Free Angels Don't Cry: A Biker Erotic Romance by Kay Perry Page A

Turner's voice.
     
    "I decline," returned Clark's voice.
     
    Five more nominations, followed quickly by declines, were called out. The tension was heavy in the room as this trend continued. Then someone called out a nomination for Buster. Sixty-seven-year-old Buster, whose sole goal in life appeared to be making sure the Eagle's Roost was never empty, spit out a mouth of beer in surprise and yelled "Fuck that!" followed by general laughter.
     
    After three more failed nominations, Lizzie stood on a crate behind the bar and called out into the room, "Look, we got a busy week coming up, and some serious shit to attend to." The voices calmed even more as attentions were shifted to her. "We need someone that knows the business, knows the club, and knows the members. We got two guys coming out of prison this month, and both need to be set up. The Strip is getting out of hand with freelancers. So, with all of this in mind, I nominate myself."
     
    The silence that followed was palpable. Everyone knew Lizzie was Jim's niece, that she had been raised by the club since she was nine. No one would argue that she didn't understand the position either. Nothing happened in the business or the membership that Lizzie wasn't aware of, one way or the other. But...
     
    "Second," Liam's deep commanding voice called into the room.
     
    The quiet of doubt turned into the quiet of disbelief as people registered that the second in command, who had been silent about this from the beginning, threw in with Lizzie. But Bear, Master at Arms for the club, didn't wait it out: "All those in favor?" he called, his voice clear with no hint of surprise or doubt.
     
    It took a beat, and then a roar of Aye filled the room.
     
    Bear called back, "Opposed?"
     
    Nothing.
     
    "Motion carried," Bear informed the club.
     
    Stunned, figuring that all she was really doing was forcing someone like Bear or Roady to accept their nomination, Lizzie stepped down from the crate, snatched up a long-neck, and walked out from behind the bar, the new president of the Road Knights. Her stunned state didn't last long. She wasn't raised by Uncle Jim to be ambushed.
     
    Her mind was clicking quickly over the required tasks to finish up the day, when a prospect, named Bill, yelled out, "Are you fucking shitting me?"
     
    He was only three steps away from Lizzie. She changed her heading and walked casually toward him.
     
    Bill seemed not to notice or care about her change of direction, continuing with, "We're going to have some cock-sucking cunt..."
     
    Lizzie hit him right in the jaw. Bill's head snapped back. His body went stiff, lifted slightly off his toes, and then he fell back like a plank and hit the floor, out cold.
     
    Lizzie looked him over as if he were an interesting bug, and then turned to Roady. "Roady? This one was yours, wasn't he?"
     
    Roady stood from his bar stool and nodded. "Yeah." His disappointment at being Bill's sponsor weighed heavy in his voice.
     
    "I want his vest. Then put him on his bike and make sure he understands that if I see his bike again in our territory, he'll be walking seconds later."
     
    "Right," replied Roady with a nod.
     
    She scanned the assembled membership. "I need an officer's meet, tomorrow at five," she said, her voice carrying across the tavern without having to yell.
     
    She was about to continue when another prospect, Andy, stepped away from the front door. "Liz..." he began and then corrected, "Pres? We have three Mexs outside requesting a business meeting."
     
    Cartel, Lizzie thought to herself. Damn, that was close.
     
    She nodded to Andy and then directed her gaze pointedly. "Roady? Liam? We'll meet them in the office. Bear? Show them in." She scanned the room again, looking into faces as she passed them. She knew every one of them by name, as well as their wives, girlfriends, kids, and their bikes. "As for the rest of you, I'm up on the current business, but if there is something you think I need to know