Page 75 of Red's Peril: Part 1

“Proud of you, Brother.”

“Back atcha.”

“You heard we lost Digger?”

I go blank for a moment, search my brain, then remember. “Fuck, I’d forgotten about him. Thought he’d have been in the ground a while back.” He was occasionally around while I was prospecting. “He die a patch?”

Wraith chuckles. “Doubt he’d come around the club in a few years. He was one of the original members, loyal to Bastard, so no, Drum never took his patch. We kinda overlooked that he couldn’t ride. We had a funeral but kept it local.” He shrugs. “Not sure people would have known who he was anymore.”

“Red!” a voice bellows out. When Drummer approaches, I raise my chin. “Where the fuck’s Brick? I thought he’d be here.”

“Meeting with the Wretched Soulz, you know how it is.” I shrug, hoping he doesn’t take the subject further.

“Yeah, fuckers think they pull our strings.” Drummer gives a sympathetic shrug as he swallows my line without question. “I suppose we do have to dance to their tune when it suits us. Hey, look at you two.” Standing back, he offers one of his uncommon grins. “Who’d have thought you two reprobates would rise to the top?” In truth, he looks as proud as fuck, and I feel warm as though I’m getting approval from my father.

But the answer is he had foreseen this outcome, I’m sure he had. Or something of the like, way back in the day when he originally sent me to Vegas.

We drink, socialise, catch up and listen to stories of Lefty and the shit he got up to in the past. Mid-evening, Wraith catches up with me.

He leans in. “Pussy’s in the crash room waiting for us. Girl thinks she’s won the fuckin’ lottery being fucked by two VPs.”

“Yeah?” I smirk. “Well, we better go and prove her right.”

Half an hour later, I’m sliding into Pussy’s cunt with Wraith slipping into her ass, and I have the feeling of having come home. We adopt our old rhythm as if it’s been days, not years, since we’ve taken a girl together. I slide in as he slides out, and if Pussy’s sighs, moans and cries are anything to go by, we haven’t lost our touch.

Using my fingers on her clit, I ensure she reaches the peak at just the right time, and the room is filled with one scream and two grunts as we all find our release together.

“Jeez, boys,” Pussy gasps out when she’s able to get enough breath to speak. “I think you two just about wore me out.”

Wraith, like me, is busy tying his condom, but he pauses to slap her butt. “Got a club full of visiting Brothers, Pussy. Think you’ll need to get your stamina back.”

She pretends to pout but her giggle gives away that she’s not at all put out. “Oh, I think I can manage that.” Biting her lip coyly she adds, “I’ve done two VPs, do you think I can do two prezes?”

I snort. “You’re not playing a fuckin’ card game.” Through my laughter I add, “Drummer, Snatcher and Bird are your only options, sweetheart. Hellfire’s tight with his ol’ lady, or so I’ve heard.”

“He’s a silver fox, isn’t he?” She looks unperturbed and flutters her eyelids coyly. “Maybe I can tempt him to stray.”

If she can, then that’s on him, not her. Either way, whether men stay faithful or not is none of my business.

Girls are few and far between tonight, so having got laid, Wraith and I keep to our own company. I notice Wraith keeping an eye on the rowdiness. It might be his club, but I help him out. We break up a couple of alcohol-fuelled fights, and when Pussy says no and means it to a man who’s not taking that for an answer, we step in and send her back to the sweet butts’ house.

Fuck, those girls have worked overtime tonight. There comes a point when even they can’t take it.

“Hey, Brother.” Heart comes over to me, his arm around a very pretty young woman. “Meet Crystal, my old lady.”

I raise an eyebrow.Old lady?From the way he’s staring down at her, it’s clear to see he’s a sucker deep in love, and she’s returning his gaze with stars in her eyes. They make a good pair, and what can I do, but wish them good luck? As they walk off, I find myself envying him for having something I never had.

“She’s pregnant, you know,” Wraith informs me quietly.

“That why—?”

My brother laughs. “Why they got hitched? No. What you’re looking at is a love match made in heaven, Brother. There’ll never be another woman for him but her. Don’t have to be an expert to see that.”

“You envious, Bro? You looking to take an ol’ lady?” I don’t let him into my secret that I often have, though the chance has eluded me.

“Me?” Wraith snorts. “Fuck no. I’m surrounded by pussy, and I like the variety. I won’t ever be settling down.” He punches my arm. “What about you?”

I bark a laugh. Unbeknownst to him, I’m looking at wearing the prez patch shortly. “Got no time, Bro.” I watch Heart so proudly walking around and introducing his wife to everybody. “It takes a special woman to come into this life, and good for Heart if he thinks he’s found it. Me? I never have.” Maybe once, but she left me. Now when I think of her and what I might have missed, I believe I’m blowing our brief connection up and out of proportion. Maybe it’s because she’s the only woman who’s ever turned me down. Though, at the time, I didn’t have much to offer. Even less now, perhaps. Who’d want to be hitched to the prez of an outlaw club? Only someone like Rosa, hard as nails, or Moira, Hellfire’s old lady, who by all accounts, is even worse.

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