Page 71 of Traitor

The ranked brothers file into the secure room, silent, waiting. They know something big is coming.

I take my seat at the head of the long table, the weight of the decision already settled in my mind.

"I'm moving the mother chapter to Silverpine."

The words drop like a hammer to concrete.

"There will still be an Iron Vultures chapter here in Driftwood," I continue, voice steady, unshakable. "Anyone who wants to stay, stays. Anyone who wants to come with me, comes. You can try to change my mind, but it'll be a waste of breath."

I exhale sharply, dragging a hand through my hair before adding, "You all know how long I've been waiting to find Ely. You know what happened. She's never coming back here, and she has every goddamn reason not to. So I'm moving. It's the only way I have a shot at convincing her to take me back."

Silence. No one argues.

I glance at each of them, my brothers who have watched me unravel piece by piece for four years.

"The Romanos will follow me," I say, stating the inevitable. "They don't want to deal with the club unless it's through me. Reframing the entire operation will fall on me — none of the brothers who move will pay a dime. Sigma," I say, locking eyes with our financial guy, "I need you to put together a full report. We need to know where the club stands, what we need to restructure, and how to divide it between both chapters."

Sigma, our Treasurer, nods. No questions. No pushback.

I lean forward, scanning the table. "Now, who wants to step up as Prez for the Iron Vultures MC — Driftwood Chapter?"

The brothers exchange looks, but no one speaks. I turn to Ghost.

He holds my gaze, shakes his head subtly.

A small pang of disappointment cuts through me, but I get it. Prison changed him. Five years locked up because of Adora — there’s still too much bullshit battling inside his head.

I shift my focus to Reaper. Our Sergeant at Arms for the last three years.

He blinks at me. Points at himself, like I just grew a second head.

I nod. Yeah, asshole. You.

Reaper exhales like I just handed him a lifetime sentence. He clears his throat and leans back, looking around the room before muttering in the most bored, uninterested tone possible, "I guess I'll be the sacrificial lamb. But if any of you fuckers start whining about bringing in more club girls, throwing bigger parties, or stocking more imported beer—" he shoots a pointed glare at Fang, one of our Enforcers — "I will end you."

Fang scoffs, crossing his arms. "Why are you looking at me, asshole? Just for that, I'm moving to Silverpine. Bet they'll have better beer there anyway."

I cut in before this turns into a full-blown bitchfest. "Now that we've got that settled, let's hear the complaints."

Silence.

I raise a brow. "No one? Really?"

Reaper leans forward, voice softer than before. "We saw what losing Ely did to you. You haven't been yourself for four years."

I clench my jaw, not ready for this conversation.

"We honestly thought we'd find you with a bullet in your head one day," he continues. No malice. Just fact. "Losing Ely was on you. But if you have even the smallest chance to fight and get her back, then so be it." He exhales, glancing away. "If I can help with that, just let me know. She probably hates me now anyway."

I scan the room, my brothers — these ruthless bastards who have stood by me through everything — and realize they all feel the same.

They want me to get her back.

I exhale sharply, clearing my throat. "You fuckers."

A beat. Then, in a rougher voice, "Figure out who's staying and who's coming. We need a meeting with the full membership next. Tomorrow."

I let my words settle before adding, "There will be rule changes in Silverpine. We're not repeating what happened that night with Ely. We're putting in a system — if a ranked brother doesn't agree with a decision, he can bring it to a vote in Church. No one should have blind fucking loyalty. Not anymore."

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