Page 128 of Devil's Due

As his chuckles and footsteps fade, I slap Steph gently on the ass, mindful she’s feeling tender. “Come on, babe. Better get down to the party. You have to make the entrance as the VP’s ol’ lady.”

“Guess I am at that.” Her eyes widen. “Not what I expected when I was relocated to Pueblo.”

“Not what I expected to find here, either,” I tell her truthfully, a moment of seriousness descending. “But you know what? Getting a kick up the backside to come to this club, when all I wanted was to stay in my rut. Finding you, filling a spot where Pueblo needs me; those are the reasons it wasn’t my time when Satan closed the door in my face.”

She’s equally solemn. “I would be dead if you’d died.”

Too much. I choke up, so need to change the tone. Trying to sound lighter than I’m feeling, I tell her, “Time to party.”

Turns out Pueblo boys know how to throw a patch over party every bit as good as the Tucson brothers can. We drink, laugh, talk and even dance to some old shit playing on the ancient jukebox Ink had found after their old one had been destroyed. Steph stays by my side as she should, until it gets too much. She might not be able to see Breezy getting fucked by Ink and Pyro, but as they’re not being quiet about it, she can hear well enough.

While she takes Max upstairs and out of the den of iniquity, Demon comes up.

“We’re going to make a great team, Beef. Difference between you and Thunder? You’re not going to be afraid to tell me when I’m being an asshole.”

“That,” I point my beer bottle toward him, “you can depend on.” As he laughs, my lips press together. “I’ll do the best I can, Prez,” his title now falls from my lips easily, “but I still don’t know if I’m the right man.”

His chin dips then rises. “Same doubts as I had when Hell stepped down. Fuck, still not sure I’m right to sit at the head of the table. But I reckon doubts are good in a man. Means we’ll keep trying to be better. And, Beef, have faith in yourself. You’ve given your all, fuck, damn near your life, for this club. You’re due some payback, Beef. You’re fuckin’ due.”

I’m still shaking my head as he drains his beer and tells me he’s going home to his wife.Is he right?I’ve never been one to think life owed me anything at all.

Maybe it’s those of us who don’t expect much, happy to be the grunts doing the heavy lifting without complaint, that finally get recognised and given their deserve.

Makes it special, that’s what. As brothers come and go, greeting me with the VP title that sounds strange falling off their lips and heading in my direction, I know it’s going to take more than a minute to get used to it.

Me. A fuckin’ VP.Andsoon to be a married man.

What more could I want?

Nothing at all.

Epilogue

“Yeah, show him what you’re made of, VP!”

A collective groan as Rock gets in a lucky punch, followed by a cheer as I get in one of my own. Just as I’m expecting the third round to end with us showing we’re evenly matched, Rock makes an error, and my fist to his jaw sends him down just as the final bell rings to loud shouts and hollers.

I help him up, then Demon jumps into the ring and holds my arm in the air. “Winner is our VP.”

“As it should be,” shouts Pyro. “Show Tucson what they lost.”

I step down, followed by Rock who’s rubbing his jaw, but there’s no real damage done. He’s got a rueful grin on his face. “Lucky shot there, Brother.”

I snort. “Lucky, my ass. You’re going soft.”

Rock puffs up his chest. “Feel that,” he instructs.

“Nah, not feeling you up, Rock. But I can barely see your muscles at all.” I wink at him.

“I need a fuckin’ drink.” He slings his arm over my shoulder, and we walk across to the clubhouse.

Once we’ve got beers in our hands, Rock nods toward the women who keep well away from our regular bouts in the ring. “I like her for you, Beef.” His eyes shutter. “Miss the fuck out of you, Brother. Kind of got used to seeing your ugly mug, feels a loss when it’s not there.”

I miss him too. I know him so well, I know I don’t need to say the words. “Here’s good for me, Rock.”

“I can see that. Got your VP patch, and a good woman too.”

I raise my chin. “How’s Becca?”

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