Chapter 4

Viper

Ace called church for the next day so he could find out all the facts, hear everyone’s stories including Casper’s and look over all the paperwork. Usually I am the only one that can call a meeting but in this case Ace has seniority over me as a founding member. All the patched members head into the room. I’m the last to go in. I  don’t even get to sit at the head of the table like I normally do. Ace is running the meeting. I am sitting next to him with Thor across from me. I look around the table at my brothers. Men I could count on to have my back. Several I have known for over ten years. But looking at them now I see disappointment, disgust and distrust. Right now I know I couldn’t count on any of them. I let them all down.

Ace calls the meeting to order. “  You all know why we are here. I have looked at the paperwork and talked to those that were present at the time. As you all know this club takes marriage and ol’e ladies seriously. We hold them above everyone else. We don’t tolerate abuse of any kind or cheating. And we definitely don’t tolerate abandonment. And I have been proud to say none of that has ever happened. Until now. Before we go further I want to give Viper a chance to tell his side.” 

I look around at my brothers and explain what I remember. I explain how I met Sabine in a bar and how when I woke up I had a massive hangover and very little memory. I mentioned I saw the ring but didn’t think anything of it and removed it. “ I swear brothers, I didn’t know I got married.” I said. I was being honest with them. I really didn’t know. “ I have to say I’m really disappointed in you, Viper.” Ace said, shaking his head. “ Do any of you have any questions?” Ace asked. “ If Sabine knew she was married, why didn’t she try to contact Viper before the other day?” Good question. Why didn’t my wife try to find me? 

“ I was wondering the same thing. So I went to the ice rink to try and talk to the young lady in question. I wanted to meet her myself and get her side.” Ace said. “ What did she say?” Thor asked. “ I didn’t get to talk to her. I had to convince Casper to let me in the door. I had to assure him I wasn’t looking to cause her any trouble. I was able to talk to Nixon. He told me that she had tried to call and sent multiple texts for the first month. Before she gave up.” Ace said. “ And you believed him?” I asked. “ I did after she showed me proof.” Ace said. “ What proof?” Axel asked. I would like to know myself. I never got a text or a call from anyone claiming to be my wife. 

“ He gave me her phone. Sabine told him to give me full access to the texts, calls, photos and videos. She said she had nothing to hide. Since she said I could, I did look through her phone. Viper, your contact had your picture on it so I know it wasn’t fake. Each text and call had time and date codes.” Ace said. “ I swear I never got a call or text.” I said. “ And I believe you. Each text said undelivered. So I checked the number. I was told you were the one who put your number in her phone. You must have been drunk at the time because the last digit was wrong. She didn’t have the right number. “ Ok that explains that. 

“ Why didn’t she come to the clubhouse then?” Tank asked. Yea, she could have tracked me down that way if she really wanted to find me. Ace laughs “ Another thing I wondered. She knew you were in an MC but not your road name or your position. According to what I was told you never told her the club name. You wanted it to be a surprise when you both came home.” Ace turns to me “ Viper, I did look at some pictures after some encouragement from Nixon. I saw the wedding video and several pictures of the two of you together. So between the license and the video I believe she is telling the truth .I wasn’t sure if you would so I got a copy of the texts, a few photos and the video if you want to see it.” He slides a folder over to me. 

“ Maybe in a few. I trust you. Where do we go from here?” I asked. “ I talked to Nixon and Casper. They  just want this over with so she can move on with her life. Nixon agreed that if you sign the papers by next week he will forgo the eviction on the dispensary. “ Ace said. “ Wait, I’m confused. Where does Casper fit into this?” Rowdy asked. “ For one the Red Devils want to absolve our alliance because of this. Sabine is like our Merigold to the club. She has grown up with most of them. Casper and Nixon have been best friends since middle school. And just like if something like this happened to any of the ol’e ladies they are pissed.” Ace said. 

They have every right to be after what I did. Ace continues to talk but I feel the need to look in the folder. “ There is also the reputation of the club. It is in the shitter right now. We are losing business the longer the dispensary is up in the air. There is also a rift in the club.” I stop focusing on Ace as I open the folder. The first four pages are the texts. I bypass them and see some of the pictures. The first one I see is  Sabine and me. It looks like it was taken at a diner. We are sitting side by side in a booth. I have my arm around her shoulder and her head is on mine. She is looking up at me smiling as I’m looking down at her. I’m smiling too.

The next one is of Sabine curled up on my bare chest. It looks like she is sleeping. So I must have taken that one. She looks so beautiful. The next one is of us dancing. There are three more pictures of us together. One looks like we are laughing. The folder has a flash drive I’m guessing has our wedding video. I’ll watch it later. I go back to the picture of her on my chest. That isn’t something I would let a one night stand do. I would only let my ol’e lady do something like that. Or in this case my wife. And I took the picture. So it was something I wanted to remember. 

“ So, Viper, you sign the papers and we can save the dispensary. But we also need to do some kind of punishment. We can’t let this slide. Even for you.” Ace said. He is right. I’m not above the rules. If we let it slide it would set a bad example for the prospects and the kids. They look up to us. I wouldn’t stand by if one of my nephews did this. “ I’ll accept whatever punishment you see fit.” I said. Ace nods “ We will discuss it and let you know by the end of the day.” That’s fair. Ace slides the divorce papers and a pen to me. 

“ All you need to do now is sign. No sense and putting it off.” Ace said. And he would be right. I walked away. I should sign and let Sabine move on to someone more deserving. Just the thought of her  with another man pisses me off even though I have no right. It also hurts my chest. I look back at the picture then the papers. “ What if I don’t sign?” I ask. All my brothers shout “ What?” at the same time. “ Viper, man, haven't you done enough to the poor girl? Sign and let her move on.” Lug Nut said. 

“ And think about the dispensary. You sign and we don’t have to try to move. That building is in a prime location. The rent is great. And we have been there for six years. It would be a pain in the ass to try to move.” Goof said. “ I did Sabine wrong. I’m not going to deny that. I know we have to save the dispensary. But hear me out.” I said. I looked around. I almost wanted to beg them to listen to me. “ I know most of  you don’t have much faith in me right now. I don’t blame you. I fucked up. I let this club down. And myself. I never thought I would do something like this.” I said. I see they are listening so I continue.

“ I may not remember much about that weekend. But there are some things I do and I can’t get them out of my head. I was looking at some of those pictures. Some it is clear I took them. If I just wanted pussy there were plenty of skanks at Casper’s club or at the bar I could have picked up for the night. I don’t make impulsive decisions.” I said. “ What are you getting at brother?” Tank asked. “ I married Sabine for a reason even if I don’t remember what it is right now.” I said. I slid the picture of me and Sabine in the booth to the middle of the table. “ Does this look like a man who was looking for a one night stand?” I asked.

Axel picks it up and looks at it with Rowdy. Lug starts laughing “ Viper is looking at her like I look at Ailee.” Rowdy laughs “ And the fucker is smiling.” They pass the picture around. The rest of my brothers are making jokes about. “ I know we need to save our lease. I do. It doesn’t sit right with me to sign these papers.” I said. “ So what do you want to do?” Ace asks. “ Ace, I think I need to fix all of this since I fucked it up. But I think I need to try to fix my marriage. It feels wrong to just walk away without trying.” I look at my married brothers and say “ None of you gave up because shit got tough. You fought like hell. I want a chance to do the same.” 

There I poured my heart out to them. Not something I do. Like I said it feels wrong to just sign and give up. There is something about Sabine that made me want to marry her. I want to know what it is and pursue it. “ We can’t force him to sign. It is his life even if it is affecting the club. What do you think brothers?” Ace asks. “ It is going to be hard as hell to fix this if she won’t even talk to you. But if you want to after your wife I say go for it. Nothing was going to stop me from getting Merigold. Not even you. I have you back when you need it.” Axel says. “ Hell, the only one of us that didn’t fuck up with his ol’e lady is Lug. So who am I to judge? Go for it” says Brick. 

“ Good luck brother. After the last meeting you two had, you are going to need it.” Goof said. The rest say the same thing. I turn to Ace “ It is down to you. I trust you. You have been with me since I was born. If you think I should sign for the club I will.” But I hope he doesn’t. “ Viper, that was my first thought. Just sign and get this over with. But you are right. You wouldn’t have married her for no reason. Go after your girl. We will figure out the rest together.” Ace said. I want to jump up and hug the man. “ But you still need to face the consequences that your actions did to the club. We can’t let you off just because you want to go after your wife.” he continued. “ I’ll take whatever you give me.” I said. 

“ Get your ass out of here while we figure out what we are going to do.” Ace said. I grab the folder and picture from the table. “ I’ll be in my office when you are ready.” I said and got out of there. I had to work up a plan to get my wife back. I have a feeling this is going to be the best decision I ever made. Other than marrying Sabine.

Pixie

I’m doing some laps around the rink waiting for my partner, Issaac, to finish lacing up. Normally I am a solo skater. But one of the skaters I helped train needs a partner for the pairs skating competition coming up. His normal partner got hurt and can't compete. If he doesn’t compete they will lose their slot. So not only am I training myself for my next competition I’m training for his. We have to do a long and short program for him and I have the same for mine. It is rough on my body but we are talking about the semi finals here. Neither one of us can afford to miss it. His slot is on the first day. Mine is on the second so I can rest in between. So that is  a plus. 

The  down side is we only have two months to prepare. It sounds like a long time but trust me it is not when you have to learn four routines. And get used to skating with a partner. I have never done that before. But I have worked with Issaac while I was training him as a skater so it isn’t too bad. Just extra workouts for me. Today started off shitty as it is. When we showed up to open the rink we saw several broken windows. And one wall was spray painted with the words `` your time is coming.”  Nixon hired guards thinking someone is targeting me. A crazed fan. It has happened before. Almost destroyed my career. I think it is some crazy ex-girlfriend of his. Some of them didn’t like me because he would spend too much time with me. He is my fucking coach and brother of course he is going to spent a lot of time with me. Especially during competition season. They would get pissed because he was at the rink all the time and not with them.  Fucking stupid if you ask me. He has a job, he can’t spend every second with these bimbo’s. 

I’m about to make another lap when I see Ice standing at the wall. He motions to me with his finger. So I skate over to him. Man is he hot. I have never said a word but I had a big crush on him when I was in my late teens. How could I not. Six foot two. Beautiful tan skin covered in muscles and tattoos. I’m a sucker for tattoos. And his muscles aren’t bulky but defined. You could tell he worked out. I have seen it. The sight would have any woman dropping her panties. Sweat dripping down his abs. Yum. And he never stank after a workout. And his shoulder length black hair was just begging you to run your finger through it. And don’t get me started on how  his  jeans mold to his tight ass. Damn. The man should be on a calendar or something.

I know he would be with the skanks but that didn’t stop my crush. But I also knew it wouldn’t go anywhere. He only ever saw me as a little sister. Not to mention he is fifteen years older than me. It didn’t bother me that he was older. Hell it was some of the appeal .But I stopped getting my hopes up.  So by twenty I got over it and accepted that Ice would always be my family only. And I’m good with that. I would rather have him as family than nothing at all. “ What’s up Ice?” I asked when I was at the wall. He crouches down and places his hands under my arms, lifts me up and sets me on the wall. I sometimes hate how easy it is for them to pick me up.

“ I wanted to check on you. I know this has been a rough week.” he said. I know he is talking about the vandalism and the divorce. “ I hate that someone keeps messing up my rink but I’m not scared. If I get scared they win.” I said with a smile. “ And the other,” he asks. I huff “ I wish he would hurry up and sign already so I can move on. Unlike him I can’t until those papers are signed. It has been a week. What is taking so long? It isn’t rocket science.” 

Ice wraps his arms around me and I lay my head on his chest. “ It will be over soon. If I have to make him sign I will. Then you can move on to someone who knows how awesome you are. And treats you like a queen. And would never hurt you.” Ice says. “ Do you think I will get that? I just want love and a family. Someone who takes his vows seriously and doesn’t cheat on me. Is that too much to ask? Is there something wrong with me?” I ask. Damn I sound pathetic.

Ice pulls back and raises my chin with his finger making me look in his eyes. “ You listen good Pixie. There is nothing wrong with you. Don’t ever think that. Viper is just an ass that can’t see the incredible person you are. That’s his loss. I know you will get everything you want and more when this is all over. Someone more deserving. And can get past all of us. I give you my word.” I smile and lean up to kiss his cheek. “ Thanks, Ice. I needed that.” He kisses my forehead “ I’ll always be here for you. Never forget that.” he says as he lifts me and places me back on the ice. This is why I love these guys. They are always there for me in the good and the bad. Maybe I’ll see about dating someone in Casper’s club when the  time comes. I know they are good guys.