Page 78 of Devil's Dilemma

Rosa’s regarding me, her eyes soften. “I hear you’re pregnant. How far along are you?”

“Eighteen, well, coming up on nineteen weeks.”

“Know what you’re having yet, or don’t you want to find out?”

Now I smile as I always do when I think of my baby. “I’m having a boy.”

The corners of her mouth curve. “That’s lovely. I’ve got twins myself, two boys. They’re fourteen now.” She grins wider. “You’ve got the best times ahead, they’re adorable when they’re babies. Teenagers? Huh, not so much.” But the fond look on her face belies the words. “Still, Red and his crew help keep them in line.”

“And you’re with—?” The question at this point seems polite.

“Oh, I don’t have a man now. My ol’ man was the president before Red, but lung cancer took him a few years back. They’ve let me stay on as a sort of mother to the club.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, uselessly, but my hand goes out and touches her arm. “I thought my man had died, so I know how you’re feeling.”

She nods. “I hear things from behind the bar. Hear you’ve found he’s alive. God, I’d do anything to have my man back.”

Just as I go to correct her, she adds, “But if he’d left like yours did, I reckon I’d want to finish the job myself.”

She sounds so fierce, it makes me laugh. “Just how I’m feeling,” I confirm.

“I’ll leave you now. You can come down when you want, or I’ll send your man up with some food. You’ll meet Tiff at some point, she’s the only other old lady in the club. She’s Fox’s, our treasurer.”

“I think I’ll stay here and unpack.” I eye the dresser warily, not wanting to open any drawers seeing the state of the rest of the room.

“I wouldn’t worry,” she chuckles, eyeing the pile on the floor. “Reckon they’ve already been emptied out for you.

When she leaves, I realise I feel drained. The flight and the stress of walking into a strange club seem to have taken it out of me. I’ve become used to being around bikers in Pueblo and am comfortable with them. But that’s because I’ve gotten to learn the men under the leather. Here they’re strangers, and while I hope they’ll show me the same respect, they are a different club and I don’t know them.

Though the two I have met, and Rosa, haven’t been disrespectful at all.

Summoning the last of my energy, I open the drawers, find two empty, and unpack both bags, then lie on the bed just to rest my eyes.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Pyro

Ihave a couple of beers, meet old friends and make new ones, then pop up to see how Mel is doing, not wanting her to think I’ve abandoned her. But when I open the door, I see her lying fast asleep on the bed.

Moving inside I notice two empty bags stood in the corner, showing she must have unpacked my stuff as well as hers. I stand for a moment, staring, realising I’ve never had anyone to do shit like that for me before. I smile.

Though I’ve tried to be quiet, some sound I made must have disturbed her.

“Ro?”

“Yeah, it’s me darlin’. Want to get some more rest?”

“I’m hungry.”

I offer to fetch her something, but she’s happy enough to go downstairs. The reason why is apparent when she asks, “Has anyone got any more ideas? Have there been any sightings?”

“Nah, we’re in the early stages. The four of us from Pueblo are each going out with someone from this club tomorrow. Makes sense. They know the area and likely places, and we can recognise him the best.”

I hold her arm gently as we descend the stairs.

“I’ve been thinking. Won’t he hear bikes coming? Won’t he hide, suspecting you could have found him?”

Shadow overhears. “Thought about that, doll,” he yells over. “But there’s always plenty of bikes around Vegas, it won’t raise any suspicions.”

---