RUNAWAY

/ 46 \

🥾AXTON🥾

I entered church to see my own war party sounding a table with our club's blueprints. At the sound of the door closing, everyone became silent and eyed me. Herc's dad and one the other senior patchies parted to give me the head position. However, I stayed frozen in place, eyeing how loaded down they were.

"Prez?" Herc's dad called as he placed his hand on the open spot on the tabletop.

"I want to meet Rosalinda's family before crossing that line." I eyed their weapons, and they looked down on themselves.

"I don't recommend it,  as you probably saw. They're as angry as a hornet's nest and armed." Herc's dad protested as he pointed to the door.

"Fury with fury creates an explosion of casualties. I don't want this club to turn into a war zone. That said, I'll insist on doing it my way, and you back me up."

"I agree with our Prez, I dare any of you to go against him, that includes you, pa." I turned and saw Herc enter and rested his hand on my shoulder.

"Of course, we'll follow our Prez's lead." His dad slightly nodded in submission.

"For protective measures, I'd want two snipers on either side of the front intersection."

"Yes, sir," our ex military twin patchies Zee and Zo saluted before leaving with their gear.

"Herc, you're with me." I winked before turning to the door.

"Are you sure? I don't want to encourage Rosalinda to use me as a bargaining chip."

"She'll make that call whether you're there or not."

Herc nodded and followed me out into the hall. Together, we waited for Zee and Zo's signal before heading outside. I opened the door and stepped out to face Rosalinda and her family. Herc stepped out and glued himself to my side.

"Hel-."

"Which one of you is Axton Wheller?" The oldest of the men commanded in an icey tone.

"I am," I promptly raised a finger, and the man's glare zoomed in on me.

"If it's po-." I attempted to start parleying but was silenced by Rosalinda's dad's booming voice.

"He's the one who fired you after his bitch seduced you, coriña?" He asked after he'd sizing both of us.

"Yes, papá," she sweetly sobbed to her dad, but when he eyed us, she turned to me and smirked.

"Excuse me, but I never once seduced her, bu-." Herc gripped my fist as he spoke up before I could spit an insult.

"So you're calling my hija a liar?"

"Just stating facts, and here's another. Axton and I treated her with respect and gentleness until she played dirty." I continued to let Herc speak for us despite knowing that nothing good would come.

"Are you calling her a slut?"

"Papá, él es el mentiroso y la puta con. (He's the liar and a whore.) Me siento celosa porque no le di bola cuando me ligó. Así que le mintió al club sobre que yo había seducido a su novio. Todas me llamaron destructor, de hogares cuando él es el tramposo."