“Fuck, Dog. We gotta find you a woman.”
“You seriously happy about having more children?”
“Yeah, Dog. I am. I know it's going to be wild around the house, and I'm sure Mia, Jennie and I are going to look and feel like walking zombies, but I honestly can't wait to hold my kids once they arrive, to be there for them for everything. I've always loved being a dad.”
“Yeah, Brother. I love it as well.”
“Gonna grab a couple cinnamon rolls and go check on my women. If you need me for anything, just holler.”
“Will do, Brother.”
~***~
Chapter 2
The years go by. The time, it does fly. Every single second is a moment in time that passes. And it seems like nothing – but when you are looking back… well, it amounts to everything.
~Ray Bradbury~
Mad Dog
May 24th, 1998
As I sat in the meeting room where we held Church, my hands caressed the smooth finish of the handmade table several of the Founders created at the inception of the MC. It still held a high gloss to it. Sarge and Gunny put a coat of polyurethane on it once a year to preserve the integrity of the oak wood. Burnt into the center of the table was our emblem.
Our emblem consisted of a Harley V-twin engine surrounded by angel wings that tapered down past the bottom of the engine. Directly under the engine are the words ‘We Protect Our Own’, part of our MC’s motto. Above the wings sat a crooked halo, because it’s for damn sure there isn’t a man in this club that hasn’t broken the law in the name of protecting our members or their families.
Painted on the wall behind my chair were our colors which were similar to a lot of other 1%’er clubs out there. The top rocker stated our club name, Angel’s Rebellion, our emblem in the center, and the bottom rocker denoting our location, Arkansas. The club’s motto of ‘Our Own We Protect, We Protect Our Own’ was painted on the wall that faced my chair.
A wooden gavel rested on the table in front of my seat, but I rarely used it. If the men didn't respect me enough to get quiet when I said it was time to begin, then we had a problem. I felt that over the years I had earned the respect of every Brother here, so it was a rare occurrence for them not to come to order. The men knew that I wouldn't put up with anything hinting at disrespect for very long. I learned a lot by watching Sarge while he was the President, and he didn't take any shit off anyone.
I sent out a message last night calling for Church to start an hour before the barbecue at noon. I stated that the meeting wasn't mandatory, but I had a feeling every Brother would show up. I watched as the men trickled in, each one putting their phones in the wire basket that was attached to the wall beside the door leading into the meeting room. Since cell phones came out, it had become a rule that they wouldn’t be allowed in church. We didn’t need the distraction of them going off while we were discussing business.
Several were already holding a beer making me wish I had gotten one before I came in. I watched as Viper put his phone into the basket, the man was carrying two beers. He must be thinking we were gonna be here awhile. I didn't plan on the meeting lasting that long. As he passed by me making his way down to his seat, he deposited one of the beers beside me.
As soon as he was seated, I picked it up and held it toward him and nodded my thanks. I opened it and took a long drink. I felt parched. This May was already hotter than normal and if this was any indication for the summer, it was gonna be hotter than hell here. The humidity in Arkansas made the summers a living nightmare sometimes.
As soon as everyone got settled, I started, “I want to thank you all for coming today. Like I texted, the meeting wasn't mandatory.”
“Fuck, Dog. We were coming to the barbecue, anyway. Why wouldn't we come to this?” Hoss asked me as he shoved a cookie into his mouth.
“Barbecue wasn't mandatory either, Brother. Wasn't sure who all would be here.”
“How many of these fucking leeches do you think would turn down free food, Prez?” Cueball asked me as he munched on a cookie himself.
“Are y'all fucking starving?” I asked the room.
Everybody but Viper nodded. I looked at him and arched a brow.
He smirked at me, “My Old Ladies made the cookies, Prez. Had my fill at home.”
I rolled my eyes at them. Leeches indeed.
“And none of you fuckers could bring me some?”
All I got in return were looks of disbelief.
“I ain't gonna share my cookies with anyone, big bro. Have you tried these things? They have nuts, chocolate chips, and oatmeal in them. Ain't never eaten a cookie this good before.”
“Well, fuck. Won't be any left for me,” I muttered.
Viper snickered, “Prez, the Old Ladies made you your own container of them.”
“Ha! Take that you assholes,” I commented while general mutterings of not fair went around the room. I smiled at the motherfuckers. Teach them not to share.
“Anyway, got a couple things I want to talk to you about that occurred to me yesterday. Gonna want your input, so those of you with a damn brain, need you to put on your thinking cap.”
I took a drink of beer, “First off, as of right now we have thirty Brothers in the club and seven Prospects. Three of those Brothers are semi-retired,” I stated. “Out of those combined numbers,
