Page 31 of Demon's Angel

The sultry tone gets me turning. “Hey, Breezy, how you doing?” Automatically my arm goes around the sweet butt’s waist, hugging her to me.

Moving around to my front, she places her hands on my chest. “Want some company tonight, Prez?” She licks her lips suggestively. “Titsy’s available if you want both of us. You know we know how to take care of you.”

She’s right. They do. But I make it worth it for them. It’s give and take. Citizens don’t understand the whores in the club, why they’re there of their own volition, thinking we must coerce them in some way or that they are so down on their luck they have nothing better to do. The ‘nothing better to do’ part is correct, but only as far as the girls are concerned. They are right where they want to be. They like to fuck, love sex. As long as they’re getting those needs met, they’re satisfied. They get food and a roof over their heads for doing what they enjoy. Are they all trying to become a biker’s old lady? Maybe, but more often I think not. A nice idea in theory, but in practice I believe it would be as hard for these girls to stick to one cock as it would be for the man they were snagging to keep to a single pussy. Who am I to blame them for that? As long as everyone’s clean and takes precautions, it’s satisfying all our healthy appetites, both ours and theirs.

“Well?” Breezy’s hands start inching slowly downwards. She isn’t trying to hide she’s reaching for my cock.

Covering her fingers with my own to halt their journey, I realise I’ve too much on my mind to pay the girls the attention they’re wanting. “Nah, sweetheart. Not tonight, okay? Maybe tomorrow.” I wink over her head to Titsy who’s watching our discussion with interest. “Got some shit to do,” I explain.

A brief flicker of disappointment, then she nods toward the bar. “Want me to get you a beer instead?”

“With a shot of Jack. Thanks, babe.” I nod over to the table where Thunder and Mace are sitting, indicating I’ll be joining them. Seeing me approach, the enforcer kicks out an empty chair with his foot.

“She settlin’ in?” As I sit, Thunder jerks his head in an upward direction in case I might not have a clue who he’s referring to.

“Seems to be. She’s had a fuckin’ hard day.” And isn’t that the understatement of the century. “She’s not up for a serious discussion, that will need to wait until the morning.”

He nods. “Understandable. Got that meet arranged next week, Prez. With Lucio Silvestri. Wednesday suit?”

My brows rise. “That’s quick.” My concern had been that the crime boss was going to make us wait.

The temporary VP shrugs. “Maybe he’s curious why we want to see him. You got any problem with going to his house?”

I’d have preferred neutral ground, but it takes guts to walk into a lion’s den. No sign of weakness in meeting him on his territory. If he thinks it will give him the upper hand, it won’t. “Nah. That’s okay, VP.”

“Christ, Demon. When you going to find a permanent second hand?” Thunder shakes his head.

“We’ve gone through this.” I rub the bridge of my nose. “Look, Bomb is the obvious candidate, but he doesn’t want it.” Mace is shaking his head and holding up his hands. I grin. “Okay, so Mace is cool with what he’s doing now.” My smirk widens as the enforcer makes a mock show of wiping his brow, then I grow serious again. “Ain’t moving Buzz, he’s too good with figures. Sparky’s too…”

“Flaky?” Thunder helpfully supplies.

“Yeah, with anything other than bikes or routes.” The sides of my mouth turn up again. “So who do you suggest?”

“If Rusty was in a civilian role, he’d be winding down for retirement.” Mace has got it in one. “Who does that leave? Pyro, Ink, Lizard…”

“Paladin, and of course, Hell or Skull,” Thunder lists.

“Hell would be my choice.”

“He would be mine, Mace. But he won’t take it; he’s given enough years to this club. Mo’s his focus now. As for Pal? He doesn’t have enough miles under his belt.” I don’t bother mentioning Skull. He’s only been patched in a couple of months.

“Pal would be good though. I like his way of thinking.”

If it wasn’t that I’ve also been impressed with the transfer from Tucson, I would be thinking Thunder was naming anyone just to pass on the new patch that doesn’t sit easy on his cut. But my vision is of someone older, someone who’s learned more of the ways of the world. Trouble is, with Pal, his youth shows on his face. Sure, could mean he’d be underestimated which in some circumstances could be a plus, but my VP needs an ability to step into my shoes when I’m not around to wear them. Not sure Pal’s there yet.

“Well,” Thunder resumes, seeing my dismissal of his suggestion without me having to say it, “look at it another way. You put me into this role permanently, where you going to get a sergeant-at-arms from?” He replaces his glass on the table, then sits back, his thumbs through the loops of his belt.

He’s made a good point. There’s not one brother still here that I don’t trust to put the club first. But a couple of months back I’d have said the same for Taser. Yeah, his betrayal blindsided us. Certainly made me wonder more about the rest of the men around me. Maybe that’s why I can’t see the man I’d want at my right hand, apart from Thunder. But he’s right, a sergeant-at-arms has his eye out for any risks coming for the club. No man could do it as well as him.

“Get a transfer in?”

“Boys won’t like that,” Thunder warns. “It’s a promotion opportunity. Should go to one of our lot first.”

“Anyone got their eyes set on being VP?”

Thunder shrugs. If someone threw their hat in the ring, maybe I’d consider them. But no one has. Like Thunder, no one wants to step up. Likewise, there’s been no noise about filling the sergeant-at-arms role, either.

Mace seems to have lost interest in filling officers’ posts. When Titsy approaches, answering a summons from his crooked finger, I understand why. He raises an eyebrow at Thunder, who nods. My shot glass might be empty; my bottle of beer isn’t. As the two men rise and walk off with the club girl, I sit back to finish my drink, while contemplating how easy life is here. We understand each other without having to use words much of the time. We’ve melded together and formed a family. A strange one at times, but one which isn’t driven by the rivalry that comes from blood siblings you have to accept. This is a family of brothers who’ve chosen each other. We don’t let anyone join without a unanimous vote, nor without serving their time.

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