Mace (Untamed Sons MC: Birmingham Chapter #1)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

MACE

THREE WEEKS LATER…

The cold bites my skin, settling into my bones, but it’s not the reason I shiver. I slide my gaze towards Nicky as he pulls a drag from his cigarette, the ember glowing. The smell of tobacco is as thick in the air as the tension, and although he ain’t said a word, I know what he’s thinking.

“You don’t want the patch?” Ravage’s voice rumbles through the semi-darkness, also reading my best friend like an open book.

Headlights from the traffic below the bridge we’re standing on illuminate us briefly before we’re plunged into almost darkness again, and I’m glad it’s hiding the look on my face.

The silence lingers as Ravage waits for his answer. As the London chapter and National President, he’s top dog in our club, so this shit coming directly from him ain’t a game. He means every word he’s saying, and although I thought Nicky would be the obvious choice to take over, the reality is this is a dangerous roll of the dice. One wrong move, me and Nicky are eating dirt for eternity. When it was just the two of us, it didn’t matter, but I have a family now. Maylie’s pregnancy washes away all that recklessness that beat inside me. I won’t leave my old lady and my kid alone.

But I also want my world to be a safe place for them. Shit is out of control in our chapter, has been for a while, and the clock has finished counting down. Rav has clearly reached the end of his short rope, and he ain’t the only one. I’ve questioned pretty much every decision Crank has made in the name of the patch—Nicky and Nate have too—but this ain’t without risk.

As if he senses my thoughts, London’s VP, Nox, shifts on his feet. The way his attention darts around the deserted lane makes me wonder if he’s expecting trouble. The overpass we’re gathered on runs between two small villages, and even during the day, I can’t imagine traffic is busy along this stretch. The only sign of civilisation is the motorway traffic flying along the road beneath us.

“Ain’t a case of wanting it,” Nicky says finally, the ember on the end of his cigarette casting a glow over his face for a moment. “It’s about doing what’s right for the chapter… and the club.”

Ravage tilts his head slightly. His huge beard makes him look dangerous and wild, both of which he is. He’s more than earned his reputation over the years.

“You don’t think that’s a change in management?” Disbelief threads through Rav’s voice.

Nicky’s body is wired as he peers over the edge of the overpass railing. He’s wired and walking a tightrope. I see it in every line of his body.

“Crank can’t stay. We all know that,” Nicky mutters. “He’s more interested in pussy than fightin’ our enemies.”

Pussy like Chloe Winters.

“The Pioneers only got as far as they did because Crank stepped back and gave them free reign in Birmingham,” Howler says. “That made that cunt, Desmond Richardson, bold enough to move into my territory, Nicky. I lost people I fuckin’ care about. Trick lost his wife. The list of sins against that cowardly fuck is too long. He needs to pay.”

That’s an understatement. Crank has violated more bylaws than any other member in our entire club history, and yet he’s still sitting on his throne.

“And he will,” Ravage assures the Manchester President. “I give you my word. That prick’s days are numbered, but we have to do this carefully. Despite all the shit, that fucker still has support in Birmingham, and not just from our brothers.”

Crank might be a useless President, but the guy is fucking charming. Rav’s right when he says he has support outside the club. He’s created alliances and formed relationships with a lot of Birmingham’s criminal underbelly, and I don’t have the first clue why he didn’t call on that support when we were being smashed into the fucking ground by the Dudley Pioneers.

“I don’t care how it gets done,” Howler tells him, “as long as it does.”

“Is he still tellin’ you to take your colours off when you’re around the city?” Nox directs this question to Nicky.

“Not since Desmond Richardson bit it,” Nicky admits, his mouth curving into a sour grimace. “You have no idea how hard it’s been to publicly defend that shit. It cut me every fuckin’ time I had to take my colours off my back to appease that coward.”

“I know, and I’m grateful for the part you’ve played in all of this, Nicky. We couldn’t let Crank know we’re gunnin’ for him.”

Howler’s mouth curves downwards. “The fact he ordered it at all is a fuckin’ disgrace. We fought the Pioneers too and not once did it enter my mind to ask my boys to take their kuttes off.”

“He didn’t want to risk a direct strike from Richardson,” Nicky says to Howler.“It was better for him that Desmond’s head was turned your way.”

“And by doing that, he disrespected the club.” Ravage thumps his fist against the President patch on his chest.

“Crank ain’t a brave man,” Nox notes, “but he likes the power that comes with being President.”

“Yeah, and that’s why I came to you and Rav,” Nicky says. “Not so you’d give me his seat. I don’t want it.”

“You loyal to him still?” Ravage’s words are like ice, and I shift forwards an inch, ready to defend my best friend.

He grunts in irritation. “Fuck no. He ain’t worthy of the Sons name. It makes me fuckin’ sick to follow him, but dethroning a President ain’t something I relish… even one as shitty as Crank.”

Even though I know that’s why we’re here, hearing those words out loud freezes the blood in my veins.

Fuck.

The fact it’s necessary doesn’t help. Crank has dragged our chapter through the mud, but it still ain’t an easy thing to remove a President.

“I’d be concerned if you weren’t showing reluctance,” Howler says, leaning against the rail behind him. “Means you ain’t trying for a power grab.”

“I don’t want power, and I sure as fuck don’t want to be President.”

“Wearing those patches on your back sometimes means doin’ shit you don’t want to for the greater good.”

Nicky can’t even give him shit back. Howler had done exactly that when he’d moved into Manchester, setting up the first chapter there. He’s the youngest President the Sons has ever had, and from what I know, he’s a good one too.

Howler had served under Ravage for years before he was given his own chapter. He’d won his territory with blood, and he’d fought tooth and nail to keep it. Until recently, our Manchester brothers had still been fighting for what was theirs, but one of their prospects had taken out the head of the Dudley Pioneers just six months ago. Since then, peace resumed for both their chapter and ours. It was fucking glorious to stop worrying about being shanked in the back every time I’m in the city, but now, we’re facing a new war—one from within our ranks.

“If you want the greater good, that ain’t me.” Nicky blows out a breath, his frustration mounting that they keep pushing this narrative of him being President. “I don’t know how to lead.”

He’s wrong about that. Nicky has a way of drawing people to him, even if it’s unintentional. He’d been the one to orchestrate chasing down the few remaining members of the Pioneers in Birmingham while Howler’s boys saw to cleaning up Manchester.

Team work. It made the dream work.

I took great pleasure in killing those fuckers. We’d lost good people because of their gang, and I’m a petty cunt. An eye for an eye didn’t make anyone blind in my view.

But it should have been Crank who led that aggression. We’d buried so many brothers and family members over the years because of Richardson’s men. Where was Crank’s retribution? Where was his justice? Crank’s lack of action lost us a good brother, and not to the ground but to the road. Hawk’s decision to go nomad after Jade died didn’t surprise anyone, but it still fucking hurt. He was family, blood, and Crank shoved him out the door.

Hawk eventually patched into Manchester and is Road Captain now, but it still pisses me off we lost a good brother because of Crank.

“I don’t trust anyone else to lead Birmingham,” Ravage admits, and I wonder how far he thinks this poison has spread through our chapter.

Nicky snorts, dropping his cigarette butt to the ground and smashing it under his boot. Tension ripples through him before his hand skims over his shaved head.

“There are plenty of people who could do this and would do it better than me. You got a clubhouse full of brothers to pick from right under your nose.”

Ravage shifts his shoulders, his kutte rucking up as he does. The weight of mine is suddenly heavy. Nicky’s must be breaking his back.

“They got families and roots in London. Ain’t askin’ them to leave that behind. Not when I got someone perfect for the job right in front of me.”

Nicky shakes his head, but Ravage moves to his side, forcing his attention.

“I know you don’t want it, which makes you right for the job. You know this chapter, and you know the city, Nicky.”

“Grub’d be a better President than me.”

“Grub didn’t come to me and tell me what’s going down. You did. I don’t know where that fucker’s loyalty lies.” He grips the side of Nicky’s neck, and I brace. “I trust you . You’re loyal to the patch, to your brothers, and to me. That’s what matters. I need people in place I can rely on.”

“Fuck, Ravage. When I said I’d help, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”

“I know, kid. I know. But I need you. The Sons need you.”

He stares at him for a beat before growling under his breath. “You’re a cunt for expecting me to do this.”

“Yeah, I know, but I can live with that. I don’t know if Crank suspects anything, but I don’t want to give him the opportunity to rally support. This has to happen quick and fuckin’ efficiently.”

Rav lets go of Nicky and allows him to move away. He leans on the rail, watching the cars whizz along the road for a moment. I fucking feel for him, but I agree with Rav—Nicky is the best person for the job. He’ll be a hell of a President, but right now, the weight of our chapter’s future is sitting on his shoulders.That’s a heavy burden to carry.

“You’re gonna regret giving this to me.”

“You bleed this club in the same way I do. Ain’t a single thing I regret about putting my faith in you.”

Nicky lifts his eyes to the dark sky as headlights flash over his face. The sound of the moving traffic is a constant buzz .

“I’ll help you get rid of Crank, but I don’t need the gavel. You find someone else to do that.”

I haven’t said a word from the moment we rode into this little meeting, but I can’t let him pass up this opportunity. Nicky might not see his potential, but I sure as hell do. “You should take it,” I say.

He snaps his head in my direction and stares at me as if I’ve lost my fucking mind.

“ You should take it,” he mutters, pulling out another cigarette and lighting it. “You’d do a better job than I ever could.”

“I ain’t a leader, Nicky. Ain’t a single one of our brothers who would follow me. They’d follow you. Rav’s right. Your blood runs through this club. Your dad was a Son, your grandfather… you’ve lived and breathed the Sons for your entire life. You’d be a hell of a President.”

“Again, so you do it.”

Ravage glances at Howler before bringing his attention back to Nicky. “Mace has his own part to play in this, Nicky.”

I frown. “What part?”

“You and him, you’ve been friends for years, right?”

“Yeah.” Everyone knows mine and Nicky’s history. It ain’t a secret. He was a club brat, born into this life, but I grew into it. I pulled on that kutte the second I was old enough to prospect.

“He’s gonna need someone strong at his side. This shit has the potential to get messy, and you’re the only fucker in that clubhouse I know will have his back.”

I glance at the man I’ve considered blood over my own family at times and let my lips twitch into a smile. “Always. With my life. Ain’t gonna be anywhere else.”

“And that’s why, once we’ve removed Crank, you’ll sit at Nicky’s right hand as VP.”

What the fuck? I stare at Ravage, my brain short circuiting. “I’m having a kid.”

“We all got families, Mace,” Nox says.

I scoff. “I ain’t cut out for management.”

“Me neither, but that ain’t stopped you from volunteerin’ me,” Nicky mutters.

I ignore him, trying to gauge if Ravage is serious. He doesn’t flinch away from my scrutiny, which brings me to the conclusion that he is.

“You’ll have his back, and that’s what I care about. The rest you can learn.”

This has to be a joke. “I don’t know shit about being Vice President,” I counter. “I only made Road Captain because Crank was short on guys.”

“You think any of us knew shit before we stepped up?” Nox snaps. “The club needs you both, so stop fuckin’ whining and get on with it.”

Howler sniggers. Fuck me. This is really happening.

“And how exactly are we ‘getting on with it’?” Nicky asks the question that sits on my tongue. “Crank ain’t gonna just walk away. He likes the power he has, which means the only way this is going to go down is with blood. Considering we just got out the last war we were fighting, I ain’t keen to jump right back into another.”

“We take him down.” Those ominous words from Ravage reverberate through the darkness.

Nicky twists towards me, his forearms still resting on the railing. I shift my shoulders at him. What fucking choice do we have? Ravage ain’t exactly giving us any other options here.

“I ain’t doing this without you,” he says to me.

Fuck. “I wouldn’t let you,” I counter.

Nicky straightens and turns to face Rav and the others. “So, what’s the plan?”

The discussions are brief, and by the time we’re climbing onto our bikes, that pit in my stomach has shrunk a little. With the backing of London, Manchester, and the other Presidents in our UK chapters, there’s a good chance we can come through this unscathed, save our club, and get it back to where it should be.

The ride back feels fucking long, even though we’re barely an hour from Birmingham. We tail Howler until he veers off and heads north towards Manchester.

My thoughts are reeling the entire ride back. Nicky would make a hell of a President, and he’s the only one I would trust to pull the chapter out of the hole we’re in.

Ravage asking me to be VP shocked the shit out of me, but he’s right. I ain’t stepping aside and letting someone else have Nicky’s back. The next few months are going to be dangerous as fuck for him and for me, and we’re going to be alone in this. We’re only going to have the support of Nate until Rav and the other chapters can get their ducks in a row. There’s no way in hell we can put our trust in our other brothers until we know where their loyalties lie, but one way or another, Crank is going down.