Alex

It's been days since we had our firefight with the Rolling Cobras, days, and no retaliation. I feel like I'm going out of my mind here. Like they're just waiting around the fucking corner but Prime doesn't see it that way. He's making it seem like they've learned their lesson and they're not going to come fuck with us anymore. I never want to think my president is incapable, but shit like this makes me feel like maybe he needs to reevaluate what the fuck he's doing here.

"You ever going to get that stick from up your ass?" Max comes and sits down next to me. He's been at the club since I have. He's my brother and the only one besides Ryder and Prime that truly understands me.

"Shut the fuck up Max. Seriously, how the fuck can everyone be sitting here all fucking happy we've gotten some free drugs to sell back?" I cut my eyes over to him. I just can't understand why this isn't a bigger problem for everyone else.

" First of all, Prime says we're okay. He said there's no reason to think the Rolling Cobras were going to come back now. I mean they have to know we're going to be coming for them if they try to drop on our land again. The drugs were a huge pay day for everyone here and honestly, we're all fucking tired of fighting. If Prime thinks we can be in the clear for once than fuck it. Let them stay over there with their tails tucked between their legs and we can be over here partying our ass off." Max stretched out on the lounge chair next to me.

"Max, you know this shit isn't over." I say looking him in the eye and hoping I have at least one person in here that can see what I'm talking about. That there's at least one person here that knows we're all probably still in danger.

", I know brother. Yeah, but until something else happens we need to celebrate the small victories or we're not going to make it through. Look at the new stages we got for the parties. Did you see the security system Archer brought? What about the new furniture for our rooms? All that shit is possible because of this win. Let's focus on that shit for a little while instead of waiting for the next shoe to drop. When and if the Rolling Cobras come back, we'll be ready for them. There's no fucking use being anxious about it now." Max says and tries to get up.

"Wait a minute, I'm not fucking anxious." I snap at him.

He chuckles and then drops himself back on the chair. "NO? Tell me, how often are you thinking about the Rolling Cobras coming in here and starting some shit with one of us? Do you have an idea as to where they would come from? Do you think you'd be able to get us out? Who do you think would die first?" He asks quick fire questions, and my mind reels as I get ready to reply. "Do you have answers for all those questions?"

"Yeah, of course. And if we could just buckle down tighter, we could make sure nothing happens. We'd need more weapons. Or even some sort of incendiary device—" He cuts me off from saying anything else.

", that's the fucking definition of anxiety. Worrying about shit that hasn't happened or may not ever happen. And from the way your pupils are dilating and you're breathing it looks like you got more fucking anxiety than the rest of us. You need to relax." Max shrugs slightly before he gets up from his chair leaving me there dumbfounded.

I'm not fucking anxious.

My eyes scan the crowd and I settle on Mick, He'd be the first to go. He can't run.

The door is a heavy wood …it'd be easy for them to break it down with a car or a… "Fuck!" I jam my hand in my hair and tug." He's right I'm fucking anxious about some shit that hasn't even happened yet. I need to get myself under control and worry about what I have to do now and not shit that might happen later.

Almost three days after Max pointed out to me I'm a little more wound up than most, nothing has yet to happen. Maybe the Rolling Cobras really have learned their lesson.

"Bullshit! You can't hit that target and even if you could it' wouldn't be a bullseye."

Clean and Archer had a bet going on about Archer being able to hit the dart board with his knife with a blindfold on. I don't know what kind of superpowers Archer has, maybe some voodoo or magics from his hometown of New Orleans but the man has never missed a fucking shot. I don't know why Clean would take that fucking bet.

"If you don't think I can hit the target, why wouldn't you put up your po'boy?"

"Because I rode nearly thirty miles to get the fucking sandwich. It's mine. I want it."

"Fine, then admit I can make the throw." Archer waves his hand weakly as if he doesn't care.

"You already had one sandwich, Clean. You greedy asshole." Wire is leaning against the bar with a half smirk on his face watching the two of them bicker with each other.

"What do you think Wire? You think he can make it?" Clean turns to look at his best friend and Wire squints his eyes.

"You have to question that? The man is one of the best sharpshooters in the world. The entire world, Clean. You think he'd miss a target not more than 30 feet away just cause he can't see?"

Clean nods his head and rubs his chin like he's in deep thought. "You're on."

I slam my hand to my forehead as does Wire, Mick, and Max. I love the kid to death but Clean isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

Archer throws his head back in laughter before he turns towards the dartboard, takes a few steps back, and allows Clean to tie a piece of cloth over his eyes. He doesn't even bother to look at the dartboard again.

Hell, none of us have to look at the dartboard. There's not one person in here besides Clean who thinks Archer's going to miss. There's just no way.

Archer stills for a second. "Am I clear?"

I look toward the wall where he's about to throw the knife. That would be fucked up if someone was to walk by just as he throws the knife. He'd never forgive himself for that shit.

"Yeah, you're straight." I tell him and he quickly flings his knife straight at the wall. The knife hits the bullseye so hard it cracks the board in two and it splits directly in the center, causing it to fall to the ground.

"Motherfucker! That doesn't count!" Clean yells out as we all start to laugh at him.

Archer rips the blindfold off, and I can see the look of confusion on his face.

"What happened? Where is it? What's going..." He looks down to the floor and sees the board there. "Don't welch!" Archer walks over to Clean with his hand held out waiting for his winnings.

"Bullshit! I said if you hit the bullseye!" Clean tries to argue.

"Hey asshole, he did hit the bullseye. He hit it, then went through it, then he fucking broke it! You lost Clean, give it up." I joke with them.

"You bastards finish playing your fucking games, or should I wait here for another ten minutes while you get your shit together?"

I swiftly turn around to see Prime leaning with his foot up and braced against the door of the church. His arms folded across his chest.

"Shit. We didn't even know you were there." I say and start walking in his direction.

"I need everyone. Church. " He calls and Max, who is SAA, starts walking too. Clean, Archer and Wire stay out since they don't usually come in for church. Even as the enforcer, Wire isn't considered one of the higher ups yet.

"No, everyone. This business affects us all." Prime says and instantly that heavy stone I've been trying to ignore in my gut flips, twisting my insides up with it. Something is wrong. Something major is happening. What I don't understand is why the fuck I don't know about it. As the VP if something was going down then I should be one of the first people to know. When I walk into the room with everyone else behind me, I see Ryder and Mick in the church already. There's a bottle of Jack on the table and they all look like they've been drinking.

"Prez, what's going on?" I ask.

"It's the Rolling Cobras, isn't it?" Clean says. The jokes and immaturity melted away from him the second he walked through the doors of the church.

Prime falls into his seat and scrubs a hand down his face. The man looks tired. He lets out a long sigh before he starts talking. "You know when I started this group, it was just me, Mick, and a few other degenerates trying to find a way to make money and stay off the fucking streets. I had no idea what this would become and what it would mean to me and my family. I had no idea that I'd find my fucking home here.

I'd rather die than see anything happen to this club or any of you. And if I stay on as the Prez that's what's going to happen. I'm too old, I'm too conflicted. I just want to move down to Florida and be with my daughter and grandchild. I'm so focused on the peace and quiet I don't see the war brewing right in my face. I'm no longer suited for the chair. As of today, I'm stepping down as President of the Wings of Diablo club."

A deathly silence slams into the room. He looks at me, pride and fear pouring out of his eyes. ". Prez, this is now your family to lead."

"What the fuck is going on? Is this serious?" Gin is the first one to speak up. It sets off the explosion needed for everyone to open up.

"Prime, you can't be serious. How can you just leave?" Archer says.

"What about the club. You disowning the patch?" Clean says.

" isn't ready."

That comment grabs my attention and I look over to Ryder who's looking down. The man is supposed to be one of my closest friends but he's questioning my ability to lead already.

"Excuse me?" I say louder.

"Hey! Shut up!" Max barks out." And everyone does as he asks.

I repeat my question and glare at Ryder.

", I love you. You're my brother and a good fucking man but you're not ready to take this on.

Shock and anger lace my words, "Who the fuck do you think you are, Ryder? I've been VP for years. Anytime something has gone down, I've been right next to Prime trying to make sure we stay whole. How the fuck can you say that I'm not ready for this?"

"You've been by his side. Yeah, you've always been right next to him. You've never been on your fucking own. This shit isn't you picking up the patch and just stepping into his shoes. This is you having to see every fucking possibility, this is you making decisions for all of us and following through even if it's something you don't want to do. You no longer have yourself to look out for, now your decisions should be about the club, for the club and to help the club. You not ready to do that., I'm sorry brother."

"Ryder, I hear what you're saying but I have faith in . And he's not alone. That's what the fucking club is for. You all are going to have his back and when he looks like he's about to crumble, which will happen, all of you will steel your fucking spines and keep him standing tall." Prime leans forward and shoots daggers out of his eyes in Ryder's direction, "Also, you don't have a fucking say in the matter, Ryder. is the fucking president, and his word is law." Prime sneers at his friend.

There's not one more peep out of anyone, not even me. I never expected something like this, not anytime soon, at least.

I clear my throat and look at the man I've considered to be something like a father figure, "Everyone out, let me talk to Prime."

"Sure thing, Prez." Wire is the first one to say before he claps me on the shoulder and walks out. The rest follow doing the same. I've gone from to Prez in five second's flat. What the fuck is happening here.

Once it's just me and Prime in the room he starts to get up from his chair at the head of the table.

"No, it's okay." I shake my head, still not wrapping my mind around the fact that he's going to be leaving.

"Fuck that. You listen to me boy. Respect is a key part of what drives this club. You never let anyone take your seat. The only time you let someone forget you're the president of this club is when you can no longer be the fucking president. Take your seat, ." Prime gets up and gestures to it.

I nod my head and sit in his place.

Adrenaline and testosterone flood through my body as I get comfortable. Fucking hell, this feels good.

"You have anything you need to ask me?" Prime asks standing.

"Yes, I need you to tell me everything. WOD is going to be around for a long time, and I need to know how to prepare my men. I'm never going to be you, Prime, but I love these men with all I have. They're my family and I'll do whatever I have to in order to make sure that we rise to the top.

Prime nods and sits down in one of the open chairs, "You'll make it to the top , but you'll fall too. What matters is who you are when you get back up." He scrubs his hand down his face, "I hope you have some time, Prez, because I got a lot of shit to tell you."