Page 75 of Devil's Due

His words ring in the air for a moment.

“I could…”

“Nah. Whatever you’re going to say, Beef, wait until we’ve sorted this shit here out. We need cleanup for a start.”

“I’ll sort that,” Skull offers. “Christ, did it enough when I was prospecting.

“I’ll help.”

“Sure, ‘Ro.” Prez nods at Pyro, then Skull. “When we get back to the clubhouse we’ll see what we can get out of the Warped Jokers, then have church and decide what the fuck to do.”

“I need to get Stevie.” I’m anxious to return and tell her the right side won.

Demon beckons to Thunder, clearly intending on him and his acting VP to accompany me. Not bothering to be quiet, we retrace the steps I’d carried Stevie earlier. Without the weight of my precious burden, we shave minutes off the time. As soon as we draw close, I call out to warn her it’s me and that she’s safe.

I repeat it again as I draw close to the blind. “Stevie, it’s me. Nothing to worry about now. You’re safe. Demon and Thunder are with me, the Jokers have been dealt with.”

Instead of Stevie, a man steps to the front of the rickety construction, a Glock held in his hands, and it’s pointed straight in my direction.

“Stop right there.”

Who the fuck is this man? He’s wearing a chequered button-down shirt tucked into jeans. He certainly doesn’t look like a biker, or someone who’d ride with the Warped Jokers. But from the way he’s holding his gun, steady and unwavering directed at its target which happens to be me, he’s no stranger to violence. I can detect a military bearing in his stance.

Ignoring the personal threat toward me, I call out, anxiously. “Stevie, you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Her voice reaches me from inside the blind.

Relief fills me. There’s trepidation in her voice, but no fear. Whoever this man is, she doesn’t seem to be afraid of him.Who could he be?

“Stay there,” the stranger instructs, presumably to her.

“They’re the good guys.” She’s obviously talking to him not to us. “They’ve been keeping me safe.”

A disgusted snort comes from the man with the gun. His full attention doesn’t waver from us even though he’s having a conversation with the woman still hidden behind him. It’s me he addresses. “I suggest you turn around and go. I’ll be keeping Ms Nichols safe from now on.”

Over my dead body.I don’t move an inch. “And who might you be?”

Impatient, Stevie appears, peering around him. “He’s Marshal Lennox. He’s my contact.”

“Stevie, come here,” I instruct.

“No, don’t…” But Lennox didn’t expect a blind woman to move so fast and assuredly in my direction. He’s clearly flummoxed that she’s now direct in his sights. His momentary confusion allows Demon and Thunder to draw their weapons and step forward.

The marshal’s eyes go from one to the other, then to Stevie who’s now in my arms. Even Max turns traitor, sliding out from the hut and coming toward me. Stevie’s hands trace the contours of my face, and then down my arms and over my chest. “I heard shooting…”

“I’m fine. We’re all fine, Stevie. Don’t worry, babe.”

“I thought I lost you,” she sobs.

“You need to start talking,” Demon addresses Lennox. “If you’re her contact, how the fuck did anyone know where she was? Where’s the leak coming from, Lennox? That you? Mighty suspicious you and those motherfuckers being here at the same time.”

The marshal begins to go red. “There’s no leak from our department. It must have been Ms Nichols who gave herself away.”

Stevie, quick to recover having completed her investigation and seeing for herself I’ve not been injured, turns around to face him, spitting out, “I’m not stupid. I did nothing.”

Lennox shakes his head. “You must have done—”

“Whatever.” Demon’s hand slashes through the air. “You haven’t done a very good job of protecting her so far.”

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