Page 23 of Devil's Dilemma

“Cooking and babies.” Women shit in other words. But I’d enjoyed it well enough. I’d shared a few recipes.

He frowns for a moment. “Can you make sure you get on with Violet, Mel? Do me a favour and become her friend, will you?”

I glance at him strangely. “I’m hoping to get on with everyone. Why are you singling her out?”

“Oh come on, Mel. She’s the prez’s old lady. You get close to her, and you’ll be a shoe-in with the club. She’s the one you should keep on the right side of. Can’t tell you much, but before she came here, she had it rough. Reckon she could use a sympathetic ear from time to time.”

Oh. He’s starting to make sense.

“She’s our queen, Mel. Upset her, and it wouldn’t be good.”

I start to tell him I don’t intend to upset anyone, that I go out of my way to avoid things like that. At work, I’m usually the peacemaker. But I don’t get a chance, as Skull hasn’t finished.

“Making yourself indispensable, giving her a shoulder to lean on, well, that would probably count for a lot.”

Over the next couple of weeks, I try to do just that.

Remembering this is my opportunity to see if I could live his life, I spend most weekends at the clubhouse, but return to my own home during the week. With working, I like to follow the routine I’ve fallen into. Skull pops around between Monday and Friday and always ends up staying the night, but we don’t officially move in together, even though he alludes to us doing so in the near future.

Skull and I don’t refer to our accident again. As time goes on, I feel no different, and after a couple of weeks, nature runs its normal course, letting me know I’m not pregnant. I feel slightly disappointed. Skull, when I tell him, just nods. Whatever he feels he keeps hidden.

What seemed to have gotten to Skull most, however, hadn’t been the fact we might have started a family, but that his reaction had given me cause to question his commitment. Since that day he’s been going out of his way to make sure I feel loved and wanted.

Sometimes I’m embarrassed by his show of affection in front of the other members and women, but secretly I’m pleased that he’s not trying to hide our relationship. It amuses me that this strong biker isn’t ashamed to declare his love for me publicly, if not with words, then by the kisses and caresses.

I suppose it was a little test for him when I asked if he’d like to meet my parents. Like any man, it didn’t seem a suggestion he found thrilling, but he had the right answer. “Anything for you, babe,”he’d replied.

So we drove one Friday to Denver and spent the night there, my mom putting us in separate bedrooms which Skull accepted without complaint. He acted politely enough, refrained from overt PDAs, and chatted to my father. Before we’d left, Mom pulled me to one side.

“Not thrilled about what he does, Melissa, but he’s pleasant enough. Seems to hold you in high regard and is respectful. We won’t stand in your way if you’ve found what you’re looking for.”

“I think I have Mom.”

“Then you have our blessing.”

After hugs and goodbyes, Skull and I make our return trip to Pueblo and resume our routine.

Friday nights I drive to the club with a weekend bag beside me, nowadays arriving feeling pleasure at being here instead of afraid, occasionally remembering the first time I was let in the gate and had parked my car at the rear of the compound. Now I’m more likely to greet the prospect with a friendly wave and join in the ribbing when someone gets out shot when they go target shooting. It doesn’t bother me at all when they come in putting rifles I’ve not once seen used in anger away.

Club members and women have all been so welcoming, genuinely pleased to see me each time I’ve arrived. More often than not they show they’ve adopted Skull’s shortening of my name, and I feel it’s like they’re accepting me. The only females I don’t have much time for are the sweet butts, but they stay out of my way, and I out of theirs.

This evening, like so many others, I spend time helping in the kitchen alongside the other women. We’re all good at multi-tasking when it comes to cooking a meal and talking. My contribution tonight are apple pies, and knowing how much the men like them, I make extra.

Skull snatches me away after we’ve eaten, and we make love, tonight so tenderly. It’s after, when we’re snuggled up together that he asks a question.

“Saw you talking with Vi, earlier. What did you discuss?”

“Theo’s new tooth,” I say fast, smiling as I remember the way he’d toddled over to me and proudly showed me his mouth, his chubby finger pointing to the new addition.

Skull stiffens. “Nothing else?”

“What do you mean?” I’m confused. I recall he’d asked me to get close to the president’s wife, but what better way could there be than to show an interest in her son? It’s not contrived, either, I’m growing to love that sassy little boy. I’d even offered to babysit for her if she ever needed someone. Not that she has a shortage of volunteers, but she’d accepted with genuine pleasure. I feel I’m doing exactly what he wanted.

“You’re missing your chance, Mel. Look, I want us to be together. Permanently. Which means you need to understand the club from a woman’s point of view. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns. You have a laugh with the women? Cook in the kitchen? Play with the kid? That’s fine as far as it goes. But there’s a darker side to an MC, and you’ve got to know you can live with it. If you can’t accept everything, the good, the bad and the downright ugly, well, you’re not going to make a good old lady.”

I hadn’t thought about that. I know the Satan’s Devils have a reputation, but from what I’ve seen, they’re about nothing more than their legitimate businesses. Sure, they play hard too, sometimes, in my view, too much out in the open in the clubroom with the sweet butts, but that’s just their way of life. I, as a newcomer, have no say in it.

Now Skull’s suggesting that there is a side to the club I haven’t yet seen and that might not settle so well with me. Inside, I feel a trickle of fear. What is it he’s alluding to, and should I try to find out? Before I get in any deeper. Who am I kidding?

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