Page 98 of Devil's Dilemma

But he hasn’t finished. “I love you, Mel. Love you and already love that baby that’s mine in all the ways that count. I want to claim you, if you want to be claimed. I know I can say it until I’m blue in the face, but you can trust me. I will never knowingly hurt you. Won’t say I’ll never make a mistake, but it won’t be with any intention.”

Skull told me he loved me.He lied.

Christ, right at this moment I need to believe Pyro’s declaration is true, that his words are ones I can take at face value. To be truly loved, for me, and not what I could do. Try as I might, I can’t see Pyro has any ulterior motive.

He gives me time, and my mind loops back again. Not to Skull, I’m trying to put him out of my head, but to all the times Pyro has been there for me. From the moment Skull disappeared, Pyro’s been my rock and has been proving himself without saying the words. With Skull it was what he said, which were all lies. Pyro? Maybe his actions speak louder.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Anything. I’ll answer unless it’s something about the club I can’t tell you. Not because I don’t trust you…”

“Plausible deniability,” I say back, remembering what Vi had explained.

“Exactly. What do you want to know?”

“Who are you, Pyro? I don’t even know how old you are, what you did before you joined the club.”

“I’m thirty-seven. Hopefully not too old for you.”

Huh. Is that a dig at me having had a boy toy before? “Well I’m not going for a younger man again.”

“We’ve been talking about Skull, Mel. Not sure he’s as young as he says.” He sees the expression of disbelief on my face. “Yeah, well, to get where he has and do the job that he does, he must be older. Must have been part of his ploy, thought we’d not suspect a younger man of being what he was, an undercover cop.”

Another lie he’d told me. When will it stop?

“Anyway, getting back to me. I went into the Army straight from high school. Became a munitions expert. I used to blow shit up.”

“That’s why you’re called Pyro?”

“Yeah. I can start fires and I can put them out.” He winks.

“Did you do any tours?”

His arms tighten slightly around me, and his face grows tense. “Too many. I don’t usually talk about it. But if you want to know…”

I place my fingers over his lips. “I don’t.”

He breathes out and relaxes. “When I got out, I wasn’t sure what to do. Served with a guy who rode with a motorcycle club, and he’d shared some of the details with me about the camaraderie and the family. The idea stuck with me. When I got home, I was, I don’t know, lonely? I no longer had a team around me. I’d toyed with the idea of buying a motorcycle, had learned to ride one in the Army, but hadn’t seriously thought about joining a club. I went to the Harley store in Pueblo. There was a guy there wearing a Satan’s Devils’ cut, he was picking up something for his bike. He looked about my age. We got chatting, he was giving me advice about various models. His name was Demon, and he was the VP. He invited me along to one of their parties, and, well, the rest is history.”

“Have you ever been married? Sired any kids?”

“You’re looking for skeletons where none exist. My dad died when I was a kid, my mom moved out of state to be with family when I joined up, and we sort of drifted apart. She’s married again now, and I don’t get on with her husband. He doesn’t approve of MCs.”

“Siblings?”

“Nah. Oh, they were planned, but a drunk driver took my dad out when I was two, so it never happened. So, only a mom who I don’t see, no ex-wife or ex ol’ lady, and definitely no kids. Won’t lie, there’s been a few ladies over the years, but nothing serious, and no one to think they have a claim on me.”

Suddenly I realise how patient he’s being. “Thank you.”

“No worries, darlin’. I know why you pushed me away. I don’t blame you. Now, do you want me to get you something to eat?”

I couldn’t force anything down. I’m feeling nauseous after this dreadful day. “I just want to sleep.”

“Then, sleep darlin’. I’ll be here with you.”

Chapter Thirty

Pyro

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