“They are.” Slick takes a deep breath then lets it out on a sigh, his shoulders relaxing as he does so. He kneels at my feet, taking both my hands in his, then waits until I meet his eyes. “It’s us, the Satan’s Devils they want to punish for killing them. There’s been a change of command, the old head of the family is gone, the new one? Well, we don’t know a lot about him. Seems he wants vengeance, and the way he wants it is to take something precious from the club. To take back the one who got away.”
“Me? But I can’t be that important, surely?” My eyes silently beg for confirmation. When I don’t get it, I start to feel sick.
“Jayden, I’m so sorry.”
I turn to my sister. “Why didn’t you tell me? I have a right to know.”
“Sweetheart. We didn’t want to worry you.”
My teenage mood swiftly changes. Unable to cope with my fear, I swap it for anger once again. “I’m not worried. You wouldn’t let them take me. It’s that you lied to me and that’s what I don’t like.” Yeah. That’s what I got out of that. I should have been included. I don’t feel a part of this family, just some baggage they have to carry around. An inconvenience they had to take on after my mom got shot of me just as soon as she could. She’s living with a new man now, neither Ella nor I know who or care.
“Jayden…”
“No, Ella.” I swing around. “Why don’t you go back to the house? I’ll be okay here on my own in the compound. You’re here every day anyway. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable back at home?” Maybe then I’d be able to spend more time with Paladin without their interference. Hmm. That sounds like a really good idea. He’ll keep me safe. He wouldn’t let anything hurt me. I try to persuade them. “I’ll be fine. You can start decorating the nursery.” I pause. Damn, I wanted to be part of that. I shake off my burst of remorse. “You’ll be better off there than here.”
Slick looks like he’s veering between anger and compassion. In the end, it seems sympathy wins out. “Sweetheart. Wouldn’t be anything wrong with that if we could guarantee you’d be safe on the compound.”
What does he mean?
“Of course I’m safe,” I scoff. “I’m part of the club. You’ve told me that. So all the Devils would protect me.” Especially Paladin. No one would get through him. Would they? Again that box rattles.
Once more there’s a loud sigh from Slick. Ella’s shaking her head, but he narrows his eyes at her. “You heard the girl, El. If she’s not armed with the facts, she can’t make any choices. She’s right, she’s old enough to have some say in decisions concerning herself.”
I frown, biting my lip to stop the words, ‘I didn’t mean it,’ coming out of my mouth. I love living with Slick and Ella, don’t really want them to go back to the house in Tucson and leave me alone here. I’m scared enough as it is.
“Okay.” Ella looks like she’s going to cry.
Slick’s head dips up and down, then he draws up a chair and sits in front of us. “If the Herreras decide to launch an attack on the compound, Devils might not be able to hold them off. They outnumber us, sweetheart.”
The implications sink in quickly. An attack on the compound? The men could be injured, or worse. The children. All the babies and toddlers I babysit and watch so often. They could be at risk. The men, the old ladies. While to me, my own safety is paramount, I couldn’t live with being responsible for any of them getting hurt. There’s only one solution. “If that’s the case, it’s best I go away. Away from Tucson.”
To my surprise, while Ella lets out a sob, Slick nods. “That’s the gist of it, sweetheart. Wish things were different, but it could be safer for you, and everyone else here.”
Where would I go? My hands are trembling. How far is far enough to be out of danger?
“We could go somewhere with you,” Ella suggests. “All of us, start over.”
“We could,” Slick agrees. “But there is another option on the table.”
“One I don’t like, Slick.” Ella doesn’t often glare at her man. She does now.
“Ella,” Slick groans. He throws up his hands. “Don’t you think she should make her own choice? Have the chance to say no for herself?”
For a moment they have a staring match, then Ella turns away. Slick seems to take it as permission as he resumes.
“Paladin is prepared to transfer to the Colorado chapter. Their prez, Hellfire, is happy for you to go with him.”
I can feel the lines on my brow deepening. “Me go, with Paladin?” There’s a little buzz of excitement inside me which I try to hide all visible signs of. “Why Colorado?”
“Why exactly,” butts in Ella. “I’m sure Red would have them in Vegas.”
Again Slick frowns at her. “Because Hellfire has brought up a family. Red, hasn’t. Nor any of the other presidents. We all know what could happen if Jayden and Paladin go off together without a chaperone.”
A chaperone? They’re saying I couldn’t be trusted? But I trust Paladin. Don’t I? My eyes go to one then the other.
As my mouth opens wide, Ella purses her lips. “Then we all go. Together.”
Slick places his hands over hers. “El, darlin’. I know you want to keep Jayden close by forever, but you’ve got to let her fly on her own sometime.”
“But Colorado…” Ella protests.
“What’s wrong with Colorado?” I butt in, thinking it must be something significant. A warning? Something I need to know before I decide?
“What’s wrong with it,” my sister answers, folding her arms and staring into the eyes of her husband, “is that the age of consent in that state is seventeen.”
Again, my jaw drops. Various thoughts whirl around my head. Only a few more months and if I move states, Paladin and I could be together. But it’s too soon. I’m not ready. I thought I’d have far longer. What if Paladin wants to bring the agenda forward? I thought I had time before I needed to open that box.
Slick stands up and pulls Ella with him. “Why don’t you sleep on it, Jayden? Give it some thought. There are pros and cons. As El said, we could all make a fresh start somewhere different. Timing could be better, but hey, we can make it work. Talk to Paladin if you want.”
“He knows?” Of course he does. One thing about bikers, they know how to keep their mouths closed. I don’t have to see Slick’s nod.
The door shuts behind them, and I’m left stunned. A lot’s been laid on me tonight. I’ve gone from being a tantrum-throwing teenager to a woman who’s been given the choice, an opportunity to be with her man. My head’s reeling at all the possibilities. What would the Colorado club be like? Would I like it there? Would Paladin and I live together? And if so, how could he wait? How could I explain my nervousness to him? Everyone seems to expect we’ll, he’ll take advantage.
Going into my bathroom, I go through the normal motions of preparing for bed. Exiting, I leave the light on as I always do, unable to sleep in the dark. Tonight there’s even more reason. I’m scared of just closing my eyes, worried the conversation I’ve just taken part in will result in a nightmare.
Instead of sleeping, I do some soul searching. Had I set my sights on Paladin simply because I decided he was what I wanted when I was fourteen? When I’d just come around from experiencing the worst that can happen to a young girl, had I focused on him because he was handsome and kind? How do I know that it’s him who gets my blood rushing, in the way the women do in Ella’s novels I sneak from time to time? I’ve never been allowed to get close to him. We haven’t touched or kissed. Tonight’s experience at the restaurant showed how overprotective not just Ella and Slick were, but all the brothers here. If it had been just for my safety, men could have been there but stayed discreet.
Paladin’s been a good friend, but how can I, with what I lived through, allow that friendship to develop into anything further? With him, or with any man?
I need to know where his head’s at. Find out his expectations. Talk to Paladin tomorrow I resolve.
Chapter Five
Hellfire
The decision for me to have a houseguest or two is mine and mine alone. But the suggestion of Paladin patching over needs a club vote.
As I reach the clubhouse, I walk in shaking sleet off my hat and jacket, and strip off my waterproof riding trousers in the foyer, putting them over my peg. I smile quickly to myself, wondering if the lad knows what he’ll be giving up for this. Sure, it rains in Tucson, but it’s always a lot warmer.
“Hey, Prez. Getting nasty out there.”
“Bomber.” I slap my hand on his back. “Yeah, reckon it will start freezing soon.” Apart from myself, Bomber’s one of the other two remaining members from the original club. He’s older than me, and sometimes you can hear his bones creaking, though he swears it’s the weather and nothing to do with his age. We all turn a blind eye to the fact he drives a truck in the winter months rather than riding his bike.
“Jeannie was wonderin’ how Moira is. Been some time since she’s visited the clubhouse, Hell.”
It has. His comment makes my brow furrow as I try to remember when she was last here. Moira used to be a fixture in the club, over the past year, she’s hardly visited at all. “Moira’s…” Fine, I was going to tell him. But he’s married to her best friend. “Fuck it, I don’t know Bomber. She says the right things, but she’s breaking inside and I don’t know what to do to help her.”
“Brother, have you talked to her?”
Sure, we talk all the time. Don’t we? “I think it’s just we’re all growing older, things changing. Bodies changing. That shit can hit hard.”
“Sure can.” Bomber’s nodding. “Just asked, ‘cos Jeannie wants to know if there’s anything she can do.”
“You know Moira, Brother. Deals with shit by herself.” She’d cut Jeannie out when it had happened, as though it had all been her fault—which it had in a way. Took years to get back to being friendly with her. Girls seem good enough friends nowadays, but don’t live in each other’s pockets.
He gives me a hard look. “Well, if it would help, we could all go out together. Not here, somewhere neutral. Give the girls a chance to catch up.”
I nod slowly, thinking. A night out might give Moira something to look forward to. “Might take you up on that, Brother.”
Side by side we enter the clubroom. Jeannie waves from her space at the bar, she’s laughing at something Sparky, our road captain has just said. Bomber makes a beeline for her, making her laugh harder as he bends her over his arm and kisses her. I hide my grin when his hands discreetly go to the middle of his back as he straightens up. Getting older, Brother. Sucks doesn’t it?
“Prez? A word?”
“Sure, VP.” Demon, my son, comes over. “What’s up?”
As he starts an explanation of an incident at our tattoo parlour the previous night, I listen, my first impulse is to laugh, but then I realise it could be serious. “Shit,” I say when he’s finished. “Didn’t they notice he was drunk off his ass?”
“Didn’t appear that way.”
“He’s going to sue?”
“He’s going to try. Lizard’s offered to ink it over for free.”
I shake my head, “Didn’t the fact he wanted a naked pussy tatted over his heart give away he wasn’t all there? Fuck. Labia and all?”
“It was done delicately,” Demon stands up for the tattooist. “The outside was a flower. Some of his best work he says.”
“Jeez.” I’m just hoping we don’t get bad publicity. Mind you, if the tat was done well, might start a new trend. “Thanks for the heads up, VP.”
“Sure.” I watch him step away. I’m proud as fuck of him. Like me, he had no helping hand or favours. Was voted in as he was popular with the men, and they all trust him. Deserves to be at my right hand. I’m pleased I had the honour of watching him grow from a baby into a man. Time comes I ever step down, there’s no doubt he’ll be taking my place at the head of the table. Also, no doubt, that since he’s well aware of the shit I deal with daily, I know he’s in no hurry to get there.
Putting my fingers to my mouth I blow a loud whistle, then point my hand toward the back of the room, and the doorway leading to church. One by one my brothers follow me in.
Thunder, our sergeant-at-arms takes his seat to my right, Mace, who’s been the enforcer since Ingot was killed six months ago, sits next to him. Opposite is Buzzard, our secretary-come-treasurer. Sparky is next, then Rusty, the other old-timer with predictable red hair which hasn’t started to grey at all. Beside him is Ink, inaptly named as he’s got no tattoos anywhere on his body, not even the Satan’s Devils’ patch. On the other side of the table sits Lizard, Cad, Taser, Pyro and last, at the end, Bomber.
I bang the gavel. “Over to you, Buzz.”
Buzzard quickly runs through the state of our businesses. The tattoo parlour, the strip club, the bowling alley we’ve not long opened, and, of course, our auto-shop. Got a good rep for building custom bikes there. I listen carefully, all seems well and good.
Pyro raises his hand. “Prez, got more discrepancies with the stock take.”
This isn’t the first time he’s mentioned it. “Thought you’d decided it was someone taking out a part and not recording it.”
A quick smirk covers his face. “Well, mechanics are good at the shit they do, not so much on keeping paperwork up to date.” He nods, considering. “Still prefer that explanation, rather than thinking there’s someone with light-fingers.”
“Much going missing?” asks Buzzard, concerned. “High or low value?”
“Low,” Pyro confirms. “And it’s not regular, just occasionally.”
Buzzard raises his chin at me. “I’ve not seen anything in the books to worry me. Yeah, so sometimes it doesn’t tally, but not by much.”
My brow creases, then I make a decision. “Keep an eye on it, Pyro. I hope it’s just someone making a genuine mistake.” I don’t add that if it isn’t, stealing from the club, even if it’s just the odd oil filter, would be taken very seriously. I wait for Pyro to acknowledge the undercurrent in my words, when he gives a sharp nod, I know he’ll be on it. “Okay, other business.”
Cad waggles his fingers in my direction. He’s so light skinned and his hair so fair, if it wasn’t for his dark brown eyes you might think he was albino. Brothers gave him his handle, Cadaver. His complexion is his own fault, he spends most of his time inside all but hooked up to his computers.
When I nod, he speaks. “Got a new police chief coming in. I’m working on getting some background.”
It’s information, not a question, I just nod. “Anyone got anything else?” When no one speaks, I prepare to raise the topic I need to. Reaching into my pocket I take out my smokes and light one up, pulling one of the ashtrays toward me. Then I begin to explain about Jayden and Paladin. They listen carefully, then start asking questions about the new member I’m proposing to bring on board.
Thunder is suspicious. “Any bad blood in Tucson?”
Valid question. “None at all. Brother’s about as trustworthy as they come,” I explain.
“He’s young.” Demon puts in.
“Yeah, patched in when he was nineteen. Held his patch just over two years.”
“Permanent move?” questions Thunder.
I shrug. “Depends if they can sort out their problems in Tucson.” There’s a round of laughter at this. I’ve lost count of the times we’ve had to help the Arizona club out.
“Need a vote, Brothers. Or has anyone got anything more they want to ask?”
“Not a question, but this is my view if anyone’s interested.” All eyes go to Mace, a few chin lifts too. “We’ve never had someone patch over before. Tucson had their own problems when they let that fucker from San Diego in.”
I nod, he’s right to bring that up. Though we’re not in the same chapter, we’re all well aware that man turned out to be a rapist. “They’ve been more cautious since. Haven’t had issues with anyone else.”
Bomber raises his hand. He’s not a man to
speak much, but when he does, we all listen. Experience counts for a lot. “People prospect for a reason. To earn trust. You’re saying we rely on our Tucson brothers having sussed out this Paladin for us?”
“Talking about the mother chapter, Brother. Got no reason not to trust Drummer.” I can understand their reluctance. Club here is close knit. Hard for even prospects to patch in. Only recently we turned away Smithy who’d prospected nearly a year, but we’d decided he hadn’t made the grade.
“You happy with this, Prez?” Demon asks, knowing my word will count for a lot.
I take a moment, draw on my second cigarette of the meeting, and let smoke out, giving time for a considered answer. “I am,” I say firmly.
“Well let’s vote,” the VP suggests. “Unless anyone else wants to say something?”
They don’t. We vote. A few reluctantly, but all say aye in the end. Paladin can transfer as a full member.
Sparky suddenly remembers he wanted to bring something up. A run he’s organising in a couple of months when the weather grows warmer. We spend a few minutes thrashing around the details. Then, sensing brothers are getting restless, I bang the gavel for the millionth time in my life, and church breaks up.
“Having a beer or headin’ home, old man?”
I throw a punch at Demon, well-practiced, he jumps back and evades it. “Less of the fuckin’ old, son.” I warn him. “Could still take you down with a hand tied behind my back.”
“That I’d pay good money to see,” Mace cuts in.
“Beer,” I belatedly answer Demon’s question, and pointedly ignore the enforcer, not wanting to acknowledge his point that nowadays, it’s questionable who’d win out of me and the VP. “I’m staying here tonight. Roads are icing up out there.”
“Prez. Want some company?” Bella, one of the club girls, has overheard me. Her arm snakes around my waist. “Maybe later,” I tell her, watching her pert ass sway as she walks away at my answer.
“Really?” Demon raises his eyebrow.
Satan's Devils MC Colorado Boxset 1 Books 1 - 3 Page 5
