Page 53 of Inglorious
“Shut up. VP or not, this is my turf,” Gravey snapped, and Vortex looked shocked.
“Tone it down, Gravey. Why are you here, Vortex?” I asked.
“Nanci mentioned we had a member who was alone out here. I was seeing if he wanted to bunk at the clubhouse. If he’s a brother, he should be with us,” Vortex replied.
Gravey scowled.
“Gravey is a loner, Vortex. He has his reasons for staying here. And Gravey knows he’s welcome in town. Do you need anything?” I asked Gravey, who shook his head.
Gravey sent Vortex one last glare and disappeared.
“What the fuck was that?” Vortex demanded.
“Gravey has severe PTSD. His story isn’t one that should be shared, but some of the facts are public. Gravey was a police officer with a wife and two kids. His partner was fucking his woman behind Gravey’s back, and was also a dirty cop. His partner paid for a hit on Gravey, only it went wrong, and he pulled through. The asshole fled with Gravey’s wife and twoyoung children and wrapped the tree around the car, killing them all. It broke Gravey because he had no idea his woman was cheating. Gravey took five bullets and survived. He came out here to escape. When he’s ready, he can rejoin us, hear me?” I explained.
Vortex looked horrified and nodded. “Shit, poor guy. He’s about fifty?”
“Forty-four. That crap happened when he was twenty-eight. Gravey’s been here ever since. And we don’t pressure him. Trust for Gravey is earned, and he put me through the paces when we first met. Gravey will contact us if he requires something,” I continued.
“He needs people around him,” Vortex refuted.
“Oh, I agree. But you can’t force him. Gravey will withdraw completely. Once he trusts you, he’ll be more open. Was Gravey the only reason you were here?”
“No. I wanted to pay my respects. They were my brothers too,” Vortex said, waving his arms towards the headstones.
I could have argued but decided to be the bigger man. Nanci had clearly informed Vortex of what had happened when I had taken over the club. Vortex held my gaze and looked awkward.
“What?” I demanded.
“I thought many things about you. Murderer, asshole, drunk, bloodthirsty, and much more. Inglorious, I was mistaken. Mama always told me not to judge people without knowing the full story, and I forgot that lesson. Thank you for keeping Sasha safe. That was my job, and I didn’t succeed.”
“Yeah, you failed in several ways,brother.” I emphasised the last word softly, and Vortex held my gaze.
“You forgive me?” he asked.
“Yup. Life’s too short to hold on to anger, Vortex. I may not like how you’ve slunk back, just like Hercules. But you’re both here to help the MC. I can respect that, but you need to let yourgrudge against me go. I will regain the presidency when I feel I’m strong enough, and you’ll be my VP. If you can’t handle that, then make that decision now. If the president and VP aren’t on the same page, the club will fracture as sides are taken.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Work with me and not against me.”
“That I can do,” Vortex agreed.
Just like that, the issue between us was resolved. Life was a fuckin’ surprise sometimes.
Chapter Twelve.
Inglorious
Iwas feeling edgy, which was at odds with how I felt yesterday when I’d kissed Nanci. She’d avoided me for the rest of the day, and whenever we’d briefly seen each other, she’d blushed and hurried away. The fact that Nanci was now shy amused me to no end. The Nanci I knew and cared about was a ball-buster.
I’d been planning to discuss this with Janet, but I kept fidgeting, unsettled about something.
“What’s wrong?” Janet asked. “You look uncomfortable.”
“I’ve a weird feeling, but I don’t know what.”
“How do you feel?”
