Page 85 of Rocky Top

Knox’s knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. “And we’re tied tothat by name.”

“Not just name,” Villain said. “Paper trails, bank accounts. Stuff that could bury us if it goes public.”

Knox stood so fast his chair flew back. His eyes glowed, that eerie fox-fire gold that lit the dark parts of him. “And they used us?”

Villain shrugged. “If the feds come knockin’, they ain’t gonna care who knew what. We’ll all go down.”

Knox lowered his head. “I wasn’t gonna say nothin’ but I was shut out of the last meeting. Don’t know why.”

Villain nodded. “A lot of presidents were shut out with no communication.”

“What did I ever do to him?” Knox asked the room.

“To quote my brother, he’s a man with dick-all goin’ for him. Pure jealousy man,” Villain said.

I stood too, feelin’ my wolf stir like a storm on the horizon. “So, what’s Kingpin offerin’?”

“A way out,” Villain said. “We burn the old cuts, patch into somethin’ new. Clean charter. Our own rules.”

“Who will lead us?” Knox asked, who would replace the national president.

“You. Kingpin. Murder. Y’all lead your own chapters. Answer to no one. Under the same colors as equals, not subordinates.”

Knox stared him down. “And you trust Kingpin not to change his mind about that? We were offered freedom with the Royal Bastards too. Just to end up in one man’s chains.”

Villain’s face was dead serious. “I trust him. He’s kin to me, now, in the way this club will always be to me. You know what he said when he gave me that file?”

“What?”

Villain’s voice dropped. “He said, ‘Some empires are built on bones, on the backs of others. Time we build ours with blood’.’”

Silence fell heavy.

Knox rubbed his face. “We’ll talk to the table. But no decision till I read every word in this file.”

Villain nodded. “He wants an answer soon.”

Knox didn’t flinch. “He’ll get one.”

After church, we stepped outside into the night air. Villain lit a cigarette, leanin’ against his Harley like he hadn’t just threatened to turn our world upside down.

I looked his way. Same eyes as me. Same instincts.

But goddamn, we were worlds apart.

“You stayin’ in town?” I asked.

“Few days. I’ll be out at the homestead.”

“You keep away from Birdie, you hear?”

His face softened. “She’s got your scent all over her, Rock. Even if she don’t know it yet.”

That made me growl low in my chest. Birdie wasn’t his to talk about. She was mine to protect.

To earn.

And to keep.

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