“This is what mom should have done.” Her brother glances around before returning his attention to his sister. “Spoken up, faced it head on. But instead of thinking it was a medical condition, she put all the blame on you, Alison.”
Allie shrugs. “At times I hated Hope when I was carrying her. Well, not so much her, as what she was doing to me. But not when she was born.”
“You’re not your mom, Al,” I reassure her. “You could never be.”
“And you’re not our dad,” Jason pronounces, nodding at me. Then continues at our twin looks of curiosity. “I found him, you know? Having reconnected with you, I wanted to meet him. He’s not a deadbeat, as Mom always said, but he’s nothing to admire, either. Unlike Truck, when mom was sick with you, he couldn’t take it and walked out. Thought he’d try again when you were older, but when Mom got pregnant again, didn’t want to take the risk of history repeating itself. He said he couldn’t take someone being sick the whole time. So he fucked off, that time, for good.” He raises his chin my way. “Truck stuck beside you. You’ve got a good man, Alison.”
“I know,” she tells him, sparing a smile for me.
“Momma. Dada.” Hope’s getting agitated. I immediately see why.
“Down you go then.”
Putting her gently on the ground, she immediately runs off, and is launched into the air by Drummer. He’s always had a soft spot for my daughter, reckon that’s because he stepped in when she was born. He’s patient with her, but then he’s done the baby thing a couple of times himself.
“Doing okay, Allie? Not getting too tired?”
Her eye roll gives Prez a negative answer. But I mouth, yes.
“Things will be wrapping up here shortly, anyway. Have you seen Dart and Alex?”
“Yeah, we spent some time with them earlier. Lost too.”
“Pal and Jay are around somewhere as well,” Allie says. “I wasn’t sure Jay was going to give Hope back.”
“I told you.” I lean in, nudging her arm, “We should have run away and left her with them. You were too slow.”
Allie’s laugh, well, I’ll never get tired of hearing it. The way her face lights up makes me want to leave Hope with Drummer, and take her away and find a barn or something, fuck, a wall will do. I will my cock to behave, this is a family affair and not the place to be sporting a hard on.
But Al’s got enough experience to glance down as she sees me widen my stance, and a knowing look comes into her eyes. Then, she winks. A promise for later? Fucking hope so.
I also don’t appear to have hidden it from Prez. “Best get this one tired out so you can have time to yourselves when we get back,” he suggests, smirking.
“Like you’re not doing the same with Eli and Zane,” I counter.
He barks a laugh, and doesn’t try to contradict.
“Hey, what am I missing?”
“Beef!”
I don’t feel the slightest bit jealous as Allie throws herself into Beef’s arms. Instead, once he’s free, I give him a hug myself. A manly one, of course.
“Missing us yet, Beef?”
“Not as much as I’m missing my ol’ lady. You haven’t seen her, have you?”
Drummer nods. “She’s with Sam. Think Sam’s trying to adopt Max.”
“Well, she won’t have much luck with that,” Beef says bluntly. “Ah, there she is.”
A woman is approaching holding onto the harness of a dog who’s unerringly leading her through the crowd toward us. When she reaches us, Allie starts talking to Steph and the two move slightly away.
“Allie okay now?” Beef leans in and quietly asks. “She’s looking good.”
“Still getting there,” I reply. “But she’ll be right in time.”
“And, my niece?” He reaches out and takes Hope from Drummer. “How you doing, kiddo?”
“Dada.”
“No, I’m not your dada. I’m your Uncle. Can you say Uncle Beef?”
“Bee.”
“That’ll do.” He snorts a laugh.
My daughter cracks me up. I give him a moment, then take her back from him, grinning.
“Club settling down now, Beef?”
At Drummer’s question, Beef’s smile fades. “Getting there, Drummer. Getting there. Going to take a long time to get over that. Fuckin’ hurts.” His face has darkened. “Never saw it coming, no one did. Never fuckin’ suspected.”
“Don’t see how you could have, Beef.”
“So, how’s Tucson, Drum?” Beef clearly wants to change the subject and I’m not surprised. He’s here to enjoy himself today, not rehash the recent troubles at the Pueblo club.
As they wander off, him collecting his old lady in the process, Allie comes back to my side.
“I’m ready to go home, Truck.”
If she’s admitting she’s tired, she really is. I immediately summon a prospect and soon have my wife and child safely installed in the crash truck, and have issued strict instructions to drive my precious cargo home carefully.
I stay a bit longer, then ride back with my brothers. I walk up to the top of the compound and enter our house, still smelling of fresh paint. I peek into Hope’s room, but she’s not in her crib. Next I try our bedroom.
There, in the middle of the bed, curled up around our sleeping daughter is Allie, lost in the land of deep slumber herself.
I stand quiet at the door, just watching them, feeling my heart beating with love for them both.
I’d thought I’d never find a woman who’d want a scarred man like me. Thought I’d never have my dream of a family. Thought that wildfire had ended any chance of finding happiness in my life.
I’d been wrong. What it had given back was way better than anything I’d had before.
It’s not been without its ups and downs. Allie’s still not completely fit, and I still have nightmares, but what we’re building together makes the past pale into insignificance.
What doesn’t beat you, makes you stronger. Prez has said that a time or two, and he’s got it right.
We survived.
We came through.
I couldn’t wish for anything more than I’ve got at this moment.
Epilogue
Twenty years in the future
Drummer…
In the way of old men, we come back around to the subject we started with.
“Okay, you win, Drum. That time with Truck and Allie took its toll on the club. But it all worked out in the end, didn’t it?” Peg turns to look at me. “Wouldn’t say they had it easy, both had to work through their demons, but they did it together.”
Rolling my head on my shoulders, I hear my neck creak. Another sign age is creeping up on me. “Sure, they did.” I shudder slightly. “Of course, it wasn’t long before Truck got the snip and made sure they wouldn’t be adding to their family.”
“But they did.” Peg roars with laughter. “Though Grunt’s nose was put out of joint.”
Yeah, it had surprised all of us. For understandable reasons, Allie didn’t want any more kids, and it wasn’t only Truck that hadn’t wanted to see her suffer, none of us did. That period had been fucking difficult on the club as a whole. I gaze at the stars just starting to appear, and chuckle along with Peg. Truck, so in love with Allie, wanted to give her everything she’d ever wanted.
As if on cue, Precious appears, from under the clubhouse with a mouse in her mouth. Can’t deny she earns her living, even at her advanced age. An unbelievable eighteen years old and that cat’s still a good mouser—when one walks close enough. Most time she spends sleeping wherever she wants. She’s outlived Heart and Marcia’s wolfhound mix by quite a few years.
The timely appearance of Precious has caught Peg’s eye as well. I remind him, “Still remember the day Truck brought her as a kitten onto the compound. Presented her to Allie in the clubhouse. Thought Allie was going to faint.”
Truck hated cats, with good reason. But in getting Allie a kitten, he’d proven he loved his wife more.
“Yet, in the end, I think Truck was as taken by her as she was.”
He’s right there. They treat that darn cat like a second kid.
Peg goes quiet for a moment, then chuckles again as Eli comes marching up to the clubhouse, Olivia close behind.
“Shit comes and goes, but some things never change,” he remarks.
Nah, they don’t. Ollie’s been following my son around since they were both babies in the clubhouse.
Eli raises his chin toward us, and jerks his head toward the clubhouse, then walks on past. From the sounds coming out of the window behind us, all the members are making moves to go into church.
“Ready for this?” Peg gets to his feet, his bones cracking as he does.
I take a deep breath, then let it out while looking around me. Remembering old times with Peg has helped confirm the decisions that have already been made, reminding me time marches on. I follow my sergeant-at-arms into the clubhouse, making my way across the room that’s now emptied, and walk into church.
I take my seat, then listen to the sound of the gavel banging against the wood. While conversations come to an end, I glance around the table. I’d wanted to build up the mother chapter, and I’d been successful at the job. Over the years, faces had come and gone. Road, well, he’d transferred early on. Slick, sad, but he’d succumbed to lung cancer. Hyde had decided the club wasn’t for him and Sarah, and we allowed him to go without even a beatdown. Viper, another man lost, turned out he had a weak heart. God’s ways of thinning our numbers, to make way for the new guard I suspect. No one wants a club full of old men.
“Brothers,” a voice full of emotion starts from the head of the table. “Tonight marks a new chapter in the history of the Satan’s Devils. I thank you for giving me your trust and voting me into the top seat.”
Drew, or Wizard as I should call him, new prez of the Satan’s Devils is looking straight down the table at me. I raise my chin.
Mouse is beaming proudly. Mariana had been dead set against her brother even joining the club, and now he’s got the top spot.
Wraith, sitting on his left, raises his hand. “Prez,” he nods at Wizard, “and I have already had this conversation, so it will come as no surprise to him. It’s time for Wizard to pick his own second-in-command, so like Drummer, I’m stepping down.” He slides off his cut, and taking out his knife, slices the VP patch off. He hands it over to Prez ceremonially, then vacates his seat. He goes to stand at the back of the room with his arms folded across his chest, and a wealth of emotion on his face.
I hadn’t known about this, but it’s not unexpected, and I reckon Wizard’s got something up his sleeve. It seems too orchestrated.
“Brothers, I need a VP.”
Eyes come to me, I hold my hands up. “Taking a leaf out of Hellfire’s book. I’m done and dusted with leadership of the club, that’s why I’m stepping down. Done my time, brothers.”
Wizard nods as though that’s what he wanted, confirmed when he says, “I propose Hawk steps up.”
I can’t help the look of pride that I’m sure I’m wearing. Eli hadn’t stepped into the VP’s shoes because of any nepotism, he’s done it all on his own merits. I had to smile when early on he’d developed a take no prisoners attitude, and a steely grey death stare to rival my own. He’ll make a good VP, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day he’s president of his own club. Too young now, of course, at just twenty-three.
Then Peg barks a laugh. “Suppose you want fresh blood, Prez. Who you got in mind for my seat?”
Wizard turns his intelligent eyes on the sergeant-at-arms. “Don’t want to push you out of your post, Brother.”
Peg, still chuckling, states, “I’ve done my time. More than ready to pass the baton over.”
Wizard raises his chin at him, “In that case, well, Hound.”
He’s a good choice and I nod approvingly. Hound had left us for a while, joined the Marines and did a few tours. Returned to the club about eight years back having gained knowledge and skills which will serve him well in his new role.
Hound himself seems surprised by the turn of events, but vacates his chair and with a broad grin, goes to sit at the right hand of his prez.
Blade growls and spins his knife. “Still got men to scalp in my future.”
Wizard’s eyes soften when they land first on his face, then drop to look pointedly at the hand that resembles a claw on the knife. The enforcer has become crippled with arthritis.
Blade sees where he’s looking, grins and shrugs. “Aw, shucks. I’ll step down as long as I’m still allowed to have fun from time to time.”
“You’re moving your fuckin’ seat, Blade, not leaving the club.” But from the look of sadness in Wizard’s eyes, we all know that time may come. It will come to all of us old-timers when we’re no longer able to ride. Christ, I’m not looking forward to that.
Blade’s not finished. “If you’re looking for my replacement, I nominate Throttle.”
Peg’s son, Noah. I glance at him and see him grinning proudly, and giving a nod of encouragement to his boy. Young, of course, but he’s got the right character to take on the enforcer role. Big too, taking after his father, with a serious demeanour and a strong sense of right and wrong, when it comes to club regs of course.
Wizard laughs, “Couldn’t think of a better man for the job, Blade. Throttle, step up.”
After Blade and the new enforcer change places, Wizard raises his chin toward him, then looks at the man sitting by Eli’s side. “Dollar, don’t you go thinking of retirement. Still need someone to cook the books.”
“Goddammit,” says the treasurer, but I think he looks relieved.
“Or you either, Heart. Or Mouse.”
“Christ, he’s as bad as you, Drummer. Gonna have us in fuckin’ harness until we die.”
Laughter greets Mouse’s observation. Nothing will ever stop that man doing what he does best. Even now he has a gadget with the latest technology in front of him. I see Wizard’s eyes catch sight of it and gleam with interest. ‘New?’ he mouths, getting a nod back, ‘yes’.
His mind quickly returns to the meeting. “Got another announcement,” Prez begins. “I’ll let the VP tell you his news.”
Hawk’s grin is wide, and he doesn’t keep us waiting. “I plan on taking an ol’ lady, need the vote to put my patch on her.”
“’Bout fuckin’ time,” Wraith growls, from the seat vacated by Throttle. “If you ever hurt her, Eli…”
Now my son applies that death stare. “Have I ever fuckin’ hurt her, Wraith? In all these years, have I ever fuckin’ looked at another woman?”
“You certainly don’t take after your dad,” someone quips. I think it was Toady, and I give him a glare just in case.
“Let’s vote,” Prez suggests. “Think we all saw this coming.”
Yeah, we had. From the time Eli and Ollie were in their cribs.
I sit back, vote ‘aye’, when the time comes and consider, with not a little pride, how the Satan’s Devils Tucson chapter has turned out. It may not have been planned, but those of us with old ladies have chosen wisely it would seem, and now it’s time to hand over to the new generation.
I’m hoping it will be a while before I have to hang up my riding boots, and while I’ve handed over the gavel, I’ve still got something to give. Leaning back I interlock my hands behind my totally white hair, and think of the future that’s now opened up. Long rides alongside my old lady riding one of her bikes. In fact, Peg and I already have a ride planned to visit the other chapters. Taking our time with stops in nice spots. Riding to Utah in one day, for example, is no longer quite as comfortable as it once was.
Having voted Hawk can put his patch on Olivia, Wizard bangs the gavel. “Now we’ve got the touchy feely shit out of the way, let’s get on with the updates. Roadkill? How did you and Cast get on when you paid a call on that pimp?”
“Truck came with us. Took out his fuckin’ eye as a joke in front of him and put it in his pocket�
�”
Eli’s eyes gleam just like they had when he was a kid. Seeing it, I shake my head. Seems like he hasn’t grown out of his morbid fascination with Truck’s eye despite how otherwise he’s matured.
Truck nods and takes over. “He saw it as a sign we were about to get down to business, and ran the fuck off.”
“Yeah,” Roadkill takes over again. “Got in his car and drove, and from what we can make out, never came fuckin’ back.”
“Right,” says Wizard. “I want confirmation of that. Mouse, can you get onto tracking him down? Let me know if you want me to help.”
Mouse seems unfazed by the offer of Wizard’s assistance in what was previously his sole area of expertise.
“Movin’ on,” Prez looks at Bolt. “Need some info from you so we can decide what to do next.”
Club business. I wink at Peg. As he raises his chin at me and grins, I take it he’s not going to be missing being in the thick of things either.
Blade, seeing our interaction, catches both our eyes, and thumps his hand over his chest.
Copying his gesture, I too bang my hand over my heart, while Wizard continues to conduct business from the seat I so recently vacated.
I sit back and listen, I don’t mind. I’ve given more than forty years to this club, thirty plus as president. I’m not going anywhere, I’ll still pull my weight as a member, but no longer having the decision making on my shoulders, it means I can relax.
The club’s in good hands, Wizard has chosen wisely.
The club isn’t about any one individual, whoever’s at the helm, Satan’s Devils will ride on.
Melissa
I fought it, fought it hard. I wasn’t the type of woman a biker would go for. I’m a homely type, not adventurous or bold.
But he dragged me into his world, and I found I liked it. Loved the family vibe, how everyone would gather around to protect what was theirs.
Until, he disappeared. Wiped off the face of the earth. He’d pulled me in, now he’s gone. The only explanation for him not coming back is that he’s dead.
Pyro
Truck Stopped: Satan's Devils MC #11 Page 38
