Demon's Angel: Satan's Devils MC (Colorado Chapter) #2 Read online

  “Not in the picture.” This response comes quickly.

  Too quickly? I vacillate between an unexpected elation that she has no man tagging after her, or not the one that’s fathered her child at least, and rage that someone impregnated her and presumably left her. A hundred things come into my mind that I want to say.

  I settle for a casual, “Want me to kill him?”

  A laugh’s startled out of her. Another one of those vacant expressions follows her momentary mirth. Then she gives my question the weight it deserves. Absolutely zero. In her world, the citizen world, killing is not the answer. In mine, it often is the quickest way to get a problem under control.

  I turn to a safer subject. “You were living in New York, last I heard. Thought you were settled there?”

  She sighs. “Dave, I know Nathan asked you to look out for me, but that was when I was still a little girl. He’s been gone nine years now.”

  Her reminder makes me frown. I’m only too well aware of the time that the calendar says has passed, though often it seems just like yesterday. My childhood friend, best friend since kindergarten, had followed his dreams. While I’d gone into the motorcycle club, to eventually rise through the ranks to become president, Nathan had become a Marine. He’d been destined for good things, was going to be in the service for life. It had been all he’d ever wanted. He’d lasted eight years until he’d been taken out by a sniper over in Afghanistan. He’d been twenty-six when he died. His sudden and unexpected death shocks me to this day. His life cut so short, mine left with a fucking giant hole in it. A loss to me, his family and his country, while I, an outlaw biker, still breathed. The universe must have a warped sense of humour.

  “I promised Nathan, and I let him down.” My lips thin. “I’m sorry, Vi. I should have made more of an effort to stay in contact.”

  A glance at my face shows there’s no point in her again denying it. Instead, she focuses on offering absolution.

  “Dave, I’m a grown woman. My life has nothing to do with you.” She sips her coffee again. “After Nathan died, I moved on. As you said, I ended up in New York. Okay, so yeah, I was settled and happy. Got my degree and the dream job. Shared an apartment with a girl friend. Then, my roommate found a man and moved out. It became a bit of a struggle, rents being what they are, but I was managing. Meant I couldn’t save, though.” Her hand smooths back her hair which has dropped over her face. “So when the axe fell and the company had to cut jobs, last in, first out, you know how it goes. Well, I hadn’t any funds behind me, couldn’t afford to stay in New York, so I came back here.”

  “You working in Pueblo?”

  Her eyes close briefly. “Couldn’t find much, took shifts as a barista while I was searching for something where I could use my skills. Then…” Her nod at the stroller tells me all I want to know. “Well, he wasn’t in the cards when I first came back.”

  I do the math. Nine months pregnant, five months born. Fifteen months? She’s been here for that long and I hadn’t known it?

  Sending up a belated apology to Nathan for having neglected her, I continue my inquisition. “You living with your folks?”

  A blank look, then a nod, a half-smile. I raise and dip my head in return. At least she’s not on her own. Whatever the situation, her parents are decent enough and will look after her. See, Nathan? I’ve checked in. She’s fine. I won’t leave it so long next time. But she’s doing okay.

  Both our coffee cups are empty. There’s a twitch from under the blanket in the stroller. Violet notices. “I’ve got to go.”

  She wastes no time standing. I cover her hand with mine as she goes to manoeuvre the stroller.

  “Here, Vi. Take my number. If you need anything, let me know.”

  Looking more like she wants to refuse, but fast realising it’s easier to give in, she takes out her phone, which I notice is a cheap basic model. As I rattle off the digits, she taps them in. There’s no offer to give me hers in return, which, after the way this meeting has gone, doesn’t surprise nor bother me. I’ll get our computer guy, Cad, onto finding out all there is to know about her. Any secrets she’s buried, he’ll ferret them out.

  I stay seated at the table as she disappears into the street. I hadn’t offered to escort her to her car, sensing she’d already found my presence too intrusive.

  Instead, I take a moment to gather my thoughts.

  I’d felt elation when I realised it was her, then sorrow at a reminder I’d been remiss in my duties. Pleasure that I had a chance to belatedly fulfil the promise I’d made to her brother, followed by disappointment when my pleasure hadn’t been reciprocated, then puzzlement at her attitude toward her baby and her reticence in providing any information. As my eyes watch her until she disappears from sight, I realise that young Violet has evolved into both a beautiful woman and a mystery to be solved.

  Chapter Two

  Demon

  As prez, I, of course, head for my seat at the head of the table. While doing so, I glance around at all the filled seats, my eyes settling for a moment at the occupant of the chair at the opposite end to myself. He’s grinning, looking completely relaxed as he jokes with Rusty. The packet of cigarettes which would normally have been close to hand are nowhere in sight. Hellfire, the man who raised me, and the man who’d sat in the president’s seat until only recently, has made many changes in his life. Not least, stepping down from being president of the club.

  The changes have been good for both him and my mother.

  At first, I’d had doubts he’d be able to make a clean break. But after a couple of months in the top seat, I’m convinced there’s no way he’d say he made a mistake. In some ways I’m jealous he’s been able to walk away without looking back; only a madman would want to head up this particular asylum.

  He catches me staring, raises his chin, and his mouth quirks. Yeah, Hellfire is happy being an ordinary member with no special responsibilities. Unlike myself. I carry everyone’s weight on my shoulders. I jerk my head back. My shoulders are broad, old man. I can take it. He grins and nods. Sure you can, son. I have faith in you.

  As I allow the men around me to settle, my gaze stays fixed, watching the man who for thirty-five years I’d thought was my father. I’m still coming to terms with the fact he’s my brother instead. My father—his, too—was a rapist.

  If it wasn’t that Hellfire was such a good man, I would be more disturbed about the bad blood running through my veins. But how could I let it worry me when all my life I’ve admired the man I still call father? That he’d killed my sperm donor long ago raises nothing other than satisfaction. One less thing I’d have had to deal with myself. Black Plate, Blackie, founder of the club, had met his demise the very night of my conception. A club vote, a patching in, and the new member had dispatched him to meet Satan. He’d rained hellfire down on the rapist, hence picking up his handle. Details I’d discovered only three months back.

  Thunder, sitting to my left and looking uncomfortable, catches my eye, an unspoken question in his. I shake my head and receive a quick grimace of disappointment. Since I moved a step up at the table, changing my role from VP to prez, Thunder’s combining his sergeant-at-arms duties with those of being my second. He’s not held back on letting me know he has no desire to change roles permanently. Problem is, I don’t know who else I’d trust to be my VP. Time’s coming when we’ll need to vote on it, but to date, I haven’t come up with anyone who I’d propose.

  Since we'd had to dispatch the traitor, Taser, trust has been sorely challenged in the club. None of us had expected a member to turn on his brothers. It’s hit us all hard, and the dust has yet to settle. All of us would have trusted Taser with our lives. Ingot, our previous enforcer who Taser had murdered, had paid for that conviction with his.

  My reminiscence leads me to consider Skull, also at the opposite end of the table. While we were looking for the man who betrayed the club, circumstantial evidence had pointed to Runt, a prospect. He’d been questioned in the MC way.
When all we’d gotten back were denials, the interrogation had become painful. For him, not us. We’d made an innocent man hurt. He’d left the club for a month while he sorted out shit in his head. To our surprise, he’d returned, wanting to be part of a band of brothers that took loyalty so seriously. We’d patched him in and, at his request, changed his handle. Runt came in as a prospect but Skull earned his place around this table. He seemed to appreciate the jokes that he had a hard head.

  It had been a bad time, but we’re out on the other side. It means, though, I’m short a man wearing the VP patch.

  As though he can pluck my thoughts out of my head, Thunder gives me a sharp nod of reassurance. No rush. Might not want it, but while you need me to step up, I have your back.

  As the brothers settle, it’s time to get church underway. I bang the gavel, then point with it. “Buzzard?”

  “Yeah.” The treasurer kicks off with his usual run through of the health of our various businesses. All’s looking good.

  When he passes the ball to Paladin, I’m pleased to see the member who transferred from the Tucson chapter not much more than three months back handles himself well giving an update on our fledgling security business.

  “Another contract?”

  “Only a small one,” Paladin notes. “But it’s all about getting our foot in the door at this stage.”

  “Any bread’s welcomed,” Pyro observes.

  “Looking to reinvest,” Buzzard nods toward Lizard. “Brother here is proposing a new location for the tattoo parlour and expanding business.”

  I’m not unhappy Buzz brought that up rather than myself. It’s not news for anyone, but it is the first time it’s been discussed as a proposition rather than a vague idea. It’s kicked around for a while, but finally Liz gets the vote he wants, and it’s full steam ahead. Rusty and Ink, both handy with a hammer, offer to get on with the drywalling as soon as the contract is signed.

  A list is compiled of everything we need, such as looking for additional skilled employees and getting advertising underway to let old and new customers know where we’re relocating to. Once we’ve gotten all that sorted, time’s ticked on, and no one has an appetite for much more talk. I sense brothers are getting uneasy, their minds now on alcohol and pussy instead of business.

  No point keeping asses in seats without good reason. I bang the gavel, bring the meeting to a close, and am not surprised when I find Hellfire lingering.

  “What’s on your mind, Demon?”

  I half laugh. “That easy to read, Hell?”

  The man I still regard as my father laughs. “Only ever since you were a babe in arms. Never could get anything past me.”

  As it’s the truth, I don’t deny it. For a long time I’d thought he had supernatural powers at reading minds, until I realised it was all part of being a dad.

  “Well, Brother,” I say with a grin, emphasising the word for two reasons, one to show he’s no longer at the head of the table, and the second to acknowledge the true relationship between us, only recently acknowledged. “You’re correct, of course.”

  I wave him out the door.

  He gets my meaning, and heads for the bar. Dan, one of our prospects, has a whisky for Hell and a beer for me ready as we approach. Instead of slinging it back in one gulp, then asking for another, Hell sips his drink slowly. Another change, and all to the good. The old man’s certainly regained that sparkle in his eyes, his new relaxed lifestyle taking years off him.

  As we take our drinks to an empty table, my eyes catch Lizard already with his hand caressing Breezy’s bare tits. Christ, that man doesn’t waste time before snagging a sweet butt. Not that I blame him; I’ll be looking for one later myself.

  At last, I turn my attention to Hell. “You’ll never guess who I bumped into earlier.”

  Obviously, he can’t. He raises an eyebrow.

  Alternating between speaking and drinking my beer, I enlighten him, and relate my encounter with Violet.

  “Fuck, Brother. That was a bad business.” A shadow comes over Hell’s face as he refers to the day we’d received the news Nathan had been killed. Growing up, if I wasn’t at Nathan’s house, he’d been at mine. We’d been as thick as thieves from the age of four. Hell used to joke he had a third son. It had taken a long time for his loss to sink in, even longer to start to deal with it.

  “Fuckin’ shocked us all,” I affirm. “Fuckin’ shame the good die young.”

  “While the bad go on living.” He raises his glass like a salute, then draws a hand over his face. “Got some grey hairs from some of the things you two got up to.” His reminder brings a grin to my face. Yeah, Nate and I had gotten up to some shit in our day. “You remember his grandfather’s World War II grenade?”

  Do I! “Lucky we didn’t blow ourselves up.”

  Hell’s shaking his head. “His dad never should have left it lying around. But trying to get the gunpowder out with a hammer?” He barks a laugh. “You should have kids, Demon. Would like to see you handle that shit.”

  “Good reason I don’t and have no inclination to,” I reply shortly. “And please, I get the ‘kids’ talk from Mom often enough.”

  “Mo just wants to see you settled.”

  Why settle? I have a club full of whores and hangarounds for when I have an itch to scratch. Why tie myself down when there’s no need to? Which reminds me. My eyes again scan the room, seeing Tulia is on her own. I hold up a finger toward her, giving her the signal that she’s to wait for me to finish my conversation with Hellfire and not go with anyone else in the meantime. One of the perks of being the prez.

  “So,” Hellfire draws back my attention. “You’re worried about Nathan’s sister?”

  Trust him to get to the heart of the matter. “I am.” I frown. Worried? Concerned? Feeling guilty I’d been out of touch for so long? Intrigued by the beautiful woman she’s grown into? “Not sure I can put my finger on it, but something’s not right.” An image of her comes into my head. While I’d been checking her out, I hadn’t missed the shadows in her eyes. The lines on my forehead deepen.

  “You said she seemed down. Post-partum depression?”

  “That could be the name for it, but shit if I know.” Something he’d probably have more knowledge of. He’d been right by Mo’s side while she birthed and raised three kids. Myself, my half-brother and half-sister are all fully-grown now, but I suspect there are things you don’t forget. “I don’t know, Hell. But I have this nagging feeling that I owe it to Nathan to look out for her.”

  “Could be you want to know for yourself, too,” he observes, sagely.

  “Nah,” I shut him down fast. “Sure, she’s an attractive bitch, but she’s Nathan’s little sister, for fuck’s sake. And a woman like that, alone with a kid in tow, would be looking for a meal ticket.”

  “Looking for a life-partner,” he corrects. He and Mo have been married thirty-six years. A few ups and downs along the way, but they’re pretty well matched. Neither tries to hide that they think I should be looking to settle down. He stares at me. “She used to follow you around like a lovesick puppy. She still carryin’ a torch for you?”

  It’s so far from the truth, I laugh. “Not so you’d notice.”

  “Kid used to think the sun shone out of your ass.”

  “Not anymore.” I recall the dismissive way she’d treated me.

  “So, you don’t want her, she’s not going to give you more than the time of day, but you want to make sure she’s not needin’ anything because you feel you owe it to Nathan.”

  “’Bout sums it up.” One thing’s for certain; my old man’s not stupid.

  “You’re the prez now,” he reminds me. “Put a prospect on her. No one gonna question you.” He nods toward the bar. “Dan’s pretty good.”

  He’s right. Dan is. He’s got the knack of fading into the background. When he isn’t wearing his cut, of course.

  “At least he might find out shit to settle your mind on how she’s doing. You could have
come across her on a bad day. Havin’ a kid isn’t easy. ’Specially if she’s on her own. Could just have had a sleepless night.”

  He’s right. There could be any number of reasons why Violet didn’t resemble the girl I used to know. A few minutes later, when Hell rises to go home to Moira, my mind is a lot lighter. I hadn’t liked the idea I’d let Nathan down, that something was going on with his sister that I should have, but hadn’t been able to prevent, as I hadn’t fucking given her a thought in years. Hell’s suggestion of siccing a prospect on her is a good one. At least this way, I could respect her wishes not to interfere but satisfy myself she was happy enough. If something needs fixing, armed with the knowledge of what, I could step up and help.

  Not wasting a moment, I give Dan instructions and a description, together with what information I know, such as her family’s old address on the assumption that’s where they still live. I’m finally free to make my way over to Tulia.

  “Prez,” she breathes at my approach, her eyes shining with anticipation.

  “Doll, you intend on fuckin’ the man or the title?” I smirk.

  “Does it matter?”

  Her husky voice goes straight to my groin. My eyes feast on the tits which are only just hidden beneath her cropped top, and catch the sparkle from Liz’s handiwork, her belly-button jewel. Her crotch will be wet and easily accessible under her very short skirt. The fresh scent of shampoo and shower gel are all I can smell, letting me know mine will be the first cock inside her tonight. I don’t care how many come after, but I prefer to be the one filling her cunt first.

  Or, rather, the condom. Don’t want to take any chances.

  My hands find her shoulders, turn her around, then walk her across the room and into the prez’s, my, office. I admit to there still being a sense of satisfaction being able to bend a slut over the big desk and fuck her there. The girls find it novel, too. The last prez had never made himself available; Hellfire has always been faithful to Moira.