by K. T Fisher
I need to get out of here somehow and make this call. Find out what the fucker wants now. I also need to reign my temper in before I talk to him, I need to be damned careful I don't say something that I'll regret later, something he'll take out on my sister.
***
Angel
Each day that goes by knowing that Satan is still out there is eating away at my soul. I feel weak, I'm the man, I'm supposed to keep my family safe and right now I don't even know what direction the threat is going to come from.
Half the MC's in Australia are helping us try and locate him. He's pissed most of them off over the last few years so there's no shortage of willing volunteers. I'm pretty sure he's somewhere local. Knowing that sick fucker he'll be close by, watching, and just waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Prez has called me to his office to go over some club business we need to deal with. I pass through the common room as I go. It's fairly quiet in here today, a lot of the guys are out working or running club errands but I see a handful still here. Cowboy is in a corner, playing on his phone, a real pissed off expression on his face. I wish the dumb fuck would realize he sucks at Candy Crush and just find another game to play. Ice and Cherry are on the Xbox. I smirk as I realize the combination of their names sounds like something you'd ask for in a girly fucking cocktail.
Eve and Elizabeth are sleeping in our room. Eve seems to need a lot more rest since her accident and losing the baby. I know she's frustrated that I won't let her leave the compound; I just can't take the risk. At least whilst she's behind these gates I know she's safe.
I reach Prez's office door and knock at the same time as I push the door open. As I enter I see Prez leaning over a very flustered looking Teresa. Hearing my knock they stop what they’re doing and laugh. Prez sucks his fingers as Teresa quickly adjusts her dress. I'm feeling very fucking awkward right now. When will he learn to lock his fucking door?
Prez smacks Teresa hard on the ass as she goes to leave, giving me a cheeky wink as she passes. She shuts the door behind her and I look up to see Prez wearing a shit eating grin. I shake my head. "You need to lock the fucking door Prez."
He just sits in his big chair and laughs. "Seriously Prez, you two are getting as bad as Di and Dragon."
That makes him laugh even harder. When he's stopped I sit down opposite him to get down to business. Time for the men to talk.
***
???
I thought Angel was going to catch me then as he walked through the common room, but he didn't acknowledge me. He either saw me and didn't think to say anything or didn't see me at all. I'm hoping that he didn't see me. I give myself a quick shake, trying to get my head in the right place. I'm going to have to call Satan and get this over with.
I head for the front door, shouting over my shoulder to ask the guys if anyone needs anything bringing back from the store. They're so engrossed in what they're doing that mostly I just get negative grunts in response.
I finger my keys in my pocket as I head to my bike. For the first time in as long as I can remember I'm not looking forward to this ride. I feel like the net is closing in.
***
I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. What I heard on that call made me throw up like a fucking girl, all over the dusty ground. I'm not sure if that's bile I can taste in the back of my throat, or betrayal.
Satan has upped the ante. He's tired of waiting for Eve, so instead he's going to take Angel out. And he needs my help to do it. I've got to lure Angel to a meeting point, come up with some story about having a lead on Satan's location to get him there. Angel's so fired up right now if I can catch him alone I know he'll go out there solo. He won't wait for Prez and the guys to talk through a plan; he'll just jump right in and finish it.
If I do this, I'm signing Angel's death warrant. I don't even want to know what sick and twisted ending Satan has planned for him. I can't breathe. My chest feels like it's clamped in a vice. The more I think about betraying Angel, the tighter it gets. I slide my phone open, looking at the picture message Satan sent me this morning. I have to do this. I have to save her. Angel is like a brother to me, but he's not blood. I have to save my baby sister if I can.
I get back on the bike, no longer relishing the speed. Every second takes me closer to the ultimate betrayal.
***
The common room is empty when I return. At this time of day I'm guessing most of the guys are at work or eating out back. I need to find Angel, ideally get him on his own. I can't risk anyone overhearing us. I'm just trying to work out how to do this when I slam into a body.
Fuck, it's Angel. I didn't see him walking down the corridor towards me. I pause for just a second. This is my last chance to pull out and come clean, but I can't. I open my mouth and start the conversation that is going to lead to the death of the man standing in front of me.
"Angel, glad I bumped into you." He laughs, as we literally did bump into each other. "I've had word from one of my snitches on a possible location for Satan. Do you want me to go check it out?" I know this man. There is no way he will let anyone else take on this task. I hope I know him anyway.
"Fuck, no. I'll check it out. How good is this information?" I swear I see the man increase in size. He hasn't of course, but the thought of a possible location for Satan has straightened his back. I don't think I'd noticed how slumped he's been since they came back from England. It's almost like the fight had been knocked out of him, but now it's back.
"You're not going alone, VP." A voice commands from behind me.
Fuck. This is just what I don't need. It's Prez and he's overheard our conversation. "Go with him, cover his back." He turns to Angel, a stern look on his face.
"I know how much you want to end this brother, but I'm telling you now. You do nothing more than check this out. If he's there, you call back here and we'll put a proper plan together. We'll go in prepared. Promise me you won't try and do this all on your own." He has his hand on Angel's shoulder during the exchange. Angel looks pissed, but he's too loyal to disobey his president and close friend.
"Fine. But if he is out there, we act tonight. I'm not waiting any longer than that; I'm not giving that fucker chance to escape."
Angel turns, and without any more words he strides to the front door and his bike, not even bothering to check if I'm following.
What have I done?
Not only have I betrayed my brother, now I'm pretty sure I’ll be forced to watch him die.
Right now I wish I was dead.
Chapter Twenty Three
???
My instructions from Satan are to lead Angel to a secluded area a couple of hours away from the compound. It's down a sparsely wooded road in the middle of bloody nowhere. I'm a little unsure how he plans to get one over on Angel, the guy's hyper alert these days.
I managed to sneak a quick text letting him know we’re on our way when Prez followed us out and distracted Angel for me, just before we left. Satan had seemed pretty certain I'd find a way of following through. I suspect his trap, whatever it is, would be in place even if I hadn't let him know.
I can't get my head around how two brothers can be such different characters. They're the spitting image of each other; although to me there's always been a sly, evil look about Satan. Angel's normally a pretty easy going and happy guy. Despite what happened in his past. Eve seemed to cure him of his nightmares when she came out here. He thinks no one knew about them, but several of us would hear him screaming himself awake most nights. We never let on; it wouldn't have been right. We couldn't take a guy’s pride away from him like that.
I think about the number of years I've known Angel, the things we've been through together.
Shit. I can't do this.
I don't know how to stop it though. I contemplate signaling him to pull over and just letting it all spill out. My concentration is shot, it shows in the way I'm handling the bike. Angel looks over, giving me a concerned look. I give him the thumbs up to show its
all okay. Who am I kidding? This situation is never going to be okay.
***
Satan
I can't get this insane grin off my face. The text has come through letting me know Angel is on his way. Everything's in place.
Finally, I'm going to be rid of him. I'm not sure when I first started to hate him. It's just been that way for so long I couldn't tell you when or why it happened.
My mother insisted she didn't have favorites when we were growing up, but she fucking did. When she looked at Angel her face would light up. More often than not when she looked at me she had to hide a look of revulsion. She got really good at hiding her emotions after a while; but by then it was too late. I knew how she really felt about me. The more outrageous my behavior, the more she pulled away from me. In the end I guess I just went all out, wondering just what it would take to get a reaction from her. If it wasn't for the way she treated Angel, I'd swear the woman couldn't love.
I've always derived pleasure from screwing over Angel. I'd break his toys, torture and kill his pets, steal his friends by telling lies about him, and later I'd steal his women. I still savor the memory of Beth. That was a sweet afternoon. I don't know why the fucker blames me for her death. She's the one who took the razor to her wrists, not me. I'd planned to keep playing with her for a lot longer. The memory is sweet. I'd pull up the video on my phone, but I can't afford to take my attention from the road, they could be here any time if they've put their foot down and it's a clear run. Knowing Angel, he'll break every speed limit between the clubhouse and here to have his chance at revenge.
Back in York I'd seen his face when he spotted me just after I pushed Eve into the path of the train. Pure hatred. That was such a great feeling. I'd wanted to torment him some more by killing Eve before him, but the stupid bitch never leaves that bloody compound. And as cunning as I am, there's no way I'm breaking in. Despite the satisfaction I'd get from stealing her from under their noses, there's too much risk. I'm a better poker player than that. But with Angel gone, I have a better chance of getting my hands on her. Even with Angel dead, I can still hurt him by getting his girl.
I thought long and hard about how to kill Angel. I've pictured his death so many times through the years, every death imaginable, each more painful and slow than the last. Whilst I hate that today is going to be quick, and sadly painless, it's going to be so shocking for those left behind. Let's just say they won't be having an open casket viewing. I snicker to myself at that thought. The more I think about the plan, the more I like it. It will certainly send a message to all the pussy assed MC's around here not to mess with me.
***
???
Angel is riding ahead of me as instructed by Satan. It's his natural place anyway as VP. I don't know what Satan's got planned, but I'm to ensure that if there's more than one of us accompanying Angel, he has to be in the lead. All I can think of is some sort of ambush.
We pull off the main highway, onto a rutted dirt road. I can feel every rut and pothole through the bike. At the end of this road Satan will be waiting.
Trees either side of the road provide occasional shade. I'm guessing whoever lived here originally planted an avenue of greenery to welcome visitors. The trees are standing opposite each other in an artificial planting arrangement.
There's a funny noise ahead and I look over to Angel's bike. I'm sure that was a misfire? I hear it again, and before I can comprehend Angel has slowed down, falling behind me. Shit. I've got to get him ahead of me again.
I'm a few trees ahead of Angel now, and just as I'm thinking of slowing down I see something reflect ahead of me. It's at head height in the road; it must be the sun reflecting off something shiny on the roadside. I wonder if it's Satan's hiding place being revealed by a reflection from the blazing overhead sun.
Too late I understand why Angel had to be ahead of me. What hangs ahead in the road was meant for him. My last thought - "I'm sorry."
***
Angel
There's something not quite right with my bike. I can hear a misfire. I slow down to try and figure out the problem from the sound. My brother obviously hasn't noticed anything’s wrong as he's just pulled ahead of me. I'm sure he'll stop in a moment and come back to see what's wrong.
I'm about to increase the throttle to see if that will clear whatever's blocking the fuel when I look up. There’s a flash of light in front of me, I'm not sure what it is but suddenly I'm on high alert. I reach for my gun and am about to shout for my brother to stop when it happens. What 'it' is I have no fucking idea. I can't comprehend what my eyes are telling me. It's both gruesome and unimaginable!
One minute he's riding along on his bike as normal. The next, his bike starts weaving as though he's lost control. I see his body slumping forward over the handlebars, but what really freaks me out is the sight of his head. It drops to the ground, rolling back along the road towards me like a fucking football!
I pull up the bike, vomit rising in my throat. I've seen some shit in my time with the club, but nothing like this.
Fuck me!
What the fuck just happened?
When I've finished throwing up on the side of the road I open my phone, dialing Prez's number.
"Prez, get the guys out here now. It was a trap."
"Are you okay, Angel?" He asks; concern heavy in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm okay. My fucking bike started misfiring, saved my fucking life." I sigh heavily. "Best send the truck and a body bag though... Disney's dead." I hang up the phone and throw up what's left of the acid in my gut.
Chapter Twenty Four
Gabe
I step inside the clubhouse needing a fucking drink. I walk up to the bar where the prospect already has my drink waiting. I order a vodka shot as well, throwing it back, it hits the spot.
Fuck! I can't believe what happened back there!
I look around; the clubhouse is practically empty of brothers right now. Some of them are busy cleaning up the mess I've just narrowly escaped from, and the rest are trying to hunt Satan down. He must have been close by; he’d have wanted to watch me ride to my death.
I look around at the brothers who stayed behind to protect our families and our club. I rub the back of my neck as the image of Disney riding into the wire that killed him quickly flashes through my mind. Shit, if my bike hadn't misfired, that would have been me. I wouldn't be standing here. I wouldn't see Eve or hold Elizabeth in my arms again.
After downing another shot of Vodka I try to get a hold on my emotions. They're pretty fucking twisted right now. Disney is dead. I don't know if I should be pissed at his betrayal, or upset that my friend has died.
Disney has been here for a long fucking time. He didn't grow up around the club like Prez and I did, but he joined as a prospect only a few years after I made Vice President. He was a good fucking brother to me. Why the fuck would he betray us like that?
There has to be a good reason and I intend to find out what. With Satan behind it, my guess is some sort of blackmail. Nobody would help Satan willingly.
I've lost a friend, a fucking brother, but he turned out to be a filthy rat. He fucking sold us out! He was sending me to my death. Fuck!
I don't know what to think, but nobody deserves to die like that. Well, I can think of one person, but then he deserves something much worse than that.
I take a deep and heavy breath before making my way into the main area. It's where the TV is with sofas lining the walls. It's where the women spend most of their time when they're here.
I spot Eve straight away. She's on one of the sofas, curled up with her Kindle in her hands. Cowboy is on the leather chair nearest to her, Elizabeth on his knee. I smile at the sight of my family, a calm settling over me.
I see there's a cartoon film on the TV for Elizabeth’s benefit, some of the guys watching it with a scowl. It's hilarious to see, a bunch of bikers watching a Disney film because this little girl wants to watch it. I knew she’d have them all eating out of her hands.
I look at my woman, my sexy and brave old lady. She's absorbed in her reading and has no idea I'm standing here watching her. She's wearing short, skimpy shorts so I can see her long, tanned legs. I know if I glide my hand from her ankle to her thigh, her skin will be silky smooth. My hand twitches in anticipation as I become eager to get closer. I let my eyes lazily drag up her beautiful body. Her plump breasts rising and falling as she breathes. My hands clench as I hold back from charging over there. When my eyes travel up to her face I see she's now looking at me, biting on her bottom lip as she holds my gaze.
