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

by Annie Buff

  “Nero, I think we have a problem.” He raised his eyebrows waiting for her to tell him what the problem could possibly be. “When we stopped at the diner I noticed an old black sedan in the lot. The windows were too tinted to see inside and it was there when I came out so I just shrugged it off. That same car just pulled in here. I don’t like this Nero, it feels like something bad is about to happen.”

  Smoke didn’t like it either, someone was following them. He called for his Ink Man. Slinger knew this place, and that would be advantageous for them.

  “We’re being watched, where’s the safest place in there? Gotta keep Peyton out of the line of fire.” Slinger didn’t get to answer his President before the Queen broke in.

  “Oh hell no Nero! I can shoot as well as the rest of them and I am not hiding while you all try not to get killed.” His woman had spunk, he’d give her that and he’d give her a gun, but she needed to be somewhere there was ample cover. Only then would he feel ok about her being in the midst of whatever this was about to be.

  “Peyton…” he started but she quickly nixed whatever he had planned to say.

  “Don’t you Peyton me Nero McAllister! I will not sit idly by while all hell breaks loose! Give me a god damned gun!” She was close to yelling at him, her voice had gone up several octaves. Smoke knew this was a no win situation so he reluctantly slipped her his forty-five auto, praying she wouldn’t have to use it.

  Slinger and Peyton walked casually towards the door while the others slowly filed in behind them and then exited straight through the back door leaving Peyton and Slinger inside using the bar for cover. The few patrons and the bartender had slipped out through the rear door as well, avoiding whatever gun fire was about to happen. Peyton had Smokes Colt Nineteen-Eleven and an extra magazine. Slinger carried the same but he had two of them and a gigantic knife in his boot. They sat quietly waiting for Smoke’s cue. He said if they heard shots to take cover and get ready.

  Smoke took a position giving him not only perfect access to the sedan but also a bird’s eye view of the driver. This wasn’t part of Skinny’s crew. The man behind the wheel was dark skinned, dark enough to be Hispanic. Had to be Jefēs crew.

  “Son of a bitch.” He whispered to Renegade and his brother saw what he saw. The driver was the one that Knuckles couldn’t find in Alamogordo, the one with the keys. The grin that came across his face even gave Smoke pause. Rennie was crazy as a loon and he looked like he was going to waltz up to that car.

  “Oh Prez, this is going to be fun. But those bastards are like cockroaches. There’s never just one. Let Ink Man know to keep his eye on both doors. Dollars to donuts there’s at least five of them fuckers. We got one, so that leaves four unaccounted for.”

  The shooting started and Peyton had her eyes glued to the front door, Slinger to the back door. They stood back to back, guns in hand waiting. It didn’t take long for a dark haired man to kick in the door and point his gun at Peyton.

  Not today she thought as she fired. It hit him right beneath his throat. She aimed high enough to miss the vest she could see peeking out of his shirt. He instantly went down making gurgling sounds as he drown in his own blood. One more came through back door and that one didn’t even get the chance to draw, Slinger had one bullet between his eyes before he cleared his holster.

  With both gunmen dead they waited, listening to the sounds of rapid fire. Someone had a full automatic and Slinger just hoped it was Smoke. He knew his President well enough to know he wouldn’t have given Peyton his hip weapon without having another. Smoke loved anything automatic; he had been collecting them for as far back as Slinger had known him. There was usually a Tech-Nine in his saddle bag. He just hoped today wasn’t a day he’d left it behind.

  Smoke had his Tech-Nine in hand as he dove behind a dumpster, avoiding the hail of bullets that came his way. He knew he’d feel that later, he was definitely getting too old to dive behind things. He saw Rennie run up behind the sedan with Knuckles and Moody right behind him. They had to get the one that had the AK, and then it would be easy to take down the other two. Moody and Knuckles changed positions but Rennie didn’t follow. He went after AK, his knife out as he snuck up behind him. Rennie slit his throat before he knew what happened, getting covered in arterial spray. Renegade had the look of utter satisfaction as blood dripped down his face. Well now they could get the last two.

  “We aren’t sitting here anymore.” Peyton told Slinger. She had been listening to the bullets flying and pacing the floor. “Let’s go help my man, look Nash can you see that? That man is wide open and I’m going to shoot him!”

  She needed to help, and that’s exactly what she was going to do. Peyton opened the door slowly just enough to aim through and put her bead on his head. She took her time, taking a deep breath and holding it as she squeezed the trigger. He dropped to the asphalt and Peyton knew he was no more. She caught Smokes eye and nodded. Four down and one to go, the last would be easy.

  With the last one dealt with Smoke went to retrieve his woman. This was too close for his liking. Nothing went wrong this time, but they had gotten lucky. Next time they might not be fortunate. He took her and just held on, she was his entire reason for living and Smoke couldn’t go on without Peyton.

  “Nero, I’m ok. Actually I’m better than ok. I got two of them assholes. We’re fine now.” That was true, they were fine and she had taken down two of those greasy assholes.

  “You ok Prez?” Renegade asked him with his normal sadistic grin. The blood had dried, but he still looked like something from a Stephen King novel.

  “Yeah I’m alright, aside from a ruptured spleen.” Smoke joked. His insides were screaming at him, he would definitely feel that one later.

  “This shit with Jefē has to end. I’m too old to fucking dive for cover every time these assholes want to come after me.”

  The men agreed, something had to be done. This was the second attempt and none of them were happy, Peyton was the surprise. She was mad as a hornet, and had no problems telling them all.

  “What in the holy Hell are we waiting for?” Peyton roared, “Let’s go blow him to smithereens! This is twice in a week, oh hell no!”

  Smoke smiled shaking his head, his woman had fire. He was aware they needed to handle the situation quickly, but dealing with Skinny seemed a bigger priority especially with Peyton being pregnant.

  “You’re sure you’re ok sweetness? Spawn is ok in there?” He asked her as he rubbed her belly. His child was in there. Smoke didn’t understand how he could love something so much but he did. She smiled and nodded, indicating she was fine.

  “Damn Queen,” Slinger told her, “I’m fucking impressed. You’re one helluva shot. Where’d you learn those skills?”

  Peyton had to laugh, she loved all the old westerns and her love of shooting came from those even if Skinny made her and her siblings learn how. She did it because she wanted to be a cowgirl, not her father’s pawn.

  “Hey guys I have an idea.” Payton informed them, “You know we need extra help now that your Jefē is after the club right? Well my older brother was a Ranger in the Army. He hates our father as much as I do and I know if I called him, Rory would help in a heartbeat.”

  “Call him sweetness, tell him what’s going on and to bring friends if he has any. The property is big enough for a few camper trailers and such. I know a guy that owns an RV place, he owes the club. Tell me how many bodies we need to house and I’ll make it work. Now let’s go home.”

  Meeting the Brother

  Rory Matthews was sitting at the airport in Raleigh Durham waiting to board his flight. His baby sister was in trouble. Their father had gotten her to do his dirty work again, this time it backfired. Peyton fell for the mark and now daddy dearest was going after them all. He had tried to kill her. Rory was flabbergasted that he actually attempted to kill his own daughter. Everyone knew what a waste of life he was but that was surprising even for Skinny Mathews. Rory made a mental note to never underestima
te his old man again.

  Peyton had called explaining the situation and how she’d fallen in love with not only Smoke McAllister but all the men in his club. They had accepted her and she would do anything she had to so they could have a somewhat normal life. She’d recently found out she was pregnant and that was one thing they knew Skinny would exploit. Her new man was overjoyed about becoming a father and Rory himself was thrilled about becoming an uncle. Peyton told him all the guys were just as thrilled about the baby and Smoke had assigned her a security detail. Things seemed ok until one of Smokes old adversaries decided now was a good time to try to kill him, and how she took two out herself. He laughed, thinking how proud she sounded as she recanted the story.

  Rory, just like his sister did everything he could to avoid his father. Joining the army was the perfect out. He just had no idea he would love it so much, even Ranger training had been a blast. Being pushed so far past your limits and conquering things you never thought possible was exciting to say the least. He had excelled far more than his drill Sergeant had ever thought he would. Rory was meeting two army buddies in Phoenix. When he made the call asking for their help they jumped at the chance to get to blow things up again. Most of them lead quiet civilian lives now and missed the action.

  He had missed his sister, enlisting at eighteen when Peyton was only eleven and being gone for all of her teenage years. After being overseas for six years he was shipped stateside to finish out his time. There was a brief visit a few of years ago where he got a chance to see his little sister, but not for nearly long enough. They had been so close when she was young. Now at thirty four he worked in private security but it was a mundane job and Rory himself missed the action of a good old fashioned gun fight. Maybe this was exactly what he needed. The announcement for boarding was broadcast over the PA system so he grabbed his duffle and headed towards the gate. He was looking forward to seeing Peyton and meeting what she called her idiots. Rory could see her calling them just that and them letting her. She had a way of making people love her, she always had. ‘Well off to save the day ’ he thought smiling.

  Peyton had rearranged the spare room. Smoke had turned it into his office and with her brother coming he’d need a bed. So she had spent the entire day barking orders on where everything was going so Rory had a place to sleep. Smoke did whatever she told him to, there was no way he’d let her lift anything. The rest of them followed in suit, bending to her beck and call. They would have done it anyway but with her being pregnant and knowing how their President felt about being a father, they went above and beyond.

  Smokes insides had recovered for the most part, he was still sore and the running joke was still his spleen. He had called Church twice since the bar fiasco. The last one telling his brothers that Rory Matthews was coming and bringing two friends. Smoke wasn’t sure how that would be received considering none of them were patch brothers, but his crew surprised him.

  “Good, we need faces Jefē doesn’t know. The fact that they’re ex rangers is a fucking plus, that means they can shoot and blow shit up. I’m totally on board with this!” Knuckles wasn’t usually this vocal during temple but he knew they had to have help or the casualties would outnumber the living.

  “Yeah Prez, I’m in. I’d like to meet her brother anyway. Gotta know the Queen’s family.” Rennie was taken with Peyton, but not in the way Smoke was. She had become such a good friend to him, keeping him smiling, clean and full of food. They had a kinship like he’d had with no one else. Smoke knew if he wanted to get Rennie to do anything all he had to do was tell Peyton. She had asked Smoke if they could add onto the clubhouse, giving Rennie a place to stay where he felt at home. Of course he didn’t deny her, knowing that Renegade had been living in the Blood’s clubhouse and being around the club was where he felt most at home.

  Peyton paced, waiting for her brother to drive down the dirt road. She hadn’t seen him in over two years and she’d missed him. She and Rory looked identical, both with blonde curls and blue eyes. He just had a foot in height on her but other than that, they could have been twins. When he went off to the army he’d been a skinny boy, he came back a man built similar to Smoke. At least that’s how she remembered it.

  Every time she checked her watch Peyton was sure it would be time, but it was only fifteen minutes later than the last time she had checked. She needed a distraction so she went in search of Bones to see how far his contractor friend had gotten on the cabin. They had started just days after the disaster and had been steadily working on righting the wrong her father had caused. Smoke told her to stop apologizing and that she wasn’t at fault but Peyton couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.

  Bones and Peyton sat talking about all the things that had been done and those that still needed repairs. The hardest part was going to be replacing the antique dishware. They hadn’t produced those particular dishes in over forty years but Bones told her not to worry. He had friends looking on auction sites for them. The furniture hadn’t been as difficult, he used to date a girl that worked in antiques and she found exactly what they needed.

  As soon as the walls were finished, the furniture would be delivered. Bones knew it would be hard to get him up there for the unveiling without telling him so he was going to have photographs taken and do a slide show for him.

  Smoke found Peyton sitting with Bones and assumed she was asking pregnancy questions and he had a few of his own.

  “Hey Bones lemme ask you something. When can we tell what Spawn is? I wanted to turn one of the upstairs bedrooms into the nursery and add on downstairs. Peyton gave me the idea when she asked about adding to the clubhouse.”

  “Not for a while, sorry boss man. Sixteen weeks is usually the soonest and she’s just going on eight.”

  Smoke and Bones spoke a while longer while Peyton went outside to sit. Rory’s plane had landed an hour ago and she was impatiently waiting for her big brother. His text said he was bringing two buddies so smoke had a small camper brought in. One they could be comfortable in and have some privacy. The waiting was driving her insane. Peyton hated waiting for anything; patience was not one of her strong suits.

  Rory Matthews stood at baggage claim waiting for his friends; that was the prearranged meeting place. Phoenix and Bennett drove in from Vegas and he knew they had a trunk full of guns, ammo and explosives. His baby sister had said to bring everything and that’s the message he gave his buddies. Load up with everything they had. He knew how much Phoenix loved to blow things up and just how much C-four he had stockpiled. Rory knew the trunk of whatever they were driving was loaded to the top.

  Rory couldn’t wait for a smoke any longer, so he wandered out to the curb to light up. Seven hours was way too long to go without nicotine. After two glorious draws on his cigarette he heard it. “God damn you’re still as ugly as ever!”

  “Suck my dick Nix!”

  “Bare it Sarge!” The two laughed as they embraced, Bennett stepped out and shook Rory’s hand laughing. All three knew this was a mission, but like none they’d ever been on. Rory’s baby sister was at the eye of the storm. Neither had ever met her but that was a technicality that really didn’t matter. She was family and her new man and his brotherhood counted as the same. They stood shooting the breeze and finishing their smokes before they headed East to get this party started.

  She didn’t care about dinner; she wanted her brother to be there. Smoke had tried to get her to eat and Peyton had refused, stating she would eat when Rory got there. She was an inch from losing her mind when she heard tires on gravel, then saw a black SUV coming up the drive. Had to be him, and she was on pins and needles. It stopped by the picnic tables and the occupants just sat there. Peyton had her hand over her mouth, fighting back the tears. Rory saw his sister’s face and couldn’t let her wait any longer.

  “Pee monster!” Rory said loudly as he exited the rear door of the SUV. His blond curls were military short but he looked exactly like he always did. She ran into his arms hugging him fierc
ely.

  She wouldn’t let go, having her brother here was better than Christmas. “Pee, there’s a really large man staring me down and I have no intentions of dying here.” She laughed knowing it was Smoke. She could feel his presence.

  “Come meet my man, you’re gonna love him. The rest of them are on their way back with food.”

  Smoke extended his hand as they approached the porch. He introduced himself as Rory and his army buddies came up the stairs. Peyton stood smiling; she had everyone she loved in one place.

  The idiots arrived with the sub sandwiches she had ordered, two six footers with everything on them plus sides of slaw, macaroni salad, potato salad and coolers full of beer. The extra tables she had talked Bones into bringing had come in handy. They set one for food, the other they butted up to the picnic tables so everyone could sit together. She knew this was not just a meet and greet, there would be business discussed.

  “So Rory, Peyton says you’re the best sniper she knows and I need that. This shit has to end. She’s got my baby inside her for fuck’s sake.” Rory and Smoke spoke about all the issues his MC was having with not just Jefē, but Skinny too. Phoenix explained he was the demolition man and how he could level anything. Smoke liked the idea of blowing Jefē to hell, but knew he had the forethought to have safety tunnels and a panic room. “The cockroach has enough escape routes he’s gonna be hard to get.”

  “Tunnels will be easy to see with infrared, we’ll get a fly over after dark. Any heat signatures will show up. I’ve already arranged a flight over his compound.”

  This was good to know, they had been working on this before they even knew the particulars. Peyton had said her brother and his friends had no problems helping. This just proved it. Setting up the time for a pre-sun rise flight with the pilot was simple, Smoke wanted to be present. This wasn’t a mission that would be over in days according to Bennett Murphy, Rory’s army friend. This would take several weeks of strategizing and planning. Once the first leg was worked out Smoke stepped away from the crowd, he needed to breathe, he needed to think. Weeks meant Peyton was still in danger, it meant that it would be that much longer before Skinny was in a hole. This wasn’t how he wanted it to go. Smoke assumed they could hit Jefē and then go after Skinny in a week, not weeks.