#Rev (GearShark #2)(28)

“Who says I’m stepping down?” I boomed across the room.

Everyone turned toward me. Some low curses went through the room.

“Trent!” Jack gasped from beside Conner.

“What the f*ck happened to you!” another brother yelled.

I made a point to place a palm over my ribs when I walked through the room to the podium. They still hurt like hell, but in any other circumstance, I wouldn’t have acted like they did.

Con was watching me with fear and wariness in his eyes. I made sure when I looked straight at him, he would be able to see the anger and promise of revenge.

He moved out of the way immediately, and I turned away, dismissing him like the trash he was.

Jack stepped up to my side instantly. “Man, you look terrible.”

“Let me guess,” I said to him but spoke loud enough the entire room could hear. “Con here was making yet another case against me for not being here all weekend?”

Jack nodded, and some of the others shifted uncomfortably.

“I was being disloyal?” I asked, glancing around the room and then back to Jack.

One of the guys in the room cleared his throat. “He told us you were stepping down as president.”

I lifted both my eyebrows. “Now where would he get that idea?”

I locked eyes with one of the men who helped jump me. He looked away immediately, a flush coloring his cheeks.

Aww, what’s the matter? Is it hard to look at the damage you caused?

Good.

“Who did that to you?” the guy next to him demanded. “Were you in an accident?”

I glanced behind me at Con. A nervous expression crossed his face.

I balanced both hands on the podium. “This wasn’t an accident. I was jumped by four men last night.”

Everyone started talking at once, exclaiming and cussing.

I held up my hand, and the room fell quiet. “It was right outside, on Omega property. Right out there in the parking lot.”

Looks of outrage became a common theme as I kept talking.

“I didn’t see their faces.” I shook my head sadly. “But I’m pretty sure this was a blatant attack on this fraternity. They were trying to send some kind of message, ignite some kind of war with this house and our brothers.”

“They come after our president, they come after us all!” someone roared.

I nodded. “It’s a sad f*cking day, brothers.” I called them that on purpose, reminding them we were united.

“This frat is being targeted. I don’t know why yet. Or by whom. We can’t let anyone on this campus think we’re fair game.”

“Omega rules!” one of the younger charters yelled, knocking over his chair in the process.

“I look worse than I am.” I went on. “Some swelling, some bruises. A couple cracked ribs.” I paused to meet two more sets of eyes… those of the men who were there last night.

They were looking very apprehensive.

I smiled, showing all my teeth. “They didn’t do a very good job with their attack. You’d think four guys could work me over better than that.”

“Pussies!” someone hollered.

“Oh, they definitely were.” I agreed. “They had to gang up on me, hold me down, to get the job done.”

“This is a bunch of horse shit!” one of the men I went through rush with exclaimed and stood. “We need to pay back these motherf*ckers! No one messes with Omega and gets away with it!”

I let them all talk over each other while I stood back and watched them all whip themselves into a frenzy of anger.

What can I say? Men are predictable. Especially when their egos are at stake.

It was working to my advantage.

“I agree. We need to spread the word. Make it known that the attack on me and everyone in this house will not be brushed under the rug. We will not go crying to the dean.” I glanced at Con, making sure he heard that part. “Here at Omega, we serve justice on our own terms!”

Everyone started cheering and hollering. It was like a pep rally for a football game.

“Brothers,” I yelled over the noise. My head was still throbbing and my midsection was sore as hell. I wanted to go lie down, but this wasn’t done. “Before the meeting is adjourned, I would like to make clear that I was in no way skipping out on the frat this weekend. I hit up a doctor and laid low… Wanted the attackers to wonder where I was, what I was doing.”

One of the men who beat me cleared his throat. I smiled at him.

Oh, what a beautiful thing it is to be calm when people expect you to be enraged.

He actually looked scared.

I’m just getting started.

“I was also working on something, an opportunity for the fraternity. Something that will bring a lot more notoriety and good press to our house.”

Everyone seemed interested.

“As you all know, I’m friends with Maryland Knights quarterback Romeo Anderson and also Braeden Walker.” Everyone sat up a little straighter in their seats. “Since they’re both also alumni of Alpha U, I knew they would want to be involved in what I was suggesting.”

In truth, this was Romeo’s idea. I was taking the credit because it would make me look good with the house and gain me some extra favor in case it was needed.

“What is it?” one of the guys in the back hollered.