Page 104 of Demon's Angel

“But Lucio would never believe it.”

“Then we challenge him. He’ll be able to produce nothing to prove his case. Angel is not, and cannot be, Theo’s father.” Drummer drags his hand over his beard. “What’s worse, Demon? Violet never knowing who fathered that kid, or having Lucio in the background waiting to lay claim to him?”

“Sometimes it’s just something between a couple,” I speak my fears out loud. “There’s no physical reason to stop them becoming pregnant. It just happens.” But there’s enough doubt that Drummer’s placed in my head. I think for a moment. It’s actually a no-brainer. If the results go the wrong way, I don’t need to admit it. On the other hand, if Theo was fathered by some unknown man, then Violet will be free of any future threat. “I need a Ziploc bag.” Having made my decision, I waste no more time. A suitable container is found in the kitchen, and soon I have a bunch of Angel’s hair contained. Man’s so far gone, he didn’t even flinch when I took it. I certainly wasn’t gentle.

Having done that, I realise church hasn’t yet officially ended. With a loud whistle, I get everyone’s attention back. Well it takes a moment, men have wandered away, and more than one reappears from the kitchen with a steaming cup in their hands.

“Now, where were we before we were interrupted?” As I hoped, my light-hearted comment draws a few laughs.

“Thanking us, I think, Brother,” shouts Beef, one of Drummer’s men.

It’s as good a place to start as any.

“Our thanks go without saying, Brothers. And of course, our offer to reciprocate any time needed is always on the table.” My comment receives chin lifts, and a special grin from Drummer. He’s probably remembering all the times we’ve gone to Tucson. “Now I think we’re okay on our own.”

“Be fuckin’ glad to get back to Vegas, Demon.” That’s from Red. “It’s quieter there.”

“You sure you’re out the other side now?”

“Yeah, Snatcher. You heard Lucio. That’s the end of it.” And hopefully for good, if the DNA tests confirm what Drummer suspects.

“You going to deal with… him?” Crash asks. “Need a hand?”

“Nah. It’s all good.” I eye the body that’s inconveniently taking up space in my clubhouse. “We’ll get rid of him in the desert.”Yeah, we might know a few places to use.

With the prospects guarding Hell and Mo’s house, Pyro, Lizard and Skull volunteer to take on disposal duties. Might as well bury him now. He’ll die soon in any event. And after what he put my woman through and was intending for her, if he knows he’s being buried alive, so much the better. My view? He’ll know nothing at all. He’s stubbornly holding onto life by a thread.

Meeting over, Red and Drummer waste no time gathering up their men, and there’s a round of goodbyes and back-slapping before ten bikes ride out, disappearing in a cloud of dust, heading away from the clubhouse. Hell offers to drive Viper back to the airport. Snatcher and his team hang back.

“You want to take Thumper home?” I ask the Utah prez, knowing what answer I’d have given, and already working out the logistics. He gives the response I expect. Calling Dan back to the compound, we load Thumper’s bike, which ironically was one totally unscathed, and reverently lay his body down on the back seat.

Snatcher takes his position in front of the truck with Thor, Piston and Rascal behind. I give Dan stern instructions to obey every fucking law of the road; no one wants to get pulled over carrying a dead body riddled with bullets.

As a good prospect wanting his patch, Dan shrugs off my thanks and concerns as he prepares to set out on his eleven-hour journey to Utah.

“He’ll be fine,” Snatcher reassures me, as I walk to stand beside him. Reaching out, I clasp his forearm.

Looking down I take a deep breath, then raise my head. I have nothing to say that hasn’t already been said. What more could I offer? Thanks seem inadequate to my group of brothers who came at a simple request, prepared to put their lives on the line, and who are going back one man less.

Clutching my forearm in the same way, Snatcher nods. “Been Prez for a fuckin’ long time, Brother. This life? It’s what it is. Know that when we patch in. Accept the risks for the reward. Your kid back there, Dan? He wants the patch even knowing what’s in store. We live and ride free, man. Hard at times, but Thumper knew the score. Every brother in my house put up his hand to come here, you know that? Thumper one of the first. We all knew we might not have made it home.”

I don’t take any umbrage that he’s emphasising the difference in how long we’ve both worn the president’s patch. It’s a stupid man who doesn’t learn from the knowledge and experience of others.

“You need us?” I offer. “Just shout.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Brother.”

Then, with a simple jerk of his chin, he reaches forward and starts his engine. I step back as he twists the throttle, then pulls in the clutch and kicks up into first gear. With a circling wave over his head, he lets out the clutch and begins to move off.

I watch until bikes and truck have all disappeared and nothing remains but dust swirling in the air.

A week later and it all seems like it had been a bad dream. The clubhouse might smell of fresh paint and varnish, but it’s better than it ever has been. Sindy, Jayden and Violet showed they had artistic flair and we now have tasteful, but hard-wearing couches, tables and chairs and a fucking great TV in the clubroom, bigger than the last one we had. The fresh paint it had been in need of for years has brightened the place up, without the nicotine stains the whole room seemed lighter. The check we received from Lucio hadn’t been sizeable, but enough to cover most of the shit. Ink went out one day, returning to say he’d bought an old jukebox at an auction, how or where I don’t know.

Violet and Theo have moved back in, and all the club girls are back and doing what they’re there for. Yeah, life’s back to normal, well, better than before. While I’d thought having an old lady would be stifling, and not for me, Vi fills the role better than I could have dreamed. She’s gone head-to-head with Jeannie a couple of times, but mostly they get along well. It’s good to see Vi has backbone where it counts.

I do get concerned about making her live at the club. It was fine when she needed protection, but now? My memories of growing up in a family home come back to me. That’s what Theo, and any future children we might have, need.

Thoughts of my childhood are what leads me to a real estate office one day. Hoping I’m doing the right thing, I put in an offer for the full asking price, surprising the woman sitting behind the desk when I state I’m going ahead without even requiring an inspection. Bit more than I wanted to pay, but hell, I have a feeling this is going to put such a big fucking smile on my woman’s face it will be worth every additional dollar I paid.

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