Page 37 of Devil's Dilemma

The notion I’d been selfish hits me. I hadn’t considered it wasn’t just me he’d abandoned. He must have work commitments for the club. Is it really possible he just walked out and left them?

“Something’s happened to him. We just don’t know what yet.”

Pyro doesn’t contradict that statement. “You got beer, darlin’?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Nah,” he holds out his hand, palm facing me, “I’ll go get it. In the fridge?”

“Yes, through there in the kitchen.”

He stands, walks the few steps to where I’d indicated, and I hear a door opening and closing. It’s a few more seconds before he returns. As well as a beer, he’s holding the pregnancy test kit.

Pressing my lips together, I throw a horrified look at him and shake my head.

“Mel, you probably could do with a drink yourself. But until you know for certain, you can’t have one.”

“I was waiting for Skull,” I respond in a whisper.

He shuffles, looks uncertain, then says, “Let me be here for you instead.”

I close my eyes, thinking. Pyro’s right. I’d kill for a glass of wine or something stronger at the moment. If I’m wrong and I’m not incubating a child, I could have one. How long will I be waiting for a man who may not return? Nine months? Huh, I’ll know for certain long before then, but not for weeks yet. Unless… I take that test.

“I’m scared.”

His eyes soften. “Of course you are. But you’re not alone. You’re club.”

“Not without Skull.”

Suddenly he’s no longer standing, nor seated at the far end of the couch. He’s sitting up close beside me. “You are club,” he repeats. “Skull claimed you, which makes you a Satan’s Devil’s ol’ lady. If Skull’s not here to take care of you, everyone else will step up. You’re part of our family, darlin’.”

My eyes widen. I’d assumed they’d want nothing to do with me.

“You hardly know me,” I object.

“Don’t need to know you, Mel, though I think we probably know more than you’re thinking. But you’re one of us now. Sure, you’ve got the choice. Skull doesn’t reappear? You don’t need to have anything to do with us, but we’re here if you want.”

I like the club, the atmosphere, the men and the old ladies. May be able to do without the whores, but that’s another matter. I’ve enjoyed all the time I’ve spent at the compound. But to go there without Skull? To take from his friends when he’s not there to support me?

Eventually I shake my head. “I don’t know, Pyro. I can’t take advantage…”

“Take advantage?” he rears back. “Mel, whether or not you take us up on the offer, you’ll find we’re there for you. We owe it to Skull. Wherever he is, whatever he’s doing, he’s still a member of this club. If he’s got himself locked up, we’ll look after his woman for him until he’s able to do it himself. That’s the way it works, Mel. You’re still his old lady.”

“I’m still his old lady?” I gaze at him incredulously. “He walked out on me…”

“Nah. You don’t know that. Want my view? That’s the last fuckin’ thing he’d do. Something’s stopping him coming back.”

“Something made him leave in the first place,” I counter.

Pyro’s eyes fall to the packet he’s still holding.Could Skull have left because he was scared I was pregnant? Didn’t want to step up and do the right thing?Before I can have second thoughts, I stand, snatch the test out of Pyro’s hands and head off to the bathroom.

I need to know.

If I’m not, perhaps somehow he’ll find out, perhaps someone would get the message through and he’ll come back.

Although if that’s the reason he did, would I really want him? A man who left because he was too scared to have a baby.

I read the instructions, do the necessary, then walk back out to where Pyro’s still sitting. I leave the test on the side, suddenly changing my mind.I don’t want to know.

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