Page 97 of Devil's Due

“With this? No. But I can ask Drummer…”

“Nah. I’ll handle it.” RIP stands. Charmer and Bam Bam are only seconds behind him. “Good to meet you, Beef. And to see you again, Demon. Judge.” He raises his chin and nods at our man who’s stayed silent, standing with his arms crossed. His eyes settle on him for a moment as though committing his features to memory. Just before he moves away from the table he leans in conspiratorially, saying quietly so only we can hear. “Best start saving. Hits can be expensive.”

It’s only when they’ve gone that Judge lets his eyes open wide. Demon waves him to the table.

“Hits?” Judge asks.

I take pity on him. “If the Jokers go inside, they’ll still be gunning for Stevie. They’ll appeal their sentence, that could go on for years. If Stevie’s not around to back up her statements, they may have a chance of success. Being inside would distance them from any murder, though that wouldn’t stop them pulling the strings and getting the job done.” I grow cold at the thought. “Only way out is to take out those with any influence, the officers and ringleaders.”

“Wretched Soulz have enough people on the inside. At the moment the Jokers can rely on the Soulz for protection. If they lose their charter, it changes the dynamics.” I don’t elaborate, suspecting the man can fill in the gaps for himself.

“Christ.” Judge wipes his hand over his face and shakes his head. Just as I start wondering whether he’s going to be a good fit for this life, he grins widely. “Now a permanent solution I like.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

“Here, boy,” I call to Max who trots over, giving wide berth to Bitch who’s watching him with wary eyes. She stands, arches her back and hisses as he passes just a little too close for her liking, but out of range of her claws. Guess they’re never going to be best buddies.

Opening the door, I lead him outside. “Get busy,” I instruct, and he does, immediately. I reward him with a ‘good boy’, and a pat, then stand for a moment, giving him a chance to sniff the weeds growing up through the cracks in the pavement. With half an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t start tracking the trail of some small animal that’s passed by, I stare around.

The outside of the clubhouse is a dismal area. The old furnace, the huge pit where they used to melt down trains, is the most interesting feature. A few picnic tables are sprinkled around, but instead of grass, they stand on old broken concrete. It’s a good size area and could be made into something attractive if its current resemblance to a demolition site was tidied up. I make a mental note to mention it to Demon. It wouldn’t take much more than a hired digger to get rid of the trip hazards and broken surface. Then we could use a rototiller to turn over the soil and lay some turf. Much safer for Stevie when she returns and wouldn’t take much more than a weekend if we all put our backs to it.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you, boy?” Max, moving remarkably well on his injured leg, has returned to my side.

Why am I thinking about sprucing up the clubhouse?I won’t be here much longer. I’ll be returning to Tucson. A smile curves my lips as I think how Stevie would love the compound in Arizona. We could build a house at the top alongside the rest going up, and there’s a good safe area and a swimming pool for those inevitably hot days of summer. Nestling in the valley between the mountain ranges it’s a beautiful place. In my mind’s eye, I’m imagining describing it all to her.

How would Max get on with Grunt?Do dogs just accept each other? I glance down at Max. Somehow I suspect he’s too well trained to get into a fight. Chuckling softly, I imagine lording it over Heart when he can’t get Grunt, his oversized mongrel to obey his commands, whereas Max will do anything asked of him.

“Yeah,” I start quietly, not even embarrassed I’m talking to a dog. At my voice he’s raised his intelligent eyes and is staring into mine. “You’d love it in Tucson. A little hot, but there’s air conditioning inside. Kids who’d adore you, women who’d spoil you. Not sure Drummer would allow you into church, but then you’ll be back working, looking after Stevie…” My voice trails off.

Yeah, he’ll be back to a working dog if I can find that woman of mine. One of my fists smashes against the palm of my other hand.I am going to find you, Stevie.But will you be dead or alive? A feeling of sheer panic goes through me. Sensing my change of mood, Max whines quietly by my side.Got to think positively.I’d go crazy if I thought I’d never see her again.Is she thinking of me?

It’s all the unanswerable questions which are driving me crazy. The only thing I don’t challenge is that I’m going to make her mine. Whatever objections she has, I’ll overcome them. I’ll draw her a picture of a life she can’t turn down. With me. In Tucson.

“You’re deep in thought.”

I jump about two feet in the air, and my hand automatically goes over my heart. “Way to scare a man half to death, Brother.”

“Never thought I’d walk up on you unawares, Beef,” Paladin replies with a smirk. “You seemed to be somewhere else.”

I had been. “Just thinking of when I go back to Tucson.”

“Yeah?” Pal looks around him. “Have to admit this place is a dump compared with what we left behind. But there is a lot going for it.”

“Like what?” I’m genuinely interested to hear how he’s settled down.

“Like Jay for a start. Wherever she is, that’s where I want to be.”

Once I might have laughed at him, but now I’ve met Stevie, it’s something I can fully understand.

“The brothers. Just as good people as those I left behind.” He pauses, and this time it’s his eyes which glaze slightly as he drags up what’s on his mind. “I’ve been able to find my place here, become a new man if you like. There’s been opportunities and I’ve grabbed them with both hands. Got a respected place around the table.”

“You had respect in Tucson.”

He shrugs. “It wasn’t the same. I was always the youngest member. Sure, I’m still the same age, but I’m not the kid anymore. Demon’s handed me and Cad the security business since he became prez. Nice to have something of my own to build up.”

“How’s that going?”

“Well. I’m actually taking some classes online to learn about new methods and stuff we could do. Oh, and the legal shit as well.”

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