“You got anything you want to share, Brother?”
Yes. I have. I sit forward. “Yeah, I wanted to bring this up. I’m nomad, as you know, Drummer’s traveling enforcer. Drummer is worried that you still haven’t got a VP. Prez, Red might have a possible which I’m happy to follow up. Just a warning that if anyone here wants to throw their hat belatedly into the ring, now could be your last chance to do it. Otherwise an outsider will be coming to Colorado.”
There. Possibly should have told him I was bringing it up, but it’s time I played my part, as Drummer would expect.
“So I need a VP, do I?” It’s said in the prez’s deadly tone.
Maybe I should have been more circumspect, and not as direct as I was. Damn it. He’s taken it as a criticism in front of his men.
Well, it’s done now. Standing my ground, I shrug.
“And what you’re proposing is finding someone with the right skills and personality from outside the club?” He sounds icy.
I send an apologetic look toward Thunder. “You’ve a man acting as VP who doesn’t want to do it. You’ve others who could step up but won’t. So yes, I don’t see what other option you’ve got. What happened with Steph showed there’s a gap in your ranks. You need a permanent someone sitting on your left.”
Opposite me Bomber is smirking. Pyro chuckles softly and raises his eyebrows toward Ink. Judge is smiling and exchanging looks I can’t read with Wills. Mace has his hand over his mouth though I can see he’s amused as his shoulders are shaking. Thunder simply sits back and folds his arms while Cad looks smug.
They’re laughing at me? What the fuck have I said that’s funny? I run back over my statement in my head. Nah. Can’t see anything amusing there.
“What the fuck is going on?” I ask. Quickest way to tempt my fists to start flying is to make me the butt of a joke I don’t understand.
At last Demon’s set face relaxes and he leans his elbows on the table. “That’s what we’ve been meeting about today, Beef. Don’t need you to tell us there’s a weakness in our ranks. We know that. And we also know what we want to do about it.”
Well, that’s great. I can leave them to sort it out themselves and point my bike toward Tucson. Yeah, that’s… great.
Thunder takes over. “We’ve found just the man we want. All we need to do is find out if he wants to transfer to Colorado.”
“You have?”
Murmurs of assent go around the table.
“Unanimous vote,” Demon confirms.
That’s a weight off my mind. It means I can go… home. Yeah, home. To Tucson. About fuckin’ time. Steph will love it there. “So, right. Have you got the ball rolling? Have you asked him yet?”
Demon shakes his head. “Not yet, no. Had to get permission from his prez.”
Of course he does. “Want me to make contact?”
Again, I don’t understand the sniggers, but I ignore them and focus on Demon.
Demon gives a quick shake of his head and grins. “Nah. Did that myself. Just need one thing from you, Beef.”
I nod sharply. Whatever he wants, he’s got it. My parting gift to Pueblo.
He doesn’t immediately continue. Instead, he looks around the table. The mirth has gone like a switch being thrown. Now brothers are sitting forward, regarding Demon, and, for some reason, me, intently.
As chin lifts go his way, as though in encouragement, Demon takes a deep breath. Then, at last, he speaks. “Need an answer from you, Beef. You want to transfer to Colorado and sit to my left? As my VP?”
I draw in air sharply, then hold it. I glance around waiting for them to all laugh, wondering who will be the first to crack. This has to be the joke. Yeah, it’s a good one. They’re pulling my leg. I’m not officer material, and certainly not a vice president. To step up in Demon’s place if necessary? I’m muscle, that’s my role. Nothing more than that.
My head moves side to side. “Oh, come on. Joke’s over. Who are you really looking at?”
“Think they’re looking at you, Brother,” Hell says from my side.
“Nah, I’m not—”
“Whatever you think you are, Brother,” Demon interrupts, “isn’t the fuckin’ point. We need a vote, but from what I’ve heard, every man at this table respects you and knows you’ll have their backs. You’re fair, but firm. You don’t take shit. You stand up to the likes of RIP, and you’ve got a fuckin’ good head on your shoulders. You’re a friend, a true brother, to all of us in this club. Men will follow you as you’re a natural leader. That’s how we see you. How Drummer sees you as well. Why the fuck do you think he sent you here in the first place? He never let on until today, but that was his plan all along.” He breaks off to shake his head. “Cunning motherfucker, the mother chapter prez. Knew we had a gap to fill, thought you could fill it. Wanted us to get to know you, and you to get to know us. We might not have a swimming pool, but I’m sure we can offer enough to compensate. So, what do you say?”
Drummer, you crafty motherfucker.
I hold out my hands, palms up. “What can I say?” my voice sounds choked. “Yes.”
“Vote.”
Ayes come from all around with no dissent. Buzz pulls a book toward him and writes it down. Demon reaches behind him and pulls out something which he shoots down the table to me. Two patches. One a large Colorado rocker, and the other, a VP patch. I turn them over in my hands disbelieving but grinning broadly.
“Crazy fuckers,” I say at last, still clutching the VP insignia tightly, as if someone might change their mind and snatch it away from me. “Not sure I’m the right man, but I promise I’ll try to live up to the trust you’ve placed in me, and I’ll never let you down.”
“Party!” Sparky yells loudly.
It seems there’s going to be a celebration held in my honour. Last time it was when I was patched in, many moons back and in a very different club. As men walk out of church in a celebratory mood, I sit for a moment, pondering how my circumstances have changed. Sure, I’ll miss Wraith, Drummer, Rock and everyone else in Tucson, but now I’ve got a new purpose in life; a role to be proud of, a woman at my side. All totally different from when I first rode into town.
I don’t spend too much time in contemplation. There’s someone I need to break the news to.
Steph’s still talking with Vi, I go over and pull her to her feet. “Need a word.”
Men are already getting loud around us, so I take her upstairs where I can speak to her in private.
“Beef, what’s up? Is there trouble?”
“Nah, babe. The opposite.” I’m having difficulty getting the words out, still overwhelmed by what’s happened to me. “I know I said we’d live in Tucson, but would you have a problem if we stay in Pueblo instead?”
“Of course not, Beef. I really like Vi, Melissa and Jay. Jeannie, Mo and Sindy too, though I don’t see them as much. Your brothers are great, it’s like one big family which I already feel a part of. I’m used to this place and would have no problem staying. Though I’d go anywhere with you. It doesn’t matter to me where we live, as long as we’re together.”
“What if I told you the whole club is totally mad?”
“Mad? Angry?”
I laugh, then take hold of her hands. “Mad as in crazy, that they’ve lost their fuckin’ minds. They’ve only gone and voted me in as their fuckin’ VP.”
“Beef!” She squeals and jumps forward, trusting me to catch her. “You’re going to be great! That’s wonderful news.”
Suddenly I realise I can do this with a woman like Steph by my side. She’s got that strength I need, and a belief in me for the times I lose faith in myself.
How the fuck did I get so lucky as to find her?
Nine months ago, I died. I came back from the dead not knowing why a miracle had occurred. Now I realise it wasn’t my time to go then, I had more to live for. A woman to save, a woman to make mine, and a new club I’m going to give my all.
There’s a party going on downstairs. But
the only person I want to celebrate with is here.
My hands, which have been gripping her arms, start moving, fingers curving under her breasts. Her breathing begins to quicken, her skin flushes, and there’s my green light.
Dispensing with our clothes, the urgency to get naked shared equally, I lift her gently, place her on the bed, then, skin to skin, start to make love to my old lady.
“Ouch!”
“Shit, am I hurting you?”
“Just a bit tender there from riding.”
I’m glad she can’t see the grin on my face. Of course, I’m sorry she’s hurting, but it reminds me of the ride we took earlier. Such a pleasure to be with her out on the road.
I see to her needs first, then, when I’m balls deep inside her, I rest my forehead against hers.
“Love you, Steph. It scares me how much I love you.”
“Beef, I love you too. So much.”
At first with gentle strokes that infuriate her, and has her begging for more, then a faster pace that has her coming again, I love on my old lady, giving all that I am to her. Then, empty myself inside her.
As I roll over and gather her into my arms, I sigh in satisfaction. I’m going to spend the rest of my life making her happy, my mind whirls with the endless possibilities. Go to visit Tucson, introduce her to another set of brothers and their old ladies, and all my nieces and nephews. Go to California and meet with her parents. Then, return to a club which has made me a man my old lady can be proud of.
That day when I rode into Pueblo? Seems everything happened to a different person. A man still making sense of why his life had been handed back to him. A vow sent up, I’m not going to waste a fucking moment of my reprieve.
“Beef? The clubhouse is very noisy tonight.”
Her observation has me remembering. Just as I’m about to reply, there’s a banging on my door.
“You in there, Beef? Need the guest of honour down here.”
“Yeah, we’ll be there in a few.”
“Pull your dick out of your ol’ lady and come on down,” Thunder roars from outside.
“My dick, my business,” I yell back, earning me a punch on the arm from a grinning Steph.
As his chuckles and footsteps fade, I slap Steph gently on the ass, mindful she’s feeling tender. “Come on, babe. Better get down to the party. You have to make the entrance as the VP’s ol’ lady.”
“Guess I am at that.” Her eyes widen. “Not what I expected when I was relocated to Pueblo.”
“Not what I expected to find here, either,” I tell her truthfully, a moment of seriousness descending. “But you know what? Getting a kick up the backside to come to this club, when all I wanted was to stay in my rut. Finding you, filling a spot where Pueblo needs me; those are the reasons it wasn’t my time when Satan closed the door in my face.”
She’s equally solemn. “I would be dead if you’d died.”
Too much. I choke up, so need to change the tone. Trying to sound lighter than I’m feeling, I tell her, “Time to party.”
Turns out Pueblo boys know how to throw a patch over party every bit as good as the Tucson brothers can. We drink, laugh, talk and even dance to some old shit playing on the ancient jukebox Ink had found after their old one had been destroyed. Steph stays by my side as she should, until it gets too much. She might not be able to see Breezy getting fucked by Ink and Pyro, but as they’re not being quiet about it, she can hear well enough.
While she takes Max upstairs and out of the den of iniquity, Demon comes up.
“We’re going to make a great team, Beef. Difference between you and Thunder? You’re not going to be afraid to tell me when I’m being an asshole.”
“That,” I point my beer bottle toward him, “you can depend on.” As he laughs, my lips press together. “I’ll do the best I can, Prez,” his title now falls from my lips easily, “but I still don’t know if I’m the right man.”
His chin dips then rises. “Same doubts as I had when Hell stepped down. Fuck, still not sure I’m right to sit at the head of the table. But I reckon doubts are good in a man. Means we’ll keep trying to be better. And, Beef, have faith in yourself. You’ve given your all, fuck, damn near your life, for this club. You’re due some payback, Beef. You’re fuckin’ due.”
I’m still shaking my head as he drains his beer and tells me he’s going home to his wife. Is he right? I’ve never been one to think life owed me anything at all.
Maybe it’s those of us who don’t expect much, happy to be the grunts doing the heavy lifting without complaint, that finally get recognised and given their deserve.
Makes it special, that’s what. As brothers come and go, greeting me with the VP title that sounds strange falling off their lips and heading in my direction, I know it’s going to take more than a minute to get used to it.
Me. A fuckin’ VP. And soon to be a married man.
What more could I want?
Nothing at all.
Epilogue
“Yeah, show him what you’re made of, VP!”
A collective groan as Rock gets in a lucky punch, followed by a cheer as I get in one of my own. Just as I’m expecting the third round to end with us showing we’re evenly matched, Rock makes an error, and my fist to his jaw sends him down just as the final bell rings to loud shouts and hollers.
I help him up, then Demon jumps into the ring and holds my arm in the air. “Winner is our VP.”
“As it should be,” shouts Pyro. “Show Tucson what they lost.”
I step down, followed by Rock who’s rubbing his jaw, but there’s no real damage done. He’s got a rueful grin on his face. “Lucky shot there, Brother.”
I snort. “Lucky, my ass. You’re going soft.”
Rock puffs up his chest. “Feel that,” he instructs.
“Nah, not feeling you up, Rock. But I can barely see your muscles at all.” I wink at him.
“I need a fuckin’ drink.” He slings his arm over my shoulder, and we walk across to the clubhouse.
Once we’ve got beers in our hands, Rock nods toward the women who keep well away from our regular bouts in the ring. “I like her for you, Beef.” His eyes shutter. “Miss the fuck out of you, Brother. Kind of got used to seeing your ugly mug, feels a loss when it’s not there.”
I miss him too. I know him so well, I know I don’t need to say the words. “Here’s good for me, Rock.”
“I can see that. Got your VP patch, and a good woman too.”
I raise my chin. “How’s Becca?”
“Pregnant again.”
Beer flies out of my mouth. “So fuckin’ fast? How old’s Rose?”
“Six months.” He shrugs apologetically. “What can I say? I don’t like wrapping it up, she wants loads of kids. Got Viper onto building a house for us now.”
“Looks like it will need plenty of space.”
“Yeah.” Unrepentant, he grins. He swallows a mouthful of beer, then sets the bottle down. “I was worried you were staying away because of me.”
“You?” My eyes crease.
“Well, me and Becca. Look, man. I never said anything, but I know how you feel about her.”
“Nah,” I contradict, “you don’t. I used to wish I’d seen her before you, but you two were always a pair, even when you weren’t.” I check, but luckily I’m making sense to him. “I wanted what you had, but now I know, it wouldn’t have worked.” I point to my old lady sitting with Theo on her lap. “Always believed there was one woman for me, just didn’t know who. Now I’ve found her. What I thought I’d felt for Becca, hell, for Sally too, wasn’t the real thing at all.”
Rock’s hand lands on my back. “Pleased for you, Beef.”
I’m pleased for me too.
“Ever miss Tucson?”
“Of course.” I’m wistful for a moment as I look into the rearview. “But we’ve all got to move on. You’ve got your family, and I’ve got my VP flash and a job to do.”
“Fuckin’ proud of you, Brother.”
I’ve heard that a lot over the past few weeks, but falling from Rock’s lips? Means one hell of a lot.
“Proud of you, too, Brother. Seems we’ve both got new lives which suit us both.”
Picking up his beer, he clinks his bottle against mine. “Had to grow up and settle down one day, man.”
I lean in closer. “Give you a tip? Try blindfolding Becca sometime.”
He chuckles and winks. “What makes you think I don’t?”
Snorting with laughter, I look around the room and see Steph’s face turned toward mine. As if she knows I’m watching, a smile slides over her face.
I turn to my friend. “You, Tucson, all the brothers there, will always have a special place in my heart. But that woman there? She’s my home.”
As his face softens, I translate he’s agreeing. He’s feeling the same way about Becca.
“Well, what’s the gossip from back home, Rock? How is everyone?”
My question opens the flood gates as he runs through what’s been going on. Luckily no particular problems for them to deal with, his update is more who’s pregnant and who’s not. Money’s been placed that Heart and Marcia are expecting another pair of twins. I hand him a twenty saying my guess is they’re not. Drummer and Wraith seem content they’ve completed their family. Hyde, at last, is going to claim Sarah officially.
“How’s Truck doing?”
Rock’s eyes shutter. “Can’t tell you that. He won’t have contact with anyone. Shut himself off from the club and his firefighting crew. He’s alive and will stay that way, but that’s about as much as we know. We’ve tried to see him, Slate, his captain has too. But… nothing.”
I sigh heavily. Man needs his family around him when the chips are down. But what can be done if he doesn’t let help in?
Satan's Devils MC Colorado Boxset 1 Books 1 - 3 Page 108
