Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Dev cleared his throat, then raised his gaze to stare off into the room, waiting for his head to race. To give him some idea about what to say to make this stick.
His heart grew stronger. The racing didn’t begin, but the confirmation to wing it washed over every part of his being. Cash, Joe, the flower chick, and the rest of the team were gonna be pissed.
One last time for old times’ sake…
“I got a couple of things to say. I need you to let me get through it all before you interrupt me,” Dev stated and gave a hard glare between many of the brothers. “Some of it’s gonna be hard to hear, harder to believe, but you have to trust me that it’s true.”
The banging of his heart made it hard to think, causing Dev to scrub a hand down his face.
Just fucking say it.
“Look, as hard as it was for me to learn, you all need to know the truth. My old man played the system. His fucked-up actions are responsible for his and his brothers’ deaths. I’ve seen the proof. So has Diesel. We have no revenge. The fact is my old man turned narc…” There was immediate and violently abrupt anger from around the room. The guys jumped to their feet, disbelief spewing from that place that had trusted his father blindly.
“Goddammit, listen to me…” he bellowed. Years of practice at shouting over motorcycle pipes made his voice louder than any other.
Since he was currently being called every name in the book, he glanced over to Diesel, nodding him into the conversation.
“Fuckin’ listen,” Diesel said, slamming the gavel down on the table over and again. “He’s tellin’ ya the fuckin’ truth. Somethin’ I didn’t think he should do.”
“My old man was stealin’. I don’t understand the depths, but he was takin’ dough from all of us. He had a drug sales business on the side, stealin’ from everyone involved in that too. I’ve seen the evidence. He planned for me to take the fall,” Dev explained, hoping it would be enough. “Different cartels and the IRS were after his ass. None of us knew. I know it's hard to hear. It was hard for me to hear. I had your same reactions, but it’s the goddamn truth. From this point forward, every one of you’s got to be more careful, and sure as fuck, this information better not leave this room. You’ll become an open target.”
“Sounds like you’re sayin’ you’re not gonna be around,” Ray-Ray said, his tone and glare made it clear he didn’t fully believe Dev.
“I’m not,” Dev said, saying his final piece. “The club needs to go on, but my old man tainted my name. I’ll be a disadvantage if I stick. He really fucked me. But the Disciples have a legacy that needs to survive. This club matters. We’re number one. You saw it durin’ the funeral. Nobody’s as unified as we are. Y’all need to get back to the roots that founded this organization. Live your pledge, but I have to be out—”
This eruption from the brothers might be worse than the last one.
“Listen to me, goddammit,” Dev yelled and reached for the gavel, beating it on the table to gain their attention. “You guys need to keep goin’. If word gets out about what my old man did, I’m not safe for any of you or the club. It’s just the way it is. My last fuckin’ act as president before I resign is to place Diesel in the lead spot. He’s been handlin’ shit behind the scenes for the club for years now. Stuff that my old man was lettin’ fall apart. Diesel didn’t know anything about anything my old man was doin’, but no matter what, he always had this club’s back at all times. He carried us when my old man failed in his responsibilities. I also put Parker from the San Diego club in as interim national president until Diesel can take that position too. Parker’s solid. It’s a good choice.”
He didn’t give the guys a single second to respond as he turned to Diesel, handing him the gavel, bypassing any formality he was supposed to use. Then shrugged out of his cut, draping it properly over his old man’s chair. “Take good care of the club. Be what my greedy old man should’ve been. I’ll always be at your back.”
His cell phone vibrated on the table. He was sure it was either Joe or Cash, so he let it go. He’d let them bitch at him later.
Chaos erupted a-fucking-gain, but Dev didn’t give two shits. Diesel held the gavel and stood. It was up to him to now guide this rowdy group.
His only focus was to get back to Cash ASAP, to begin their new life together.