Hudson and Wyatt stopped talking so John could continue. “First order of business is our prospect, Bryce. He's been with us for over a year now and it's time we vote.”
I looked around the long table and realized how much we had lost this past year. Landon, our vice president, was killed which only left: John, Wyatt, Hudson, and me. Not much of a club anymore. Getting new recruits was easy—keeping them alive wasn't.
We went around the table and Hudson and Wyatt both said, “Aye” in unison.
I nodded to John and he smashed his gavel into the oak. “Bryce is now WOA. Get that boy in here.”
Wyatt got up and screamed outside. “Prospect! Get your ass in here!”
The young kid came bumbling in. He wasn't the strongest but he had heart. That's what really mattered in the club—laying down your life for your family.
“What can I get for you guys?” he asked, looking down at the ground.
John pointed to the seat next to me. “Sit down, Prospect.”
Bryce's eyes widened. He looked towards the door and then to the chair. His fight-or-flight instinct was kicking in. This was the first time he has been asked to sit in.
John rubbed his eyes. “Bryce, you know that older blonde you took to bed at the party last week.”
A slight smile appeared on the prospect's face. His eyes glazed over as he remembered the details of the night. He nodded to John.
“Well if you didn't know, that was Wyatt's old lady,” John said.
Bryce's jaw dropped and sweat beaded on his forehead. “I had no idea! I didn't even know Wyatt had an old lady.”
Wyatt ran his finger across his throat and stared menacingly at Bryce.
“We all voted for punishment.”
“Oh fuck....” Bryce looked at Wyatt with tears in his eyes. “I'm so fucking sorry. I had no idea she was your girl.”
Wyatt couldn't keep a straight face. He burst out laughing, bending over to hold his stomach. Even Hudson let go a small smile.
Bryce wiped the tears from his cheeks. “What's going on?”
“We're just pulling your leg,” John began. “We voted and...” John pulled out a leather cut and threw it across the table. “...you're an official WOA member now.”
“Oh shit,” he said, holding the leather cut in his hands.
“Put the damn thing on,” I said, slapping his back.
Bryce stood up and tore off his old cut and put the new one on. “How do I look?”
“Like a son of a bitch,” Wyatt said, getting up to hug Bryce.
“Welcome to the club,” I said, embracing him.
Hudson punched Bryce in the arm.
“Okay now, the fun's over,” John said. “Let's get some order in here. Everyone back in your seats.” John waited for everyone to sit back down. “We have a meet up with the Russians today. I want us all there today.”
“Something special happening?” I asked.
“The Russians finally filled our big order of guns. This is the big one. We're going to be getting some heavy shit: rifles, grenades, even a fifty cal.” All the guys pounded the table. “I want Wyatt to handle the transaction.”
Wyatt nodded. He was the next in line to become Vice President so it only made sense from him to do the more important stuff. Ever since Landon was murdered, I'd dreamed of getting that VP patch. But Wyatt was the logical choice and I wasn't going to stand in his way—he deserved it.
“We leave in fifteen minutes. Hudson, you carry the bags of cash and everyone make sure you keep your cool. I don't want a massacre on my hands because one of you got nervous. Meeting adjourned.” John banged the gavel on the table.
Chapter Seven
Charlotte
I sat at the table, daydreaming about Liam while he was in the meeting. How could a man affect me so much? I could barely think straight—the alcohol didn't help.
Wyatt called Bryce into the room and I wondered what was going on. I heard some muffled cheering and clapping and assumed that it had to be good news. I looked around the room and wondered why some of the other guys in leather cuts weren't in the meeting with them. Were they not WOA members?
The doors opened and the guys came out of the meetings. Liam walked right to me and I lost my breath.
He ran his fingers through his hair. “The vote is over.”
“Anything you could tell me?” I felt like a reporter with my pen and notepad in my hand.
“Bryce is now an official member.”
So that explains the excitement. I looked over at Bryce, and Hudson had poured four shots on the bar for him. Bryce downed them in succession, slamming each shot glass on the bar.