Page 3 of Demon's Angel

A glance at my face shows there’s no point in her again denying it. Instead, she focuses on offering absolution.

“Dave, I’m a grown woman. My life has nothing to do with you.” She sips her coffee again. “After Nathan died, I moved on. As you said, I ended up in New York. Okay, so yeah, I was settled and happy. Got my degree and the dream job. Shared an apartment with a girl friend. Then, my roommate found a man and moved out. It became a bit of a struggle, rents being what they are, but I was managing. Meant I couldn’t save, though.” Her hand smooths back her hair which has dropped over her face. “So when the axe fell and the company had to cut jobs, last in, first out, you know how it goes. Well, I hadn’t any funds behind me, couldn’t afford to stay in New York, so I came back here.”

“You working in Pueblo?”

Her eyes close briefly. “Couldn’t find much, took shifts as a barista while I was searching for something where I could use my skills. Then…” Her nod at the stroller tells me all I want to know. “Well, he wasn’t in the cards when I first came back.”

I do the math. Nine months pregnant, five months born. Fifteen months? She’s been here for that long and I hadn’t known it?

Sending up a belated apology to Nathan for having neglected her, I continue my inquisition. “You living with your folks?”

A blank look, then a nod, a half-smile. I raise and dip my head in return. At least she’s not on her own. Whatever the situation, her parents are decent enough and will look after her.See, Nathan? I’ve checked in. She’s fine. I won’t leave it so long next time. But she’s doing okay.

Both our coffee cups are empty. There’s a twitch from under the blanket in the stroller. Violet notices. “I’ve got to go.”

She wastes no time standing. I cover her hand with mine as she goes to manoeuvre the stroller.

“Here, Vi. Take my number. If you need anything, let me know.”

Looking more like she wants to refuse, but fast realising it’s easier to give in, she takes out her phone, which I notice is a cheap basic model. As I rattle off the digits, she taps them in. There’s no offer to give me hers in return, which, after the way this meeting has gone, doesn’t surprise nor bother me. I’ll get our computer guy, Cad, onto finding out all there is to know about her. Any secrets she’s buried, he’ll ferret them out.

I stay seated at the table as she disappears into the street. I hadn’t offered to escort her to her car, sensing she’d already found my presence too intrusive.

Instead, I take a moment to gather my thoughts.

I’d felt elation when I realised it was her, then sorrow at a reminder I’d been remiss in my duties. Pleasure that I had a chance to belatedly fulfil the promise I’d made to her brother, followed by disappointment when my pleasure hadn’t been reciprocated, then puzzlement at her attitude toward her baby and her reticence in providing any information. As my eyes watch her until she disappears from sight, I realise that young Violet has evolved into both a beautiful woman and a mystery to be solved.

Chapter Two

Demon

As prez, I, of course, head for my seat at the head of the table. While doing so, I glance around at all the filled seats, my eyes settling for a moment at the occupant of the chair at the opposite end to myself. He’s grinning, looking completely relaxed as he jokes with Rusty. The packet of cigarettes which would normally have been close to hand are nowhere in sight. Hellfire, the man who raised me, and the man who’d sat in the president’s seat until only recently, has made many changes in his life. Not least, stepping down from being president of the club.

The changes have been good for both him and my mother.

At first, I’d had doubts he’d be able to make a clean break. But after a couple of months in the top seat, I’m convinced there’s no way he’d say he made a mistake. In some ways I’m jealous he’s been able to walk away without looking back; only a madman would want to head up this particular asylum.

He catches me staring, raises his chin, and his mouth quirks. Yeah, Hellfire is happy being an ordinary member with no special responsibilities. Unlike myself. I carry everyone’s weight on my shoulders. I jerk my head back.My shoulders are broad, old man. I can take it.He grins and nods.Sure you can, son. I have faith in you.

As I allow the men around me to settle, my gaze stays fixed, watching the man who for thirty-five years I’d thought was my father. I’m still coming to terms with the fact he’s my brother instead. My father—his, too—was a rapist.

If it wasn’t that Hellfire was such a good man, I would be more disturbed about the bad blood running through my veins. But how could I let it worry me when all my life I’ve admired the man I still call father? That he’d killed my sperm donor long ago raises nothing other than satisfaction. One less thing I’d have had to deal with myself. Black Plate, Blackie,founder of the club, had met his demise the very night of my conception. A club vote, a patching in, and the new member had dispatched him to meet Satan. He’d rained hellfire down on the rapist, hence picking up his handle. Details I’d discovered only three months back.

Thunder, sitting to my left and looking uncomfortable, catches my eye, an unspoken question in his. I shake my head and receive a quick grimace of disappointment. Since I moved a step up at the table, changing my role from VP to prez, Thunder’s combining his sergeant-at-arms duties with those of being my second. He’s not held back on letting me know he has no desire to change roles permanently. Problem is, I don’t know who else I’d trust to be my VP. Time’s coming when we’ll need to vote on it, but to date, I haven’t come up with anyone who I’d propose.

Since we'd had to dispatch the traitor, Taser, trust has been sorely challenged in the club. None of us had expected a member to turn on his brothers. It’s hit us all hard, and the dust has yet to settle. All of us would have trusted Taser with our lives. Ingot, our previous enforcer who Taser had murdered, had paid for that conviction with his.

My reminiscence leads me to consider Skull, also at the opposite end of the table. While we were looking for the man who betrayed the club, circumstantial evidence had pointed to Runt, a prospect. He’d been questioned in the MC way. When all we’d gotten back were denials, the interrogation had become painful. For him, not us. We’d made an innocent man hurt. He’d left the club for a month while he sorted out shit in his head. To our surprise, he’d returned, wanting to be part of a band of brothers that took loyalty so seriously. We’d patched him in and, at his request, changed his handle. Runt came in as a prospect but Skull earned his place around this table. He seemed to appreciate the jokes that he had a hard head.

It had been a bad time, but we’re out on the other side. It means, though, I’m short a man wearing the VP patch.

As though he can pluck my thoughts out of my head, Thunder gives me a sharp nod of reassurance.No rush. Might not want it, but while you need me to step up, I have your back.

As the brothers settle, it’s time to get church underway. I bang the gavel, then point with it. “Buzzard?”

“Yeah.” The treasurer kicks off with his usual run through of the health of our various businesses. All’s looking good.

When he passes the ball to Paladin, I’m pleased to see the member who transferred from the Tucson chapter not much more than three months back handles himself well giving an update on our fledgling security business.

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