Page 39 of Red's Peril: Part 1

Before he does, he raises his head and his steely eyes have me firmly in his sights. “What say you, Brother?”

Brother?“I, er… I don’t have voting rights,” I remind him.

Drummer frowns, the expression he’s perfected would send an icy chill through anyone’s veins and has that effect on mine. Then he thumps his hand, yet again, on the table. “Well I’ll be fucked. Guess we’ve forgotten something. VP?”

Lefty, presumably reassured his position is secure, reaches under his seat and picks something up. He slides whatever it is down the table. My eyes widen as I catch sight of what Beef, Bullet and finally Tongue, pass along, finally pushing them in my direction.

My hands fucking shake as I reach down and pick the patches up. The Satan’s Devils full colours.

Tears prick in my eyes, and I wipe the back of my hand across them unsurprised when it comes up wet. Trembling, I gaze at them in disbelief and then raise my head, wanting to say something to the assembled men, but have been rendered speechless.

“Get the brother a fuckin’ chair before he falls down,” Drummer snarls.

I’m only vaguely aware of the door opening and closing, of Tongue moving his seat along, and of Wraith placing a new chair beside him. It’s only when Wraith puts his hands on my shoulders and applies pressure that I eventually sit down.

“But I’ve got another three months,” I say, completely bewildered as I take my place.

Drummer, myprez, snorts loudly. “If it wasn’t for your observation and quick thinking,Brother,there might not be a fuckin’ club to give you those months. Welcome aboard, Red.”

As though a switch has been thrown, fists hit the table, feet stamp, and cries ring out. “Ride Satan’s Devils. Satan’s Devils Ride together.”

They’d been stringing me along.Wryly, I grin. “You fuckin’ assholes.” I speak my first memorable words as a full member. “I thought you were going to throw me out.”

“Fuckin’ love this,” Peg roars, chortling.

“Couldn’t make it easy on you,” Rock agrees.

“You fuckin’ knew.” I turn to Wraith, knowing why he couldn’t meet my eyes when I’d first entered. “Motherfucker. You fuckin’ knew.”

Wraith slaps my back, a gesture that makes me exclaim in pain, “I got the same treatment, Brother. You weren’t singled out.”

They’re all assholes, I realise, unable to stop grinning despite the grumbling pain in my kidney that Wraith had re-awoken.But they’re my assholes. My brothers. My family.

Choked, I finally raise my eyes to Drummer whose mouth is curved in an unfamiliar smile. “I won’t let you down.”

“Fuckin’ right you won’t.” Then Drummer’s smile fades. “Back to business. Back to the vote. What say you, Brother?”

He’s asking me whether Lefty should lose his place. “Nay,” I respond without hesitation.

Prez,my prez, slowly nods. “Vote carried. You’ll be at my right hand a while longer, VP.”

No one seems particularly surprised at the outcome, but Lefty grimaces, and raises his chin toward me as if acknowledging the little I did saved his ass.

Drummer raps on the table again and his whole face darkens. “What we’ve got to work out is how the fuck they knew we were coming for them.”

“Someone betrayed us,” Rock states.

“Slick’s the newest arrival,” Dollar observes.

Peg snorts. “Slick was responsible for blowing up the barn. He threw one of the grenades into the trucks. Saw him take out a couple of the Damnation crew. If he was part of them, he was going a funny way about showing it.”

Blade points his knife toward me. “Red took out three himself. Impressive as fuck.”

I feel my all-too-pale face redden.Fuck my complexion, it always gives me away.But him bringing attention on me gives me an opening. “Slick’s solid. He’ll make a good brother when he’s done his time. He’s no fuckin’ plant.”

Drummer’s glance lands one by one on the men sitting around the table. “I trust each and every one of you. If it wasn’t the prospect, who the fuck could have known of our plans?”

Not knowing the protocol, I raise my hand. At Drummer’s raise of his chin, I let him into what I was thinking. “Working behind the bar I got to learn a lot. Like that the Hell’s Damnation have been instigating the recent problems.” When several faces turn toward me, I continue, “See, I gathered all that from listening. I didn’t need to come into church to hear it. The Hell’s Damnation have been needling us, trying to get us to respond. They’d have known we wouldn’t have let it ride or go on too long. They’ve been waiting for us to make a move on them.”

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