Page 95 of Demon's Angel

“You keep telling me, Demon, that I have to act as your second-in-command. Well, how about you let me get on with the fuckin’ job? You’re stressed about Vi, hell, deserve to be. She was one step away from being raped from what I heard. Saved her, yeah, but she needs you, man.”

Red, walking past, overhears. “You know what they say about too many cooks, Demon? Well, that probably goes for MC presidents too. More than enough of us here. Take a time-out, you need it.” When Thunder slaps my back and walks off, brushing off my grunt of appreciation, Red leans in and adds, “Take a break. You’ve been living on adrenaline since your fuckin’ weddin’. Thunder’s right. You need some time with your wife and kid.”

I can’t just leave them, can I? “How’s Snatcher?”

“Snatcher’s fuckin’ fine.” I hadn’t seen the man himself was behind me. Swiftly I spin, noticing today he has more colour in his face and seems to be holding up well enough.

“Look, fuckin’ sorry about Thumper.”

He meets my eyes, nods, but there’s nothing else to say. No words can express the pain he’ll be feeling, losing one of his men, and no words of sympathy adequate from me.

“Red’s right. We can do without you here. Doesn’t look like your men need their hands being held.”

“If you’re sure?”

“They’re fuckin’ sure. Now, scat.”

Drummer’s bark makes it a complete order. Outside I find Pyro, obviously happy the fire has been beaten, as he’s with Wills. They’re picking up stricken motorcycles and assessing the damage.

A tow truck appears with one of our trusted civilian mechanics from the shop. I’m glad he’s acted fast and is looking to get us all mobile again. What good is an MC without its motorcycles?

He waves away my offer of help, saying he has extra hands coming along.

“You can trust them to keep their mouths shut?” This destruction, until we can get the place tidied up, is not going to help our reputation in Pueblo if someone with a loose mouth sees and starts describing the scene.

“I do, yeah. But I’ll slip some extra in their pay checks. That’ll do the job.”

Satisfied, I at last mount my bike with a sense of relief that everything appears under control. Duty had kept me at the clubhouse, but with Vi is where I really want to be. As I ride, I realise I’ve been pushing myself to the limits since the ride home from my wedding was disrupted. The attack on Lucio’s compound, the anxious wait to find where Angel was. While everyone had been worried, I’d had the additional burden of my personal concern about the woman I love, for twenty-five years as the sister of my friend, and more recently, as my wife.

She’s here. Angel won’t be a problem any more, and Theo is safe.That’s the mantra that goes around my head when I pull up outside the home where I grew up. I stay on my bike for a moment, the ticking of the cooling engine sounding loud. Even from here the house looks like a hive of activity, people milling around in the living room.

Unable to hold back from seeing my woman any longer, I throw my leg over the seat. Walking to the front door, I use my key to step inside.

Mo and Jeannie have the club girls working. Plates piled with food are coming out of the kitchen, but the person I want to see most isn’t in sight.

Hellfire walks toward me. “Update?”

“Fire’s out. Clean-up’s in progress as we speak. I don’t think there’s any structural damage, but Drummer has Viper coming to check that out. If he can get a seat, should be flying up tonight, so we’ll know what we’re dealing with soon. Windows are being boarded up. Pyro’s dealing with the bikes.”

“The Italians?”

“Are Lucio’s problem. Got six alive, Hell.” I brush my hand over my face. “I’d rather hand them over for him to deal with. Doesn’t sit right to just take them out.”

“They killed Thumper,” he reminds me.

“But lost seven themselves. Thank fuck you and Snatcher were prepared for it.”

Hell nods, then gives me an intense stare. “You holding up, okay, son?”

I spare him a quick grin. “I sure can understand why you passed over the gavel. But yeah, I’m okay. Just need to make sure my woman’s alright.”

He raises his chin fractionally, then jerks it toward the hallway. “Put her in your old room. She’s in there with Theo. Son,” his hand rests on my arm, “she’s been through one fuck of a lot. May need treating gently. Focus on her. I know I didn’t step up into the VP spot, but right now, I’m your father, and grandfather to that kid, and Vi is my daughter-in-law. Take some time with her. I’ll go back to the club and get shit handled.”

“Thunder’s doing okay,” I tell him.

“Nevertheless, I’ll return and back him up if he needs it.”

I nod gratefully. He’s had twenty-years-plus experience of doing my job. There’s no one better to stand in my place.

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