Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“Oh, make no mistake. This matter will definitely be taken to Church. I’ll leave it up to the club what happens next, Sword, but you’re on the bubble. You get kicked out, I’ll give Magenta the choice of what she wants to do. If she chooses to stay here, we’ll protect her and her children with the full weight of the club. If she chooses to go to Florida to Black Reign and her father, we’ll make sure they all get there safely.” He leaned over the desk, his hands resting flat on the surface as he glared at Sword. “Because we do not hold the family accountable for the actions of the dumbasses related to them.” He enunciated each word carefully to get his point across. Sword had the good grace to wince as he looked away from our president. “You’re confined to quarters until further notice. If Magenta doesn’t want you at the house, you can have your old room back. But you will remain there until I can get Church called.”
“What if the Iron Tzars come before then?” Sword’s voice was quiet and respectful even as he demanded to be in that fight.
“You’ll stay in your fuckin’ room. No exceptions.”
“But --”
“Goddammit, Sword!” He pounded his desk with his fist again. “I’m done talkin’ to you.” Cain dismissed him with a wave of his hand before snapping. “Go. Get your ass to your quarters. Now! Before I decide to just put a bullet in your brain and be done with it!”
Surprisingly, Sword only nodded before leaving. I raised my eyebrow, not sure how to proceed in the face of Cain’s wrath.
“Just fuckin’ say what you want to say, Deadeye.” Cain sat back down in his chair, looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
“I want first go at him,” I demanded. “I owe it to Chloe because I should have done a better job protecting her.”
“You had no idea Sword would react like he did. This is all on him.”
“I’d like to know why he had such a visceral reaction to her.”
Cain snorted. “You and me both.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Once Data and Zora have an idea of what the Iron Tzars want with Chloe and know exactly where they are and how fast they’re traveling, I’ll call Church. Until then, I suggest you lock down your woman. Make her understand you’re solidly in her corner.”
“I’m all over that, Prez. Gonna take time, though. Don’t even like leaving her to meet with you, but it had to be done.”
“Yeah. Make sure she has Angel’s number. Should be programmed into the phone the women put in her welcome pack but double-check. I don’t want her feeling like she has no one other than you. The women are going to be crucial to her trusting us.”
“Will you have Angel ask Magenta to come see her? I think maybe seeing how distraught Magenta is might help reassure her this is not how we treat our women.”
“If Magenta’s not too traumatized her own damned self. She’s pretty pissed from what Angel says. Pissed and hurt. Their son’s especially upset. He’s the main reason Sword isn’t allowed back in the house. Kid was in the common room, coming to get his mother, when it happened. He’s barely a teenager but can’t stand to see his mother upset on the best of days. Hell, he’s even mad at me for calling her out even though I was as gentle as I could be with Magenta.”
“So, what do you want me to do?”
“I want you to calm your woman. Make sure she knows that we will not hand her over to another club unless she wants to go. She’s one of us now. Reassure her however you can.”
“Ain’t gonna be easy. But it’s going well so far. I’m serious, though. I intend to make her my ol’ lady.” I leveled my gaze on Cain, giving him a steady look so he knew I meant business. This wasn’t a decision made out of defiance to Sword or even some whim because I felt sorry for Chloe. I was dead serious and wanted Cain to appreciate the fact.
“I hear you, brother. And yes. If Sword’s punishment includes a beatin’, you’ll get first go. I’ll let Bohannon know so he doesn’t get his panties in a wad.”
I gave a crisp nod. “Good. I’ll go back to Chloe. I’d like to be kept in the loop about the issue with Iron Tzars, if you don’t mind.” I was careful not to phrase my request as a demand even though that was essentially what it was.
Cain snorted. “Yeah. I hear you. You can tiptoe your way around authority better than just about anyone I know. Just don’t think I’m letting you bully me into getting what you want. You’re her man. You need to know. That’s all this is about.”