Page 56 of Red's Peril: Part 1

I raise an eyebrow toward Brick. “Not wary of strangers, are they?”

“Not if they’re wearing a Satan’s Devils cut. Makes you part of the family.” He tilts his head toward the boy still demanding to be picked up.

More used to hefting heavy boxes of motorcycle parts, I put my hands down and lift him up. There’s not much finesse in it, but it makes him giggle.Oh fuck.I just about manage not to drop him when he leans back and waves his hands about.Don’t kids have any sense of self-preservation?

Brick’s chuckling, seeming not to find it odd a stranger is carrying, or trying to carry, his wriggling son. He just takes his own bundle of dubious joy and marches into the clubhouse expecting me to follow him.

“Got you roped into babysitting duties already?” Tiffany laughs when she sees me walking inside, holding the kid awkwardly.

But she takes pity on me when she sees me struggling, holding out her arms and taking him from me. She balances him on one hip and looks quite expert about it. “You been good for your Uncle Red, Trist?”

At least she can tell which one he is. And how the fuck did I pick up the uncle title?

Brick, having rid himself of his twin, returns. “Ready to head for church now?”

Too right I am. Time for some adult conversation and topics which I do know something about. Kids? Maybe it will happen in my future if I find the right woman to have at my side, but right now? You can keep ‘em.

Chapter Twenty-One

The Vegas meeting room is much the same as Tucson’s, enclosed with no windows and no way for peering eyes to see in. Brick indicates I should drop my phone in the box Josh is holding. Being one of Drummer’s dictates as well, I have no aversion to following his rule.

The large table is oval, with the Satan’s Devils’ insignia carved into the top. The seating arrangements are peculiar. Some chairs are next to each other, but there are definite gaps. As I take the seat the prez waves me to, I watch as the rest of the members come in, intrigued when the chairs are left in the same positions. It looks like the seats have been removed, but spaces are still left. I realise these are for the three members who have recently left.

Are they expecting them back?My brow creases in thought. As far as I’m concerned, they broke the Satan’s Devils’ rules, maybe the unwritten ones, but they’d brought the eyes of the cops down on the club. While Devils don’t always walk the right side of the line, committing a crime for personal gain which brings blowback on the MC is not something I believe Drummer would have tolerated.

I want to know answers. I’ve committed to moving to Vegas, but surely I won’t be held to my word if this chapter isn’t what I could have anticipated. Keeping the door open for the traitors is not what I expected.

Brick bangs the gavel once all members are seated, and then stares straight at me. “We’re here, Brothers, to formally welcome our new member. Let’s introduce ourselves. I, and the VP need no introduction, but…?” He tilts his head toward the man on his left.

“Crash, sergeant-at-arms. We’ve met,” he adds as an afterthought.

Indeed we have. I incline my head.

“Fox. I take care of the money, collect dues and give out your pay.”

I grin. “I’ll be extra nice to you.”

“Keys. If you need help from technology, I’m your guy.”

I know that already as we’d spoken last night, but it seems Brick wants to go through the formalities.

“Titch,” the old biker growls. “Don’t ask me for anything and we’ll do okay.”

A few chuckles follow his statement.

Cobra and Hammer introduce themselves next, followed by Twister, who gives me an evil look as he adds his rank of enforcer. He can’t intimidate me, not after Blade.

Brick picks up the conversation when all have introduced themselves. “Red comes highly recommended by Drummer. He proposed him as a useful person to have around.”

My damn skin betrays me yet again, as I suffer through the praise of my ex-prez.

“Yeah?” Titch doesn’t seem convinced by the prez’s words. “What you got to offer?”

“I’m a darn good mechanic,” I tell him. Not adding Drummer expected me to be here for anything else.

Titch’s face brightens at that.

“Know much about this club?” Rainman asks. Then, without waiting for me to answer, he continues, “We still, er, used to, run a few guns. Not that we can do that any longer.” His face momentarily tightens. “We’ve got the auto-shop as you’re aware. Titch runs that. We’ve a strip joint, but that’s having to compete with the big clubs nearer the centre. Hammer’s trying to make that work, but it’s tough.”

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