Page 44 of Risk
“We can’t make this decision with our hearts, it has to be made with our heads,” Kodiak supplies.
“I’m not sure if this needs to be said now or not, but if we vote against this, I’m going to take Kenna, Phoenix, and my mother-in-law away and go into hiding. I’ve already put some feelers out there and have heard back from a few of those who are willing to conjure us up some new identities and give us a traceable background. That may be the better alternative here so the club isn’t forced to do the Trifecta’s bidding.”
Conan bangs on the table with his fists, barking, “That’s not an adequate alternative, fuckwad! Family doesn’t abandon family. We don’t take the easy road and lose one of our own so we can take the easy road. It’s not happening, feel me?”
“But family also protects family, Conan,” I argue. “I can’t ask you to put everyone’s life at risk. As you’ve stated, we have kids that need us to keep them safe. We can’t do that if we’re running drugs and guns.” Twisting in my seat I angle my body to where it’s facing Kodiak and ask, “That’s what they want us to do, isn’t it?”
Kodiak’s eyes are shiny because he knows before he answers that I’ll veto it when it comes time to vote. We vowed to never get involved with drugs, guns, or skin trading when we left the transient lifestyle. “That’s exactly what they want us to do.”
“How long do we have until they want their answer, pres?” Midas asks.
“Two days,” he replies.
“Then I think we need to take those days and talk this shit out before we vote,” Conan suggests. “I don’t know about the restof you guys, but I’m not willing to lose my brother and sister because we made a rash decision.”
“There’s no time like the present. Let’s start that now,” Kodiak orders. “And just so you know, majority rules. Now that Risk has laid down his cards, I’m not going to make this a unanimous vote.”
My eyes soar up to his and they widen. “Pres.”
“No, Risk. You made your point known, now I’m calling your bluff. I’m not letting you go without a fight.”
“That’s not fair, Kodiak,” I say through my gritted teeth.
“Life’s not fair, Risk,” Kodiak remarks. “Now let’s go on with this discussion. We have a lot to go over.”
I slump down into my chair in defeat. Thoughts of leaving the brotherhood is strangling me, but if I have to choose between them, Kenna, and Phoenix, my boy and wife are going to come first. They’re the axis of my world, they keep it spinning and I’m not going to do anything that takes that orbit away from me. I put her last once and lost her, I won’t be doing that again.
I won’t survive if I lose either one of them. The brotherhood will, they’ll keep living a free and happy life if we aren’t here to bring them down.
CHAPTER
THIRTY
McKenna
“The guys have beenin church for six hours. What do you think they’re up to?” Demi asks, sipping on a margarita.
“There’s something I need to tell you ladies. Risk and I had a conversation last night that I put in the back of my mind until now.”
“Huh, when did y’all have time for pillow talk? From what I was told by the guys patrolling last night there was a lot of noise coming from y’all’s room that didn’t include anything but ‘oh yes’ and ‘I’m coming’,” Demi teases me. My cheeks heat and I know I’m blushing.
“Those men are worse than women when it comes to gossiping,” I harrumph.
“Are you kidding? You two probably gave them spank bank material,” she snickers.
I release a full body shiver because that’s not anything I wanted to know. “Gross, Demi.”
“Okay you two, that’s enough of that. I want to hear what Kenna has to say,” Luna scolds, smacking Demi’s shoulder with the back of her hand. She’s the only one, besides Conan, who can wrangle her in and get her to act accordingly.
“Fine,” Demi grumbles, “you always take away my fun.” She follows that up with a vivid and melodramatic wave of her wrist while holding out her pointer finger, indicating she’s ready for me to continue.
“Anyhow,” I grumble. “I was right when I thought there were some big players backing Marshall. He wouldn’t tell me who or go into much detail, but what he was willing to share with me is a game plan I’m not sure I’m onboard with because it’ll take us away from here and all of y’all.”
“No.” Luna adamantly shakes her head. “I don’t like that at all. Why does he think that’s necessary and what is the plan?” she asks, tears glistening in her eyes.
“He thinks it’s best for all of us if we were to get ourselves new identities and hit the road, find somewhere to settle that’s far away from here in a small town where we’ll blend in,” I tell them.
“No, you’ll stand out,” Demi rectifies. “Small towns are full of gossip mills; they know everyone and arealwaysin each other’s business. If anything, you’ll stand out more.”
