Page 3 of Balor

“Why don’t we know about the issue they had?” Clay asked.

“It resolved itself, so I didn’t see the point in bringing it up. It’s not like we meet every day, and it wasn’t a big enough deal to call everyone in.”

“I’m glad we’re getting more women. Been a while since I was on a date,” Collin said. “Most run the other way when they realize I’m wanted for murder. How about you, Luke?”

It had taken me a while to answer to the name Luke. My alter ego. It had been twenty years roughly, but now I responded with ease. “Took a woman to a fancy dinner once. Thought it would impress her. Didn’t realize she was more of a burger and fries type of girl. She didn’t even know what half the shit was on the menu. I felt like a fucking idiot. Ended up leaving the restaurant and going to a diner. We had a good laugh over it.”

“Pretty sure we’ve all done something like that,” Jackson said, leaning back and propping his feet up. “I know I have. Thought for sure I’d end up with a black eye after one date.”

Ben chuckled. “I’d have paid to see that.”

Jackson flipped him off. “Next time, asshole.”

“Town’s growing. More than just women too. The human population has been increasing,” Clay said. “Even hired a human doctor recently.”

I glanced at Collin. “That so?”

Being Balor Hades, of course, I already knew. But I always had to be careful about what I said or how much I shared. These men might know I kept a close eye on the town, but they didn’t realize I ran the place, and I wanted to keep it that way for now.

“Heard he had a run-in with one of our brothers. The human,” Clay said, giving the man in question a pointed look.

Collin’s lips twitched. “Not much of a run-in. I’d been out in the woods and got a little turned around. He offered me a ride back here.”

I leaned back. “That right?”

Collin nodded. “Seemed like a nice guy. Most people wouldn’t have offered a stranger a ride. Of course, if he’d known I was a killer, he might have kept driving.”

“Human doctor, huh?” I asked.

“Did you know most of the human men here in town have human mates?” Clay asked. “Doc probably does too.”

I tilted my head. “That right?”

“Reckon it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Not sure I’d want one of my own,” Clay said.

I eyed him a moment. “Why’s that?”

“Humans are fragile. There’s a reason we’re told not to mate with them.” Clay looked at Collin. “Even if some of them can be useful.”

I didn’t like the way Clay stared at Collin. I knew the man didn’t like humans, and I had a feeling he’d have taken out Collin if he’d been given a chance. It was only because I’d brought him here that he’d been left alone. I didn’t know what about the human had drawn me to him. I knew only that he was mine to protect, a part of this town. My town. I’d have killed every last man in my club to protect Collin.

“You have a problem with the man, you can take it up with me.” I didn’t give a fuck if Collin had killed someone. He’d said there was more to the story.

We kept talking, everyone swapping stories. It had been a while since we’d had a night like this one. Each of us kept busy with our own shit. While we called this Balor’s Saints MC and had a clubhouse, we didn’t function the way the human motorcycle clubs did. We came here to hang out or blow off steam, but we each had our own homes away from here. Or at least I wasn’t here frequently. Ruling over Darkwood from behind the scenes kept me busier than the others. It wouldn’t surprise me if they hung out frequently. I mostly stopped by when there was something we needed to handle, and then the occasional drop-in, like now.

I’d observed other clubs outside of Darkwood, ones full of humans. They did a lot together, and also had things better organized, with officers, prospects, and more rules than I even wanted to think about. In the strictest sense, we weren’t really a motorcycle club. Not like most people would think. More like my personal group of vigilantes, who helped keep things running smoothly around here. Of course, they either didn’t realize that or were ignoring the fact.

“You want to hear about the damn gremlins?” Clay asked.

“Gremlins?” I groaned.

He nodded. “First time I’d seen them in the area. Doubt it’s the last. Little troublemakers were trying to tear apart a car. Ripped the engine to shreds. They’re lucky the owner didn’t catch them or he’d have had gremlin for dinner. Not sure what species the man is, but he’d have made short work of them.”

Jackson let out a low whistle. “Glad that wasn’t my car. I’d have slaughtered them, then brought them back to life and made them obey my every command.”

And I had no doubt he would have, too.

“Damn things somehow got into my house and ate a hole in my favorite shirt,” Clay said. “Think they noticed me watching them.”

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