I don’t know why she wants me, but not many people refuse Violet anything. I follow her back to her station. She stops by Esme whose head is bent over a piece of paper.
“Esme, will you show Mace your drawing?”
I hate that the girl shrinks into herself when she sees me hovering. Fucking hate it. I stay quiet, knowing I should leave Vi to do the talking. Esme’s learned men can and will hurt her. She needs to be treated like a piece of fragile glass.
“Go on,” Vi encourages. “I know he’ll like it a lot.”
Composing my features into the complete opposite of my normal enforcer’s snarl, I take a slow step closer, as though approaching a wild animal, not wanting to make any sudden moves to spook the nervous girl. I prepare myself with platitudes and false praise for when I see what she’s produced.
Esme looks at Vi, Vi gives her an encouraging nod. Then shyly, she pushes a piece of paper across, withdrawing her hand fast to avoid any touch between hers and mine.
I pick it up and study it. Then look twice. Raising my eyes, my brow furrows and I toss Vi a questioning look. Vi must have outlined it, and Esme coloured in between the lines.
Vi interprets what I’m asking, and answers before I use words. “All her work,” she confirms with a smile full of respect and pride targeted toward the young girl.
Wow, just wow. This kid has some talent. It’s a perfect unicorn. Vi couldn’t have drawn one better herself.
“Esme, you are one talented young lady.” I’m still staring at the paper in my hand. “This is amazing, sweetheart.” My reaction is totally genuine, and something of that conveys itself to the girl who gives me a tentative smile. I go to give her the picture back, but she shakes her head.
She mouths something, I can’t translate it. But then she gestures with her hand.
“For me?” I check to make certain.
Her energetic nod says yes.
I have two emotions. Pleasure that she’s sharing something with me, and a doubling of hatred for the man who took away her voice. Every protective instinct rises inside me. Immediately, I know I’ll do everything in my power, so nothing ever hurts her again.
“Thank you, sweetheart, I’ll treasure it. Tell you what, I’ll get a frame and hang it in my room.”
She understands me. Her face flushes red, and that quick sunny smile comes to her face. I know right there and then, I’d do anything to make that permanent.
“I’m going to ring your old man,” I tell Vi, tightly, not looking forward to the conversation I need to have. Then I address the girl who I’d love to reward for my gift with a hug, but refrain, knowing I’ll scare her. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”
I step out, walk through the reception area, slipping my already treasured drawing into the desk drawer as I pass. I proceed out front, then around to the alley at the side, and then act on the second reason I’d left Liz and Shayla in his office. I take two objects out of my cut. I light a cigarette first, fuck, I badly need one, then I call up the first pre-set number on my phone.
“Prez, we’ve got a fuckin’ problem.”
“I suspect I know what you’re going to tell me. Cad’s just found some info. Major isn’t a biker. He’s a fuckin’ high-class pimp out of Vegas.”
I’m not surprised the tech guy found out. He always gets there eventually.
“I’ve got Red’s guys looking into him,” Demon continues, his voice booming down the phone. I turn down the volume a little. What he’s told me is good news. Red’s the prez of the Satan’s Devils’ chapter in Sin City. Hopefully he’ll find Major and it won’t be too long before I can get my hands on him.
“Shayla brought a friend to also have a tattoo covered.” I fill him in on what he doesn’t know. Proud that I’m keeping myself more or less under control. “She’s fuckin’ underage and has some kind of mental problem. She’s got the same tat as Shayla. He fuckin’ marked a kid as his property, Prez.” I slam my fist holding the cigarette against the wall, making ash drop off. Okay, not so much under control. I draw in a deep breath before continuing, “He intended to pimp out a mentally retarded girl,” I stress, so there can be no misunderstanding. “Just fuckin’ lucky Shayla got her out before he found someone to pay a high enough price.”
I hear Prez’s sharp intake of breath. “How old is she?”
“My guess is fifteen or so, could be a little older I guess.”
“They living safe? Well enough hidden if Major’s looking for them?”
“They’re living cheap, so no would be my summation. Shayla’s been scrimping to get enough money to cover their tats.” That’s not hard to understand. With that on their backs, it’s a direct link back to the man who believes he owns them.
“No charge for them,” Demon shoots back quickly. “Liz comfortable doing the work on the girl?”
“I think so.” I haven’t had a definitive answer from him as yet. “But if he does, we’ll need to keep it quiet, Prez.”
“I hear you, Mace. Need to keep our public face clean.”
“Prez.” I try to find the words to formulate the suggestion that’s been growing in my mind. “I don’t know the risk she’s in, but I suspect Major may well want to reclaim his property. She doesn’t think she’s run far enough, and my gut feel tells me she’s right. Until we know more about this motherfucker ourselves, I think we should treat them as being in danger.”
“Fuck.” Demon goes quiet while he thinks. “You’re suggesting we bring them here to the compound, aren’t you? What the hell has happened to my enforcer, Mace? I expected you to fuck it up with Vanna and the kid, yet you didn’t. Now you’re falling for a sob story from a couple of strays.”
His tone is gently mocking, and I don’t take offence. In some ways, his chiding is helping me get my head back into the game, to lock down my rage and turn it into something worthwhile, such as dealing with the situation we’ve been handed. “It is what it is, Prez. How these girls have been treated goes against everything we stand for. I haven’t spoken to Liz, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be feeling the same. And then there’s Vi. She’s been looking after the younger one, taken a shine to her if I’m not wrong.”
“Christ. If my ol’ lady’s gonna be on my back, I’ll have no fuckin’ chance. Okay, bring them in. Luckily, we’ve still got Skull’s room vacant. They can squat in there until we work out what to do. I’ll call everyone in later. You know what they’re like. Nosy fuckers won’t want to be kept out of the loop.”
“One problem, Prez. Esme’s terrified of men for good reason, and Shayla’s jumpy as fuck herself.”
“Make my life easy, why don’t you?” He’s quiet for a moment. “You sure here’s the right place?”
“No,” I reply, honestly. “But I think we’ll have to try to make it work. Unless you can think of anything else?”
Demon’s quiet for a couple of moments. “Wish I could, but I can’t. Brothers will just have to wear kid gloves around them. Maybe show this Esme that there are men who can be trusted.”
My bet is that Shayla will need to relearn that as well after her time in Major’s hands.
When I return inside, Vi and Esme are no longer at her station. I head on back and find the four of them in Lizard’s office, open soda cans in front of them, and more candy has magically appeared. Leaning over, careful not to touch her, I swipe a bar that’s in front of Esme.
I’m rewarded with a glare, followed by a frightened look. But that fades at my wink, and she gives a tentative grin.
“Thieving asshole,” Liz rebukes me.
“Language,” I tell him. Having spent the weekend with Cas and Vanna, an idea comes into my head. I turn my eyes on the girl. “Liz said a rude word. I think he owes us a dollar, don’t you, Esme?”
I’m not sure of her level of comprehension, but she seems to understand at least that. Lizard’s forehead creases, then he gives me a chin lift, takes out his wallet and passes over a bill. Esme stares at it.
I chuckle and instruct, “Tak
e it. It’s yours.”
She glances at Shayla who gives her a nod, while shooting me a curious glance. Suddenly, I realise all the brothers are going to hate me for starting this up. But hey, if Esme gets the confidence to start demanding payment when they swear, maybe it will do her some good.
“You spoke to Prez?”
I nod, then turn to Shayla. “We’ve told you we’re about respect, family and keeping women safe. The club would like you to come to stay with us on the compound while we work out what danger you’re still in from Major.”
Her eyes widen in horror. “Stay with you? With bikers? No, we couldn’t do that.” She looks between me and Liz, blood draining from her face. “Come on, Esme, time to—”
It’s Vi who steps in and interrupts. “Hold up a minute, Shayla. The compound is secure and can be protected, far safer than being out on the streets. My man is the prez, and what he says goes and,” she leans in conspiratorially as if Liz and I can’t hear her, “in turn, he’ll do anything I say.” I smirk at her suggestion, but there’s probably some truth there. Especially if she uses sex as a weapon. “No one will touch you or harm you, I can promise you that. Once Devils extend their protection, well, you can be assured you’ll be safe. The last place Major will expect to find you is living with us.”
Shayla studies her, as if estimating how sincere she is.
Seeing an in, Vi enlightens her, “I’ve got an eighteen-month-old boy, the bikers all love him. It’s not all men either, there are other old lady’s too. Jayden is a nursery nurse, she loves kids, and I bet she’ll take to Esme. Steph is our VP’s woman, she’s blind and is amazing with it. She’s got a lovely guide dog. Beth, well she’s a giant who’s with Ink, and then there’s Mel. She’s pregnant and we’re all treating her so damn carefully as she miscarried last time she was expecting. She bakes, and oh, the cakes she makes. They are to die for.”
I find myself licking my lips at the reminder. “Don’t forget Jeannie, she’s been around the club for getting on forty years. And Mo, the ex-prez’s old lady. And Sindy who’s… with Buzzard.” I nearly said who’s Buzzard’s, but at the last moment remembered to change the wording she probably would object to.
Shayla’s not at all certain. Her face tightens. “What will the men expect for payment?”
“Nothing,” I say fast, wondering if I should explain why. She’s going to find out pretty soon if she comes back with us, so might as well get this out in the open now. “We’re not in need of unwilling women, Shayla. Got girls of our own who live at the club and cater to our needs. Oh, no.” I hold up my hand to stop her at that twist of distaste. “They’re there for mutual satisfaction, stay because their needs align with ours. They choose to be with us, can leave at any time, but bikers hold a certain attraction for them.”
“Whores?” she says with not a little concern.
I shrug. It is what it is.
Vi’s lips press together. “Can’t say I’m enamoured of them, Shayla, but the thing is as Mace has said, they want to be there. In your position, I wouldn’t understand it either, but they enjoy the… loving they get.” She too tempers her words in front of Esme. “The fact is, no one needs to pressure you because they’ve already got willing girls.”
Shayla still seems unconvinced. It’s Lizard who comes up with a suggestion. “Why don’t you come back with us, see what you’d be getting into? I swear on the lives of my brothers that you will be free to leave at any time. Not swapping one captor for another, Shayla. I fuckin’ assure you of that.” Proving he learns quickly, a dollar passes from his hands to Esme’s before I can prompt him.
Seeing Shayla’s wavering, I add one final word on the matter. “We don’t know who Major is and whether you’re with us or not, we won’t stop digging. The info we find, you’ll want to hear first-hand. Maybe you’re right to keep running, maybe Major stays in his own turf and has given up looking for you. Whichever it is, I swear to you we’ll find the answer.”
Shayla looks at him, at Vi, then finally those haunted eyes land on me. She nods toward the money that Esme is holding. “You’re about as far from Major as anyone can be. I think I trust you, Mace, and you, Lizard, too. But it’s hard to believe there are more like you. If you give me your word we won’t be held against our will, we’ll come back with you and see if we’ll fit.”
Leaning down, I untie the sheaf on my ankle, take out the knife, and press it into her hand. “Keep this on you, darlin’. You won’t have to use it, I promise. But you’re not unarmed or helpless.”
I’ve surprised her. Taking advantage of her capitulation, I waste no time, summoning Dirt with the truck and texting a few extra instructions.
Half an hour later when we’ve drunk our sodas, demolished the candy, and Liz and Shayla have admired Esme’s drawing she’d done, which I’d retrieved from the drawer and brought back to show them. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. Dirt walks in, accompanied by a three-legged Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
Esme’s eyes go large and she can’t seem able to focus anywhere else. Bagel, apparently named because of the light chestnut brown colour of his wavy coat, seems likewise to be drawn to her. With a tail that’s wagging furiously, he limps his way over and plonks his head in her lap.
And fuck me, she giggles. It’s the first actual sound I’ve heard from her.
“You sure about this, Mace?” Dirt sounds anxious.
“Yeah, Prez has already said you could bring him around. I’ll let Beef know so he can manage Max.” Max, Steph’s guide dog, has been known to object to canine interlopers in the clubhouse, but on that occasion, it was a sniffer dog accompanying cops who were ripping the clubhouse apart. I suspect he’d picked up a vibe from us.
Dirt and Nails were both injured when their Army jeep hit an IED. Bagel had been in the truck with them, and only the three survived. They’d formed a strong bond between them. I knew Dirt was worried about bringing his dog to the club, but I thought as Esme enjoyed drawing animals, it was a fair bet she liked them, and having one with her when she entered a strange place full of men might ease her mind.
Dirt holds out the looped end of the leash. “Want to hold on to him, sweetie?”
Esme’s wide eyes suggest she very well might. Being a well-trained ex-Army dog, I suspect he doesn’t need much controlling.
Chapter Thirteen
Lizard
I’m not sure whether my brother might have grown a vagina. Just this weekend he was being supportive to a kid and his mom that he said he was no more than friends with, and today he’s taken Shayla and Esme under his wing. I’ll give credit where credit’s due though, getting Dirt to bring his three-legged dog was a stroke of genius. The girl had seemed entranced from the moment she’d met him.
On our bikes, Mace and I arrive back at the compound shortly before Dirt, following more slowly in the truck. We find Prez has already summoned the brothers in, most of whom were already in church awaiting our arrival. When I see Prez hovering in the clubroom, I suspect he’s got the rest out of the way, so Shayla and Esme aren’t overwhelmed at the start.
“They’re coming then?”
At his question, I cup my hand to my ear, hearing a sound of an engine and then it cutting out. “That’s them pulling up now.”
The three of us turn to look expectantly at the entrance. Dirt opens the door, then steps aside so Shayla can enter. She looks nervous, even scared, but Vi is right beside her, an encouraging touch on her arm. Bagel, seeing Nails coming out from behind the bar, steps forward, bringing Esme along with him at the other end of his leash.
Prez waits where he is, allowing Shayla to come inside at her own speed.
“This is it.” Vi flourishes her arms around her. “It might not be much, but it’s home.”
Shayla turns to her. “The gates shut behind us.” She sounds almost accusing.
“Gates keep people out as well as people in,” Demon’s voice booms. “You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to, or free to leave at
any time.” He steps forward, but before he closes the gap between him and the newcomers, he pulls Vi into his arms, lowering his head and taking her lips, as one hand moves protectively over her belly making me wonder whether they’ve got news they haven’t yet shared. “You okay?” he asks, quietly, when he ends their demonstrative kiss.
“I’m good,” she replies. Then turns to the females behind her. “Ladies,” she includes Esme in her description, “this is my husband, Demon. He’s the prez of the Satan’s Devils.”
I notice Shayla relaxes slightly at Demon’s evident care for the woman at his side, an almost envious look crossing her face as she bears witness to their obvious love for each other. More tension fades when a shrill voice screeches, “Mommy!” and little Theo comes into sight, barrelling toward Vi.
Intercepting him, Demon swings him up into his arms and the big stern MC prez tickles his son, making him scream and laugh. When he wriggles, he puts him down.
“Max! Max!” an annoyed female voice sounds.
I swing to see Max galloping across the clubroom, screeching to a halt just in front of the strange dog.
“Max!” Steph shouts again, but for once, her dog ignores her.
“I’m sorry.” Nails moves up beside her.
“My fault,” calls Mace. “I told them they could bring Bagel here. To help settle Esme.”
“Bagel? Esme?” Steph sounds completely confused.
“Long story,” says Vi. “But Max and Bagel seem to be getting along.”
Well, I suppose if dogs mutually sniffing rear ends while moving around in a circle is anything to go by, they are. At least no hackles are raised and there’s no growling.
Vi walks over to Steph and takes her arm, then glances back to Shayla and Esme, the latter seeming entranced by the two dogs who seem fast on the way to becoming friends. “Come with us. The women will be in the kitchen. It’s our own private space.” Once the two start to follow her, I hear her grumble, “I keep on at D to build us a proper place out back, a living room, TV area just for ourselves but their gym takes precedence for now. But he’ll get around to it one day.” Her voice fades as she reaches her destination.
Satan’s Devils MC -Colorado Box Set: Books 4-6 Page 90
