Page 86 of Devil's Dilemma

I’m not surprised when it’s immediately answered. “Who’s this?”

“Pyro.”

“Where’s Clare?” I’m not surprised it’s the first thing he says. “If you’ve hurt her…”

“We’ve got her,” I confirm. “Pretty bitch, your wife. Of course, she might not be so pretty much longer.”

“You touch one hair on her head…”

“Whether I do or not is up to you,Don.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Come to the Vegas Satan’s Devils MC compound.”

“You’ll kill me,” he breathes.

Clare gasps.

“We might, we might not. But if you don’t come, your wife will suffer. Every minute you’re late, we’ll treat her like we treated you, remember? I assure you the basement in Vegas is just as well equipped as the one in Pueblo, and Twister is as good an enforcer as Mace.” He’ll know exactly what I’m referring to.

“Clare’s got nothing she can tell you.”

“Neither did you.” It was the reason he took so much punishment. We were torturing him for information he couldn’t give. “Didn’t stop us then, won’t stop us now.” Well, it had. As soon as we knew the truth, we stopped. But it’s likely in his panic, all he’ll remember is the pain we inflicted first, and imagine it happening to the woman he presumably loves.

He’d told Mel he loved her.

His voice hardens. “I’m warning you, Pyro. You touch her, and it will be the last thing you do. One scratch, one bruise…”

Twister steps up behind Clare and yanks on her hair. It surprises her rather than hurts her, but the scream she lets out is convincing.

“I need a couple of hours.” Skull’s voice sounds desperate now.

“You’ve got one.” I start to rattle off the address, but he interrupts.

“I know where it is!”

Does he now?Interesting.

I end the phone call, then look at his wife as Twister steps around to her front.

“Sorry about that,” he tells her, not sounding apologetic at all.

Her hands are already up, retying her ponytail, proving she hadn’t been hurt if worrying her hair is out of place is her main concern. She looks annoyed she’s been used.

“You know what your man’s been up to?” I ask her. “He must go missing for months, years. You know what he does?”

Before she can answer, Red steps up, and takes me to one side. “Just spoke to Demon. He said he’s catching the first flight that he can, but he’s okay if we do the questioning. Any vote must wait until he’s here.”

I nod. That’s fine. Suddenly I realise we’ve got an audience. I had been vaguely aware of the thuds of boots that have been echoing down the stairs but hadn’t realised that most of the club have crowded into the basement. I don’t give one fuck. Skull had disrespected every member; doesn’t matter which chapter he’d joined. At the very least, and if he can come up with a justification for his actions which makes any sense—doubtful, where Mel’s concerned—we’ll be making sure he leaves the club properly with a beatdown. And if I have my way, any vote will make sure he leaves his life too.

Turning back to Clare, I repeat my last question.

This time, she replies. “It’s his job. He doesn’t speak to me about it.”

Once again, Red’s eyes catch mine. He flashes a message at me, and I raise my chin back.

“What’s his job?” Red roars, stepping forward fast as though he’s lost patience. “Who does he fuckin’ work for?”

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