Prologue

PROLOGUE

SMOKE

Rage fills my veins as my brother dismisses everyone. Once again, he didn’t take anything I said into consideration. It’s his way or the highway, and I’m sick of it.

I’m sick of a lot of things lately.

Ever since Dad died and Ghost took over, it’s been a constant fight with him. Nothing I say or do is good enough, and I fucking hate it.

I should have been president.

The bitter thoughts fill my mind.

Everyone knew our dad wanted him to be president, so when it came to vote, everyone voted that way. They never even gave me a second thought.

It’s bullshit.

I get that he is the oldest, but I should have gotten the opportunity to plead my case. To let the members decide who they want to lead them.

Instead, one word from my father, and the mantle is his.

I wait for the room to clear, keeping my seat at the table. I’m not surprised that Ghost stays behind as well.

“Spit it out. What did I do to piss you off this time?” Ghost sighs.

“You know what you did,” I hiss at him.

“I’m sorry my breathing pisses you off. It seems everything I do these days is another reason for you to act like a child. Grow up, Smoke.”

I grit my teeth. He’s always calling me a child or immature. Especially in front of Dad. Maybe that’s why he chose Ghost over me. Ghost convinced him I wasn’t ready.

I am, though. I could bring this club into a new era. If only he would listen to me.

“You’re such a dick, you know that, right? Anytime I say something, you skip right fucking over it like I’m not here. Hell, I bet if one of the other guys said it, you would consider it. I have good ideas, and you won’t hear me out. This is supposed to be a family, but I’m not feeling much like a member.”

“This club is mine, Smoke. What I say goes. You need to fall in line. You don’t get to make the calls. Father gave you a leadership role because he could trust you to follow his commands. I can’t do the same. Look at you, man. Ever since he died, you have been fighting me tooth and nail. The guys can feel the animosity. It’s not good for morale.” Ghost looks tired.

Fuck him, though. I’m tired too.

“You know I won’t just fall into line. This club is as much mine as it is yours. It’s our legacy.”

He shakes his head. “It’s Dad’s legacy, and now it is mine. He had a choice, and he chose me. It doesn’t matter his reasons anymore. Dad wanted me in charge, not you, and the club agreed. There was no way both of us were going to get a shot at leading it. It was always going to be one or the other, and it happened to be me. You need to either accept it or leave.”

“Leave?” I say in disbelief.

He’s going to kick me out of my own club?

“You heard me. You want this job so bad, then go and start your own chapter because you aren’t getting this one. You know there are finances available for you to do so. So do it. This is mine whether you like it or not, little brother.”

My jaw clenches.

Of course he would throw that in my face.

One little argument with my father three years ago led to me asking to start my own chapter. He denied me back then. Said I still had too much to learn from him. I just needed to get out from under his and Ghost’s thumb. Now Ghost wants to offer it to me when he knows how badly I want to be here. To be part of the lasting legacy of my father.

Fuck this.

“You know what? I think I will,” I say as I stand. “Just know you’re going to regret it.”

I don’t wait for him to respond. I stand up and storm out of the room, not caring if he has anything else to say. He’s supposed to be my blood and also my brother. Two ways he is supposed to have my back and be family to me, and yet here he is basically forcing me out. I know we weren’t both going to lead, but he won’t even listen to what I have to say. I can’t live like this. I might have been able to follow him if he didn’t treat me like a kid, but he does.

As I get to my room, I quickly pack a bag of things that I want to take with me. I don’t need much. Anything I don’t have, I will buy. Pulling my stash of cash from behind the AC vent, I stuff it in my pants. I hesitate on the picture of me and Ghost from when we were kids.

Part of me wants to say fuck him and smash it, but the other part slides it into my bag instead. I might not like my brother right now, but I will always love him.

Once I’m done, I head back out into the main room. My brother stands with his arms crossed by the door. I walk right by him without saying a word. He doesn’t try to stop me, nor does he speak either.

It’s in that moment I know I’m making the right decision. As much as I want to be here, this roost was never going to go well with two roosters trying to lead it. One of us needed to spread our wings and fly, and it happens to be me.

As I get on my bike, I hear the shuffle of footsteps and look up. Gunner, my best friend, strides toward me with a pack on and gets on his bike along with a couple of the other guys.

“What are you guys doing?” I ask.

Gunner raises a brow. “You guys weren’t exactly quiet. Ghost made the announcement right after you left church. If you leave, I do too.”

“And you guys?” I say, looking at the others.

“You know I’ve been wanting to get out of Boston for a while, I figured that this was the right time,” Bear says, and the others nod.

Four. Four guys are leaving my brother’s club for mine. It’s not much, but it’s a start.

I nod, as gratitude fills my veins.

“How do you guys feel about going south?” I ask.

Everyone smiles at that. It’s been a cold winter and a chilly spring. Guess we better search for better weather.

“Sunshine and beaches? Women in bikinis? Sign me up, brother,” Gunner says before starting his bike.

I smile at myself, the resentment starting to ebb away.

Maybe this is what I needed all along.

A new start.