Page 1 of Worth It All

1

Davina

Being called to the RBMC clubhouse for an emergency meeting isn’t normal. Yes, I’ve been called to the clubhouse before. I’m not an old lady but I would consider myself to be club family. My brother, Bishop, is a patched member. Not just that. My best friend is their president. So, when he calls and tells me to get there, I know something isn’t right.

“Hey, buddy. You’ve got to get up. We have to go see Mason.”

My son, Charlie, is sound asleep. It’s past midnight. Instead of trying to wake him again, I wrap his blanket around him and pick him up. He’s heavy, but I manage to get him outside to my car. When you’re a single mom, you do what you have to.

We get to the clubhouse and are welcomed inside the gate. Several other vehicles are here already, not all of them belonging to members. What the hell is happening?

“Hey,” Mason says, greeting me when I step outside my car. He leans in and kisses my cheek. I ignore the fluttering in my chest. A kiss like that isn’t uncommon between us. And neither is the fluttering.

“Charlie’s asleep in the back.”

“I’ll get him.”

He carries him inside and I follow behind. I was right. Something isn’t right. Everyone is here. Members. Current and former. Old ladies. Kids. Mason takes Charlie back to a bedroom and I find my brother.

“What the hell is going on?”

“We know who The Harvester is. We’re on high alert. Possibly going on lock down.”

“Who is it?”

Bishop leans down and whispers in my ear, “Mason’s brother.”

I swallow down the vomit that rises in my throat. How can this be? He disappeared without a trace years ago.

“Didn’t you use to hang out with him too?”

“Yeah but then he left town.”

Mason walks out and makes eye contact with me. Once again, I ignore the fluttering in my chest. He’s my best friend. Always has been. I even named my son after him.

But his brother is Charlie’s father. And I’d be risking it all if I tell him that.

2

Mason

Making the announcement that my brother is The Harvester is harder than I thought it would be. He’s my brother. And he’s trying to destroy everything I’ve built. I suppose I don’t blame him. His demise was at my hands. I’m the reason he’s been thought to be gone almost eight years. My parents even accepted he was most likely dead. Everyone has. I even started to believe it myself.

“We have an identity on The Harvester and due to the horrendous acts he’s committed, the club voted that everyone affiliated should be made aware. He’s my brother, Collin Mason.”

People exchange glances, unsure how to react to this news. I’ve never really talked about Collin. The club knows I had a brother who disappeared years ago but those members are either retired or dead and gone themselves.

At one point in my life, he and I were inseparable. Best friends. Hell, Davina was even part of that trio. But he craved trouble. Craved that adrenaline rush that came with almost being caught. He was a reckless, loose cannon and he would’vedestroyed the Bastards if he’d become president. Hell, he would’ve destroyed Davina.

“As you know, The Harvester is very dangerous. We’ve lost our other clubhouse and we’ve lost members at his hands. I brought you here today to discuss going on lockdown.”

“Exactly what does that mean?” Peppermint asks.

“It means everyone would stay here at the clubhouse until the threat is neutralized.”

“What do we do about the bar? And our jobs?” Davina asks. “Business at The Haven has been great, but if we close down, we may lose that momentum.”

I understand her concern. Lockdown isn’t easy by any means. People can’t put their lives on hold, but I wouldn’t be doing my job as president if I didn’t offer it as a temporary solution.

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