She’s quiet for a moment. Then she rises on tiptoe. Whether she was going to place a kiss against my cheek or whether her intention was for us to touch lip to lip I don’t know, but our mouths meet. Briefly. My cock jerks. One fucking kiss, no tongues, and I swear it felt like an electric shock.
I’m doubting the wisdom of seeing her again when she touches her hand to her lip, smiles and says, “See you tonight, Beef. About six?”
With no hesitation, I agree, “Six it is, babe.”
Finally, after something like a sixteen-hour delay, I arrive at the clubhouse. Demon’s leaning on the bar, a cup by his side, deep in discussion with Cad. I go straight across to pay my respects. After the back slapping and handshaking is done, he steps back and I await the expected interrogation as Cad nods and wanders off.
“How’s the blind bitch and her dog?”
“Girl’s fine, Prez, dog seems to be coming along okay. Took her to see him this morning.”
“There’s our Beef. Brief and concise.”
I swing around. “Morning, Pyro. Thanks for your help yesterday.”
“Bet that vet went into all sorts of details you can’t even remember.” He grins.
“Fuckin’ can. He’s on dexmedetomidine for the pain and the antibiotic Convenia given subcutaneously.” I raise my eyebrow, expecting a further comment. He doesn’t disappoint.
“Well, look at you. Spouting that shit. Bet you made all that up.” The laughter in his eyes belies his mocking tone.
Demon clips him around the head. “Just because you don’t know shit, don’t mock those who do.”
I could be back in the Tucson clubhouse. I grin.
“Bit of a strange welcome to the town. You know who drove into her?” Demon takes a sip of his coffee while staring at me.
“Not a clue. According to the cops, no one thought to get the license plate.” I shake my head.
“Someone fall asleep at the wheel?” Pyro’s stopped laughing and looks serious now.
“Hard to tell. But you’d expect that on a freeway, not in the middle of town.” I’m kicking myself as I didn’t check the plate out myself. But Max’s scream of pain had been distracting, and I hadn’t known at the time whether Stevie had been hit or not.
Demon whistles and shouts, “Cad.”
A head pops up from the other side of the bar. “Can you see what you can pick up on any security cameras out where the hit and run happened?”
“Where was it?”
I glance at Pyro, who nods and goes over to where Cad is sitting to explain exactly where it was. I have no fucking idea.
“Thing I don’t like about it, is that the fucker drove off. If it was an accident, why didn’t he stop?”
Shrugging, I respond, “Could be any number of reasons. He could have been shocked. Worried about getting a ticket. Embarrassed as fuck.”
“Or, it could have been a hit.”
I round on the man who’s spoken. “Thunder. Good to see you.” Another exchange of back slaps.
“Good to see you too, Brother.”
“I can’t see how it could be a hit,” I respond to his first statement. “She hasn’t been in Pueblo long, not long enough to make friends let alone enemies. That was the reason I stayed last night. She had no one to call or to help her. She works from home, so couldn’t rely on any co-workers. Don’t see why anyone would want to hurt her.” Or, if Max hadn’t pushed her out of the way, worse, killed her.
Cad’s head reappears again. “Want me to check up on her? Got her name?”
I do, but do I want to invade her privacy like that? “Nah, Cad, thanks, but not now.”
“Is that it?” Demon asks. “Or are you seeing her again?”
Feeling sheepish, but not understanding why, I look him in the eye. “I’m taking her back to visit her dog this evening.”
“Can’t say I blame you.” Pyro wanders back. “Bitch was hot.”
Chapter Nine
My temper flares. Man’s got no right to talk about her like that. Doesn’t he know she’s… Huh? Where did that come from? Instead of ranting, I sling my arm over his shoulder. “You’re not wrong. Hey, meant what I said. I appreciated what you did last night.”
“Not a problem. Can see what caught your interest Brother. You tapped that, yet?”
“Nah, and I’m not going there.”
His brow creases as if he’s considering for a moment. Then he shrugs. “Just wondering what it would be like to fuck a woman who’s blind.”
Not much different to anyone else I wouldn’t think. “A hole’s a hole, Brother.”
“Hmm.” He doesn’t sound convinced. “You ever had a girl let you blindfold her?”
“Nah, never,” I truthfully reply.
He nods sagely. “Takes a lot of trust, that. Did it once, but she wasn’t into it. Had to untie her as she was too worried what I’d do to her. S’pose the bitch girl’s a bit like that.”
I eye him thoughtfully, never considered that. I wonder what it would be like? Then push those thoughts away. “Well, neither of us are going to find out. She’s a nice woman, way out of our league.”
“Nah, she wouldn’t be worth the bother. Her problems would be hard to cope with.”
Demon’s obviously bored waiting for us to finish our conversation. He suddenly asks, “You want to dump your shit in your room, Beef? I’d like a word with you when you’re done.”
“Sure, Prez.” God. I had to force that word out. I’ve only called two men that before, the first was Bastard, then after he was killed, Drummer. It seems strange and wrong, making me suddenly homesick.
“Prospect?” Demon yells.
When the prospect who I remember is called Wills appears at a run, Demon has a few words, then the prospect’s raising the saddlebags I’d dropped at my feet and is leading the way up the stairs. I follow, wondering what kind of room I’ll be in. I know there’re two types here, a few basic rooms with a shared bathroom, and others with an en-suite of their own. I’m praying mine will be one of the latter as I’ve been spoiled in Tucson for years.
When Wills unlocks the door then hands me the key, I poke my head around, quickly spying the doorway through to the adjacent bathroom, and relief comes over me that I’m not going to have to share. I’m too old for that shit.
“Keep your door locked at all times,” he warns.
“Who don’t we trust?” I narrow my eyes.
“Not who, what. Bitch can open these door handles and she doesn’t like men so be careful.” Turning around I eye the door handle, thinking with some quick work with a screwdriver it could easily be turned upside down. I wonder why no one else has thought of it.
Crossing the room to the bed, Wills places my bags there, then turns back. “You’ve got a mini-fridge.” He points it out. “If you want anything else just call me.”
“How long you been prospecting, Wills?” I ask conversationally, as I catalogue the contents of the room. There’s a desk, a comfortable looking armchair, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a bedside table. It’s quite a large room too.
“Getting on twelve months. Oh, and I put beer in the fridge and condoms in the top drawer.”
I grin. Everything a man needs. Yeah, prospect’s probably near done his time and knows what a brother needs. “Thanks.”
As he leaves without fanfare, reluctantly I start emptying my bags. The other shit Pal brought back for me is sitting in the corner waiting to be put away. It feels wrong and permanent. I make myself remember this is just temporary, that Drummer sent me here to do a job. Soon as I help Demon choose his new VP, and know Colorado is running smoothly, then I’ll be able to return home. Unless Drummer has other plans for me. I hope not.
My phone rings. I pause halfway through putting away my tee-shirts, fumbling with the armful I’m holding, shoving them in a drawer, then trying to get to the device before it goes to voicemail. I make it just in time without checking who’s calling.
“You got Beef.”
“Beef, I need help.”
I breathe in deeply. “Sally…”
“The air conditioning isn’t working,” she hurriedly explains the reason for her call. “I didn’t want to bother you, but I don’t know who to call.”
“You know what to do, Sal. In the top desk drawer in the office, there’s a bunch of paperwork. The rental agent’s details are on the top, and there’s the emergency contact on it.” It’s Sunday, she’ll need that. “You really didn’t need to call.”
“I thought you might have an idea what I could do.”
The Tucson club owns the property, but through a shell company. We like to keep some things under the radar. We use managing agents to deal with all the shit so if we need to house anyone there without people knowing our connection, there’s no trail to be followed for anyone to find out. For the amount we pay the agents, they can get a call out on a Sunday and fix whatever’s necessary.
“Sally, you’ve got to get yourself together, you know? This time will be good for you to start learning some independence.”
“I didn’t think, Beef. Just panicked. The kids are so fractious in the heat.”
“Yeah, I can imagine. Get in touch with the agent, then why not take them out? That play place will be nice and cool.” I’m sympathetic enough to offer a solution.
“Okay. Good suggestion. I’ll do that. I’m glad you got there okay, Beef. I was worried.”
“Yeah. Got here fine. Gotta go now, Sally. Prez wants to meet with me.”
“Sure. Beef?” She poses her question hesitantly.
“What, Sal?”
“Did you party last night?”
My teeth grind together. “No, I did not. And I don’t appreciate you checking up on me, Sally. I made you a promise.” Which I’m already fucking regretting. “If I’m having a problem keeping to that, we’ll have that conversation first.”
I hear the sob down the line. “You’re not coming back, are you?”
I’m sure she can hear my sigh. “I’ve every fuckin’ intention of returning, Sal. Got a job to do for Drummer. I told you that, but you know how we left things. We’ve both got thinking to do.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then, “I’ve got to put the trash out. Can you go through the recycling again, Beef? What goes into what?” It’s an excuse to keep me talking.
“Top drawer of the desk there’s a leaflet, Sal. Easier for you to read it and keep it to refer to.” So you don’t ring me every Sunday to check.
She promises to do that. We exchange goodbyes, hers taking a little longer than mine, then I end the call. My thinking is done, she’s just got to come around to the same conclusion. For a second I sit, ignoring the rest of the unpacking. The contrast between a blind woman who’s so intent on keeping her independence, and Sally who wants none at all, is striking.
Not for the first time I regret snapping up something offered to me on a platter. Not going to make the same mistake again. The last thing I want to do is become another woman’s support.
Sally would be capable of a lot if she’d just put her mind to it, and hopefully she’ll start to do that now I’m gone. She can see what she’s doing for a start. Those everyday things that shouldn’t be a challenge to Sally would be impossible for the woman I met last night.
Veering between finishing my unpacking, and giving up and going downstairs, in the end my sense of needing everything in its place wins out, and I continue putting my shit away, including dumping the bag of toiletries in the bathroom. Finally, I place a photo of me, Rock and Becca next to the bed, take one look around my new domain, and go down to formally meet my new prez.
While I’ve been upstairs, a mountain of pizzas have been brought in. As Pal waves me across he pushes one of the boxes toward me.
“Saved this one for you. It doesn’t have anchovies.”
Thank fuck. I hate those salty little fishes, can’t see why people like them ruining their pizza, then settle down to feed my stomach. Demon can wait a little while longer. The room is mainly silent as everyone devours the takeaway, and I take a chance to go over names and faces in my head.
Thunder, the sergeant-at-arms and acting VP is eating his standing by the bar. Now if I could persuade him to take on the role permanently, my job here would be done and I could go home. Nah, that wouldn’t work, not unless someone would step up to the SAA role he’d be leaving vacant, and that seems unlikely. Fuck, what a mess.
Beside him is the enforcer, Mace. He’s a decent enough guy, though still a bit green. Hasn’t got that hard look around him like Blade wears. I wonder whether he’s been sufficiently tested. Probably won’t know how to scalp a man. Yeah, I might have watched Blade do that, under Mouse, our part-Navajo’s, careful instruction. Jeez, I can’t keep comparing these men to my Tucson brothers. Gotta give them a chance man. But Sally’s call has unsettled me, made me realise all over again it’s down to her why I’ve got the nomad patch on my back.
“Who are they?” I point out two men I hadn’t seen before.
“Karl and Beaver. Hangarounds,” Pal replies. “Got a vote coming up in church as to whether to take them on as prospects. Seem to be willing enough.”
“Beaver?”
“Yeah, it’s his fucking surname, would you believe?”
Poor man.
“Settled in, Beef?” Jay plops herself at her man’s side and snags a piece of his pizza.
As I’ve just taken a mouthful of my own, I simply raise my chin in reply. A burst of laughter catches my attention. Hellfire, the president who’s just abdicated, is holding court by the bar with Buzzard, the treasurer, and Rusty and Bomber, two other old-timers. At the other end, clanking beer bottles together, are Sparky, the road captain, Ink and Lizard, and the newest patched in member Skull. Skull’s an interesting one, the gossip around the circumstances of how he got patched even reached Tucson. Hell thought he had evidence against him when Jayden went missing, tortured the shit out of him, but the kid couldn’t tell what he didn’t know. Left the club for a month to get his body healed and his head together. Surprised the fuck out of everyone when he returned, seemingly bearing no grudges. If he’s straight up, I’ve got a hell of a lot of respect for the man, but there has to be some doubt he’d want no retaliation. I’ll best keep out a careful eye. Some folks can wait for revenge.
Raising my head I can just see Cad, he’s taken over the right-hand end of the bar, and has computers and monitors set up there. Man’s so pale like the cadaver he was named for, looks like he never goes outside. Pyro’s talking to him. That’s all the brothers. I’ve met them before, spoken to all of them, fought beside them. I know them, but don’t really know them. A few are sending curious glances toward me. It goes both ways, takes time to learn all there is about someone. The head start I’ve got is that we’re all Satan’s Devils. We wear the same patch and have all been tried in the same way to earn it. Any man found wanting gets his ass kicked out the door. These men would already die for me, as I would for them. Takes a certain brand of man to put his life on the line for another.
Apart from Jay there are no old ladies around at the moment. With the exception of her and Pal, the few old ladies who belong to various Colorado members don’t live on the compound. Such a different vibe to Tucson. A welcome change, a return to the true biker life. Partying, drinking and fucking, without having to worry about falling over kids all the time. Yeah, this will suit me fine. Just got to get Sally off my back so I can fully immerse myself in the lifestyle, the one that I’ve chosen and want.
With a kiss to her man, Jay gets up and leaves. Looks like she only came to steal his food.
“You comfortable with the nomad patch, Beef?” Pal asks, then leans forward, and adds quietly, “Can see why Drummer sent you here. Good club, don’t get me wrong, but Demon’s not settled as the head of the table as he’s got no second to rely on. Unsettles all of us that no one is stepping up.”
Glancing around to confirm no one’s in ear shot, I murmur back, “No one suitabl
e, or everyone just goddamn lazy?”
“Bit of both.” Pal grins suddenly. “I heard my name was thrown into the hat, but fuckin’ glad it wasn’t pulled out. Don’t want that kind of responsibility, or not just yet. I’m not stupid, looking as young as I do isn’t a good look on a VP.”
“You’re right there. But otherwise, I think you’d be a good choice.”
“Nah, just started life with my ol’ lady. Prefer to concentrate on doing that right for now. After you sort us here, Beef, do you know where you’ll go next?”
Straight back to Tucson. But Pal’s reminded me, I’m essentially a roving enforcer. Drummer can send me where he wants.
“Not aware other chapters have issues,” I tell him.
“There’s Utah.”
Hmm. Utah. Snatcher runs a tight ship. Only problem I can see is that none of us quite knows what goes on there. Shit. Drummer wouldn’t send me to find out, would he? Was that why he insisted I change the rocker? Nah. It was just so I could have as much time as I need and in case I outstay my welcome in Colorado. That’s why, isn’t it?
Chapter Ten
“Prez.” I raise my chin respectfully at the man sitting behind the desk.
Sliding his laptop to one side, Demon regards me with tired eyes. “We got the welcome out of the way, Beef, so let’s cut through this shit. You’ve got the nomad patch on your back. Why the fuck does Drummer believe he needs to send an enforcer to Colorado?”
Satan's Devils MC Colorado Boxset 1 Books 1 - 3 Page 79
