Page 28 of Axle's Angel
“Spook, anything we need to know about?”
Spook adjusts his glasses and stares at our president for a minute. If it had been anyone else, they’d have shat themselves, but the two of them had been friends since they were five. Not sure why they did this pissing contest every time though.
Finally, Spook sighs and eases back in his chair, shaking his head as amusement lights his face. “Got two teams out but nothing that will affect the club.”
Maverick nods and moves on. “Axle wants a vote to make Angel his Ol’ Lady. You all know their history. He has something to tell you first though, something he thinks you should know. Axle.” He turns towards me.
Pushing my chair away from the table, I stand, pushing my hands into my pockets as I clear my throat before I speak. “All of you know about Angel. I’ve never made a secret of looking for her. Now, I know most of you thought I was nuts to chase a ghost, but I knew I’d find her one day, just didn’t expect it to take twenty-eight years. Before you vote, I think you should know why she disappeared.”
I’m silent for a minute as I look around the table at my brothers, men I’ve worked with and fought with. Men I’ve laid my life down for. They’re my brothers, maybe not in blood but still my brothers, and they deserve my trust, so I continue. “Her family was in Witness Protection…” When a few start to speak, I hold up my hand, “Let me tell you first, then you can decide because we’re not sure if there’s still danger or not.”
I lay it all out for them from the moment I left her all those years ago on the side of the road just outside our town, to when I found her a few days ago at the diner in the next town. I tell them about her foster family, our daughter, and the danger that still may or may not exist for them.
When I’m finished, I sit down and give them time to think about everything. Roman clasps my shoulder and gives it a quick squeeze before he folds his hands on the table in front of him.
Maverick and Spook catch my eye; they each give me a nod. I sag with relief that they don’t hold Angel’s history against her. The rest of the brothers are muttering to each other low enough that I can’t hear.
Maverick speaks. “You’ve heard our brother’s story. He’s held nothing back. He came to me as soon as he knew and filled me in. It’s been a long time since we’ve had such a vote, not since my father was president. This is a moment for this generation’s books.”
Maverick straightens, his gaze sweeping across the table. The weight of his words lingers in the air before he continues.
“It’s time to vote. Aye or Nay to Axle making his Angel an Ol’ Lady. Start voting, Rusty, you’re up first.”
Our chaplain eyes me, then nods. “Aye.”
Maverick points to each brother in turn, and Mamba notes the votes down, so far it’s all Ayes.
When Maverick gets to Ash, our enforcer, he hesitates. Rolling his lips between his teeth as he looks down at the table before lifting his eyes to mine. “I’m sorry, brother, but I have to ask a question before I can vote in good faith. How do we know the Irish won’t come after your girl?”
“It’s okay, Ash. I understand it’s a lot to ask of my brothers. We’re not a big club, so I understand. Her foster father is an ex-Marshal and he still keeps tabs, but the truth is we don’t know.”
Ash looks troubled. He shakes his head. “I’m sorry Axle, it’s Nay from me. As enforcer I can't vote aye, not when I have to ensure the security of the club.”
“It’s okay, brother,” I tell him. “I understand.” And I do.
Am I disappointed … fuck yes, but I understand where he’s coming from. I’d actually expected it. Ash was doing his job. I expected Carnage, as our Sergeant-at-Arms, to vote Nay too. Their jobs were to protect and maintain order as well as enforce them.
Carnage sighs and rubs his hands over his face. “I have to agree with Ash. I’m sorry Axle, it's a Nay from me.”
I tilt my chin at him. We continue to go around the table, until we reach our VP and President.
Spook has little ones, but he’s also in the security business and has a background that is very different to the brothers sitting around this table. I have no idea how he’s going to vote.
He grins at me, and I blink. It’s seldom our VP loses his serious look. “It’s an Aye from me. I’m already monitoring the situation, and your woman’s foster father is no slouch. Plus, he’s got a background that few of you know about. His father was part of an MC that broke apart when he was fourteen. It’s why he’s so good at working in the grey. He’s an interesting character; I’m considering offering a place in ‘Hit It.’
That comment causes a few raised eyebrows and grunts of disbelief that Spook ignores to reassure me.
“We’ll keep her safe brother.”
I clear my throat as emotion fills me. I needed to meet Jake sooner rather than later, it seems. “Thanks, VP.”
Maverick turns to Mamba, “Mark my vote as Aye. Let us know if we’re welcoming an Ol’ Lady into the fold. She’d be the first for this generation of members.”
I hold my breath even though I’d been keeping a tally in my head of the ayes and nays. The ayes far outweighed the nays, but I was still nervous as fuck.
Mamba looks up from his screen, “Majority is ayes with two nays.” A wide grin splits open his dark face. “Congratulations, brother.”
“Fuck,” I let out a relieved bark of laughter that brings a round of chuckles from the brothers. “Thank you.” My thanks are heartfelt.
