Page 9 of Demon's Angel

Maybe if it hadn’t been for my background, the event of my conception coinciding with my rapist father being dispatched to meet Satan, I might have been inclined to turn everything over to the authorities from the beginning. Two things stop me. I’m the president of the Colorado chapter of the Satan’s Devils; we have no time for the citizen world. The other? Nathan, on his first tour overseas, had entrusted the care of his little sister to me. I’d clearly let both him and her down by assuming all was rosy in her world.

If she wanted to give up her kid, then that’s what I’d help her to do. But I’d do it my way and according to my rules.

As a baby’s high-pitched cry reaches us, Hellfire and I stand at the same time. He holds the door open. By the time I’ve stepped out, the baby is already being held in Jay’s clearly capable hands, and a pacifier placed in his mouth. Almost on Dan’s heels are Breezy and Tulia, who are coming in carrying bags. Immediately, equipment I’ve never seen before in my life is being placed upon the bar. Jay, baby competently snuggled in one arm, is examining what’s emerging from the bags as if ticking off a mental list. Stepping closer I see bottles, formula, and something which apparently is called a steriliser. Not that I could recognise it; I just read the label.

While I was debating with Hell, Jay’s obviously got down to the practicalities and has had the club girls go out to get what she knows she needs. I exchange a rueful grin with Hell, then chuckle as I see what the club girls are wearing, wondering what the kids’ store thought of that pair turning up, dressed more for twirling around a stripper pole than for taking care of a baby.

I then catch Liz’s eyes widening as he quickly turns away, seeing Breezy and Tulia fawning a little too much over the kid. Hmm. Think there’ll be more than one man doubling up on condoms tonight.

Violet will be here any minute. I want to keep her off-balance, at least until I know what’s going on. “Jay?” As she turns, I point to the kitchen. “Can you take the baby out of sight?”

“Sure, Demon.” With a nod, asking no questions, she does. We’d all had our doubts about her at first, mainly down to her tender age of seventeen. But we have none now. She’s turning out to have the makings of a great old lady.

Chapter Four

Demon

“Let me go! What are you doing? Who are you? Where have you brought me?” Violet’s shrill voice echoes around the clubroom which has gone silent as Wills brings her through the doorway. All eyes are on the woman who, as everyone knows, abandoned her baby.

I signal Dan. He nods. He goes over and takes her from the other prospect, leaving Wills free to come to me.

His face is grim. “She’s not once mentioned the baby. Not one fuckin’ word.”

“Did you ask her anything about him?”

“Thought you’d want to do that yourself. I, er, I had to restrain her, Prez. She was trying to jump out of the car.”

He’s right. I do want it to be me who asks her. I nod at his other comment too. I’d have been more surprised had she gone with someone she didn’t know calmly. I dismiss him. Our exchange has only taken a second, yet seems to have confirmed my worst suspicions. I gather the resolve to go over to her, this woman who no longer deserves to have a special place in my heart by virtue of being Nathan’s sister. She’s now the woman who I believe has let his memory down. I wait a moment before approaching, analysing the glances being thrown her way. Some are scornful, some curious, some outright disgusted. Then I look over to see she’s managed to get free, turning and attempting to get out the door, only to be secured in the prospect’s strong, unyielding arms. Her hands, I notice, are zip-tied, and even across the distance between us, I see angry red welts have already appeared from her struggles.

Her pains are nothing to what her abandoned baby could face in his future, or, as far as she knows, could be suffering even now. Feeling no sympathy, I step forward, at last bringing myself into her line of sight.

She immediately stills. Her eyes widen in shock, then relief. “Oh, thank God! Dave!”

Her heartfelt cry makes me realise Wills, not knowing our relationship, probably didn’t see fit to enlighten her as to where she was being taken, or to whom. She may not have even realised she was in the company of a biker. The prospect, quite rightly, would not have been wearing his cut in a cage. But in light of her crime, the thought that for all she knew she was being kidnapped doesn’t worry me at all. One thought of her baby and what his future might have held has turned my heart to stone. Even if he had been cared for, it wouldn’t have been by his mother.

“Untie her hands, Prospect.”

“Dave!” As soon as she’s free, she throws herself at me. I stand, arms at my sides. After a second, I put my hands on her biceps and hold her at arm’s length. Her face, which had brightened at seeing what she believed was a friendly face, slowly pales. “Dave?” This time, my name is a question.

“We need to talk.”

I turn. I hope she’ll follow. If she doesn’t, one of the brothers will show her the way. Catching a view in the mirror above the bar, I see it’s Thunder and Mace who are encouraging her along. I lead her down the basement steps, unlocking the door at the bottom and stepping back to allow her to precede me inside.

She falters when her eyes fall on the workbenches scattered around, various tools laid out on their surfaces. Most belong to Mace, our enforcer. There’s a solitary chair in the middle of the room. As we were not expecting visitors, the customary plastic sheet is missing from beneath it. Whatever, it’s an unwelcoming space, and elicits my name from her lips again.

“Dave?” Her voice shakes.

“Sit.” My hand, firm but not ungentle, pushes her into the room. Even through the light touch, I can feel her trembling.

She moves, but remains standing, her hands rubbing one wrist then the other. “Dave? I don’t understand…”

“Demon,” I correct her. “My name’s Demon.”

Her eyes, looking behind me, catch those of my father, who’s followed us down. They widen in recognition. “Mr Black? Please, why am I here?”

With a quick shake of his head he corrects her, “Hellfire.” His tone is devoid of emotion. Of course, when she was hanging around with Nathan and myself, she only knew him by his government name.

“I’m Mace.” He may have politely introduced himself, but there’s nothing welcoming about the expression on the enforcer’s face. He turns to me. “You want me go make her sit?”

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