Page 79 of Devil's Dilemma

“Their road captain,” I say into her ear.

Coming closer, Shadow continues, informing her, “We’re also loaning not only Pyro a bike, but Judge, Wills and Sparky too. That way he won’t recognise the bikes he cleaned often enough as a prospect.”

“You better not let anything happen to mine,” Sparky growls as he comes over. His eyes examine Mel. “You okay? You look tired.”

“Just the journey,” she explains. “And I’m hungry.”

I’m not surprised she looks pale, not with the shit she’s working through. “Let’s take you to see Rosa. I bet she’ll have a plate she can warm for you.”

I find the woman I’m after and get Mel fed, then we rehash all the don’t knows that are flying around once again and settle on some concrete plans for the morning. Mel’s surprisingly quiet, but then, apart from the four of us, she doesn’t know anyone here. And the sweet butts are getting into some action, making Mel discreetly turn her head away.

When she complains her head’s hurting, I take her upstairs, wait for her outside the bathroom where she has taken her night clothes in with her to get changed, then help her into bed.

“You really okay?” I’m concerned about her.

“Yes, it’s just been a tiring day.” Her explanation accompanied by a small smile reassure me, but only a little.

I plan to have a word with Rosa, to get her to take Mel under her wing and make her rest while we’re out tomorrow. Today seems to have taken it out of her, and all the stress can’t be good in her condition. Would do her good just to switch off for a while.

“You staying or going back down?”

“Just need a quick word with the brothers downstairs, then I’ll be back, okay?”

“Okay,” she replies sleepily.

I place my lips to her forehead. “Night, darlin’.”

She’s asleep when I return and as far as I can tell, rests soundly all night. She stirs only when I’m getting dressed in the morning.

“Feeling better?”

She shrugs. “I still feel exhausted. I was going to try to get you to take a cage and persuade you to take me with you, but I think rest would be better for me and the baby.”

“Won’t get any argument from me, darlin’.”

“If you find him, you will bring him back here?”

“I will,” I promise. “But there aren’t any guarantees we’re going to find him soon. I don’t have high expectations it will be today. May take a while. Try to be patient, okay?” I study her face. Despite the sleep last night, she still looks tired, dark circles around her eyes. Perhaps she shouldn’t have come to Vegas, but back in Pueblo she’d only have been worrying all the time. May as well do her stressing out here where I can keep my eye on her. What worries me most is how she’ll cope if we don’t find him. Too many questions will remain unanswered, and there will always be a worry about his spectre raising its head to cause problems for her and the kid.

But maybe I shouldn’t be so concerned how worn out she looks. She’s close to five months pregnant and growing that baby, of course she doesn’t have the energy she once did.

Her lips press together. I recognise that look of stubbornness, so am unsurprised when she next speaks.

“You may not find him today, may not find him at all. But if the days go on and there’s no sign, I want to be involved in the search, Ro. In case I see something you’re missing. I need to look for him myself.”

She wouldn’t have any more, or any less chance than us. She’s not likely to enter some of the places we’ll be visiting. But I can understand her need not to be kept on the sidelines all the time. It’s the kind of woman she is, not content to sit back and rely on other people. She needs this.

“Mel, I’ll agree to that.” After some rest and when she seems stronger. “But for now, trust me, Sparky, Judge and Wills. We’ve all got our own reasons to find him.” She might not understand it, but to us our motives have just as much validity as hers.

Her lips remain pursed, and she looks like she’s biting her tongue. I don’t say more, knowing exactly how she’s feeling. If I was her, I’d want to be the one searching.

There’s a knock at the door, opening it I see Sparky. I raise my chin to let him know I’m coming now. Leaving the door ajar, I go back and give her a PG kiss remembering until we find Skull, she’s still a claimed woman and I’ve got to behave if I want to keep my patch.

Downstairs everyone’s ready and waiting, and we waste no time heading out.

I’m with Cobra and Sarge. I follow them along unfamiliar streets, and eventually into the part of town that runs behind the strip. Cobra points out a couple of hotels that Sparky had indicated on the map last night, one of which is the budget place where Beth had stayed.

The plan is that we’ll go to the grocery store, then start driving the roads around there. Luckily, it’s not as hot as it would be in the middle of summer, but the air is still warm and dry, and it’s not long before my head’s sweating under the helmet the law requires me to wear in Nevada.

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