Page 92 of Demon's Angel

“Calm the fuck down,” Demon snarls into my ear. “Theo’s fine.” I don’t believe him. I need to see for myself. “Theo’s fine, he’s fine.”

This time he gets through to me. When I pause my struggles, I look into his face, then into Hell’s.

Hell is covered in dust, soot, and he’s bleeding from a cut on his forehead. His earnest eyes stare at me. “Your kid’s fine, Vi. Mo took him back to our house. Thought it was safer for him there. Jay’s with her. Jeannie and Sindy too.”

“You were on lockdown.” I can’t believe what he’s telling me.Theo’s safe?The clubhouse may be burning down around us, but those are the words I need to hear. Having been given the reprieve from my greatest fear, it’s highly inappropriate but I want to laugh. “You moved him out of the clubhouse?” I haven’t had enough confirmation as yet.

“Attack was coming for us, wasn’t it?” Hell defends what appears to be his decision. But it’s not, as his next words tells us. “Snatcher’s idea to get them out. Cad and Indian, the Vegas sergeant-at-arms,” he adds, presumably to reassure me they’re in safe hands, “are with them.”

I feel like I’m going to collapse, but Demon’s arms, still around me, are now supportive.

“Casualties?” he snaps.

“One of Snatcher’s men. Thumper.” Hell’s face hardens. “He caught a bullet. He had no chance.” He pauses to let that sink in. “Few walking wounded. Couple of burns. Yeah, coming.” The last was directed over his shoulder at one of the men from the other chapters. “We need to get that fuckin’ truck moved before the fire reaches the gas tank.”

Only one man dead?For the first time I look at the bodies surrounding us, thankfully realising there’s none I recognise, and selfishly pleased Demon’s not lost any of his men.

“Dan. Keep Vi out of the way.” With that, Demon quickly assesses what has to be done, then runs off. There are obviously men pushing from the other side, but as Dan leads me out around the clubhouse and out to the back well away from any possible explosion, I see them making headway.

Theo’s safe, he’s safe. Theo’s safegoes around and around my head. After the last few hours thinking I was never going to see him again, the release of worry is almost disabling. If Dan’s arm wasn’t around me, I think I’d stumble and fall.

The rear of the clubhouse is out of a different world. Apart from the shouts, crashes and other sounds that reach us, and the smoke blowing up in the air, it would be possible to think nothing had happened. I sink down onto a picnic bench, facing the club, assessing whether it’s really safe here. When I realise I’m in no danger, I let my head drop into my hands, relaxing for the first time since Angelino so callously threatened Theo. No, since long before that. When I’d been kidnapped coming back from the wedding. A hysterical burst of laughter escapes from my mouth. The most important day in any woman’s life, and I hadn’t given it a second thought. I stare entranced at my wedding band as though seeing it for the first time, wondering what’s going to happen to Angelino, and whether I’ll ever get a chance to have a normal life.

“Here.” Dan taps me on my shoulder, his brow scrunched in concern. “Why don’t you phone Mo and check the kid’s okay? I don’t have her number, but Cad will put her on the line. Want me to call him?”

Do I?That’s not a question that needs answering with anything other than the fervent expression on my face. As Dan places the call, I glance around, for the first time noticing the other women. They are all the club girls. Bella’s looking pale and shocked; Titsy’s sitting with her arms around Sheila and Breezy, their heads touching. Tulia’s looking stunned, staring at the unmarked side of the building in bemusement, tears sliding down her cheeks. None look hurt, just confused and dazed. And, half-dressed. Not in their normal state, but as though they just rolled out of bed.

“Here.” Dan passes me the phone.

“Mo? It’s Vi.” She automatically knows what I need. She asks me no questions but talks in a grandmotherly way about her new grandson. I listen to her calming voice as she tells me he’s doing great, how he’s feeding, his diaper changes, who’s entertaining him—that’s Jayden, of course—and how he’s been a bit fretful as his new tooth is emerging. Everything a mom needs to know. Finally, when she gets a chuckle from me, she hesitantly asks me what’s going on at the club.

She’s given me the time and the information I needed. My bout of hysteria has passed, replaced with the knowledge Theo really is fine. Cared for and wanting for nothing. “It’s mayhem, Mo. They’re trying to put a fire out, I don’t know what’s going on, whether we’ll be able to go back in.” A gasp shows me Bella’s listening to my every word, her distress clearly visible. The sun glints off my wedding ring, and words that Mo had spoken come back to me. ‘Queen Bee’.It may not have been my priority over the past—goodness, it’s been barely more than twenty-four hours, it seems far longer than that—but I am married to Demon. With that comes responsibilities. Although I had thought I’d be eased into them, maybe I need to step up while Demon tries to save his club. I might not be good at firefighting, but I can at least see to the women.

“Mo, the girls have nowhere to go, and they can’t do anything here. Can they come over to yours? At least for a coffee or something? They’re in shock and distressed.” I glance up at the sky. “Looks like a storm’s coming and we can’t go back inside.”

There’s no hesitation. I smile and nod, raising my chin at Bella. The look of relief on her face is precious. As I end the call, Titsy calls out, “Thanks for thinking of us.” Her pleased smile suggests my unexpected action is welcome.

Dan has also been eavesdropping. “You stay here, Vi. I’ll go check with Demon. But I can’t see any reason why not. You want to be with Theo, and there’s nothing you can do here.” Now Angelino’s presumably been put out of action, I can’t see why Demon wouldn’t agree, and this is the fastest way to get to my son. I eye the darkening clouds gathering, hoping we’ll be able to get going before the monsoon comes.

It’s not the prospect who reappears, but Demon. I stand and wait. I’m feeling awkward, suddenly realising I’d slept with him, married him, got taken, almost got raped, learned things about my father I still don’t believe are true, and last but not least, am the cause of the destruction of his club. As he approaches I look down at my feet, unsure of what expression I’ll see on his face.I’ve caused so much trouble.

He draws me into his arms, cradling my head with a hand so large it spans all of my skull. As my cheek rests against his cut I feel like I’ve come home.Despite all the sounds still going on around us, he seems in no hurry to release me. Perhaps words aren’t necessary. If he blamed me for everything he wouldn’t be holding me this tenderly. My arms snake around his waist; I’m holding onto him, too. It must be a couple of minutes before he starts speaking.

“Fuck, Vi. With the worry about Theo, the race to get back, the damage to my club, I just need one moment to get my head back on.” His words are spoken quietly and murmured into my ear. “I’m as proud as fuck that you’re thinking like my old lady. After the way I failed you, everything that happened—I’m so damn fucking proud of you.”

I pull back.He failed me?I go to tell him there’s no way he’s responsible, but he hasn’t finished.

“Vi, you’ve got my back, haven’t you? Good call on arranging to get the girls out of here.”

I realise dissecting what’s happened and how it affects us will need to come later. Now’s not the time. “Will we be able to come back?” I lean slightly so I can look up into his face.

Aware that ears are listening, again he speaks quietly, “On that I’m not sure, yet. The fire’s not out, but we’re winning on that front. Will have to assess the damage after we’ve dealt with the danger from that.”

“You calling the firefighters?”

He chuckles softly, and not very nicely, “Got some trash to move first. Luckily, way out here, they’ve not come to investigate.”

I shudder. By ‘trash’ I take it he means the bodies. “How many…?”

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