Page 23 of Red's Peril: Part 1

“He rebuilt his bike,” Wraith puts in, pointing to the ride beside me.

Another of them breaks off and goes to look at my bike, quizzically eyeing everything as though trying to find fault with it.

“Whatcha think, Blade?”

Blade stands, puffs out his chest, and gives me a grin that looks quite evil. “Could do with more hands, ‘specially those that know what they’re fuckin’ doing—”

“How long are you going to blame me?” Another man throws up his hands and turns his back.

“Ah fuck, you’ve hurt Viper’s feelings,” one of the two men who are standing, arms over each other’s shoulders, says in a joking voice.

“Can it, Rock.” Lefty swings around and glares at them. “You too, Beef.”

“Could give him a try,” the man called Blade, the one who actually scares me, remarks.

One of the jokers steps forward. “Drummer wanted members only as it’s inside the compound.”

Lefty presses his lips together. “He did that.”

Wraith enthusiastically bumps my shoulder. “He could prospect.”

What, me? Never. How the fuck do I get out of this?

“You just want to palm off the shit jobs on someone,” the other one of the pair now speaks.

“True,” Wraith replies, unapologetically. “You lot keep me run off my feet.”

Lefty looks thoughtful as he eyes me. “You in any trouble, Red? See you got out-of-state plates.”

They’re questioning me about legality?I suppress my snort, thinking it would be impolite, and not wanting to get on the wrong side of them as they heavily outnumber me.

I decide the truth will suffice. If they know I’m squeaky clean, they probably wouldn’t want me anywhere near them. “I’ve not so much as a speeding ticket. I left Vermont because my dad, who was sick for a while, died. I’d been his caregiver.”

“Sorry, man.” Blade’s demeanour has changed. “Must be hard. You wanting a fresh start?”

“Prez said—”

“I know what Drum said, Rock.” The VP rounds on him. “But there’s nothing to say Red here can’t come around as a hangaround. He might see something he likes.”

“Er—” I open my mouth to thank them and somehow tell them I’m not interested, but I’m not given the chance.

“He could come back with us. Take a look around. Talk to Prez if he think’s he’d be a good fit.”

I so do not want to go back with the bikers to their lair. Fuck knows what it would be like. A grotty warehouse comes to my mind.

“You mind getting your hands dirty? Ever thought of being a prospect?”

I need to shut this down fast. “I’m not the man you want. Hell, no criticism intended, but I walk the straight and narrow. Can’t see me stepping off.”

Wraith slaps his hand on my shoulder. “No worries, man. I’ll do the burying of the bodies myself.”

Spinning, I turn my wide eyes on him.He’s got to be joking.But I can’t tell from his expression whether he’s serious or not.

Lefty’s having a private conversation with Blade which seems to consist of grunts, chin lifts and waves of their hands. After a moment, he turns to me, and thank fuck, he uses words.

“You got something you need to be doing?”

Quickly I try to think of something fast. “I was going to go inside and see whether they had any jobs going—”

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