Page 69 of Devil's Dilemma

“Expenses paid?” Lizard raises his hand.

“You’ll stay at the clubhouse if Red’s agreeable. And no, Liz, you’re not getting extra to lose at the slots.”

“Shucks,” says Lizard with a shrug. “Just thought Skull might be playing the tables.”

“I’ll go,” says Sparky, our road captain. “These fuckers will need someone to show them the way.” Someone throws a piece of wadded up paper at him.

Prez looks around. “Liz, need you here to keep the tattoo parlour going. Rusty, same with you and the bowling alley. Pyro?”

“The shop would do fine without me, but I need to be here for Mel.” I’d rather be seeking out Skull to kill him, but don’t want to leave her alone.

Prez resumes, “Judge, Wills and Sparky. You can ride down there tomorrow. Assuming Red’s cool with the idea.”

Wills starts rubbing his hands together and banging one fist into the other palm.

“Whoever,” Demon begins with a glare, “finds him, assuming we’re successful, whether it’s Red’s men or you, you’re to take him back to the clubhouse. I personally want words with that motherfucker and want him able to form words when I do, you hear me?”

“Can’t we get any shots in?” Sparky moans.

“Just be careful,” Prez warns. “Leave him able to speak.”

“Man was hurt once because of a mistake, Prez,” Beef comments. “I can’t see there’s any acceptable excuse he could offer, but I do agree you need to speak to him first. Before anyone lets their fists fly.”

Hellfire coughs then raises his eyebrows, I return my attention to the head of the table. Demon’s looking at Beef, considering his words, then nods. “Okay, slight change of plans. Get hold of him but it’s hands off until I get there. Then,” an evil grin covers his face, “we’ll make him hurt so he’ll think last time was a picnic.”

There are thumps on the table with fists and stomps of feet after that pronouncement.

Mel’s awake when I return. She’s sitting up, talking to Vi. I’m pleased to see there’s a plate of half-eaten food beside her. At least it appears she’s had some sustenance.

“Am I interrupting?”

Mel shakes her head. “No, I’m just going around in circles. I think we’ve covered all the ground at least three times.”

“How are you feeling?” Stepping into the room I take in the sight of Mel’s sore looking red and puffy eyes, suggesting she’s been crying again. If it was down to me, I’d spend my life making sure she never had cause to shed tears.

“I’ll be off now. It’s nearly Theo’s bedtime and I need to take him home,” Vi explains. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Thanks Vi.” Mel manages a half-smile for her friend.

She waits until Vi’s closed the door behind her, then turns to me. As she takes a shuddering breath, I notice she’s smiling no more. “Pyro, can we talk?”

“Of course.” As I take Vi’s place sitting beside her, I note she hasn’t answered my question, but I can work the answer out for myself.She’s hurting.

“I want to go to Vegas.” Her jaw is set.

That wasn’t what I’d expected. “Mel, what’s Vi been saying?”

Her hands wave dismissively. “Not on Vi. In fact, she tried to dissuade me. But I think it’s the best idea. If I can find him, I can confront him.”

I rub my hands down my face. “Darlin’, there must be a couple of million people living in and around Vegas, and fuck knows how many tourists at any one time. How the fuck do you think you can find him?”

“Beth managed to,” she challenges.

“Coincidence Mel. Even she probably wouldn’t be able to come across him again.” I decide to let her in on some club business. “You know there’s a Satan’s Devils’ Vegas Chapter, don’t you? Well, Demon’s going to ask the Vegas prez to get his boys keeping an eye out for Skull. They’re locals, they’re more likely to know where to start looking. Sparky, Judge and Wills are going to go down there as well. If, and it’s a big if, if he’s still there and wasn’t just visiting, they have more chance of finding him.”

“When they do,” she ignores the if, “I need to speak to him.”

I’d been working out ways of her not having to face him. “You don’t have to.”

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