Page 125 of Devil's Due

“We had a great time,” she responds to the president’s old lady. “It felt amazing to just let go and enjoy everything.”

I look around. Beaver’s behind the bar, and I saw Karl outside cleaning bikes. There are no members around. Which is strange, as it’s only an hour or so before our meeting.

“Where is everyone?”

“Church.” Vi seems unconcerned at her announcement that makes my face tighten.

Church?I take out my phone and look at it. Nope. I’m not late.

“They’ve been in and out of meetings all day,” Vi continues.

What?Shit. Has something happened while I’ve been out having fun?If so, it’s not something the prez’s old lady knows about as she’s happily playing with her son and doesn’t look worried at all. She builds up a stack of blocks, and a giggling Theo knocks them over, the game seems to be on repeat.

Leaning over I kiss Steph quickly. “I better get in there.” With half of me wondering whether I’ve been directly excluded as I’m not part of the club—a thought which I find more painful than I would have expected—I make my way to the meeting room. Ever since arriving in Pueblo I’ve been treated as nothing other than an equal member.

My fist hovers in the air.Should I knock?Nah, I’ll just walk in. They can tell me to get lost if they don’t want me there.

“Ah, Beef. Come in.”

“Sorry if I’m late.”

Demon shakes his head. “Nah. We just met early to discuss a couple of things. Wasn’t necessary to call you back from your ride.”

As I thought. Discussing things which didn’t include me. Well, I’m not part of this club, they can do what they like.

“What else did RIP say?” Hell leans forward, continuing a discussion I must have interrupted.

RIP? My eyes sharpen. What have the Wretched Soulz been contacting Demon about?

“As soon as the Warped Jokers are in the general population, Mad Bull and his VP will be taken out. The Soulz have got a guy in there who’s got nothing to lose. He’s up for a bit of fun. The others will be given a warning. Drop any action against Stephanie North or they’ll go the same way.”

Now that’s information I needed.

“I was waiting for you to impart that, Beef. Good news for your girl.”

It is. I nod.

“So, let’s get this meeting started now that Beef’s here. Buzz?”

Buzzard runs through the normal stuff. Bottom line, we would like more dollars coming in, but are balancing the books. I zone out a little as I had when I first arrived. This isn’t my club, as this afternoon has reminded me. What do I care about their new tattoo parlour if I’m not going to see it in operation? Apart from Steph’s tat, of course, still got to get that done. Yeah. My mind’s off thinking about my handle inked on her skin, when Demon says my name. When I come back to myself and see his face, I realise it might not have been for the first time.

“You got anything you want to share, Brother?”

Yes. I have. I sit forward. “Yeah, I wanted to bring this up. I’m nomad, as you know, Drummer’s traveling enforcer. Drummer is worried that you still haven’t got a VP. Prez, Red might have a possible which I’m happy to follow up. Just a warning that if anyone here wants to throw their hat belatedly into the ring, now could be your last chance to do it. Otherwise an outsider will be coming to Colorado.”

There. Possibly should have told him I was bringing it up, but it’s time I played my part, as Drummer would expect.

“So I need a VP, do I?” It’s said in the prez’s deadly tone.

Maybe I should have been more circumspect, and not as direct as I was.Damn it. He’s taken it as a criticism in front of his men.

Well, it’s done now. Standing my ground, I shrug.

“And what you’re proposing is finding someone with the right skills and personality from outside the club?” He sounds icy.

I send an apologetic look toward Thunder. “You’ve a man acting as VP who doesn’t want to do it. You’ve others who could step up but won’t. So yes, I don’t see what other option you’ve got. What happened with Steph showed there’s a gap in your ranks. You need a permanent someone sitting on your left.”

Opposite me Bomber is smirking. Pyro chuckles softly and raises his eyebrows toward Ink. Judge is smiling and exchanging looks I can’t read with Wills. Mace has his hand over his mouth though I can see he’s amused as his shoulders are shaking. Thunder simply sits back and folds his arms while Cad looks smug.

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