Page 23 of Inglorious
“Inglorious stop. You’re on the verge of breaking. You need this meeting,” Mase said.
Rick hovered behind her.
“Mase, I was okay until that asshole started. Now I crave a drink because of his attitude. I’m Inglorious. Nobody addresses me by my given name and hasn’t for decades. If that’s against the rules, fine.”
I crossed my arms and stared at Rick. He had the grace to appear ashamed.
“Inglorious, you have to stay. This is your first step to recovery. Don’t leave,” Mase replied.
“Inglorious is who I am. I’m not hiding behind a nickname. IamInglorious. You’re right, I need this meeting. But I won’t deny who I am,” I responded.
Mase smiled. “That’s fine. Come sit down, Kenny’s waiting for us. He’s the leader of the group.”
A thin-faced man watched us with a welcoming smile on his face.
“Hello! Welcome to the meeting,” Kenny greeted as Mase and I took seats. Rick sat close, sending baleful looks.
“Kenny, he’s not telling anyone his real name,” Rick said before I could reply to Kenny.
Kenny twisted to Rick. “What have we told you about greeting people? I suspect Inglorious is the only name he would answer to.”
A smirk crossed my face as Rick turned red and fidgeted in his chair.
“Breaking the rules,” Rick muttered.
“Inglorious, please make yourself at home,” Kenny said. I guessed he knew my name because of my patch.
“Thanks.”
Kenny ran through the opening of the meeting and had everybody introduce themselves. When it came to my turn, everyone looked at me. There was no judgment from anyone apart from Rick, and everyone seemed at ease.
“I’m Inglorious, and I’m here because I witnessed something horrific. That haunts me to this very day, and because of certain events, I became an alcoholic,” I finally replied.
Mase offered a reassuring smile, and Kenny nodded.
“There are many reasons people turn to drink, knowing and accepting them is a big step forward,” he said. Then Kenny inquired if anyone wished to speak. Glad the spotlight was off me, I sat back and listened.
Nanci
Inglorious had made it obvious he was leaving town when it was time for his meeting. I paid him very little attention, butVortex followed him and called to say Inglorious had hesitated but had gone inside. For his sake, I hoped Inglorious got the help he needed. However, for the foreseeable future, I was stuck here.
The clubhouse kitchen had finally been signed off as completed by Apache, and the rooms were all being repainted as I’d wished. I was looking through applications for the cook’s job I’d advertised when the door blew open. Through it marched the presidents of the allied clubs, followed by Party and Gamer. With a resigned sigh, I sat back in my chair, folded my arms, and issued them a stern look. Quietly, they ranged in a semi-circle around my table.
“Gentlemen,” I said and didn’t say another word.
Party was smirking, and Gamer was showing outright glee.
“Good to see you, Nanci,” Drake murmured.
“And yet not even two weeks have passed since our last meeting,” I replied.
Jailbait, the Devil’s Damned Disciples President, looked amused and winked. His lone action informed me they were here to crucify me despite Party and Gamer’s presence.
“But as always, Nanci, such a pleasure,” Drake returned, and I smiled slightly.
“Touché, Drake. What can I do for you?”
“Heard there was a new president in the area, and as it concerned an ally, we thought we’d pop by,” Tiger, Satan’s Warrior’s President, answered.
