Page 1 of Devil's Contract

One

Devil

Walking out into the muggy evening, I stop before I get to the driveway and take a moment to listen. With the life I'm living, it's extremely important I know what's going on at all times. When I'm sure the only thing out here with me are the cicadas and lightning bugs that are making their presence known, I continue the short trek over to where my bike is parked. My boots scuff along the gravel, and I slow my roll as I reach into my jeans pocket, fishing around for the lighter I carry. Once my fingers wrap around it, I pull it out, flipping it over and over.

When I get to my bike, I grab the Marlboro hard pack I keep in the saddlebags for emergencies, and fuck if this isn't an emergency. Sundays are for church in more ways than one. Before I can think about it any further, a voice stops me in my tracks.

"Devil, you forgot your package."

Daniela.

My wife, holding up the manila envelope filled with the paperwork I've been looking at for the past three days. Turning around, I jog over to where she's standing. "Thanks, baby." I give her a grin, reaching up to grab it out of her hand.

She playfully holds it out of my reach, since I'm standing below, and she's on the porch steps. "What would you do without me?"

This is a simple question to answer. "Leave shit everywhere all the time. I'd walk around without pants on, I'd get to places without the shit I was supposed to bring with me. If it weren't for you, hell, I probably wouldn't even leave the house. Thanks for bringing this out." I stand on tiptoe and wrestle it away from her. "See you when I get home?" She nods, and I lean forward to take the kiss I always want from her lips. "Might be a little late, I got a thing to do after church."

She rolls her eyes. "You always have a thing to do after church, but I'll be here waiting for you."

"See ya." I throw over my shoulder as I turn around and head for my bike.

Opening the saddlebags, I stuff the manila envelope in, and then light the cigarette I'm holding between my lips. Hitching my leg over the bike, I settle into the seat and start the engine. In the distance, the sun is setting. It's showing off, highlighting the sky in oranges and pinks. Such a juxtaposition to everything going on around us.

Without a doubt - war is coming - and there's absolutely nothing we can do to stop it.

When I pull into the clubhouse for the Saint's Outlaws, I'm surprised to see I'm one of the last. Although I'm early, it seems like every single member tonight had the same idea. Parking in between Thunder and Bull, our resident twins, I put the kickstand down and hurry inside.

Once there, I wave at everyone, shouting hellos and grabbing something to drink, along with a snack. We're about twenty minutes away from the meeting. I don't get involved in any of the conversations as I make my way around the room, instead I listen, noting everything happening. I finally have a seat, and Dime, one of my best friends, sits next to me. "You're late compared to everyone else."

"I know." I put a cheese cube in my mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "I was even early. Why is everyone on time today?" I should know this since I'm the Prez, but I let most of the guys do what they prefer. I have a reputation for a no-nonsense leader, but also as one of the guys. I pretend I don't know everything that's happening, but I do.

"Word has it there might be an announcement tonight from the charter club." He says the words in a tone that says he doesn't believe I don't know what's happening.

My adrenaline pumps as I glance around and lower my voice. This may be what I've been waiting for. "What kind of announcement?"

He cuts his eyes over at me. "I'm the treasurer. I find out shit when you decide to tell me. I haven't heard anything, so I can't tell you for sure. How's the wife?"

"She's good." I take a drink of my beer, my gaze traveling around the room. The truth of the matter is, I don't know what the charter club is going to announce. I, of course, agreed that tonight would be a good time for them to show up, but I'm as much in the dark as the rest of them. "Trying to figure out a way she can get me to say yes to getting an above ground pool, but I'm a busy man. The garage is booming, and all the other shit we've got going on." I inhale deeply, letting the nicotine wash over my body, calming my heart rate, settling me down.

"Yeah, I don't see us getting any less busy anytime soon."

I'm about to agree when Ghost comes out of the dorm he uses when he's here. "My man, let's walk before church." My stomach drops, because I don't know what this is about. I don't appreciate being surprised, and this whole thing? It's a big one. I've been the president of this chapter since my father-in-law stepped down. He started it when he was twenty-five. The day he turned fifty he decided he wanted to hang up his president patch, and I was voted in, even though I'd only been a full-fledged member for a short period.

I give Dime a wave before I swing my legs around and exit the clubhouse alongside Ghost. "Is there something I should know about? Seem to be some rumors." I measure my steps so that they're even with his.

He takes a drag off his cigarette before tossing it on the ground and crushing the glowing tip with the heel of his boot. "There's been some chatter."

Ghost is tight-lipped as fuck, and it looks as if I'm gonna have to pull whatever this out of him. "What kind of chatter?"

He glances behind his shoulder. I've never seen him this nervous before, and it bleeds into my own anxieties. "There's talk that Laurel Springs PD is trying to infiltrate us. Have you noticed anything? Heard things that just don't sound right? Seen people hanging around who shouldn't be? If this is true, it's going to make things difficult for us. You know that. Things have been hanging by a thread since The Moonshine Task Force became The Laurel Springs Emergency Response Team."

My heart pounds in my chest, but I keep my face passive. There's always a threat to us. This is no different from anything else we've already faced. "You know, all of that was before my time, but I do. I tend not to worry about shit until I have to. You know that about me."

"Yeah." He comes to a stop, forcing me to as well. "And that's what worries me about this charter, Devil. You don't seem to realize the depth of what this could mean for us all. I need you to be all in, to think about the charter club as much as you think about the chapter. "

I give him a carefree, but sure smile. "Look man, I do. I know exactly what it could mean. We're doing shit that could put us all away for a long while. I ain't lookin' to leave my wife, or this life I've built. I'll protect it with the blood flowing through my veins. I hope I've proven that to you. If not? Then watch me."

He gives me a look. "That new house you and Dani just built. It's got to bring attention to us."

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