“I never threatened you!”
“No, but you threatened Asher. That’s the same thing.”
John was quiet for a moment. “He has to answer for what he has done, Jenny. I’m sorry, but I can’t make an exception, even for you.”
“Then I guess we’re done talking,” she said as she reached for the phone. She didn’t even know why she had bothered to call. She knew this was exactly how this conversation was going to go.
“John, this is Asher. I want to come in,” he said before Jenny could touch the phone.
“What’s stopping you?”
“I want your assurance that nothing will happen to Jenny.”
“What do you think I’m going to do to her, Asher? What she did to the Demonios de Sangre member? I’m not the one who is corrupt. That’s you.”
Asher ground his teeth but held his tongue. “I just want your assurance that you won’t take your anger for me out on Jenny. Everything I’ve done I’ve done because I wanted to, not because she made me. Understand?”
There was a long pause. “Agreed. But you are still going to have to stand in chapel.”
“I understand. I’m not ashamed of what I have done. Can you say the same?”
There was another long pause. “We’ll let the Deacons decide. Fair enough for you?”
“Fair enough. We’ll be there in the morning. Ten o’clock.”
“The Deacons will be waiting,” John said ominously.
“I look forward to it,” Asher lied then ended the call.
“Don’t do it,” Jenny said with tears in her eyes. “What if you can’t convince them? Dad has had a week to work on them, to make them see things his way.”
Asher took her hands and held them. They felt cold. “Do you believe we acted in the best interest of the club?”
“Yes.”
“So do I. So now it’s time to walk the talk. If you can’t stand up for what you believe, maybe you don’t really believe it.”
Jenny sniffed. “I know. But I’m afraid.”
“Don’t be. What happens happens. I don’t think they will dispatch me. I think the worst that will happen is they will strip me of my colors.”
“But the club, that’s your life!”
“No…you’re my life.”
Jenny sobbed once then gathered herself. “Take me to bed and hold me.”
Asher smiled as he stood and pulled her to her feet before guiding her to the bed.
“Are you sure about this?” Jenny asked as she removed her helmet and placed it on one of the rearview mirrors of her bike.
“No, but it has to be done. No matter what happens, you stay out of it, okay?”
She swung her leg off the bike and stood waiting for him to join her. They were a team now and they would enter the lion’s den of the Heartless Devils clubhouse together. She watched as Asher rolled his shoulders then went hard as nails.
He opened the heavy wooden door and stepped into the main room of the clubhouse. “Where?” he asked Gator.
“The Boss’s office,.” He didn’t look too happy as he fell into step behind them as they marched across the room and up the steps to the second floor.
Asher and Jenny entered her dad’s office and stopped before the desk. John was seated behind it while Kenny Slovoski, the Vice President, relaxed on the couch as Gator joined Chains standing in watchful silence to either side of the door.
John stared at them for a moment. “I’m surprised you came.”
“I said I would,” Asher said, his voice ice cold and diamond hard. “I’ve done nothing that isn’t in the best interest of the club, and I’m willing to stand in chapel to prove it.”
John nodded slowly. “Jenny. Wait outside please.”
“No. I’m with Asher. What you do to him applies to me.”
“This is club business. Wait outside. Nothing is going to happen to him before he stands in chapel.”
“No,” she repeated firmly.
“Jenny…it’s okay,” Asher said softly.
“No, it’s not fucking okay. We stand together or we leave together!”
John made eye contact with Chains, looked at Jenny, and then gave a slight twitch of his head. Chains stepped forward and took Jenny gently by the arm. “Come on. Your dad needs to talk to Asher alone.”
She jerked her arm free. “Fuck off! I’m not leaving!”
“Jenny,” Asher tried again.
“No, damnit! I’m not going!”