Page 98 of Givin' Me Fitz!
It was a right of passage when you patched in. You got the club’s cowboy skeleton tattooed on your back and when it was done, all the members cut their hands and rubbed the blood over the tat to signify we were all brothers and loyal to the Cowboy and each other.
By the same token, if you left the club for any reason, the club took it back one way or another.
“I don’t want to leave the club unless the members vote me out completely. I need to step back from the club so the cops don’t poke their noses where it’s not needed. The dispensary license is in my name, and I’m not going to change it, but it’s better for me to not be seen around the clubhouse. If they think I’ve left, the cops won’t hound you guys about anything they think I did.” It made sense in my head, anyway.
“I don’t like it, but I’ll do as you’ve asked. Let me find out what the club wants, and I’ll call you. They want Abner out, Sawyer. Maybe I can suggest a small token of good faith from your father.”
I expected as much. “I’ll give it. Leave Abner alone. Let it be over with, Hobie, please?”
“I’ll try.”
Present
Hobie called me this morning and asked me to come by the club, so there I was, ready to do as they asked.
“I’m assuming this is about what we discussed after the wedding. What did they decide?”
“They voted me in as president. We talked about Abner, and I told them what you said about paying Abner’s debt to the club. The vote was tied, so it was up to me. We’re going to classify you as a nomad. You are still a member of the club, but you’re not required to attend events or help with club business. In exchange, you keep the license to the dispensary current. We’ll run it, but you won’t receive a cut of the profits. We’ll pay you rent to cover the charges for the property, but that’s it.”
It was better than I thought, until I noticed he hadn’t said anything about Abner. “What else?”
“This wasn’t my idea. It was Spider’s. He’s pissed you didn’t suggest him to be president. They want a piece of Abner to display so anyone who thinks they can fuck over the club see there’s a price to pay. They took a vote, Bones. Arlo and I voted no.”
“Do you think Spider will be a problem?” That wasn’t what I needed as I tried to begin my life with Fitz.
“Naw. He’s just pissed for right now. He’ll get over it.”
“Okay, let’s do it.” I motioned for him to follow me, and we walked back up to the clubhouse where T-Roy was still working away.
I put my pinky finger on one of the boards T-Roy had on the sawhorse and stared at them. “I can’t let you hurt my father because at the end of the day, he’s still my father. I’ll take his punishment. Cut it off.”
Fitz
I was at the office clearing up the few case files I had before Sawyer and I took the drive down to Midland. We were hauling his bike with us in my truck, and I was looking forward to it.
We’d missed Thanksgiving because we were in our bubble of love, but my mother was throwing a fit, so we decided to go to Midland so they could officially meet my husband. I hoped my brother didn’t come around while we were there.
My phone pinged on my desk. I picked it up to see a text from Hobie that I didn’t expect. I knew Sawyer had gone out to the clubhouse to talk to them, and I prayed to hell they didn’t hurt him.
Come to Desert View Hospital in Pahrump. Sawyer’s in surgery. It’s not life-threatening, but you need to come get him and bring someone to drive his truck home. Hobie
Fuck!We had appointments to get each other’s names tattooed on our ring fingers instead of getting bands. What the hell could have happened?
“Jagger?” He’d gone to the break room for another cup of coffee. I needed him to come with me.
He stuck his head out of the kitchen, so I motioned for him. Of course, now I had everyone’s attention since we weren’t out on any bail calls.
“What’s wrong?” Monty asked as he stood from his desk across the room.
“Sawyer’s been taken to the hospital. He’s in surgery now. I need someone to come with me to drive his truck home. Jagger, can you?”
“Of course. I’ll drive yours. Let’s go.”
I gave him my keys, and he drove like a bat out of hell. We arrived at the hospital in twenty minutes, which had to be a record.
Jagger let me out, and I rushed inside and up to the desk. “I’m looking for Sawyer Abbott. I’m his husband.”
The woman gave me a dirty look. “Name?”
