Now I’m free to concentrate on our life, my wife and child. A daughter. A little girl. I’ll still mourn the son I never saw born, but hell, I’m going to be a dad. I can’t fucking wait.
I watch Mel sleeping, there’s a small smile on her face as though she’s having a good dream. I hate to wake her, but I promised that I would.
“Mel, Mel, darlin’?”
“Huh?” She rolls over.
I grin and roll her back. “Mel, darlin’. Just saying goodbye like I promised to do.”
“You will come back?”
One time another man told her goodbye and never returned. “You can bet you’re fuckin’ life on it. I’ll be back later today. If I’m delayed, it will be tomorrow at the latest, okay? You stay here at the club. Vi’s going to talk baby shit with you.”
“Demon and Vi are pregnant too.”
“Yeah, how about that? They kept that quiet for a while.” They’d announced it last night. Vi’s three months along now, so our babies will only be a couple of months apart.
Mel’s more awake now. “Jay’s over the moon. She’s already offering to babysit. Hmm,” her hand is exploring, “someone’s woken up horny.”
I’m as hard as a fucking rock, but that’s normal around her. “Shit, Mel. I’ve got to get going. But hold that thought, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She gives me one more rub to torture me. I put my hand over hers and lift it away. “I’m sorry I’ve got to go, but there’s this special part…”
“I know, I understand, Ro. It’s just…” Her face falls and she bites her lip.
“I’m coming back,” I tell her again, “and soon. I’ll pay you back for making me spend the whole fuckin’ day sporting a hard-on. You just think how you’re going to deal with that when I get home.”
Having made my threat and suggestively waggled my eyebrows to make her giggle, I kiss her, then pull down the sheet, putting my lips to her stomach where my daughter is nestled inside. “See you soon, baby girl. Be good for your mom.”
Mel chuckles. “Right now, she can’t be anything else. It’s when she gets bigger that she’ll give me grief.”
Neither of us can wait until she starts to move.
“Don’t lift anything heavy, don’t…”
“I know, I know,” she sighs, and grumbles. “I’ve got another four months of you nagging me to be careful, haven’t I?”
“It gets worse. You wait, Mel,” I threaten. “I’ll…"
She gasps, puts her hand to her stomach.
“What is it?” I’m leaning over her, my face taut with concern.
“She moved. I swear. She moved.”
I place my hand where she’s just had hers. For a second nothing happens then… I feel a faint fluttering under my palm. “Is that her?”
“Yeah. I think it is.”
My fucking God. I’ve just felt my baby move. All of a sudden it makes what I’ve got to do more imperative. But I’m reluctant to leave now, when my daughter’s just nudged my hand.
A hoarse whisper sounds from outside my door. “You in there, Ro?”
“Go on,” she says. “We’ll be here when you get back.”
“I am coming back to you.” I hold her gaze with mine.
“I know you are.”
I stand, look at her one last time, then sliding my gun into my cut and taking my wallet and keys off the stand, exit the room.
Mace is standing outside. “Ready?”
“Let’s do this.”
“Archer’s expecting us,” Mace tells me as we descend the stairs, keeping our voices down. It’s four am and most of the brothers are sleeping. “Got everything you need?”
“Yeah, I gave it to Karl to stow on the bike.” He won’t get patched in if he’s fucked this up, so I’ve got every confidence he’ll have followed my instructions with the utmost care.
“Best get moving then. Got a long ride ahead of us, Brother.” He slaps me on the back, and I follow him out front.
The prospect is waiting by the bikes, his mouth open wide in a yawn. “Want me to come along?”
“Nah.” This is one trip we don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. Mace and I have already left our cuts behind. I’m a mechanic, unless we’re unlucky enough to get a puncture, there’s not much I can’t fix by the side of the road. I can’t carry much else in my own saddlebags, but Mace has got the toolkit I wanted to bring in his.
The bikes start with a roar, but if we’ve woken anyone up, the brothers will understand. What we’re heading out to do has been carefully planned in church.
It ends today.
After three hours of riding we stop to top off our tanks, then waste no time getting back on the road. It takes two more tank fills before we reach our destination, a shady bar on the edge of town.
A man comes out as he hears the Harleys.
“Archer?” I approach him, holding out my hand.
“Yeah. Pyro?”
“That’s me. This here is Mace.”
Archer kicks out at a stone on the ground. “Fuck this,” he growls, wiping his hand over his face. “You fuckin’ sure?”
I can understand how he’s feeling. “No doubt.”
“I’ve kept it quiet, only my VP knows. And of course Huff, who picked it up on the dark web.”
“It’s the best way,” I tell him. “Fucker will be on his guard the whole time, anyone looking at him sideways will make him run and go to ground.” Not only that, if they don’t know, they can be completely truthful when the inevitable questions are asked.
He’s shaking his head, then looks up over toward the distant hills, but I don’t believe he’s taking in the view. “We’ve got a shipment coming in next week. If,” he slams his fist into his hand, “if Huff hadn’t found the info your crew’s been posting around, we’d have all gone down.” His eyes come back to me. “Owe you, brother.”
“Nah. Got personal reasons for doing this. You don’t owe me fuck all. It’s my thanks you’ll get when the job’s done.”
“You gonna stay? Meet the club?”
“No,” Mace puts in fast. “Trust you, trust your men. But the fewer people who see our faces around, the better.”
“Gotcha there.” He looks from me to Mace. “Which one of you is the explosives expert?”
“That will be me, and I’ve got it prepared.” I walk back to my bike. The small amount of C4 and remote-controlled detonator is well disguised. “Put it under the seat, it’s magnetic.” I show him where I mean by demonstrating on my bike.
“Collateral damage?”
“Explosion won’t be big enough, as long as no one’s riding up close. I’ll be watching, and I’ll pick my time.”
“Got an errand he can run. I’ll send him out on his own. My VP will make sure he doesn’t get a chance to check his bike before he leaves.” He waits a moment, weighing the equipment of death in his hand. Then jerks his head to the building behind him. “Doesn’t look like much, but the food’s more than edible. You wait here, and I’ll tell you when it’s in place. Shouldn’t be more than an hour or so.”
We take his advice. He’s right, the food’s good. But we eat more to pass the time than to satisfy any appetite. My current hunger is not for food.
At last I get a call with instructions. I follow them. Archer has picked a good spot, somewhere for us to hide, with good visibility of anyone coming along the road. It’s an isolated and dangerous spot, the road twisting and mountainous with steep drop-offs.
“He’s coming,” says Mace into my ear.
I heard the engine too. The bike comes into sight. Using the binoculars I brought along, I check it is indeed my target, then I choose my moment and press the innocuous looking button on the remote I’m holding.
The bike bursts into a ball of flame.
Archer really has chosen well. In his final split second the rider’s veered to the right, and the bike’s flown over the guardrail and disappeared below.
I even totalled my bike in
a ravine. Thought you’d have found it by now.
Not then, we hadn’t. But you certainly have now Skull, or whatever name you’re going by at the moment.
“Agent Jordan has been retired.” Mace slaps my back. “Permanently.”
It’s only on the ride back that I let myself feel the relief that at last Mel has gotten the justice she deserves. The citizen law might not have done its job, but the Devils got revenge in the end. I grin, confident that Cad’s made sure a certain security tape in an auto parts shop in San Francisco, on the other side of the country, has a picture of myself clearly picking up the part that I needed.
We ride through the night, both of us eager to get home. It’s the early hours of the morning when I at last walk in.
Karl, again yawning, takes a package from under the bar and hands it to me.
In the bedroom, I put the custom-made part on the dresser, then look at my sleeping wife.
I’d walk through hell and high water for her and my kid.
Another black mark on my soul? Worth it for her.
“Pyro?”
“Yeah, I’m back.”
“Did you do what you needed to?”
“Yeah, darlin’, I did.”
Quickly divesting myself of my clothes, I climb in beside her, pulling her back against me.
“Sleep babe,” I tell her, unnecessarily. She’d relaxed immediately with my body surrounding hers. A gentle snuffle and the sound of her deep breathing tells me she’s already drifted off.
Twenty-four hours apart was too long, and I’m content simply to hold my wife and unborn child in my arms. Having spent most of yesterday riding, I follow her into the land of dreams soon after, secure in the knowledge that from now on our nightmare has gone.
Acknowledgments
Often an idea for a book is sparked by current events, or a new story I’ve read, and this is certainly true for Devil’s Dilemma.
A few months ago I read something on the news about undercover cops who formed relationships with women in the group they were infiltrating in the UK, and the hurt and pain these women went through after the men upped and left without a word. I immediately knew I needed to use the basis of this story, and knew who was going to be my own undercover cop in the scenario.
I did have issues transporting the ideas into the US, and got embroiled in many legal and procedural aspects which are obviously very different from those in the UK. Despite my copious research (the FBI Guidelines for Undercover Officers is not fun bedtime reading!), this was the fastest book ever to come out of my head and go onto the page. It just seemed like Mel and Pyro wanted their story to be shared.
I know from my beta readers that the twists and turns in this book came as a surprise to them, and I hope there will be no spoilers to ruin the surprise for new readers, but hey, it will happen.
As well as this story flowing so well, my wonderful team of beta readers, editor, proofreader, formatter and cover designer also responded fast, and with amazing comments. I am therefore able to bring you this book a month early, following fast on the heels of Truck Stopped.
I’m very pleased with how this book has turned out, and believe it deserves a good cover. I’m beyond honoured to have two fellow authors as models, the wonderful Colbie Kay together with KB Bennett. Thank you to Randy Ris Sewell of RLS Images Photography for answering my plea for a suitable cover photo and to quickly respond with such a great image. I hope you like it as much as I do. A massive thank you, as always, to Lia Rees, my cover designer, who worked on the cover and brought Mel and Pyro to life.
Usually I keep my ideas close to my chest when writing, but this time I let my editor know the general plot a couple of books back. She immediately wanted me to move this one up the agenda as she wanted to see how this one played out. I think her encouragement inspired me to get it written so quickly. Thank you Maggie Kern for your ideas and input, and fast turnaround of the drafts. You know I love you, woman.
Beta readers. Again, thank you to the usual culprits, Tami (my location advisor), Danena, Sheri, Terra, Zoe, Nicole, Alex and last but not least, my husband Steve. This book was unusual as, instead of waiting until they reached the end, I think most of you messaged me at some point expressing your surprise at the plot turns. I believe I had most of you fooled as to what was going on. That was my aim, and my delight when I knew I had achieved it. I really can’t thank you enough.
As I indicated, all my ducks fell into line to bring forward the publication date, and that includes Melanie Darrow who turned the proofreading around in record time. It does help this is the third time we’ve worked together, so she’s getting to know my style, and vice versa.
Tracy Wood, my PA. What can I say? An amazing woman who keeps my social media going and produces the graphics I’m unable to do myself. Hey, I’m good with words not pictures. Thank you, Tracy. Long may we work together.
I have left the most important to last, all you readers who take a chance on buying my books, and then telling me how much you enjoy reading them. My whole day can be boosted by one message, one comment or one review. You may have no idea how much it spurs me to write more.
The best way of telling me is to leave a review on whatever platform you read on, or anywhere you can review. I read and appreciate every review good or bad. Reviews help authors make sales, sales allow authors to pay editors, models and photographers, cover designers etc, and put food on the table.
What’s next? Well, another Devil of course, and I think you can guess who. Beth was pretty intent on targeting Ink at Mel’s wedding. Did she end up getting her man? Ink’s Devil will be along soon.
Ink’s Devil
Satan’s Devils MC (Colorado Chapter) #5
Copyright
Published 2019 by Trish Haill Associates
Copyright Manda Mellett
Cover Design by Wicked Smart Designs
Edited and formatted by Maggie Kern at Ms.K Edits
Proof reading by Melanie Farrow at Professional Writing Services
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book reviews.
www.mandamellett.com
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Warning
This book is dark in places and contains content of a sexual, abusive and violent nature. It may not be suitable for persons under the age of 18.
Cast of Characters
Officers
Demon – President
Beef - Vice President
Buzzard – Secretary/Treasurer
Thunder – Sergeant-At-Arms
Mace – Enforcer
Sparky – Road Captain
Patched Members
Hellfire
Bomber
Cad
Ink
Lizard
Pyro
Paladin
Rusty
Skull
Judge
Wills
Prospects
Karl
Beaver
Smithy – Failed Prospect
Old Ladies & Children
Violet (Demon’s): Theo
Steph (Beef’s)
Sindy (Buzzard’s)
Moira (Hellfire’s): Demon, Kennedy, Samuel
Jeannie (Bomber’s)
Jayden (Paladin’s)
Mel (Pyro’s)
Sweet Butts
Bella
Breezy
Sheila
Titsy
Tulia
Deceased Members
Blackie – Previous President
Furnace – Previous VP
Ingot – Previous Enforcer
&nbs
p; Taser
Chapter One
Ink
“So, Pyro’s married. Got the ball and chain well and truly attached now.” Lizard, my MC brother and manager of the Satan’s Devil’s tattoo parlour, chuckles raising what must be his sixth beer of the night as if in salute.
“Yeah. How about that?” Mace, our enforcer replies, his brow furrowing. “It was obvious what he thought about her from the start, but he had to stay clear as Skull, God damn his soul, had claimed her.” His face twists and then relaxes into an approximation of a smile. “But never believed Ro would end up married.”
“Kid coming along too,” I say, pressing my lips together. “He seems fuckin’ happy about it. Me? Nah. I prefer being single.” I glance around the posh banqueting hall where the wedding reception is being held. Breezy, Titsy, Sheila, Tulia, and Bella, our sweet butts, have all been invited and seem to scrub up well. Today, they’re wearing clothes more suitable to the occasion rather than the barely nothing that’s their usual attire. My cock twitches as I wonder which I’ll go with tonight. One, that’s for certain. Maybe two if I get my chance. I’ll have to get in quick though. Weddings make everyone horny and they’ll be in high demand.
Club girls know the score and exactly what they are there for, which is to satisfy the members in any way they want their appetites met. No courtship necessary or even foreplay if you’re not in the mood, but usually I am, ensuring both partners have fun and get off. I don’t need a woman to be faithful to me, nor me to them.
Satan’s Devils MC -Colorado Box Set: Books 4-6 Page 37
