Page 42 of Devil's Dilemma

“Already sleeping two to a room. You know this, Ro.”

Mel needs somewhere to sleep. The only way she’s going to get one is for someone to give up their room. I can’t see anyone offering, Skull being so new, it’s not just me he’s not particularly close to.

I sigh. “She can have mine.”

“And you’ll, what? Sleep on the couch? No, Ro, can’t ask you to do that.”

“Don’t think you asked, Prez. I offered.” I roll back my head, trying to get the kinks out from last night when I slept, or tried to, on Mel’s sofa. Now I’m committing myself to having uncomfortable nights for fuck knows how long.

Sleeping arrangements decided, I move this along. “Any news, Prez?”

“Not one darn thing. Don’t even know where Skull went during that month. No one fucking knows.”

“Judge? Wills?” They prospected alongside him.

“Nope and fuckin’ no. I’ve pressed them, but they don’t know any more than the rest of us. That’s the bare facts. He was injured, hurting. Left without a word, and returned just as quietly. Pal was the first to speak to him, but he just welcomed him home. No one thought to ask him where he’d been. Didn’t seem important at the fuckin’ time.”

I knew Demon would have called if there’d been news, so that there wasn’t, isn’t surprising.

I just wish we knew what we were dealing with. As I’d told Mel, without information, all we could do is prepare for anything.

Chapter Fourteen

Melissa

“Melissa. Oh, Mel. Come here.”

Violet holds out her arms. I step into them, then quickly pull back, rubbing at my eyes, still sore from last night. I hold up my hands. “Don’t make me cry again, Vi,” I warn. “I take it they’re no closer to knowing where Skull is?”

I would have heard, I’m sure. The small shake of her head is just confirmation that my man’s still in the wind. Jeannie’s paused in her task of chopping up vegetables presumably in preparation for dinner tonight. Mo, who I’d met briefly at the barbeque a few weeks back is working alongside her, banging utensils in a way that shows she’s unhappy.

“It’s not her fault, Mo,” Jeannie hisses.

But Demon’s mother doesn’t turn or even look in my direction. I know she rarely comes to the compound, so is likely to think even less of being on lockdown than I do. I feel like apologising, but Jeannie’s right, it’s not down to me, although it is my man who’s the cause of the disruption.

“Can I speak to you, Vi?”

She sends a glare toward her mother-in-law’s back, then smiles toward me. “Outside?”

That will do.

I follow her out to a picnic table on the lawn Beef had prepared for Steph. When I’d first seen it, this yard looked like a bombsite with rubbish strewn everywhere. Full of hazards for a woman who couldn’t see anything. Even though she’d been missing at the time, Beef had planted a garden just for her, everything flattened and perfumed flowers all over. It’s now a beautiful space we all enjoy.

Vi barely lets me get my butt on the seat before she starts, “I apologise for Mo, Melissa. It’s just a shock to her that lockdown has been imposed so quickly. She’s got reasons not to like coming to the club. She’ll come around, but right now she’s looking for someone to take out her irritation on.”

It wasn’t what I’d wanted to talk to her about, but now it’s out in the open, I’m happy to discuss it. “I wish it wasn’t happening myself. I hate that I’m here and Skull’s not. Hate that I don’t know where he is or what’s going on with him.” I break off and swallow back down that threatening sob.

“Melissa…”

“But that wasn’t what I wanted to talk to you about. Vi, I need your advice. Can you keep a secret?”

She straightens her back and grins. “I’m the prez’s old lady.”

I nod. “I’m pregnant. Only just. I found out yesterday.”

She frowns. “Did Skull know?”

“No. He knew it was a slight possibility, but we’d only been careless a couple of times. Got away with it the first time, thought this would be the same.”

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