Page 102 of Devil's Dilemma

It’s Mel’s mom and dad. Red must have called them.While I’ve never met them before, I feel a wave of relief. I’d do anything for Mel, want to be there for her, but I’m lost as to how to make this right. Someone to share the burden is welcomed.

I step forward. “I’m Pyro, Mel’s man.” From their reaction, she’s told them about me. I go on to explain what’s happened as briefly as I can. Her mom’s eyes fill with tears, though those of her dad’s harden.

It’s him who goes to speak but is interrupted.

“Family of Melissa Martins?”

Fuck me, but a dozen bikers all stand. But it’s me and her mom and dad who step forward. “You can go and see her now. We’ll keep her in for observation for a few hours, then, she can go home.

Mel’s groggy, but awake and looks completely lost, a shadow of her usual self. I stand back as her mom goes to her, holding her tight. Now there are tears again, this time from both women.

The doctor comes in briefly to check on her, as he goes out, I mention the plans for burial, and he agrees to prepare the paperwork to release the remains of the foetus to me.

I’ve watched men die, lost brothers and have attended too many funerals before now, but I don’t think anything has ever affected me so badly. I’m firmly convinced, if Skull hadn’t reappeared, that baby would still be breathing. It’s only my need to stay strong for Mel that keeps me drawing in air.

I nearly forget to ask but remember just before the doctor leaves. “Oh, Doc?” I ask, quickly. “Can you do a DNA test on him?”

“Of course,” his eyes narrow. “But it’s a bit late to be worried about paternity. That woman there has enough to deal with.”

He thinks I’m going to use it to prove she’s been unfaithful?

“Not what you think, Doc. We know who the father is. Just want to have something to prove it.”

His brow furrows as he tries to make sense of my request, but it seems it’s easier for him to just acquiesce. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

I thank him, then walk back to Mel. She’s still clutching to her mother.

“Can I have a word with you?” It’s her dad, and he looks grim. “I need to know why my daughter lost her baby. Is it because of her association with your club? Has anyone hurt her?”

He’s in his late fifties, but right now, he looks like he’d personally take on whoever harmed his only child. I have no regrets as I hand him his target.

“Skull. We found him. He’s an undercover cop,” I sum up quickly. “Mel’s relationship with him had all been a lie. He’s already married with a wife and kid.”

His eyes go wide, and twin red spots appear on his cheeks as he indicates I should follow him out of the room. I don’t want to leave her, not for a moment, but there are things he, as a parent, should know.

We make use of the two chairs in the corridor. He’s sharp, I soon discover as I go over what’s happened during the past few days.

“My daughter’s in there, broken,” he starts when I’ve completed my sorry tale, his eyes watery with distress.

I can only make a promise. “I don’t know how, but I swear I’m going to put her back together.”

His lips thin as he realises I’ll be attempting the impossible. “How, Pyro? How?”

I tell him. “I love her, sir. I lost the baby too, it was mine more than Skull’s. I…” I gulp, “I heard his heart beating, saw him on that screen. He was mine.”

Reaching out his hand, he pats my leg. I try to push my own emotion down. “We’re a biker club, we’ve got our methods of retribution…”

“Don’t tell me more,” he warns.

“There’s nothing more to tell. Before she lost the baby, before she had that to add to her misery, we had decided to put the fight into her hands rather than the club acting on her behalf. Give her something to focus on. Let her take back the control he took from her.” I now have my doubts, and whether she’ll ever be in the right mindset. “She wanted to report him and what he’d done. Take him to whatever court she could. It seems a good case for misrepresentation and his successful attempt to involve an innocent citizen in what he must have thought was a criminal underworld.”

Once again, his lips thin, and he tilts his head. “You’re right,” he says after a moment’s thought. “And now more than ever, she’ll need something to focus on.” He goes still, the wheels turning in his head as he considers, then, a grin just as evil as I’ve seen from any of my brothers spreads over his face when he informs me, “It’s a good thing I’m a lawyer.”

It’s my turn to widen my eyes. “Is this where I give you a dollar?”

The grin disappears and is replaced by a sad smile. “If you want, but on behalf of my daughter.”

Chapter Thirty-One

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