Chapter 8

I’m sitting at the table waiting for Viper to start church. I look around and see Axel, Rowdy, Brick, Ace, and Thor all wondering what is going on. I’m sitting being pissed at myself. I can’t believe I didn’t notice that Lilly was having problems. I know I have heard some of the shit that has been said about her but I thought that was all it was. Talk. I didn’t know she was being hurt. And now the notes are being left to scare her. I feel hurt that she didn’t think she could come to me. I’m hurt that she didn’t feel like she could trust me. I thought I had shown her that she could but I guess I didn’t. Well not anymore. From now on I’m going to make sure she is safe and that she knows that she can always come to me with anything. I know Viper and Ace feel like they let her down but so do I. We are closer to her than anyone. We should have known something wasn’t right. I do that Lilly hides it well. I think she feels if she makes waves she will be kicked out. I know that isn’t the case. We just need to make sure she knows that.

Viper knocks the gavel on the table letting us know church has begun. “ Thank you brothers for coming in on short notice.” The guys nod “ Tank too fucked up again to join us?” Axel says with a sneer. This is the first time I notice he isn’t here. But I’m happy he isn’t. He is one of the people who has been very clear that he doesn’t want Lilly here. I do know she is afraid of him and won’t be in a room alone with him. I never would have thought he would do something to her. But the way he has been these past few months, the way he is going down hill fast I don’t know what to think. Maybe he would go as far as to scare the shit out of her to get rid of her.

“ I didn’t call him in. I needed only my most trusted patches here for this.” To not be called into church is a hell of an insult. To not be trusted is even worse. Does he think Tank might be behind what’s going on? If not he probably wouldn’t stop it either if it got Lilly away from the club. I see the look on my brother’s face when Prez says he doesn’t trust Tank. They know that isn’t good. “ What’s going on Prez?” Thor asks. Viper takes the two notes and throws them in the middle of the table. “ Someone is threatening Lilly. The first note came about three weeks ago. The second came today along with a busted windshield and a couple of windows.” “ Why are we just hearing about this now?” Rowdy asks, looking at the notes. “ Lilly kept the first one from us. We only found out about the second because she had to call Lug for help. She didn’t want the club involved. She thought she should handle it on her own.” Viper answers. “ Why didn’t she want the club to know?” Axel asks. Before Viper can answer Thor growls out “ Are you fucking kidding me? She thinks one of us is doing this to her?”

“ As much as I hate to say this. After what I have been hearing. That is one possibility. Yes. One of ours is trying to get her out. I don’t give a shit who is doing this to Lilly. We are going to take care of it. She is one of ours. We will handle it. For starters I want Lilly under constant guard. She is not going anywhere alone. I don’t want her at the house alone. If she is in the club I want her with someone at all times. But only certain members and prospects that I approve of. Brick I want you to get the surveillance video from the grocery store. See if you can find anything. I want all of you to pay attention when you are at the club. See if you notice anyone who is more aggressive towards her then others. And for fuck sakes keep the bunnies away from her. I found out today that some have actually been hurting her. Hitting her, shoving her into walls. Slapping her. Tearing up places she has already cleaned so she has to do it again.” Rowdy asks “ Has she said who?”

Viper shakes his head “ No. For two reasons. She didn’t think anyone would believe her and she didn’t want to be a rat. Lilly may not trust some of us but she is loyal to all of us. Anyone in this room that has a problem with Lilly needs to speak up now so I made sure you aren’t on her protection detail.” Noone says a word. Not that I expected them to. They guys in this room view Lilly as family. A little sister or in Ace’s case niece.

We set a protection detail with me getting her three days a week for practice and performing with the band. Since we have been doing this for a few weeks no one bats an eye. They are used to us hanging out together. Even if they don’t know what we do. Part of me wants to shout that they need to come to Harry’s and watch her perform tonight. The crowd is going to love her. I’m excited to see how this is going to go. I know Anna is helping her with an outfit that isn’t baggy t-shirts and hoodies. I know poor Lilly is nervous but I have faith in her. I’ll get the club down to see her one day, just not now. Just before Viper ends church he looks around the table “ I don’t care if it is one of ours or not. We end this. If it is one of ours there will be hell to pay. We don’t want that kind of shit here. We are better than attacking one of ours. No one is to know about this until I make sure it isn’t one of ours.” The guys nod in agreement. Viper bangs the gavel ending church. I’m heading to the office to get Lilly. We have our first show tonight. Time to get things moving. We still have to get set up. Then we all have to get dressed. I’m going to call the guys and have them meet me at Lilly’s so we can go over together. I will stay with her for the night. I’ll bring Goof with me.