Page 38 of Demon
As he stepped inside, he noticed that everyone was standing.This was what he’d been afraid of.Doing what he knew was right, but not doing it the right way, was going to cost him the brotherhood he loved.But if Ronnie proved to be even half the woman he knew she was, then he was making he right choice.
“We’ve come to a decision,” Tuck said, his voice somber as he stood beside the huge carved table where they held all the club meetings, meetings that he’d only rarely been party to as a prospect, hands behind his back in a position similar to Demon’s.It looked like now he would never have his own seat at the table.His chest ached, but a certainty deep in his belly told him he was doing the right thing for him.He couldn’t help the relief knowing he didn’t have decisions for the entire club on his shoulders.
“We’re going to need your kutte,” Sadist said from where he stood beside Tuck.
Demon took a deep breath, then pulled his things from the pocket of his kutte, his wallet, cell phone, a couple of business cards and shoved them in his jeans pockets, before shrugging out of the leather vest that had become much like a second skin in the last year.He folded it carefully, with the same respect he would show if it were still his, then handed it to Ruger.
“I’m sorry about this,” Ruger said, taking the folded kutte and tucking it under one arm.“I tried to talk them out of it.”
Demon frowned, but quickly dismissed it along with the soul deep ache at what he was losing.If he could get Ronnie clear of the shit after her, then it would all be worth it.“Can I pack my shit and move out later?I want to get back to the house and make sure things are clear on Ronnie.I swear I’ll get my shit out of here as soon as I’ve got her clear.”What he didn’t say was that if he didn’t get her clear, he wouldn’t be back.He didn’t know where he would be, but it wouldn’t be here.It wouldn’t be anywhere near here if he couldn’t make sure she was safe.
Tuck shook his head.“We’ve got a couple of things we need to address before you can leave.”
Demon resumed the at-ease position he’d become comfortable in after his years in the Marines.He let his gaze flick between the three men in front of him as he did his best to hide his impatience.If they weren’t going to have his back, then he needed to get out of here so he could reach out to other connections in town to get shit done.He still had a few connections from growing up, even if they weren’t his first choice.If they would help him keep Ronnie safe, then he was willing to do a lot.
“First, we have the issue of the dress code,” Tuck said, as if he was warming up for a good lecture.
“Dress code?I’m not sure I got a copy of that,” Demon said, not bothering to hold back his witty come backs now that they’d taken his prospect kutte.What more did he have to lose?
“You were told, and until now, I don’t think you’ve ever been outside of dress code.”Tuck paused a moment.“Sadist, remind him of the dress code.”
“Happily.”Sadist turned to address Demon.“No member or prospect of the Demented Souls is to be in this room, in the presence of club officers, without his colors.”
Demon scowled.There was something up here.Tuck was going to chew his ass for not wearing his kutte, when they’d just told him to take it off?He held his tongue.While he knew there were exceptions, he got the feeling that the best response here was to stay quiet and see where they were going with this.
“You know, this is more fun when someone argues.”Tucks shoulder’s dropped.“We voted on patching you in almost three weeks ago.I’ve been waiting to let you know until this came in.”He pulled a new kutte from behind his back.“It came in a few days ago.Dumbass and Jailbait have been working on putting together a patch party for you, but I think you need this sooner rather than later.”He extended the kutte toward Demon.
Demon looked down at the leather vest for the first time.It was folded neatly, with the patches that would be on the left side of his chest on top.It took a moment for him to register that the patch with the road name of the owner read ‘Demon’.
He stared at it for several seconds then looked up at Tuck.He met the other man’s gaze for a few seconds, then flicked his attention to Sadist, Ruger, and Gizmo in turn.
“I thought blowing my cover and making decisions on my own like this was going to cost me my colors.I thought I was done here.”
“I know what you thought.I’m happy to say that’s not the case.You were a full patched member, even if you weren’t aware of it yet.That changes how things are handled a bit.”Tuck clapped one hand on Demon’s shoulder.
“Our discussion once you stepped out, which I’ll remind you, none of us asked you to do, wasn’t about whether or not to cut you loose,” Sadist spoke up.“We discussed whether or not to give you this now, and how to best back you up.This is important to you, so it’s important to us.”
“I don’t care if it matters to you because of principle or if it’s all about the woman.We’re here for you.”Tuck pulled him into a one-armed hug, then released him.“Welcome to the brotherhood.We expect you around the table next time we meet.”
Demon didn’t know what to say, so he nodded.
“Personally, I hope it’s about the girl, but I understand if it doesn’t work out,” Ruger said.“Now, we need to figure out exactly how this is going to work.This is the best chance we’ve had in years to finally take down my father-in-law.”
Demon hesitated to ask, not wanting to stir up something better left untouched, but it had to be asked.
“How will Krissi feel if we target him?”Demon needed to know if this was going to cause problems in the club.
“She’ll be glad he’s off the streets.She’s talked to him maybe twice since we got together, and neither time was by her choice.Saying they don’t get along is an understatement of epic proportions.”
The others chuckled, as if they’d heard that before.Demon looked from one brother to the next in turn.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
20
“What’stheplan?”Gavinasked after Demon had left.
“I’m going to take a quick shower and get dressed, then we can head into the office.”
