Chapter Thirteen Wildcard

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: WILDCARD

"We need to decide on Preacher's punishment," Puma says after the door closes behind Brigit.

"He should die," Chill says. "He isn't a member of the club. No one gets away with trying to kill club members."

"I'm not convinced he was trying to kill me," I disagree. "He could have if he wanted to. He was too close to miss if he aimed center mass. Besides, I can't agree with murdering the man who might one day be my father-in-law. Brigit will never forgive me if the club kills her dad. They just found each other!"

We both turn to Puma. "If he had killed Wildcard, I would have killed Preacher with my bare hands." Puma says calmly, but both Chill and I can sense the anger simmering under the surface. "He almost cost me my VP and my best friend. We can't ignore the attack, but being the dad of a little girl, I can sympathize. If I believed someone harmed Elina, I'd burn the world down. I wouldn't care who they were. I want to hear Preacher's reasoning before we pass judgement. This is a decision the club needs to make. However, before we take it to Church. I want to discuss options."

We spend several minutes discussing several options until we come up with two that we'll take to Church for a vote. Chill and Puma head into Church, while I gather the members. Most are in the common room, but I have to search for Viper. I find her outside with Brigit, Alisa, and Preacher. He looks concerned, so I figure he knows why Puma is calling Church. I can't give him any sign of encouragement, because I don't know how the club will vote.

"We're discussing Preacher, right?" Viper asks once we're inside.

"Yeah."

She's silent as we walk through the common room and enter the hallway that will take us to our Chapel. "I don't blame you for bringing him here. You know that, right?"

Viper nods, but bites her lip. "I do. Although, I still feel responsible. I should have done my research on the guy before inviting him here. He seemed harmless."

"Did he mention his connection to the club?"

"No, he told me he rode with a defunct club out of Arizona. I don't think he trusted the Demon Dawgs. After hearing his story, I can't blame him."

I want to ask her about her statement, but we've reached our destination. Viper takes her seat next to Dice while I sit next to Puma.

"As you know, a visitor to the clubhouse shot our VP," Puma starts. The members grumble and share comments that follow Chill's original recommendation. It's clear to me they're all wanting to see us end Preacher. I shift in my seat as I fight to keep from begging them to give him another chance. I don't do it, because that would put my needs before the club's. This has to go through the process until everyone knows the facts and we agree on a final action. Not because of a favor to me, but as a club decision. Puma gives them all the facts, including Preacher's belief that I sold his daughter, Brigit.

"I have some new information about that," Viper speaks up once Puma finishes. "First, I want to apologize for not vetting Preacher better before I invited him to the clubhouse. I assumed he was a retired biker without ties to our club. I won't make the mistake again, but I accept whatever punishment you deem correct." She says the last to Puma and Chill.

"Docking your pay for a month and you'll have to manage HR at the hotel until we find a replacement," Chill says with an evil grin as Viper moans. We really need to hire a new HR manager. Having club members do it is not working out.

"What were you saying about learning more from Preacher?" Puma asks.

"I was outside with him and Brigit and he was explaining to her why he thought Wildcard betrayed him. First, I think Squiggy might have framed him for the crime that sent Preacher to jail." She describes how Squiggy talked Preacher into taking the fall and then threatening him to serve his time.

"I can look into it." Spark offers.

"Do some digging, see what you can find. It isn't a priority," Puma adds, before turning back to Viper. "Go on."

"When I mentioned Preacher's name yesterday, you said you did him a favor and then he refused to see you when he was in prison. Right?" I nod. "He told Brigit that the reason he thought you betrayed him was because he never heard from you after he asked you to get her out of town and away from Squiggy."

I lean forward. "I tried to see him. His lawyer told me he didn't want to talk to me. That he didn't want any visitors."

"The same lawyer who convinced Preacher to plead guilty?" Spock, our secretary, asks.

I shrug, because I don't know. "Maybe?"

"Preacher said that the only visitor he had besides Squiggy was Dale. Preacher was talking with a prisoner liaison to work out an appeal. Dale told him to keep his mouth shut and serve his sentence. That Wildcard sold Brigit to a sick bastard who would be happy to kill her if Preacher didn't do as he was told."

Fuck. No wonder he shot me.

"Most likely," Puma says, and I realize I spoke my thoughts out loud. "Doesn't absolve Preacher of his guilt. We still need to decide on a punishment. We've come up with some options. I'm bringing them to the table."

Puma lays out the two options. As he discusses them, I feel a sense of dread rise as I consider Brigit's response to what we decide here. I don't see any outcome that doesn't include her walking away from me and the club. The options may not be fatal for Preacher, but they'll kill my future with Brigit. I can't let that happen.

"Before we vote, I have something I'd like to say," I speak up.

Puma nods for me to continue. "You're the one he shot. Go ahead."

"I know this is a decision that we need to make as a club, but I want to present another option. Not sure how many of you know that I've just discovered I'm a father. Brigit, Preacher's daughter, had my son and kept it from me. But she did it for a good reason," I add quickly as the grumbles start. "Only a few of you knew Squiggy when he was President before Puma. The man was as big an asshole as Dale was. Preacher asked me to take Brigit out of Vegas to protect her from Squiggy. Squiggy wanted her. Bad. If what Viper said is true, and Preacher believed I betrayed him, well, I can't fault him for shooting me. Not saying that I don't think he needs to pay for it, but I don't want to lose Brigit and my son. I don't want to pay that price. So, I'm asking that we let Preacher decide his fate. Give him the two options we've agreed upon and let him select one."

Puma lets the members talk through my request before he calls us back to order. "Let's take a vote. Our first vote is to decide if we let Preacher choose."

I feel a sense of relief as the vote unanimously supports letting Preacher decide his fate. I don't know if this will keep Brigit from rejecting me and the club, but I've gotta hope that it does.

"Chill, can you bring Preacher in here?"

"I'd like to get him. If that's okay?" I ask.

When Puma gives me the go ahead, I go in search of the man. I find him sitting in the common room drinking a beer.

"Where's Brigit?" I ask him.

"Alisa is showing her and Colt their room."

"Need you in Church."

He nods and takes a final swig of liquid courage before following me.

"Been a long time," I hear him whisper as we enter the room. He shows respect by not sitting down and waiting for Puma to address him.

"We've had a vote about the retribution we'll hand out for your attack on Wildcard. We came up with two options. Wildcard suggested we give you the opportunity to make the choice between the two."

Preacher glances at me in surprise.

"I don't want to lose Brigit, now that I've found her again."

"You won't. I'll make sure of it."

"Good," says Puma. "Now for the choices. The first choice is banishment. Leave the clubhouse and never return. But not just banishment from this club, but from all Demon Dawg clubs. You can't live within the territory of any club. Which means you can go live in your cabin, but you aren't welcome in Vegas. I'm not saying we'll kill you if cross into our territory again, but we'll remind you that you aren't welcome. You'll be a pariah." Puma lets Preacher consider this option and the ramifications.

"Understood. And what's the second option?" Preacher asks.

"You can rejoin the club as a fully patched member, but you'll get the brand."

Preacher sucks in his breath and his hand shakes as he strokes his beard.

"Before I decide, I have one question. A request, really."

Puma raises his eyebrows, but nods for Preacher to continue.

"If I stay and take the brand, could I have a different road name? I want that part of my life to die before I start a new life here. Preacher was a fool. I'm no longer that fool."

"That won't be a problem. So you're taking the brand?"

Preacher gives a single nod. "Yes, sir, I am."