Loving Nicole (Savage Brothers MC #3)(63)

It has none of the old fire that Dani used to have, but she gives a damned good attempt. I can’t help but smile either. Nicole winks at me and I shake my head at her. The girls leave and the door closes. Crusher goes back to his seat, but motherf*cker, the son of a bitch is crying. There are tears around his eyes and it seems so out of place on him. How long have I known Crusher? Longer than any of them, and I can’t name one time when he’s cried. He always appeared the laid back one, but Crusher is ice cold when it comes down to it. He always has been. Fuck. He’s totally gone for Dani. From what I’ve just seen though, maybe that’s what they both need. I clear my throat.

“Vote. Starting with Bull. Do we take Crush’s patch? Aye or Nay, motherf*ckers.”

Crush sits staring every one of us straight in the eye.

“Nay,” Bull says.

“Nay,” Freak, Hawk and Dance join in.

“Nay,” Nailer and Six join, having been patched in right after Frog’s funeral. I breathe again. I didn’t want rid of Crush, but a man has to do what is called upon him.

“Demotion of position. Aye or Nay?”

Bull stares at Crusher and the two exchange a wordless conversation of sorts before Bull sighs his answer, “Aye.”

Hawk nods, “Aye.”

Freak shakes his head, “Fuck, no.”

Crush shoots him a half smile, but shakes his head.

Dance looks up at Crush and out of them all, his voice surprises me. “Nay. I’d have done the motherf*cking same, man.”

“Two for and two against. That leaves it in your hands Nail and Six.”

“Fuck, sorry man. Aye,” Nailer says. Crusher nods in response.

Six looks around shaking his head, “Son of a bitch, sorry man. Aye.”

Demotion. I don’t disagree with the vote. At the same time, as much as I probably would have voted the same way, I’m not sure how I want to handle it. President has the final say, but I can’t say I totally disagree, so I don’t feel the need to override their decision.

Diesel, Skull and Torch would all sniff blood if they thought the club was weak. I can’t let that shit stand. At the same time, if I was Crusher? Would I have handled things differently? I think on it.

I would have. Nicole is my woman and I’d move heaven and hell to get her back safe that is no doubt. Still, I would have made sure the club knew every move I made. I would never charge in without back up. I wouldn’t kill without properly cleaning up my shit. Even if he had just burned the old barn down to get rid of the body, it would have been better.

“You charged into a hostile environment without calling on brothers for backup. You left a body for others to find without taking precautions to cover our asses. You called me out. You disrespected me in front of other clubs. You defied direct orders. I can’t let it slide. I won’t. Demotion granted.”

Crusher nods with a grim smile. He expected it.

“Dance, you’ll move up to VP. All those in favor say Aye.”

A chorus of Aye’s go through the room, including Crush’s.

“Meeting adjourned,” I growl, slamming the gavel against the table.

The men start filing out, all slapping Crusher on the back. Finally, when everyone has left Crusher remains sitting.

“Crush, man…”

“I get it brother, I’m not here to plead my case. I f*cked up. I get it.”

I nod, because f*ck, what can I say?

“I need something from you and I realize I’m at the top of your shit list, but still I need this.”

“Name it, brother.”

“I need to leave.”

“Damn it, Crush…”

“Not permanently. I’m going to take Dani away for a month. She needs to recover and she can’t do that here. I don’t want to leave the brotherhood man. I just need time to help my woman mend.”

“She’s it for you?”

“She’s the motherf*cking world.”

I slap him on the back. “You got it then, man. Take her out to the club’s house in Tennessee, on Douglas Lake. I’ll clear it with Diesel.”

“Thanks, Drag” he says getting up. “Man? For what it’s worth? I’m sorry.”

“I get it man. I got a woman, too.”

He nods and walks to the door, he stops with the door halfway open. “Hey, Dragon? Kavanagh has a father. There could be blowback. My woman can’t handle any more of that shit.”

“Already being monitored.”

“You’ll let me know?” He asks.

“You’ll be the first.”

“Thanks, brother.” He says and closes the door.

It opens a few minutes later and Nicole walks in and locks the door. She’s wearing a baby blue sundress that matches her eyes. Her hair shines in the light. Beautiful.

“What are you doing here, Mama? Didn’t you break rules enough coming in during the meeting?”

She walks over to me, her face soft.

“I thought you would be tense after your meeting. I wanted to offer to help.” She says quietly, going to stand behind me massaging my shoulders.

“How you figure that?” I ask, closing my eyes.

She leans down so her lips are against my ear and whispers, “I thought this time I’d let you f*ck me on the table.”