Page 54 of Red's Peril: Part 1

“Prospect?”

At Hammer’s call, Josh runs up. “Take Red up to the room prepared for him. Check he’s got everything he wants.”

A quick up and down bob of his head shows me Josh will do the task and happily, just as any prospect should. Inwardly I grin as that was me not so long ago.

Sliding off the stool, I pick up my saddlebags. Carrying them in one hand, I follow the prospect across the clubroom and over to the metal staircase I’d noticed earlier. It clangs under my motorcycle boots with each step that I take. When we’re at the top, I find we’re in a long corridor with doors off to the left and right.

A suspicious aroma exudes from one, my hunch proved correct when Josh pauses, points and says, “That’s the heads. There’s another at the other end of the corridor.”

Heads?My eyes narrow as I prepare to lower my expectations.

At the fourth door along, the prospect comes to a halt, pulls out a key and turns it in the lock, then pushes the door open. “This is you.”

I glance in, taking in the meagre decoration and the dark intimidating interior, feeling my spirits sink.I left Tucson for this?A wave of homesickness goes through me, and I have the sudden desire not to unpack, just to pick up my bags and run back home. Only, it’s not home anymore. Drummer had made it clear, if I made the move, I was gone for good.Unless I fuck up.I start wondering what it would take for them to kick me out.

Josh leaves. I close the door and step inside, laying my bags on the at least clean-looking king-size bed. Then I go to the small window and glance out. Darkness has fallen so I can’t see much, but I doubt I would anyway. There’s no balcony, nowhere to sit in the fresh air and take in the night. Worse, as I turn, I see my suspicion was correct, there’s no other door suggesting I have my own bathroom.

Fuck.

Running my fingers through my hair, I recall that apart from living with my family, I’ve never shared a bathroom before. Even the motel rooms where I’ve stayed have all come with en suites. Maybe it wouldn’t matter to the vets who’ve lived in barracks, but to me? Hell, I like a bit of privacy when I shower, particularly when I rub one out. As for crapping, I don’t even want to go there. Or brushing my teeth when someone’s taking a dump in the stall behind me? I shudder at just the thought.

My first impulse is to get onto Drummer and beg him to take me back.

Man the fuck up, Red.

Oh, I’ll try. But…no bathroom?

I can barely bring myself to unpack, but I force myself to. I’ve made my bed and have no option but to lie in it.Maybe Vegas will have something to compensate.Right now, I’m not sure what.I could rent my own place in town.Approaching the age of twenty-eight, maybe it’s time I put down roots. I baulk at turning down free accommodation but know I can’t have it both ways.I was spoiled in Arizona.

Putting my belongings away, I place a photo Carmen had taken of the Tucson club on the bedside table, then check the drawer. Stocked up with condoms, I note, realising some things, at least, are the same.

I grin as I remember Wraith’s last admonishment to me.Always wrap it up, Brother.Hell, I never forget. Then I grimace as my mind goes back to the time when I didn’t bother, when I was naïve enough to trust a woman to take care of herself.

My fingers press into my temples.Cheryl would have loved the Tucson compound.Here, not so much. More than two years later and that woman still resides in part of my head. I give myself a shake, hoping to clear her from it.

When I’ve stowed my shit, I take a deep breath, and pay an overdue visit to the heads. As I piss long enough to represent my country, I notice they’re clean enough, but even the strong smell of disinfectant can’t completely cover the odour of urine, and the aromatic evidence that someone’s recently used one of the stalls. I check out the showers, basic, with just a plastic curtain for privacy.

Oh well, that’s a no then to shower sex. That place in town starts to look rosier.

My phone rings as I hang my last t-shirt in the closest. Picking it up, I wince when I see the caller, but answer anyway.

“What’s up, Wraith?”

“Just checking you got there safely. What’s the club like?”

I don’t want him to know I’m having regrets, nor feeling guilty he should have been here in my place. “They seem a solid group of brothers.”

“And the accommodations?”

I can’t lie, but settle for, “Basic, but okay.”

“Already miss you, Brother.”

I miss him like fuck. All of them. “Miss you too, Wraith. But I think this was a good move to make.” That’s for his benefit. Personally, I can’t see how this is going to work, or how I could be happy here. It’s too strange, there’s nothing familiar.

“Fuckin’ ace, Brother. I’ve been worried about you. I keep thinking maybe I should have gone instead.”

I snort and lie. “Fuckin’ glad you didn’t. Else I’d have missed out on everything Vegas.” In truth, I think I could have lived my whole life without regretting that. I realise if we talk longer, he’ll figure out I’m stretching the truth. “Gotta run, Brother.”

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