Page 113 of Devil's Due

“She gonna be alright?” Thunder asks, quietly.

“Sleeping. She needs it.”

“Drummer wants a word.”

I look back at the closed door undecided.If I leave her and she should wake, or have a nightmare…

“I can sit with her,” Thunder offers. “She knows me.”

“Call me the moment she wakes.”

He agrees.

Drummer and Wraith are sitting at a table in the bar, bottles of beer in front of them. At my approach, Drummer waves to a prospect who brings over another for me.

To pre-empt the question, I formulate the answer before it’s asked. Wiggling my hand in a ‘who knows’ gesture. “On the outside she’s fine. Inside? Hell, I haven’t even asked about the marshal being killed, or if that was in front of her. She’s got a lot to work through.”

“We found her, Beef. Just concentrate on that and that you’ll be there for her.”

“You claiming her officially, Brother?”

“Yeah, VP, I am.”

“So she’s under the Devils’ protection until she testifies. Stinger,” Drummer tilts his bottle in the direction of the table where the LA prez is sitting, “reckons the Warped Jokers are getting depleted—probably with the Soulz help—and those on the inside won’t last long without protection. After the trial, it should be safe for her to resume her old identity.”

I nod. That’s something we need to talk about. I don’t even know her real name. Something I need to find out is whether she’d want to resume her old life.Does she think my commitment to her is only until the court case is over?But I’ve got a few weeks before all this is over, and hopefully during that time I’ll make her see her life is with me.

“You want to get that nomad patch off your back, Beef?”

I tilt my head and raise my eyebrow.

“Come on home to Tucson? Girls would love to meet Stevie.”

Why isn’t my heart jumping for joy? Why even the slightest hesitation?“I don’t know, Prez. You gave me a job, and I haven’t done it.”

“Think we can give you a pass on why. You got dragged into your woman’s problems before you even arrived.” Wraith makes excuses on my behalf.

“Thing is,” I twist the bottle in my hands until I can pick at the label, “you’re right about Demon needing a VP. Thunder could step up, but he doesn’t want to, so, as you’ve seen for yourself, he’s a great guy to have at your back, but isn’t doing the role properly.”

“I’ll ask the other chapters. Maybe someone is ready to move on,” Drummer says, firmly.

“Already got that in hand, Prez.” Or I would have, had I not been so focused on Stevie.

“Thought you’d jump at the chance to come home. Oh, if you didn’t know, Sally’s taken the kids and gone back to her family. Tash is keeping in contact with her, and she seems to be alright. She’s even started dating. A regular guy, not one chosen by her folks.” Wraith laughs. “Think some of you rubbed off on her. She sent them packing when they tried to set her up.”

“Good to hear. I was hoping she’d find she was stronger than she thought when she didn’t have me to lean on. But that wouldn’t be keeping me away, Sally knows where I stand now. It’s just, you asked me to do something, Drummer, and I don’t like feeling I’m leaving Colorado high and dry.”

Drummer’s expression is unreadable. I can’t tell if he’s pleased or annoyed I’m not leaping at the chance to return to the fold. Then he barks a laugh. “Loyal to a fuckin’ fault, ain’t ya, Beef?”

Chapter Forty

The thought of what Stevie had gone through and the horrors I’m sure are running through her head keeps my cock flaccid, even though I hold her close in my arms all night. I’m so fucking scared of saying the wrong thing and upsetting her. All I want to do is have my face close to hers so when I inhale all I can smell is her.

Exhausted, she sleeps, while I stay awake, hundreds of thoughts going through my mind.Does she need counselling? Would it be safe for her to see someone?That would mean letting someone else in on her secrets, and I’m not sure that’s for the best. Reading between the lines, the Wretched Soulz are making a game of picking the Jokers off both on the inside and out, but there may still be some around. Until Mad Bull’s no longer breathing and pulling the strings, they’ll still be trying to stop her from taking the witness box. She’ll still have to stay in hiding.

Maybe Demon would know someone trustworthy. My lips curve as I think of the surprise she’ll find when she gets back to Colorado, a yard where she can walk freely, perfumed flowers that will grow and be there for her to enjoy.But she won’t be there long enough to see them bloom.Neither will I. While we’re waiting for the court case I’ll get in touch with Red and Snatcher, see if I can get that new VP for Demon. Then, I can go home.

I never thought a new set of brothers would come close to those I’d left behind, but somehow they’ve crept inside. I’d call all of them friends. My lips curve as I think of their reaction to seeing Stevie. Yeah, no regrets that I turned down Drummer’s offer to go back to Tucson. There’s no rush, and with everything she’s been through, at least she won’t be overwhelmed by strangers.

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