Where there's Smoke (The Devil's Apostles MC #1)

by Annie Buff

  “Has that rat bastard been seen there lately? I want his ass on a platter!” Smoke fumed just thinking of the wasted cabin.

  They both knew just how badly Smoke needed to end Skinny, not just to keep his family safe. No, this was about sending a message to anyone else who tried to screw with the Devil’s. The result would be death, extremely slow and excruciatingly painful. Smoke meant to instill fear in his enemies and making an example of Skinny Matthews would be the first step.

  Changing the subject, Smoke asked, “I need some help and I don’t know who else to ask, so I’m asking you both. Can you help me?” Smoke really did need help, he needed the perfect proposal and between the three of them they had to be able to come up with something good.

  “Tell us what you need man, we’ll do our best.” Bones told him wondering just what his President could possibly need from them. Smoke told them what he wanted to do and that there was no way he could do it alone. That’s why he needed them, so when he did get down on his knee it was right.

  “Wow Smoke, that’s huge!” Bones smiled as he said, “I’m happy for you and you know I’ll help you. That girl has become one of my closest friends and I love her. So hell yes, can’t let you do something wrong for an event this important.”

  Renegade wholeheartedly agreed, Smoke proposing was the biggest deal in the world and his brothers wouldn’t allow something this epic to be a disaster.

  “Any plans for when you want to do this or are we just winging it?” Rennie knew Smoke had ideas, being the President he always had a plan. But this was different, he was about to make the single most life changing decision he ever had. Knowing how Smoke loved Peyton, this wasn’t going to be a courthouse ceremony. It would be the event of the year. He would make sure she had her dream wedding.

  The men continued their talks until Smoke got a text from Peyton saying she needed help and bring Bones and Rennie if he felt ok. He laughed when he read it; she seemed to always know where he was. Thankfully she didn’t know what they had been discussing. That would ruin everything he wanted for this, she deserved the best. Smoke still thought she deserved better than him, but Peyton loved him and for him that’s all that mattered. She was as loyal as the brotherhood, siding with him in the very beginning of their relationship. Nothing had ever impressed him more.

  Dinner was a roaring success just as Peyton knew it would be. Every one of them had massive appetites and food was the perfect way to get the dozen men in the same place. She was nervous about the announcement, Smoke knew. He felt the anxiety rolling off her so he started it.

  “There was an ulterior motive for my woman doing all this cooking for you. She has something she wants to say… they’re all yours sweetness.”

  Peyton stood at the head of the table where Smoke usually was when he addressed the brotherhood. She heard ‘what’s up queen’ and ‘go ahead Peyton’ so this was it.

  “So guys, there’s something big going to happen with the Devil’s and I need all of you with me on this.” She took a big breath, hoping she was making the right decision by telling them all. “Well boys, you’re all about to become uncles by default.” It took them a few minutes to understand what she meant; Slinger was the first to get it.

  “Well son of a bitch, you’re preggers! Damn! Come here.” He told her with his arms open. He held her tight, smiling and whispering in her ear. Then he let the rest have a turn; each one congratulating them and giving Smoke a clap on the back. Like his sperm working was a monumental thing. She laughed assuming it was a guy thing.

  Smoke explained how this was something Skinny would exploit so Peyton would need around the clock protection.

  “I’ll do it Smoke, I’ll be her security.” The words came from Slinger. Words no one ever expected. If he wasn’t doing club business he could be found in the arms of any willing female. Slinger was promiscuous to say the least.

  “Ink Man, it’s a big undertaking. Anytime I can’t be there it would be you. It would seriously cut into your social life if you know what I’m getting at?”

  Slinger understood exactly what his President was getting at. No more afternoon delight. That was actually ok; spending the last couple months watching Smoke and Peyton together left him wanting more. Sex wasn’t the same fun that it had once been; it was just a physical release. One he’d gotten good at doing for himself. He wanted what he saw with them every single day. Maybe time with her would help clear his head. Somewhere out there had to be the right woman; one just like Peyton.

  “I understand Prez, I can do this. Trust me man, I won’t let you down.” And he wouldn’t, Peyton was carrying precious cargo. The first Devil born, that was a huge deal. Slinger could tell from the pride on Smoke’s face that this baby was monumental.

  “Bones will be taking care of her so when he’s with her you can do your thing.” Smoke continued so Slinger would understand the depth of this assignment, “But if I’m not here, you have to be wherever she is. Got it?”

  He got it, clear as a bell. He was the Queen’s security and if he screwed up, there wouldn’t be an apology and a second chance. He would be digging his own grave.

  The Queen’s Detail

  Peyton had pulled Smoke aside after dinner so she could have a word with him in private. He was concerned about Slinger being her security but there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

  “Nero don’t worry, I’ll be just fine with Slinger. He’ll never let anything happen to me.” She seemed so certain but Smoke had known his Ink man for too long. He couldn’t help himself when it came to the ladies.

  “Sweetness if he screws up and you or Spawn get hurt I will kill him, no hesitation. Never in my life did I think I would find someone as perfect as you. Now that you’re carrying my child, I refuse to put you at risk. I’ll put a great big, brand new hole right through his head! Understand?” She did, perfectly. But he didn’t, not yet but he would when she finished explaining.

  “Nero when he gave me that hug, Slinger said something to me; something that shocked the hell out of me. He told me I make him want to be a better man and change his ways. After that confession he won’t mess up. Please Nero, can you trust me on this. It’s going to be ok.”

  “Well son of a bitch.” He said shaking his head in disbelief. Smoke had known Slinger close to twenty years and as soon as he discovered girls that had been it. Everyone thought he’d change as he became an adult. Boy were they wrong, if anything it became worse. There were days when he would have several in a twenty four hour span or more than one at once. Smoke never understood more than one at a time. He wanted whoever he was with to get his undivided attention.

  He allowed his ink man the benefit of the doubt and went in search of Bones. Smoke had questions that he wouldn’t ask in front of Renegade. He saw him sitting by the pit, drinking a beer.

  “Hey brother, I have a question for you about pregnancy.” Bones nodded, waiting for him to ask. None of them had any experience with a pregnant woman. “Can we have sex?” That wasn’t the question he was expecting, but he knew the answer.

  “We most definitely cannot have sex, that iguana you call your dick stays far away from me,” he said with a laugh.

  Smoke laughed too, the guys in the MC had names for his dick, like iguana, or Godzilla, and there were a few others. He just shrugged his shoulders. It was a part of his body and he never thought much about naming it.

  “You and Peyton however are more than ok to resume a normal sex life, but be gentle Smoke. Remember how delicate she is? The baby is tiny, maybe two inches long and even more delicate.”

  Smoke nodded, picturing the tiny fetus in her belly. His tiny fetus, and that still blew him away. He saw Rennie heading his way with a look. One that said he knew something Smoke wouldn’t want to miss.

  “Bones, Prez. I heard through my source that a huge shipment is being delivered to the warehouse on Tuesday and the rat bastard is going to be there to oversee the delivery. Sounds like a good party to crash, don’t you think
?”

  Smoke thought crashing that party sounded like a superb idea. Getting to see that bastard face to face and issue his challenge would be ideal. Considering today was Thursday they had time to construct a plan of attack and have Rennie’s patch party

  “Yep sounds like a great party, we’ll work on the particulars tomorrow. I need to go find my woman and have some alone time. Been a long day and she’s my anchor.”

  “Good thing I got some fucking earplugs. Jesus man, you’re a god damn animal.” Rennie laughed as he told him.

  He really wasn’t bad, Rennie like Bones was just jealous. But there was something about being around the two, like the energy they had for each other rubbed off on everyone around them. Even Slinger had come down with it. Bones had said their love was contagious and no pill in the world could cure it. No matter how big and bad they were, each one of them wanted exactly what they saw when they looked at Smoke and Peyton.

  Peyton sat talking with Slinger asking him all sorts of things. The first one she had to know was his name. “What’s your name? I know Slinger isn’t really your name, just the club name.”

  He, like the rest hadn’t used his name in eons. It was just how it was. His patch made him Slinger or Ink Man as Smoke sometimes called him.

  “Nash, well actually Nathaniel, but Ma called me Nash as far back as I can remember. You’re gonna call me Nash aren’t you?” He knew she was, she liked calling them by their names. It was more personal and everyone knew how personal she took her family and this was exactly that. Peyton made that quite clear. She had dubbed them her idiots which made them all laugh. They probably were idiots; some of the stunts they’d pulled over the years kept each wondering how he was still alive. Slinger saw Smoke coming and figured it was time to say goodnight and leave them to some privacy.

  Smoke sat down beside her kissing her temple ad pulling her close. “Did she drag your name outta you yet?” He asked his friend with a grin knowing just how Peyton was.

  “Yeah, she did. We’ve been talking for pretty much the whole night. She knows my secrets now.” And she did for the most part. He had told her about why he was the way he was. Looking for the affection he yearned for. What his mother couldn’t give him, trying her best to stay alive. How she had to hide the bruises after his father used her for a punching bag. He still hated the man. Death row wasn’t nearly a good enough punishment for taking away the only person he loved.

  “She’s an amazing woman and I’m one lucky bastard.” Smoke told Slinger as he squeezed Peyton close.

  “That you are man. That you are. I should head out.”

  Smoke shook his head; he wasn’t trying to run his ink man off. He just needed to be next to her, the one person who held his heart. “Nah man, stay. I just wanted to sit with her a while. Ask this incredible woman for a huge favor.” Peyton looked at Smoke with an odd expression. What could he possibly need from her?

  “Sweetness, I’d like to have Rennie’s patch party this weekend, whatever you need to make it work. Anything baby girl, can you do it? We’re looking at about fifty bikes plus the ladies.” She knew she could do it, cooking was the easy part. Keeping those women away from Smoke would be the challenge; one Peyton was definitely up for.

  “Yep, I can most definitely make that happen, but I’ll need help.”

  “I can manage that. Bones will help too, I already dropped the cut off so they can sew on the patch right. I’m no seamstress.” He told her laughing, remembering his sock mending fiasco. It was him trying be a cheap skate, in the end he had bought new ones and left any sewing to the gal that took care of their cuts. “So tell me what you need from us and you know I’ll make it happen.”

  A New Patch for Renegade

  The party had been planned and the cut was finished. Peyton looked it over to make sure it was right. The patch was the ultimate acceptance. To wear a Devil’s patch meant something. Clubs had started to arrive, the beer was flowing and all the appetizers she had prepared were being devoured. Thankfully she had the forethought to cook like the Marines were coming.

  The women had come out of the woodwork and a few were flirting with Smoke. Peyton watched him declining their advances as politely as possible while smiling a secretive grin. She knew he loved her but to see him shrug off other women made her quite happy. He had leather over his arm and she assumed it was the cut for Renegade, she was wrong. He strolled over in her direction still wearing that grin.

  “Sweetness this is yours.” Smoke told her holding out the cut. Peyton had her very own leather. One that said Devil’s on the top rocker, Smoke on the bottom rocker. It was an official old lady cut. Smoke wanted to make sure everyone knew they were both taken. The pure joy on her face gave Smoke utter satisfaction.

  “Sweetness I want you to stand with me when I give Rennie his patch, he has no idea this is his party. And I’d like it to stay that way until you’re ready to bring out the cake.” She agreed, this would be a surprise he would never forget. Peyton would be honored to get to stand with Smoke as he made it official and gave Renegade his Devil’s patch.

  The party had been a roaring success and everyone had their fill of food and drink. Peyton brought the cake out giving Smoke the nod.

  “Brothers and guests,” Smoke began, “this party was more than just a little get together. Tonight we are welcoming a new Devil into the fold. Rennie, can you come up?”

  Renegade walked up next to Smoke. He saw Peyton coming with leather. A Devil’s Apostles patch was on the back and his name on the front, Smoke smiled at him giving his nod. Rennie smiled too, he knew a patch was coming. He just wasn’t looking forward to the ass kicking that came with being patched in.

  “Renegade; Peyton, myself and the rest of the Devil’s believe you’ve earned this patch in more ways than one. I want to welcome you home brother.” Smoke told him and extended his hand. Renegade shook smokes hand expecting a left hook. What he got were claps on the back and a huge hug from Peyton.

  “Congratulations Wyatt, you deserve this.”

  “Thanks Queen, still can’t believe I didn’t get an ass whooping for this patch.” He kept looking around himself like the ass whooping was still a possibility. Rennie had gotten what he always wanted, the Devil’s patch.

  Renegade spent the remainder of the evening socializing with the brothers and hanging out with Peyton. He knew his queen had done all the cooking and made the cake, and Rennie was eternally grateful for all her work. She took care of all of them, not just Smoke. Peyton loved Smoke something crazy but she loved the rest of them too. She was pretty much the house mother; chewing their asses when they needed it, praising them when they needed that. One day Rennie would find one like her, but until that happened he would be happy just being her friend.

  Morning came and kickstands went up at nine a.m., this was a celebratory ride with the newest Devil. Peyton was on the back of Smokes Bike despite her doctor being none too happy about it. She rode anyway. Peyton was Smokes old lady and that meant when they went on a pleasure ride she went too. Smoke rode like a grandma with her on the back. His baby was inside her and he wouldn’t risk anything happening to either of them.

  They made several pit stops, food was a must and most of them wanted a cigarette. Trying to smoke on the bike was nearly impossible. Smoke himself needed a cigarette and Peyton had asked to pee about ten miles back, so when they came upon the little diner the caravan of bikes stopped.

  Peyton was never so happy to see a toilet in her life. She had been holding it for an hour and her bladder was so full it hurt. Even with the bathroom not being overly clean she didn’t care, hovering over the commode relieving herself of the pain from needing to pee. She finished her business and washed her hands before leaving the bathroom and went to the counter to get a Dr. Pepper. They had to-go cups and she needed her fix. She bought the biggest one they had knowing her idiots would probably steal sips. She turned to look through the window and caught Smoke smiling in her direction. Nothing was better in her
world than that man. His smile warmed her insides.

  Walking back with Dr. Pepper in hand she noticed an old black sedan sitting at the end of the lot. It looked like an old police car but no lights or markers. And it was dirty; no police car she ever saw was dirty like this car. Had to be a civilian car now, probably bought at an auction. She had no idea why it stood out to her but it had. She shook off the car and went directly into the waiting arms of her man. Smokes arms were her happy place, her safe place. Nothing would ever hurt her when he was there.

  “You ok sweetness? Wanna head back and leave them to finish the ride?” She was tired but there was no way she wasn’t going to finish. Peyton just wouldn’t be cooking tonight, there was enough leftover food to feed them all and she wanted to take Smoke out to dinner at the Dash. She knew he would never say no and shrimp sounded so good, plus those ribeye steaks they had were to die for.

  “I’m good, better if you and I have dinner at the Dash tonight and let Spawn have shrimp.” She told him laughing. Whatever she wanted, Smoke would make certain she had it. No matter what it was, he had enough money to handle it all.

  The ride continued and Peyton loved the wind rushing past her, she internally laughed remembering how afraid she’d been the first time she rode on Smoke’s bike with him. Now, knowing how to ride herself, being on the back of his bike was thrilling.

  The last stop was an old bar Slinger knew well. It used to be his old haunt when he was trolling for ladies. They were all sore and tired from an all-day ride but letting Renegade lead this ride was worth it. Normally Smoke would lead all the rides as President, but this was Rennie’s inaugural ride so it made sense to Smoke to let Renegade take the lead. Seeing the pride worn on the new patch holder’s face made it the right decision.

  As kickstands went down, Peyton saw that same old black car pull in at the end of the lot. Maybe it was just a coincidence but she wasn’t buying that, something was seriously wrong.