Daire and Aspen

Chapter 8: Daire

Aspen's words rang in my ears. She didn't understand why I wanted her to be a part of this, thought that just because I had my MC brethren, I didn't need her. I thought about how to fix that all week, my mind going over and over what I'd said to her, how I'd scared her, how she'd been treated by everyone in the club before she'd hightailed it out of town. If I ever hoped to win her back, I knew it had to start with me and my club. I was not a man given to introspection or admitting my wrongs, but I knew that had to change if I had any hope of getting back my girl.

I'd reviewed the camera feed of the common room the night of her shower and felt like shit all over again at what my brothers and the women had said to her. I called church and told all club whores and ol' ladies to wait in the common room while I talked with my brothers first.

My brothers were gathered around the table, the camera feed displayed on the TV on the wall, probably confused as hell.

"Brothers," I greeted them. "We have some shit to discuss that I've been thinking about all week since Aspen was here. Listen up."

I hit play, and fast forwarded to the spot where Tacoma talked with Aspen. We all watched for a minute, until he left and Head came to take Tacoma's place. Then we watched that interaction. We also watched the one with Jessie and Marley confronting Aspen.

"My girl was upset when we left here that night. She wouldn't say why, so I thought it'd be good to get some answers."

They were all staring, not sure where I was going with this.

"That," I stabbed a finger at the TV, "is never going to happen again."

"How're you going to stop her from being a bitch?" Head asked. Almost before he finished the sentence, I was out of my chair and had him slammed up against the wall.

"Not asking her to do anything," I seethed. "I'm telling you what is going to happen around here with you."

His face was turning red I had his shirt twisted so tightly in my hands. With a sneer, I pushed him back against the wall before releasing him, then took my seat.

"Every single interaction, you all instigated. My girl wasn't happy about being here, given the way we all turned our backs on her when she was pregnant, but I forced her hand. She was justified in the way she acted. If I'd been put through what she had been by us, I wouldn't fucking want anything to do with us, either. That's my fault, and I own it and accept responsibility. I know you all were taking your cues from me and treating her shitty out of respect for me. What we did to her was not only disrespectful to her, but terrifying. That ends now. I want my woman back and we change our attitude toward her now. You all will treat her with respect. Any insult to her is a direct insult to me. If you don't think you can treat her with the respect you give me, then drop your cut on the table and get the fuck out. And if you all really think you can't treat her right, tell me now and I'll fucking walk."

I now had the eyes of every man around me widened in shock. I'd just put a woman above the brothers clearly and in no uncertain terms.

"So let's start with that. You want me to walk? Say so now."

Stunned, the brothers only shook their heads no, not really having any precedent for their president being willing to leave over a woman.

"You know I love this club and all of you. You know I'll continue to give my all to this club, to all of you. But for all intents, Aspen is my ol' lady, whether she agrees or not. And she will be treated with respect and honor because that woman left here out of fear of me, went through a pregnancy by herself, had my baby by herself, and cared for my baby girl for five months by herself. She did not want to come back here." 

I stabbed my finger at Tacoma. "I forced her to return by threatening her with Elly. Not something I'm proud of, but it was the only way to get her back to Drayton. The way she was treated before she left, it's going to take some doing before she's willing to forgive, trust and move ahead. You all will help with that by going out of your way to be nice to her whenever you see her, coming over this week one by one and fucking apologizing to her, and if she doesn't accept it, you will keep making amends, and I will keep making amends, until she does. We have no right to be angry with her; and if you think you do, you're wrong. She did nothing to me, to any of us. If you can't find it in yourself to apologize sincerely, I'll be happy to take your cut. Let me be clear on that. If you say anything to her that makes her uncomfortable in any way, you will be answering to me, and I guarantee it won't be fun but I promise it will be painful and you'll be out on your ass. You feel me?"

To a brother, they nodded, stunned. 

"I'll say one last thing before we call in the women: you just said you wanted me to stay on as president. But some of you may start to re-think things, feel a little resentful, think I'm going soft because of this. Let me be clear: I am not. We dished out shit to someone who did not deserve it. That ends. And if you want to challenge me, just say the word and I'll kick your ass, take your cut and not even blink."

That was three times I'd threatened them with their cuts, so I knew the lesson was sinking in. I texted a prospect to let the women come in and waited until they were crowded in the back of the room. 

When the women were crowded into the room, I gave them the same spiel I'd given my brothers, threatening them if they didn't immediately turn around their attitude toward Aspen. By the end, they were all pale and shaking, but they knew to bow to my queen.