Page 21 of Unruly Defender
I slide my arm around Gracy’s waist and tuck her against me.I take a deep breath and gain strength from the woman who sneaks her arm around me to slide her fingers casually into the back pocket of my jeans as if we’ve been together for years.
Hardening my tone, I tell Yates, “You know as well as I that I was born to lead this MC.”
“So very fucking true, brother,” Yates replies, his voice laced with respect.
Yates opens the door and steps through to hold it open for us.There are a lot of bikers in the main room of the clubhouse and they’re making a lot of noise until all eyes land on us.Well, mainly on me because clearly none of them were expecting me to step inside this clubhouse.
Girly sounds of excitement unleash from my right.This club always had women visit for a good time, making it easy for the brothers to have some entertainment when they’re in the mood.I need to end it before it starts, but obviously I’m too late when Nikki, Rush’s sister, tries to wrap her arms around my neck and with it pushes Gracy away from me.Motherfucker.
I rip her arms away from me and give a hard shove.She stumbles back and lands on her ass.A hint of satisfaction slides through me when I see her shocked face but it quickly turns to disgust.I might have let her distract me a time or two but never again.Not to mention she’s Rush’s sister and I know for a fact she helped him to set me up.
“Don’t fucking disrespect me,” I spit my words at her and reach for Gracy, who is observing all of it in silence.I’m thankful she lets me pull her against me.“I would say it’s good to be back but I guess all of you need to work at giving me a warm welcome, eh?”
Snickers flow through the room as Nikki pushes herself up and stalks through the room to stand next to her brother.Rush is spitting fire at me.The fucker obviously wasn’t expecting me to walk in here.I shoot him a vicious grin and let my eyes trail to the clock on the wall.Just a few more minutes if all goes well...in other words; if Clemente pulls through like he said he would.
“I’ve heard you’re not doing a good job leading my MC, asshole.Good thing I’m out early to take back my place and push you and every rotten seed out of my MC, before you drag this club down with you.”There are only a handful of bikers swinging their gaze from me to Rush after I spilled this little detail.
Yates told over half our brothers what was going down today.Well, only the fact I was returning and he only told those he trusted and knew they were against Rush, and sick of his dictatorship.That left only a handful of bikers in the middle and those are now confused.
The three guys standing next to Rush who are also spitting fire at me?I don’t recognize any of those guys, but Yates told me about them.They are on Rush’s side; he considers them his trusted men.
“A lot of things changed while you were on the inside, brother,” Rush rumbles.“Times have changed and I’ve led this club into a profitable direction.I’d say you need to earn the right to come back, to see if you still have what it takes.”
“Have what it fucking takes?”I snap, anger flowing freely through my veins.“My father founded this club.I’ve walked in his footsteps and I damn well bled for this club and helped it succeed.Hell, the building your filthy ass is standing in is in my fucking name, I practically am Unruly Defenders MC.”I snicker and shake my head.“Have what it takes.Motherfucker.How do you even find the nerve to question my abilities while it was you who jammed a knife in my back and left me to rot in a jail cell so you could steal what belonged to me and my family?And look what you fucking did with it.Dragging the club’s name into the dirt and tainting it with your need for drugs and money, only to want more and more.Unless you wanted all of us to rot in a fucking jail cell, then you’re doing a damn fine job with the heat you’re bringing upon everyone in here.Because that’s the only place your leadership takes you and everyone else.”
Rush stomps forward at the same time sirens faintly start to blare.I shove Gracy behind me because I knew this confrontation was coming.Yates has my back.We talked this through since I needed to make sure no harm would come to her.
I don’t think twice and in two steps I’m close enough to whip my arm back and take a swing at Rush.A right hook connects with his jaw and right after I jab my other fist underneath his chin.He stumbles back and shakes his head in an effort to clear it enough to fight back.
Useless, because the entire time I was in prison all I did was make sure I kept pushing my body into shape.Easy enough to do when your focus is on getting out and having your revenge.But I’ve always been training and fighting, even before I ended up behind steel bars.This club has a ring on the back of the property where we have fights every Saturday night for entertainment and to blow off some steam when needed.
A harmless bet between brothers or to fight out your differences.The ring is used for a lot of reasons and it also keeps us on our toes and in shape.But it seems Rush didn’t keep the tradition going because his effort to swing his fist in the direction of my head is useless.It gives me the opportunity to jab him in the gut, making him double over.
The sirens are becoming louder and it’s clear they’re coming from right outside the clubhouse.Satisfaction flows freely through me and I can’t help the big grin sliding over my face.Payback, motherfucker.
My father and I have worked with Clemente’s uncle a lot of times in the past.When you need something done or have issues or anything, you don’t go to the authorities, you go to the head of the family that runs the underworld.They have all the connections—and the information—along with the possibilities to get shit done.
In the previous meeting I had with Clemente, I asked him to get me all the information and background about Rush.But I was surprised to hear Rush already had drawn the unwanted attention of the underworld as well as the law.
This was also the reason Clemente advised me not to interfere, because the DEA recently linked Rush with a shipment of drugs and was waiting for him to meet with the dealer and the one who financed it, so they could roll up the complete network.
Now, I’m not one to be patient, and with Rush dragging the club down with it, I felt I had no other choice but to interfere.Gracy being Clemente’s half-sister and the way he stood up for her in my presence made me aware he would do anything for her.I know damn well how unfair it is to twist faith a bit to speed things up.
In my talk with Yates he suggested we use Gracy’s connection and make Clemente help us so he could get the DEA to act now and arrest Rush.Needless to say, with the screaming sirens, our plan worked.Though, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to use Gracy this way.
Me and her would have happened along the way anyhow because the talk she gave me this morning made me see things clearly.I should take everything I want, and damn well live my life to the fullest or I wouldn’t be alive at all.That’s why I set things in motion with getting my clubandmy girl.
But the bottom line stays the same, I fought dirty but I needed to get things done and to keep Gracy safe along with it.I can justify it in every direction but if someone should hint or say something...Gracy would think I used her to get what I want and it won’t matter that my feelings for her are legit.Even if I just met her, she’s the one woman who ignites feelings inside me I never knew I had or wanted.Let’s just hope everything goes smooth and we can move forward.
“They’re comin’ for you, asshole,” Rush grunts.“What did you do?Break out of jail?Was it worth it?Because you’re going back and I’m here to fucking stay and do with this club as I please.This club is mine.My father assured me everything would be mine one day but he never had the guts to stand up and take it.I have.I’m the new generation setting a new course.”
“You’re insane, Rush.Your father was my father’s VP, his friend, a founding member.This club was built for brotherhood.Family.Loyalty.Your father like mine had great plans in mind and both of them had their eye set on the future.None of it involved drugs or a dictatorship.You’re the one fucking up, wanting the money in your hand and the coke up your nose.Everything you do taints your already twisted brain.Our fathers are turning in their graves knowing the shit you did.”
“You’ve always had your head in the sand, Henley.My father was using the club to make quick cash exactly the way I’ve been doing.When he died, I took over that side of the family business so to say.And with the whole two birds, one stone...getting your father finally out of the way along with it, I had the chance to step up and expand.That’s what I’ve been doing, expanding business.Evolve.It’s how shit’s done, but my father didn’t understand either.Now, get out of my fucking clubhouse and crawl back to your jail cell where you belong.And don’t think the little cunt beside you will be any help.I know she’s the daughter of Spencer Lightners but let me tell you...that fucker is in bed with me.I’m the one with the right connections.Seeing the cunt’s time is ticking away as we speak, dear old Spencer will finally have it all, and she won’t be an issue anymore either.With Spencer being my partner in crime so to say, that right there gives me privilege over you.I guess that gives me all the right to be the one boning his daughter, don’t you think?Better hand her over too then, pretty boy.”
I see red and launch myself forward to kill this asshole with my bare hands but I’m being held back by Yates.
This doesn’t stop Rush from spilling some more words when he leans in and says, “Look at you, isn’t that the story of your life?Being held back by everything while others take what’s there for the taking.Be fucking glad I put you in a jail cell because my own damn sister wanted you to live because she has this stupid crush on you.I gave in because Nikki played out her part and I need her from time to time, but if it was up to me, I’d give you the same treatment I gave your father and mine.”
