Trigger held up his hand, calling attention to his side of the room. “I agree with Switchblade. I would be honored to have you patched in as a member of this club. I liked you back then, and I still like you now, and once I’m healed and able to ride again, I would be happy to ride alongside the brother I thought I lost.”
Obi, bandaged and broken, stood up and grinned. “Hell, if the mighty Midas has returned, I’d follow him into battle. I’ve heard the stories and if you’re as strong as this club makes you out to be, I’d be honored to call you my brother, too.”
Breathe. Don’t you dare breakdown, Specter. Hold your shit together. Do not break down.
It was overwhelming the amount of brotherly love in this room. Ice stood up next and nodded, he was a man of few words, and just his nod of approval meant a lot.
“Well, I’m your sponsor, and you know you got my approval, brother,” Cipher said, after standing. Jagger and Rex weren’t in the war room, but Riptide was still sitting in his seat, head down, his hands clasped in front of him.
When the room went silent, he looked up, realizing that everyone was waiting for his vote.
Riptide stood to his feet and faced me. “I don’t like you. You’re actually kind of a dick, but I’ve heard the stories about Midas, and I know that I’m never going to live up to standards he set as Tail Gunner for this club. I still got a lot to learn, and I know that the only way to learn anything is to learn from the best. I’ll ride by your side, but if you sucker punch me again, I’ll fuck your shit up.”
The room erupted into laughter. “Sounds like everyone is in agreement then. Welcome back to the club, Midas, you’re a full patched member again.”
Scythe hit his gavel, and the men standing around the table cheered.
I held up my hands to quiet everyone down. “It is an honor to be patched in as a member of this club once again. The Armada has always been a big part of my life, and I take pride in calling myself one of its brothers, but I humbly ask, that if I am to be a part of this club again, that Midas be left for dead and a new name be chosen for me, instead. I have left that part of my life behind me, and I would like to ride into the future without any past ties or regrets.”
Scythe looked around the table and nodded, slamming his gavel against the table once again. “All for patching in Specter as a member of this club?”
One by one the members of the club took turns saying “Yay,” until there was only one member left to speak. Switchblade.
He stared at me hard for a few seconds, running his fingers through his long blonde hair, before his asshole sneer pulled into a smile. “Yay,” he grumbled. “Though, I have a feeling I may regret this shit later.”
Scythe hit the gavel on the table and grinned. “Welcome, brother. It’s good to have you back. Take a seat.” He motioned to the vacant chair next to him and I hesitated.
“It’s just a chair, Specter.”
I carefully sat down in it, trying to wash away all the bad voodoo that came with it. The next time I saw Guerrilla, I was going to fucking kill him. I was going to hurt that bastard for what he did to Faith and kill him for what he tried to do to me.
“Next order of business,” Scythe said, calling attention. “I know we’re all hesitant to bring him up, but we need to figure out our next plan of action, and what we’re gonna do about Guerrilla. Ice, anything from the rats?”
Ice shook his head. “No, that bastard disappeared and no one’s talking.”
“Cipher, what about on the net? You hearing any squeaks?”
“There’s a little birdie on there that I’m trying to get to sing but it’s going to take time. Asshole went straight down the rabbit hole and it’s going to take a lot of work to flush him out.”
“I think we’re going to need help,” I piped in, wishing I had something else to offer other than what I was about to say. “The Saints are scrambling to find new leadership and I think once they form their ranks again, we’re in for one hell of a war. This last hit took a toll on all of us and a lot of us still are licking our wounds. None of us are really in any condition to go looking for Guerrilla, except for maybe Riptide and Cipher. This isn’t just about the Devil’s Armada anymore. The Vipers are just as much a part of this as we are. I made a promise to their Prez Filly that I would find their lost member, and I did, Daisy, but Daisy has fallen in with the Devil and it’s going to take all of us to rescue her. My motion is to contact the Vipers and form a temporary allegiance. Between the two clubs, we should be able to flush out the rat and hang him out to dry—hopefully saving Daisy in the process.”
I watched Cipher nod in agreement. There was a lot of turmoil going on behind his wide eyes. That man had legitimate feelings for Daisy. He had to feel a little bit responsible for the way she turned on all of us. He couldn’t even look me or Scythe in the eye. That man had some inner demons he was wrestling, and I could tell he was itching to make things right.
“Filly doesn’t play well with others,” Scythe remarked. “That’s why people call her Filly. She’s a wild beast that can’t be tamed. She’s not going to like joining forces.”
The other members nodded in agreement.
“Filly, has more invested in this than anyone else.”
“Why’s that?” Switchblade asked.
“Daisy is Filly’s little sister. This mission to extract Guerrilla and save Daisy means just as much to her as it does to us. I don’t see it working any other way. The Vipers are good at blending in, they’re quick to strike when needed, and they have some members with talents this club could use right now.”
Scythe shook his head. “A fucking Armada/Viper alliance, huh? Stranger shit has happened I guess, I mean this motherfucker rose out of a fucking grave. Maybe it’s possible for him to get Filly to play nice, too. Do you think you can do it, Specter?”
“I think I can get her attention.”
“Okay then, all in favor of forming a temporary alliance with the Vipers?”
“Aye,” I said, raising my hand.
The rest of the members followed my “Aye” in reluctance. I could see the indecision in their eyes. This was a man’s world and most of the Armada didn’t believe there was room for women bikers. Yet, we were wounded and down for the count. With the Saints temporarily dismantled, there was room to grow and knowing the Scorched Brotherhood, it wouldn’t be long before they showed their scuzzy faces and started causing problems.
I looked over at Scythe, who saved his “Aye” for last.
“Any opposed?”
The room went silent.
“Then it’s done. Specter get in contact with Filly. Cipher keep checking the web and making that birdie sing. The rest of you, sick fucks, heal up; we’re gonna need all of you to be at your best when we go up against Guerrilla. I have a feeling he has friends in places we don’t expect.”
Scythe pounded the gavel on the table, calling Church to a close. We all stood up and looked around. A lot of us were wounded, but the Armada was stronger than ever, and the little pieces of corruption that may still be lurking were slowly being weeded out. It would only be a matter of time before Scythe returned the Armada to the legendary status it once had. I know his father would be so proud of him right now.