly.”

“Already did,” she says and grins. “They’ll all be here by eight.”

Damn.

There go my dreams that this day of hard truths could still be salvaged by spending a perfect night with Melody.

But the club’s gotta come first now. If Alice and Blade are right, which they usually are, then I’ve neglected my role as the Prez long enough.

I just wish I knew what to tell them.

In the couple of hours before the Assembly, I made a half-assed effort to get what I wanted to say into some kind of order, but I’ve always been better at winging it and speaking from the heart. So, I had a beer by the bar and watched the members come in and take their seats, trying not to think about Melody too much. A losing game.

It was well past seven by the time I make my call to the ER to let her know I can’t make it tonight and she should just come here finally went through. By then she was already gone for the day. Rotten fucking luck. But I’ll make it up to her.

It’s almost eight-thirty, but everyone’s finally here now. Even Skye took a break from searching for the Hydra assholes and joined us. I don’t see impending doom and a desire for chaos on anyone’s face as they wait for me to start talking, so I’m hoping Alice is overreacting. All the tables in the bar are taken, everyone has a drink in front of them and soft music is playing over the sound system.

Tito, Widow and Whip are leaning on the wall by the door, the two men flanking their mother. They’re the only ones in thewhole room that look belligerent. And they have the least cause to be.

Their MC was heavily into dealing drugs and who knows what else, and they barely escaped with their lives when they got into a turf war with another club over the best drug corners and schoolyards. I don’t accept criminals of their ilk into the club. I sent even my best friend Zane away after he escaped from prison and wanted to hide out with us.

Those three lied to me to get patches and protection and I don’t take kindly to liars. But at this point, it’s better to keep them close. They know too much about what we do and could go telling the wrong people all of it if I piss them off. If innocent lives didn’t depend on stopping them from spilling our secrets, I’d send them packing.

I stand up from my barstool and face them all, feeling everyone watching me very closely. Guess Alice was right… they all really wanted to hear from me. But then again, she’s usually right.

“First off,” I say and grin at them. “Thanks for being here. I’ll try to make it short.”

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