Page 1 of Tusk's Fury

Chapter 1

Tusk

Prospects don’t attend church. Our job is to stand guard while the brothers meet to conduct club business. We’re their eyes and ears at the front gate, the ones looking out for their old ladies and protecting club property while they make the important decisions that keep the club running.

Earlier this week, I was invited to attend church with the brothers, and that only meant one thing—I was being nominated for my patch.

Membership in the Savage Legion MC can’t be bought, begged for, or given. It must be earned through courage, dedication, and loyalty. In the months I’ve been prospecting, I’ve worked hard, put in the hours and risked my life for the club. My reward is being welcomed into a brotherhood of men who live their lives with honor, by the Savage Legion MC code. I know that code well, as I have committed it to memory.

Tonight, I walk proudly into the meeting room with nerves of steel. I’ve done good work and deserve to stand shoulder to shoulder with the brothers as an equal. I look around and see that the meeting room is packed. I notice two other prospects are present as well. They must have been invited for the same reason I was. I walk over to them, thrilled that all three of us are going to be considered at the same time.

We grab a seat and look around, wide-eyed, as the brothers talk and joke with one another. When the room is full, the smell of leather hangs heavy in the air, with a side order of gas and bike grease. Our club officers take their seats at the table in the front of the room. There are over thirty brothers at this point, far too many to fit around a single table. That’s why we sit in neatly formed rows, waiting for the meeting to be called to order.

Siege, our Prez, comes to his feet. If the framed photographs hanging in the bar are any indication, he’s the spitting image of his father, Claw, who founded the club almost thirty years ago. Having never attended church before, I listen intently as he goes through old business, talking about a job we just did for Zen, our IT guy. I had a hand in that myself. Dutch, who’s our club treasurer, speaks about financial matters. Eventually, Siege opens the floor for the brothers to speak.

Zen thanks every man who helped protect his old lady and track down the men intent on doing her harm.

Pride surges in my chest when Zen nominates me and the other two prospects for membership. Dutch seconds the motion, and Siege motions for me to stand and speak. “Let’s start with Wade.”

We have a longstanding tradition of prospects giving speeches to convince the brothers they would make strong, reliable members of the Savage Legion. I know what I’m gonna say. The first moment I set foot in the Savage Legion clubhouse, I was down on my luck after my ex cheated on me with my brother-in-law. These men helped me deal with all that shit, and if it wasn’t for them—and especially Tex—I really don’t know what I’d have done. When Siege invites me to speak, I stand up and tell it to the brothers straight.

“Tex brought me to this clubhouse when life had done its best to kick my ass. I wasn’t about to lay down and die. So, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and fought like hell to get my life back on track. I couldn’t have done it without the Savage Legion. This is the place where I found the opportunity to be part of something that gives my life true meaning. I’ll ride, shoot, and even kill if I have to in order to protect this club.”

The room breaks out in excited whispers as Siege rises from his seat once more. He calls for a vote. Excitement blooms in my chest when all my club brothers’ hands shoot up. I expected there to be a few holdouts, seeing as I haven’t been prospecting for long, but there weren’t any. Siege’s face lights up with satisfaction as he watches me come forward to accept my new cut.

“Alright, that’s unanimous. Tusk, step forward and get your new cut.”

When I approach, Dutch holds out a new black leather cut. He hands it to me with my new club name facing out.Tusk—a good, solid club name, and I know exactly where Siege got it from. I recently splurged a little to get my bike customized, and my front forks are shaped like two large tusks. I think it looks pretty damn badass.

I slide off my prospect’s cut and slip the new one on. I know I’m blowing that cool demeanor I had hoped to keep, but I can’t keep the smile off my face for anything.

I sit down beside the other two prospects who are being voted in today. Their awestruck expressions make me realize we’re entering a new phase of club life together.

Bear and Ghost get voted in with no problems. Good club names all around. Well, Nick’s is a little sketchy, but it’ll grow on him. To be honest, it sounds pretty cool, until you learn that he got stuck with the moniker because women kept ghosting him.

We spend some time being congratulated by the brothers, and for the first time, I honestly feel like I fit in. Tex comes over to shake my hand, as do most of the others. He was the one who introduced me to the Savage Legion. I will forever be grateful to him for that.

***

When we finally migrate out to the bar area, it’s decorated with black streamers and such. The tables in the bar area are groaning with food and there’s enough cakes and cookies to give anyone a sugar-high for days.

Speaking of sweets, my favorite club girl flies into my arms the moment she sees me. “You did it, baby. You’re a fully patched member of the Savage Legion MC!”

Her hand comes up to touch my name patch, but I grab her wrist and shake my head. Touching a biker’s patch is considered disrespectful, and I wasn’t about to let myself get disrespected right out of the gate.

Zen slaps me on the back. “Damn right. Tusk worked his ass off to earn that patch.”

His old lady, Lexi, smiles at me. “Congratulations. You earned it the hard way, by fighting off killers and all sorts.”

I chuckle because she’s not wrong about that.

The new club girl, Silver, approaches us with two drinks in her hands. She hands me one and says, “Have a celebration shot with me and tell me all about how you got the club name, Tusk.” She glances down at my crotch as she says my name.

I reach out to take the drink from her, but tell her, “You’re wasting your time carrying drinks to me, darlin’.”

She gives Brittany the side-eye before telling me, “You don’t want to spend time with the same old club girl on the most important night of your life, do you?”

Brittany makes a disgruntled sound in the back of her throat. But it’s Lexi who gives Silver a warning she doesn’t heed. “You’d best back off unless you want Brittany to scratch your eyes out.”

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