Page 68 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

I sigh. “She’s good. Well, as good as can be. And the baby’s doing okay.”

“That’s great, Brother.” Dart grins at me.

I raise my chin, then thinking now’s a good a time as any, give them the rest. “Looks like they’ll be keeping her in until the baby’s born. I’ve decided I’ve got to step down. I can’t be sergeant-at-arms while I’m spending all my time at the hospital with my ol’ lady.”

“I expected this.” Lost doesn’t seem perturbed. “Just comes at the wrong fuckin’ time. We’d already agreed Niran would step up in your place.”

“Yeah.” I frown. “I’ve had words with him. He won’t be fixed any time soon.” If he can ever ride a bike again. “We both propose Pennywise step up.”

“Whoa, Brother.” Pennywise looks startled. “Hey, I’m just along for the ride.”

“It’s about time you started paying your way.” Salem glares at him. “It’s not all fun and games, Brother.”

Pennywise gives Salem his finger, then a serious expression comes over his face. “I’m a sniper, a darn good one even if I say so. I’m used to acting independently and looking out for myself. It’s not the same as watching out for the club. Especially with what we might have coming our way.”

“Who else have we fuckin’ got?” Salem asks, adding, “No disrespect, Brothers.”

“None taken,” Bones says with either a sniff or a snort, it’s hard to tell. “I’m not cut out to be sergeant-at-arms.”

“Nor me.” Kink shrugs. “But when you want enemies tied up, I’m your man.”

I snort, I can’t help myself.

“Me? I’m an artist. A lover not a hater,” Blaze states.

“I’m good with a pen,” Scribe puts in.

Token indicates his laptop. “Got no time, Brothers.”

Dusty sinks down lower in his chair and pulls his beanie down over his head.

“Whatcha all looking at me for?” Brakes widens his eyes. “I’m not doing that shit.”

Snips’ lips open. As eyes roll when they turn to him, he snaps his gummy mouth shut.

Lost shakes his head. “Deuce, Reboot, Wrangler and Keeper have barely patched in.”

“Hey,” Deuce nods at Reboot, “we’ve sat around this table longer than Niran.”

“You want it?” I ask.

“Fuck no.” They grin at each other.

“We need someone,” Dart says in a reasonable tone, his eyes focused on Pennywise. “And I, for one, think you’d do a great job.”

Pennywise lifts and lowers his shoulders. “Aw, fuck. I don’t know. But I’ll give it my all. I’m in. But…” he pauses, and looks around, “only until Grumbler’s got more time on his hands, or until Niran gets back.”

“Settled.” Lost bangs the gavel and looks at me. “Give him your patch after the meeting, eh, Grumbler?”

I nod, but it’s stiff. I was proud as fuck to be trusted by my brothers, who, despite what they say, could have done my job. It’s gonna hurt stepping back, but my family comes first.

“Now, getting back to the business at hand.” Lost pauses, and tugs at his short beard. “Duke, as we know, wasn’t in the fuckin’ clubhouse we blew up. I thought we’d gotten every damn one of them, but he, and one unidentified other, escaped by virtue of being out on a fuckin’ run. So far, none of our info experts have discovered where they’ve gone to ground.”

“You think he’s still after Saffie?”

The VP sits forward, answering Salem. “I’d say yes. In his eyes, she’s still his property, and in the eyes of the law, his fuckin’ wife. Taking her back was his big mistake. It brought down the wrath of the Devils. Can’t see how he’s just going to walk away and start a new life. And, as it turns out, she was his meal ticket.”

“But surely, he thinks she’s dead?” Blaze looks confused.

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