Page 26 of Devil's Due

“Beaver?”

“Yeah, it’s his fucking surname, would you believe?”

Poor man.

“Settled in, Beef?” Jay plops herself at her man’s side and snags a piece of his pizza.

As I’ve just taken a mouthful of my own, I simply raise my chin in reply. A burst of laughter catches my attention. Hellfire, the president who’s just abdicated, is holding court by the bar with Buzzard, the treasurer, and Rusty and Bomber, two other old-timers. At the other end, clanking beer bottles together, are Sparky, the road captain, Ink and Lizard, and the newest patched in member Skull. Skull’s an interesting one, the gossip around the circumstances of how he got patched even reached Tucson. Hell thought he had evidence against him when Jayden went missing, tortured the shit out of him, but the kid couldn’t tell what he didn’t know. Left the club for a month to get his body healed and his head together. Surprised the fuck out of everyone when he returned, seemingly bearing no grudges. If he’s straight up, I’ve got a hell of a lot of respect for the man, but there has to be some doubt he’d want no retaliation. I’ll best keep out a careful eye. Some folks can wait for revenge.

Raising my head I can just see Cad, he’s taken over the right-hand end of the bar, and has computers and monitors set up there. Man’s so pale like the cadaver he was named for, looks like he never goes outside. Pyro’s talking to him. That’s all the brothers. I’ve met them before, spoken to all of them, fought beside them. I know them, but don’t reallyknowthem. A few are sending curious glances toward me. It goes both ways, takes time to learn all there is about someone. The head start I’ve got is that we’re all Satan’s Devils. We wear the same patch and have all been tried in the same way to earn it. Any man found wanting gets his ass kicked out the door. These men would already die for me, as I would for them. Takes a certain brand of man to put his life on the line for another.

Apart from Jay there are no old ladies around at the moment. With the exception of her and Pal, the few old ladies who belong to various Colorado members don’t live on the compound. Such a different vibe to Tucson. A welcome change, a return to the true biker life. Partying, drinking and fucking, without having to worry about falling over kids all the time. Yeah, this will suit me fine. Just got to get Sally off my back so I can fully immerse myself in the lifestyle, the one that I’ve chosen and want.

With a kiss to her man, Jay gets up and leaves. Looks like she only came to steal his food.

“You comfortable with the nomad patch, Beef?” Pal asks, then leans forward, and adds quietly, “Can see why Drummer sent you here. Good club, don’t get me wrong, but Demon’s not settled as the head of the table as he’s got no second to rely on. Unsettles all of us that no one is stepping up.”

Glancing around to confirm no one’s in ear shot, I murmur back, “No one suitable, or everyone just goddamn lazy?”

“Bit of both.” Pal grins suddenly. “I heard my name was thrown into the hat, but fuckin’ glad it wasn’t pulled out. Don’t want that kind of responsibility, or not just yet. I’m not stupid, looking as young as I do isn’t a good look on a VP.”

“You’re right there. But otherwise, I think you’d be a good choice.”

“Nah, just started life with my ol’ lady. Prefer to concentrate on doing that right for now. After you sort us here, Beef, do you know where you’ll go next?”

Straight back to Tucson.But Pal’s reminded me, I’m essentially a roving enforcer. Drummer can send me where he wants.

“Not aware other chapters have issues,” I tell him.

“There’s Utah.”

Hmm. Utah. Snatcher runs a tight ship. Only problem I can see is that none of us quite knows what goes on there.Shit. Drummer wouldn’t send me to find out, would he?Was that why he insisted I change the rocker? Nah. It was just so I could have as much time as I need and in case I outstay my welcome in Colorado.That’s why, isn’t it?

Chapter Ten

“Prez.” I raise my chin respectfully at the man sitting behind the desk.

Sliding his laptop to one side, Demon regards me with tired eyes. “We got the welcome out of the way, Beef, so let’s cut through this shit. You’ve got the nomad patch on your back. Why the fuck does Drummer believe he needs to send an enforcer to Colorado?”

He’s asked me out straight, no dancing around the subject. I scratch my head, debating whether to tell him the story Drummer and I concocted that conveniently skirts around the truth. I eye him for a moment, trying to get his measure. As he stares back confidently, I decide to be just as up front in return. “Don’t want to blow smoke up your ass, Demon. The answer’s as fuckin’ plain as the nose on your face. You’ve got a hole in your ranks.”

“Drummer thinks I’m leaving myself exposed.” Sitting back in his chair, he folds his arms across his chest.

“That’s about the way of it.” I lean forward. “You take a slide on your bike? Get caught up in something with the cops? Who’s going to step up and lead?”

“Thunder knows what has to be done.”

“Then you’re short of someone looking out for the safety of the club. Whichever way you look at it, Prez, you’re fucked. What’s Hellfire’s position?”

Demon presses his lips together. “Hellfire has stepped down. He carried this shit too long to want to take the gavel back. Yeah, in an emergency he’d be there to lean on, but his time’s come and gone.” As I go to speak he holds his hands up. “Not my choice, not the way I wanted it, but it’s water under the bridge now.”

“Hell must have been around your age when he got top spot.”

“He was.” Dark eyes flare. “Ain’t gonna fuck this up, Beef. You can report that back.”

“Let’s have no misunderstanding. Iknowyou’re not going to fuck up. Drummer’s point is you need a second to help you out and have your back. Without one, you’re exposed and that’s a weakness we can’t have. I know he’s not happy wearing the patch, but is Thunder pulling his weight?”

“No misunderstanding, you say? Okay, let’s show all our cards. No, he’s not. Oh, he sits in the right seat, but he’s constantly reminding me how much he doesn’t like it. He’s scared shitless of me taking that slide as you put it.”

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