Page 33 of Red's Peril: Part 1

“Not yet.” Slick doesn’t seem overly concerned. “Know what you’re going to be doing?”

I start shaking my head but am interrupted.

“Red? Lefty wants you.” Blade’s hanging off the doorframe that leads to the shop’s office.

“Guess I’m about to find out.” I wink at Slick, slip off my overalls, wash what oil I can off my hands, and then head up to the clubhouse.

“In my office.” Drummer waves in that direction as I appear.

Giving him a chin lift, I notice Raquel and Selina are peering on interested, and hence respect the need for privacy. As a bartender, I’ve observed those girls don’t seem to limit their curiosity to the brothers’ sexual preferences.

Entering the office, I find Lefty standing, but he gestures me to a seat. He remains upright and folds his arms over his chest.

As I sit, he starts, “Red. How long you been with us now?”

He knows without asking, but I answer anyway.

“Nine months.”

He gives a slow nod. “Hmm. Seeing that patch just over the horizon, are you?”

Trick question?“I’m doing all I can to get it, VP.”

There’s a pause, then his hand comes down on my shoulder. “And it shows, Prospect. It shows.” He takes a step toward the desk that’s in front of me, opening a map and anchoring it with a cup and a paperweight. “There’s a club called the Hell’s Damnation who are based here.” He points to a particular spot. “They’ve been causing some trouble for us. Fucked up a few of our runs.”

I know that the Devils run guns over the border to Mexico. It’s a lucrative business. While as a citizen I’d have been uneasy with it, I’ve settled my head on the matter by accepting if it wasn’t us, someone else would do it. Putting a weapon in someone’s hands doesn’t make anyone else responsible for what they do with it.

“They took a delivery that was meant for us,” Lefty continues. “Today, we’re going to get it back. Want you along, Red. You’ll drive the crash truck, and park up here,” he taps a particular point, “and watch over the bikes. You got that?”

I’ve got that. Although I might want to be part of the front line, I’m also conscious of the trust he’s showing me by letting me into this much of his plan. That patch seems more likely.

My response comes from the heart. “I won’t let you down, VP. When do we go?”

“Tonight. We’ll approach under the cover of darkness.”

He talks to me for a bit, making sure I understand what I’m doing and that I’m not going to fuck things up, and does so without sharing too many details.

I return to work. Slick doesn’t ask questions. Then I go to my room and change and prepare myself for the evening. I’m excited as fuck and feeling ten feet tall when I enter the clubroom.

The first thing I notice is that the sweet butts are missing, banished to their house at the top of the compound, I expect. The second is that also absent are the two old ladies, Carmen and Sandy. Usually at this time of day, the women are in the kitchen working their magic, but today they must be at their homes off compound. Slick’s in their place, trying hard to make edible sandwiches.

The atmosphere is different—no music is playing, and there’s less talking. Men are more serious than usual, and weapons are being cleaned and prepared, and occupying spaces on the tables where drinks would normally appear.

I help Slick out for a bit, then go back to my normal place. But bar duties are slight— the odd beer is requested, but in the main, alcohol in large quantities is being avoided.

In a particularly long lull, Slick, now back beside me, thumps my back. “You be careful out there, man,” he tells me quietly.

My sense that this is a serious situation grows and along with the excitement at being included, I also feel apprehensive.If I want to join the club, I’ll be expected to give my life for it.There’s a chance I won’t be coming back.

This is the turning point, the time I throw in with the Devils.

If I die for the club, so be it.Somehow, over the past nine months, these men, their way of life, has become important to me. Looking around, I assess the men once again, seeing how close they are and knowing I’d give anything to be part of this family, even if I have to give my life for it.

It’s now I realise while I might still have a prospect’s patch on my back, already I’m a Satan’s Devil at heart. That I’ve a real chance at it is solidified as Lefty’s trusted me with the knowledge that tonight there will be a hit on the Hell’s Damnation compound.

It’s close to midnight when Drummer gives the signal we’re heading out. Raising my chin at Slick, I follow the brothers, noticing Peg, Beef and Wraith give back slaps and receive them, but stay in the clubroom. Guess I now know who's going to be with Slick protecting the compound.

“You got a gun?” Lefty’s hand shoots out to stop me as I go past him.

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