I don’t have to wait long, tonight’s our regular church. As I walk into the now cleared meeting room restored to its original glory, I take my seat, deep in thought and staring down at the new table we’ve had commissioned. In similar vein to much of the furniture in the clubhouse which has fast become home, the table was made by a local carpenter. Engraved in the middle is our emblem, Lucifer carrying his scythe and looming over three devils.
It’s a far cry from the previous clubhouse. I don’t think any of us feel less comfortable here.
I wait for the appropriate ‘any other business’ slot, then raise my hand. In a concise few words I update my brothers about the call from Pip.
“You’re asking fuckin’ permission?” Thor shakes his head and raises his eyes to me.
“You could really walk away?” Preacher seems surprised.
Snatcher just lifts his eyebrows.
“Smythe will be taken care of,” I emphasise. “It doesn’t need to be by my hand. I’m not saying I wouldn’t enjoy taking him out, but there’s more that matters to me. My club, my family, and my woman.”
“Just goes to show some knocks on the head have lasting effects.” Goofy grins. In true Stormy fashion, I show him my finger, but it’s half-hearted. Since the time I disarmed the bomb he’d been wearing, I and the old man have become close.
“I think you should do it,” Prez states, his lips pursing. “This is club business. Smythe was behind the attack that lost us the clubhouse. Anyone disagree?”
No one does. One raised hand surprises me, or not so much the action, but the words that accompany it.
“Not going to let a brother ride on his own. I’ll go along.” Swift raises her chin toward me.
I couldn’t ask for better than that. “I’d be glad to fuckin’ have you,” I reply, sincerely. Oh, it’s not all roses between us, I remain determined to one day beat her ass in the gym. So far, she’s always bested me. But asshole that I am, I keep trying.
A quick vote is taken, and it’s quickly decided. I’m going, and Swift is coming with me.
A week later, I’m sitting on top of a roof, watching as a prison truck comes into view half a mile away to rendezvous with the jail transport that’s waiting. I take in a deep breath, hold it, steady my hand and wait.
Nonchalantly, Smythe steps out acting as if he’s no care in the world. His attitude makes me wonder if he’s still expecting to somehow find a way out.
No chance. You end today. This is for you, Pooh. And for you, Tailor, Buster and Slice.
I pull the trigger, taking the relatively easy shot that doesn’t come close to my longest distance.
A single bullet to the forehead and he drops down dead, slaughtered like the animal he is.
Swift chuckles beside me as I start to pack up. “That’s all there is to it? Fuck, Brother. That’s too fuckin’ easy. You don’t even get your hands dirty.”
As we retrace our steps and go to our motorcycles parked next to the SUV, I nudge her. “Yeah, fuckin’ coward that’s what I am.” I pass my equipment over to Brute, who immediately drives away.
“Well, you can keep that. I prefer seeing the whites of their eyes.”
“Each to their—” My phone rings, cutting me off. “Pip?”
“It’s over, Stormy. Thought you’d like to know Marjan’s safe.”
“Fuck. Is the kid okay?”
“She will be,” he says grimly. “She provided a lot of the evidence that put him where you could get to him today.”
“She in danger?”
“Don’t worry about that. We’re getting her somewhere safe.”
I end the call feeling lighter than I think I ever have.
As Swift points to some shrubs, like a gentleman I turn away, letting her take her piss in private. It’s over, I muse, swinging my leg over the seat and waiting for her. Soon we’ll be on our way, heading back to Utah and the woman who’s waiting for me. All the loose ends have been tied and all the ramifications of my fuckups in the past have been erased.
A breeze blows the hair into my face, air tinged with the smell of cordite and gun oil, the distinctive aroma left after an assault weapon has been fired. It brings back a memory of Pooh and I as we cleared an area of insurgents, as if he is here with me today. Suddenly, a bird shoots up from the undergrowth beside me, a young hawk flying away. Was that a sign, Pooh?
“Promise me one thing, Storm,” Swift calls out as she walks back. “You won’t be pulling that trick of crashing into the clubhouse today.”
I snort.
“I promise you.” Placing her hand on her hips she winks. “If you try and show me your finger, I’ll fucking break it off.”
Now that, I wouldn’t put past her.
Two bikes ride off. Two brothers, friends and comrades in arms. Twisting the throttle, I toss back my head, letting the wind carry my laughter away.
Coming Soon
Throttle
Born into the club, I’m a Satan’s Devil to my core.
I suppose, given that my mom is a firefighter and my dad the ex-sergeant-at arms, I grew up with the need to protect running through my veins, and was the logical choice to become the enforcer when the vacancy emerged.
I may be young, but I’m strong and dependable, and always in control. I love my life and want no other.
But I was knocked off kilter when things started happening that I couldn’t understand. Suddenly, I was plunged into a world I couldn’t direct. Unable to fulfil the expectations people had of me, I began to flounder.
How could I balance my own desires with the duty that was being thrust on me?
I didn’t want a woman of my own. I didn’t want to be a husband. I had years before I thought I’d be settling down.
But fate, it seems, has other ideas.
And it terrifies me.
Other Works by Manda Mellett
Blood Brothers – A series about sexy dominant sheikhs and their bodyguards
Stolen Lives (#1) Nijad and Cara
Close Protection (#2) Jon and Mia
Second Chances (#3) Kadar and Zoe
Identity Crisis (#4) Sean and Vanessa
Dark Horses (#5) Jasim and Janna
Hard Choices (#6) Aiza
Satan’s Devils MC - Arizona Chapter
Turning Wheels (Blood Brothers #3.5, Satan’s Devils #1) Wraith and Sophie
Drummer’s Beat (#2) Drummer and Sam
Slick Running (#3) Slick and Ella
Targeting Dart (#4) Dart and Alex
Heart Broken (#5) Heart and Marc
Peg’s Stand (#6) Peg and Darcy
Rock Bottom (#7) Rock and Becca
Joker’s Fool (#8) Joker and Lady
Mouse Trapped (#9) Mouse and Mariana
Blade’s Edge (#10) Blade and Tash
Heart Mended: A Satan’s Devils MC Novella
Truck Stopped (#11) Truck & Allie
Satan's Devils MC Boxset 1 Books 1-5
Satan’s Devils MC Boxset 2 Books 6-8
Satan’s Devils MC Boxset 3 Books 9-11
Satan’s Devils MC - Colorado Chapter