Ride or Die - A Biker Romance

Chapter Five: Church

Brian bangs the gavel in front of him, signaling that church had begun. Roach looks terrified from his spot at the foot of the table. This is the first time he's sat for church or even entered this room. Non members and prospects aren't allowed in our chapel room. He looks like hes about to s**t himself, which is odd. He has no reason to doubt us voting him in.

"Why should we vote you in?" Brian asks.

Roach takes a minute to steady himself and begins.

"As you all know, my father, Jersey gave his life to be a member of this MC. His loyalty died with him, but I'd like for it to continue with me."

Sounds of remorse echo around the table as we remember our fallen brother.

"In five years, I have not once given any one a reason to doubt my loyalty. I've never ratted or fought and I've gone on runs most prospects normally don't go on."

"Well boys? Do we vote Roach in? Aye or Nay!"

"Aye!" The room echoes.

"Looks like its unanimous." Brian calls out as he bangs the gavel on the dark oak table in front of him. Roach sheds his prospect cut for the member one Falcon holds out to him. Relief and pride are dancing across Roach's face. Once he's congratulated and everyone's seated again I clear my throat.

"I would like to discuss something."

The room quiets. This will be the first issue Roach gets to vote on.

"What's up VP?" Oak, and elder member grunts.

"We need to discuss Dweeb. We've been having some issues. Hash came to me to replace him and get a new apprentice. He's never done that."

"He fried a whole crop in 3 days. I've never seen anyone do that before." Hash adds.

"I found out why he was hovering in my computer lab. He didn't need training. I caught him trying to delete his file; as well as a few others yesterday. I don't even know how he hacked my system either." Itchy informs us.

"Did you fix your system?" I ask.

"I'm working on it."

"He's also been in my gym messing with s**t, pissed I'm training Bone and not giving him the time of day. But, Bone is built like a beast and Dweeb is a scrawny kid. Does it after I lock up. Caught him on camera after I watched the footage back." Falcon informs us.

"He also disrespected VP today. Eyed his girl and ignored him when he said something." Roach adds.

"What?!" exclaims Brian.

"We were unloading Bells' storage unit. Well I noticed that the whole time she was around Dweeb was eyeing her down. I said something to him a few times but he ignored me. So when I stood right in front of him to kind of block his vision he twisted his body so he could continue watching her." I explain.

"I've heard enough. We don't even need to vote. He's out. When everyone leaves after church, send him in. VP and I will talk to him. Is there anything else? No? Then church concludes so that Itchy can tattoo Roach."

The others file out, leaving Brian and I. Brian's exhausted, and I can see it in his face. He's the President of the club, assistant manager at a nearby megastore and a volunteer firefighter. Dweeb enters and starts to sit at a spot at the table.

"You are not a member. Non members don't have a spot at the table. They don't even enter this room." I bark.

He jumps away from the table as if it suddenly burst into flames.

"We have come to a decision about your standing in the club. It's come to our attention that prospecting may not be for you. You've been caught on camera messing with the gym, Itchy's files and Hash's product. You disrespected your VP and Annabell as well as outright ignored him. You're not needed here anymore. You have 20 minutes to clean out your room and leave the property." Brian explains.

"And if we catch you running your mouth about anything we will permanently close it for you." I add.

Dweeb is fuming but he stays silent. He rips his prospect cut off and throws it on the ground in front of him; storming out of the room. Brian settles back in his chair once the door slams shut. He groans, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. He's stressed out and it shows.

"Why do I feel like this is going to haunt us?" He mumbles, more to himself. Almost as if he's forgotten that I'm sitting right next to him.

"I get that feeling too. Should we just get rid of him now?" I ask.

"No, not just yet Ian. Let's ignore the feeling and give him the benefit of the doubt."

"Fine. But if he pulls the same s**t he did today I will personally be the one who stomps his head in."

"Fine." Brian leans even further back into his seat.

"Do you want me to leave you alone?" I ask after a few minutes of silence.

"Yes actually. I need a few minutes to process and figure out where our MC is going next."

I nod and get up. Before I leave him, I pick up Dweeb's cut and dust it off before placing it on the table. I close the door quietly behind myself and scan the almost full lounge and bar.

I pass Dweeb lugging a duffle bag over his shoulder. Apparently he didn't need 20 minutes. Eager to find Bells, I find her at the bar with Gem. I start walking towards her, and at first she doesn't notice me. When she finally looks up and sees me her face lights up like the sky on the 4th of July. When I reach her, I plant a kiss on her forehead.

"Hey Babe. Do you want a drink?" She asks.

"Yes please. That meeting was rather stressful."

"Roach looked pleased when he came out. Dweeb not so much." Gem comments.

"Didn't like the decision the club made. Doesn't matter. He's gone."

"Been a long time coming."

"Ian, you better not have gotten rid of him just because he was eyeing me!" Annabell scolds. She's never been a fan of my protective side.

"Bells dont get involved in club business. If we vote it, there's nothing you can do. We're a family. It's how we keep things running so smoothly. We don't discuss anything with non members. Gemma shouldn't even really be making vague comments, but she has been around so long we let it slide."

I pull her closer and she smiles. Her wall of defense is starting to crumble and hopefully she's starting to realize that not only am I not going anywhere, but I'm also not going to hurt her. She settles in against me and I'm happy to have this contact with her.

About an hour later, Roach and Itchy come in from the greenhouse with Hash trailing behind. All three of them are glassy eyed and Hash looks pleased with himself. If it pleases the big scary bikers then his 'normal' customers should have no issue. Itchy pulls his rolling cart out and sets up while Roach removes his cut and shirt and hops up on a table; laying down. Itchy pulls our stencil out; an old barrel with a snake coiled inside of it. Roach relaxes and waits.

"Okay kid. You have to sit as still as possible. Any muscles flexing or moving is going to mess it up."

Itch tightens his rubber bands and then switches to a fresh pair of gloves to avoid getting cleaner in the fresh ink. Roach freezes , which makes us laugh. The room falls quiet as Itch starts to work. It's a piece he's done for all of us countless times.

About 45 minutes later, Itchy wipes the last of the excess ink away and tapes a piece of plastic wrap to Roach's chest. Roach sits up and stretches like he just took a long nap.

"What's going on guys?" Roach calls out.

A loud cheer erupts as members swarm him.

"It looks great bro!" I tell him.

"Thanks VP!"

Roach has the biggest smile on his face, he's so proud.

Feeling a tug on my hand, I turn to see Annabell; looking clearly upset with her eyes all red and puffy. I pull her close and she sighs.

"Roach, I'll catch you later, okay?" I tell him as Bells pulls me away.

"Babe, what's wrong?"

She doesn't respond, just pulls me to my office where Gemma is waiting. Now I'm really confused.

"One of the bunnies is a problem." Gemma informs me.

That's when I notice Bells' face. She's a bomb, her fuse has been lit and will go off at any moment.

"One of your little bunnies thought I was a new recruit or something. Despite telling her otherwise. She also let it slip that I wouldn't be the only bunny you've played with." Annabell screams.

"I tried to explain to both of them that Annabell has always been the only girl that you've ever looked at and then I kicked her out."

Gemma is terrified that she messed up by pulling me away from club stuff.

"Bells. Listen to me. When I haven't been working or dealing with club stuff I've been one very short hair away from stalking you. Why do you think as soon as I find out you're boyfriends are hitting you they disappear? I've already taken out your latest ex -"

"Ian god damn it!" Bells snarls.

"Bells. Don't interrupt me! You know how protective I am of you! How protective I've always been! Don't even start with that macho bullshit either!"

" We weren't together you had no right!"

"So?"

"You left!"

"Bells! I am not repeating this conversation again! It's ALWAYS been you!"

Annabell is glaring at me. Gem is looking from one of us to the other, completely unsure of what to do. I feel horrible that she's stuck in the middle.

"Then why would she say all that stuff?"

"Bells come on.. Why would another girl say that to you? Please don't be stupid." Gem soothes.

Bells eyes Gem. They grew up together, and got along fairly well. Right now Bells is questioning wether or not Gem is trying to talking her down for the right reasons. After a beat or two, Bells relaxes. She must have decided that Gem was still a friend. She takes a deep breath:

"Do you promise?" She mumbles, defeated.

"Of course babe."

She blushes and looks away; I pull her closer to soothe the rest of her anger. Gem, sensing that all is well, slips out leaving us alone.