Twisted Chapter 12

Sitting around the table in church, I waited to get to the open part of the night, but first, we had to run through official business. The list of projects the club wanted to start was one thing on the agenda. The addition to the Watering Hole was complete and a huge success. Business was booming. People came in for the food and drinks they loved and the music on Friday and Saturday nights and to check out what we did to the place. The compliments kept pouring in. It was a good thing Knight had hired more staff during the renovation.

The money Natalya inherited from her dad was put to good use. The man might not have been a loving father, but he'd left everything to her in his will. The club had more than enough to cover our projects on our own, but she insisted we use some of it for the reno. In addition, she'd set aside a chunk in investments for future things she or the club might want to do and help others. She saw it as her way of paying it forward to people and making amends. She hated knowing her dad had made it mainly through illegal means. His bogus financials made it hard to determine what was legally earned income and what wasn't because he had both. She'd initially wanted not to claim it, but Knight convinced her not to let it sit there and let lawyers or other men like her dad benefit.

We'd been working on the back end—well, mostly Wire had—with help from the other IT guys in our allied clubs to dismantle the businesses and ensure no more ill-gotten gains were made, or people were hurt. The Dark Patriots and their various connections had come in handy in doing this. It was almost entirely resolved.

Our next two projects were for the construction company. First, they were going to start building Hulk a house. He had been grumbling lately about how he was ready to get the hell out of the clubhouse. Agony told him to shut up and build. The second job would be to have them add a massive rec slash safe slash sleepover room for the kids to the clubhouse. It would be similar to what they had in Dublin Falls and Hunters Creek. The kids could go in there to play, sleep, or, in case of an emergency, to be safe.

It would make it much easier as we grew and had more children to have them watched over when there was a large party. All we'd have to do was get them all in there, add some babysitters, and voilà. There would be bunk beds, a small kitchenette, and a large bathroom with more than a single shower, sink, or toilet—more of a self-contained apartment.

These plans had an added benefit. It gave Joli two things to work on. She'd been sketching stuff for the kids' room for a while. Now she could finish it, and Hulk's house would be laid out. She was in heaven. We discussed those and gave a preliminary report on anything at the individual businesses we were worried about. I told them about the odd new truckers, and then we got down to new business.

My hand went up when Agony asked, "Anyone have anything new they want to discuss?"

"Damn, you almost put out my eye," Mace joked from beside me. He was holding his hand over his eye. The others snickered.

"You shouldn't have had your face stuck up in my business then, asshole. Hell, I've had rashes not as close as you."

His comeback was, "Better go get those rashes checked out. Does Zahirah know you get those?"

"Shut up, you two, before I smack you. If you've got something to say, spit it out, Twisted, before someone else takes your chance," Agony told me. He wasn't truly upset. We saw he was fighting not to grin.

"Sorry, Pres. Yes, I do have something. Well, three of them. First, I'd like to ask for an official vote to make Zahirah my old lady." I couldn't hold in my proud smile.

There were good-natured groans from around the table. It was impossible they hadn't known it was coming.

"Are you sure?" Dare asked with a smirk.

Pope said, "It hasn't been that long since you met her. Maybe you should wait a few months."

"I think we should talk to her and have her head examined. She's gotta be crazy if she wants to tie herself to you," came from my former best friend, Mace. I punched him in the arm, almost knocking him out of his chair. He grimaced and then rubbed the spot.

"I swear it's like being in a room full of kindergarteners. Cara behaves better. I should patch her in as a member," Agony muttered.

"You better be prepared to do it when she's old enough. Cara already informed me she wants a motorcycle when she's old enough to drive, and she wants to join the club," Knight told the table with a grin.

"No women allowed!" Nitro said loudly.

"By the time she's old enough, who knows? If you keep driving me nuts, I'll have to see about changing those bylaws," Agony threatened.

We knew it was an empty threat since a change to bylaws would require the club's majority approval, but we all pretended to argue about it for a minute until he pounded the table for order. As we quieted down, he looked at me.

"So you know what it's like now, don't you? I recognize the look. Well, she might be nuts, but if she wants ya, we have to make sure it's official. All in favor of letting Zahirah claim this fucker, raise your hand," he yelled.

All hands shot up, and hoots and hollers filled the air. Knight jotted it down in our official record since he was the secretary. As they got quiet, Knight gave me a chin lift. "Tell me what you want as her name, and I'll order it."

"I will, and thanks. I want it as soon as possible. The sooner people in this town know she's taken, the better. I have a couple more things, too."

"Go ahead," Agony said.

"This second one is more of just informing you all that I'll be moving them in this weekend. Now that she's official, I can bring them. The kids are no longer sick, and we need to get them away from the house ASAP."

This statement caused them all to cast concerned looks my way. "Why the urgency? We know you wanted them where they would be safe, but how you said that makes it sound like something has happened," Hulk questioned.

"It did. Yesterday, when we picked Aliya up from school, those three boys were following her and saying shit. I got out of the truck, but they didn't see me coming. Billy was calling her a slut. The gist of the remaining conversation was that I warned them, and they played dumb. They said they had no idea what I meant about staying away from their house. They claimed they had no idea where they lived. Then Billy, the cocky bastard, was telling me if I said stuff about him that his daddy would sue me, and if I touched him, I'd go to jail. In addition, he stated his dad was going to run the club, Zari, and the kids out of town. He seemed confident, which tells me the assistant mayor is talking out of turn or planning shit. I wouldn't put it past him to try and find a way to make us leave. He thinks he has that kind of power, and we're beneath him in every way. I told Billy-boy it wouldn't happen."

This had them muttering, swearing, and vowing to show Jenner and the punks how wrong they were. Some wanted to pay Jenner a visit. I held up my hand so they'd quiet down.

"My gut tells me they're only going to get worse. Billy is the ringleader. When did you say he turns eighteen, Wire?"

A smile lit up his face. "In three weeks. The others aren't until July and August. The last day of school is his birthday. Graduation is just over a week later."

"Is it too much to hope all three are going off to college immediately and will never return?" Pyro joked.

"Oh, they've got plans to go to college, but not until the fall. They plan to party this summer," Wire told him.

"Should I ask how you know what their plans are?" Dare asked him.

"It's this crazy thing they call social media. They post everything there, and they've been vocal lately about their plans to party and have a blast this summer before they go. I know which colleges they were accepted to, which ones they chose to attend, and more."

"Do they ever say anything about my family in their posts?" I asked curtly.

He shook his head. "No. They talk about the girls they think are pretty and hot. They talk about the people they think are losers, which makes it suspicious that they never mention your family. Not a peep."

"Hmm, okay, not sure why they don't, but let me know if they do. I'll be honest. I'm just waiting for those pricks to be legal. When they are, let them step a toe out of line, and I don't care who they are or their families' status, I'm taking it out on their asses."

"Just don't do anything without us having your back. The news about Jenner running us out of town is interesting. Keep your eyes and ears open, everyone. We need to know if it was all BS or if he's planning something. I have news for them. They'll have to burn us out to get me to leave," Agony growled.

There was a chorus of voices shouting their agreement. After this, Agony asked if anyone else had something to discuss. It was a resounding no, so he declared church over. I was happy. I now had an old lady and an instant family. All I needed now was the property cut to present to her and to get them moved over here.

Later, I'd work on the whole marriage and baby thing. I caught Knight before he walked out and told him what I wanted her nickname to be on her cut. He nodded and told me he'd get it ordered immediately. After thanking him, I joined the others in the common room. My first stop wasn't the bar for a drink. Instead, it was at the table where Zahirah sat with Eliana, Natalya, Joli, and Tana. They had the little ones on their laps while Aliya and Arif entertained Cara.

I gave her a deep kiss and smiled at the whole table. They smiled back. "Ladies, let me be the first to introduce my old lady, Zahirah, to you. It's now official, love. There's no changing your mind."

She smiled and shook her head. "You're so delusional. Why would I do that? I'm so glad they said yes. I was wondering what would happen if they didn't. It would mean we wouldn't be moving, but would it mean you couldn't see me at all?" There was this underlying note of genuine concern. I was shocked she ever thought they'd say no. The voting was more of a formality unless the woman was a threat to the club or an outright horrible person. I felt awful she'd had doubts and I hadn't known so I could reassure her.

I dragged her chair away from the table and hauled her to her feet. I sat in the chair and brought her down to my lap. She did it without a fight, but she had a puzzled look on her face. I hugged her close.

"Zari, why didn't you tell me you were worried? Babe, there was never a chance they would say no. You're a wonderful person and not a threat to the club. Those would be the only reason they'd say no."

"Yes, but I'm bringing possible trouble to the club with those boys and the Jenner thing. Billy is convinced his dad will run us all out of town. He has to be plotting something. I've heard what you've dealt with before. Aren't you tired of trouble?"

Her question earned laughs from the room as the others came over to hear what was happening. Agony was the first to say something.

"Zari, is it alright if we call you that?" he asked. She nodded yes. He continued, "Well, Zari, this club will never back down from a fight. Not when we're on the side of right, and the other person is wrong. We especially won't do it when it involves family, and that's what you and those kids are now—our family. Anyone messes with you, they mess with all of us. Ain't no damn way Jenner, his boss, or anyone else is getting us to leave this town. Let them try. They'll get the surprise of their lives."

His little speech was nothing but sincere. It brought tears to her eyes. She told him thank you very softly. I whispered in her ear, "Don't you dare cry, or I'll be forced to carry you off to make love to you, and that'll scandalize the kids."

She giggled and whispered back, "Don't threaten me with that, or I'll bawl my eyes out to get you to do it. Behave. I'm having a great moment right now with your president."

I threw back my head and laughed, then addressed the room. "She's already telling me what to do. Damn, she didn't wait long to jump into the old lady role."

The married guys all laughed while the others groaned. The ladies wore satisfied smirks, even Tana. I pointed to her. "I see that smile, Tana. Promise me you won't teach her any of your wily tricks."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have tricks," Tanamara said piously.

" Enisi , I have to call BS. Yes, you do. You've been using them on me since I was born and on this club since the day you met them," Agony countered.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, but she winked at the ladies and mouthed we'll talk later .

That led us guys to tell the women stories of the times when Tana had gotten us either to do things she wanted or talked us out of things she didn't want us to do, depending on the case. When we settled down, Zahirah bowed her head to her.

"I want to be you when I grow up, Tana. Please teach me your non-tricks to keep this one in line." She pointed to me.

"Absolutely. I'll hold classes for all of you if you want."

"Oh hell no!" was the chorus.

I settled back with my woman on my lap and enjoyed the craziness that was my family. Having Zahirah and the kids added to it made everything perfect. It would be smooth sailing once we got the minor irritation of those three entitled asses and their families out of our lives.