I hear Vanna’s indrawn breath but can’t predict her answer. Cas though, he needs no time to think.
“I had a great time. Mace, I loved being on your bike. Seeing the shop. Playing pool with the brothers. Mom, can we come back?”
I try to persuade her. “Think we did the boy some good, Vanna.”
She’s quiet for so long, I’m not even sure she’s going to respond, then I hear a quietly spoken, “I think so, yes. Cas and I need to talk, and I need to think. I don’t want to do anything to hurt Lizard, but is being in his face or staying away the answer?” She shakes her head. “I wish I could talk to his therapist.”
The last one had told her to keep her distance, and I’m not convinced that had been the right solution. But hell, I’m no expert.
To be honest, I don’t know what the correct course of action is. Lizard, for all intents and purposes, is a confirmed bachelor who doesn’t want kids. He’s settled and happy in his life. Knowing the truth and believing it and still feeling the way he does? It would fuck with his head. He’d have to deal with being presented with something he’s certain he doesn’t want. On the other hand, if I could pick a woman for my brother, it would definitely be someone like Vanna. And Cas as a kid? He’s a handful for certain, but also an intelligent boy who, if pointed in the right direction, could have a bright future.
I settle for telling them, “Let me know what you decide. I can come pick you up…”
“I’m perfectly capable of driving us to Pueblo, Mace.”
I hide my grin at her declaration of independence and suppress my dismay that Lizard has no idea what a good woman he has. “Well, just let me know. I’m happy to make the trip or not. Whatever you decide.”
By the time we finish our conversation, we’re approaching Denver. Vanna tells me a shortcut which doesn’t show up on the GPS. In a few minutes sooner than the device originally predicted—and who doesn’t take satisfaction from that?—we’re pulling up outside her house.
I get the bags and carry them to the step. She invites me in, but I cringe at the thought of that cheap coffee, and decide I’ll pick something up when I top off with gas on the way back. I wait until they’re safely inside, then return to my truck and start it.
My lips curve as I drive away. I’m the fuckin’ enforcer. Never in a million years did I think I’d get involved with a woman and her kid, even if I’m standing in as proxy for my brother. Truth be told, if Lizard hadn’t a prior claim on her, I might have been interested in her myself. Though to be honest, it doesn’t take much to excite my dick.
Two hours later I socialise, drink, fuck, then when I’ve tired myself out, go to bed. Just a normal Sunday night on the compound. I switch off completely. With no thoughts lingering to disturb my rest, I sleep soundly until morning. Then I rise and get ready to start my week.
“Mace. That bitch is coming in again today. Vi’s going to start working on that property tat.”
Lizard’s talking about Shayla. With Vanna here, she’d been put right out of my head. Now I remember the good-looking woman who’d interested me last week. I raise my cup of coffee toward Lizard. “Cad find anything more out?”
“Nah. No one’s heard of any other Majors, not in an MC anyway. He’s asked our other chapters and the Wretched Soulz. He’s widening his search, got his contacts on the dark web looking.”
Of course, he has. The way Cad gets his info is a mystery to me. “You going to try to speak to her?”
“Vi is. She’s going to probe who this Major fucker is. Demon’s happy we cover the tat, but if there’s anything she can tell us, he wants to know. Just in case.”
I smirk. “Want me to have a word?”
Lizard chuckles. “Not sure we need your enforcer skills just yet. But you’re welcome to hang around if you want to try out your charm on her.”
“What fuckin’ charm?” I bark a laugh.
“The charm you were using on that bitch this weekend.” His eyes narrow. “What’s she to you, Mace?”
“She’s the wife of an old friend.” I don’t even have to think about my explanation. Little does he know it, but it was the truth that came from my lips. “That’s all, Liz. She’s not for me.”
“Yeah.” He stares off into the distance for a moment. “Noticed she still wears her ring. Faithful to a man who’s gone.”
“She is,” I confirm.
“He die in service?”
I might be happy stretching the truth, but I can’t outright lie to my brother. Seeing Pyro, I avoid answering, calling out instead, “Wait up a minute, Ro!”
The man I’ve called, turns. I pat Liz’s shoulder then leave him and join the man who, today, is not only my MC brother but my boss, the auto-shop manager.
“What’s up, Brother?”
“That girl we spoke about in church. The bitch with the property tat. Vi’s starting work on her today.”
“You need to be there?”
Again, I can’t tell an untruth. “Not really, but if you can spare me…”
Pyro taps his fingers together, his brow creasing. “Ink and the others will probably be enough for today. And put it this way, Mace, if this is going to cause trouble for us, Demon would have my hide if I could have done anything to prevent it. Yeah, you go talk to the bitch. You never know, your newly discovered charm might get more out of her than even Vi.”
He laughs at the scowl on my face. Second person today to mention the word charm in connection with me. Not a good rep for an enforcer.
“Hey, Ro?” I shout to his back. When he pauses his pace, I make an exaggerated pout and follow it up with, “I’ll show you my fuckin’ charms later.” When he laughs loudly and resumes walking to the door, I show my middle finger even though he can’t see it. Shame that fuckin’ gym’s not up and running yet. I could demonstrate my charisma in the ring, starting with rearranging the face of any fucker who thinks I’ve become charming.
I stomp off toward the kitchen, my annoyance fading when I see Mel unpacking tubs of what I know will be confectionary perfection, she’s clearly just brought in. First, I turn and look behind me.
“What’s up?”
“Just saw Pyro walking off in the other direction.”
Mel laughs. “He ate so much at home, I’ve sent him away. I threatened to make him get on the scales.”
I love Mel for my brother. He’s been so much happier and more settled since she’s been in his life, as though he’d found a part of him that had been missing. Mind you, anyone would be lucky to have Mel for a wife. If I had someone who’d cook such delicacies for me, I’d never want to leave home. Just sit, eat, get fatter and fatter, until my time came, and they’d have to take apart the door to get me out of the house.
“Mace?” Mel’s standing with her head to one side. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, darlin’. Just thinking about women who can cook, and where I might find one.”
“Thought you weren’t a one-woman man,” she chides, opening a tub of cinnamon buns and waving them in front of my nose.
Taking one, I agree. “Perhaps one who can cook, one who can clean, one who can f—”
She places her fingers over my mouth. “Keep that thought to yourself, please.” She rolls her eyes. “Hey, what’s with your friend, Vanna? You really just ‘friends’?” She puts the word in air quotes.
“Sure are,” I confirm, the words slightly muffled, spoken as they are around crumbs.
“I noticed something odd about that son of hers.”
“Yeah?” I take another bite.
“Is he related to Lizard by any chance? He looks like him.”
Crumbs fly out of my mouth as I choke. Fuck. Fuckity fuck. When Mel finishes slapping my back, admonishing me for stuffing too much in my mouth, I respond as nonchalantly as I can, “Nah, must be coincidence,” adding, “Poor fucker.”
“Poor, why?”
I wink. “Well, if you think he looks anything like Liz’s ugly mug.”
She bats my arm
.
“How’s the pregnancy going?” I distract her with her favourite topic.
Like expectant moms do, my words cause her to hold her hands to her stomach, pulling her top tight over it to emphasise the still small, yet obvious, baby bump she has going on. “I felt her move last night.”
“Really? You know it’s a girl?”
“No. We decided we don’t want to know. But this is so different to last time, I think it will be.”
I think of starting a book, especially as it appears, I have inside knowledge. Out loud I reassure her, “Everything’s different this time, Mel.” I catch her eyes and hold them. “You’ve got a good fuckin’ man by your side.”
She doesn’t have to say a word to let me know she’s in total agreement.
In the end, I consume three cinnamon rolls and two muffins before getting on my bike. While the sugary taste has lifted my mood, Mel’s words about Cas cause me to worry. Yeah, he very much resembles his dad. I wonder whether anyone else has noticed? Lizard hasn’t, or, at least, he hasn’t remarked on it.
Chapter Ten
Mace
When I arrive at the tattoo parlour, it’s just before eleven. Vi and Liz are out of sight, presumably working with clients, and Jonah’s manning the reception desk. He looks up and raises his chin as I enter, then addresses the woman who’s sitting stiffly waiting on a chair.
“Violet will be with you soon. She’s just running a couple of minutes late.”
The woman is Shayla. I notice again what a pretty face she’s got, won’t be any hardship to keep her company for a few. I take a seat opposite, avoiding sitting next to her as I don’t want to spook her. Sitting back though, when I stretch out my long legs, there’s not much space and my feet touch hers. She jumps and quickly pulls back feet, which look half the size of mine, tucking them under her chair.
“Sorry.” I resituate myself, bending one leg, and resting my other ankle on that knee.
“You’re fine.” Her voice is sweet, quiet and soft.
“Here for a tattoo?”
She seems surprised I’ve spoken again. She looks around, her gaze pointedly landing on the examples of tattoos done by the artists here, then a quick smile comes over her face. “Er, duh?”
I nod at a poster advertising piercings. “You could be here for that.”
She shudders. “No way.”
“Not even ears?” I turn my comment which could have been interpreted as lewd into something more innocent.
“Oh, I had those done years ago.” She relaxes a little, as if she had indeed thought I was being suggestive.
“So where are you having it? Your tat.”
Her mouth presses together. Then, she turns the tables. “What about you?” She gestures toward my arms already covered in colourful depictions of almost every design you can think of. “I can’t believe you have any more space.”
I place my hand over my heart. “I’ve got room here.”
“A woman’s name?” she takes a stab.
“Nah. Not found my one yet.” I don’t add, I’m not looking.
“Right, I’ll leave you with Jonah and he can settle you up. You’ve got your instructions about aftercare?” Vi’s voice reaches us. She drops her client off at the reception desk, then turns to the woman I’ve been speaking to.
“Shayla. Good to see you again. Sorry I overran. You want to come on back?” As she steps aside, she glances down at me. “You okay, Mace?”
“Yeah,” I tell her. “I’m waiting on Liz.”
As the two women disappear, my eyes seem locked on Shayla’s ass. Bit skinnier than I’d normally like, but hell, the way her hips sway when she walks goes straight to my cock.
I flick through a magazine, help myself to a coffee in the back, stand and stretch, then study some of the work Liz produces. Hell, no wonder this place is doing well, he’s a fuckin’ ace artist. As for Vi, seems she’s just getting into her stride. Wouldn’t surprise me if she turned out even better. Jonah’s no slouch either. Hope Whale turns out as good.
“Hey Mace.” Liz puts in an appearance, jerking his head toward the back. When I approach him, he turns and leads the way into his office.
“I spoke to Shayla for a couple of minutes.”
“Yeah?” My statement has captured his interest. “What’s your impression?”
I’ve been thinking about that. “Jumpy, nervous. Of course, she might not enjoy anticipating needles going into her back.” The sound of Vi’s tattoo gun whirring reaches us. “Couldn’t tell much more than that.” Of course, I hadn’t been able to come straight out and ask her about the tattoo she didn’t know I knew she had. “Seems quiet in here today?”
“It’s Monday, Brother. Sometimes I wonder why we open at all. Don’t get much walk-in business. The hairdressers next door is closed, so we get no business from that.”
I nod. “How long is Vi going to be?”
“Depends on the tolerance of her client. She’s booked her in for a four-hour stretch. Fancy a smoke?”
I do. In deference to the clients rather than any citizen law, we step out the back. The sun is shining as I take out my cigarettes and pass him one. I flick my lighter, then cupping my hand around it, hold the flame to his, then to mine. I breathe in smoke, feeling the nicotine soaking into my lungs. I know I should give up and have been cutting down, but hey, a man’s allowed at least one vice. Hmm. Got a few more than that. Shit, riding my bike is dangerous for my health, but who the fuck cares? You only get one life, might as well enjoy it.
We stand and enjoy our cigarettes in a comfortable silence.
“Appreciate the company if I’m honest, Mace.”
I raise my chin in answer. “Can you take off? If Shayla’s going to be tied up with Vi for a spell, and this place is dead, we could go and get some lunch.”
“Don’t see why the fuck not.” He brightens and stubs out his cigarette in the receptacle provided for that purpose. “Let me just check with Jonah. If there’s been no sudden rush,” his mouth twists showing he doesn’t expect it, “want to go get tacos?”
“Yeah.” I could definitely eat, my sugar-filled breakfast already forgotten. I suspect Liz will suggest a food truck which has surprisingly good offerings.
Jonah’s good, so we go get ourselves fed. When we return, Vi’s at reception. She turns when we walk in.
“Shayla’s gone, but she’s coming back.” Unusual for the prez’s woman, she seems tense.
“You’re doing more work today?”
Vi shakes her head at Liz. “No, but she’s bringing a friend with her.” She inclines her head toward the back and stands. Following, I once again find myself in Liz’s office.
“So?” Liz queries as soon as the door is closed.
Vi looks at me, then her boss. “Her friend also has a tat she wants covered up.”
“More business,” Liz observes, while from the look on her face, I’m wondering whether there’s more to it than something which, on the face of it, doesn’t seem strange. We often get more clients from personal recommendations.
“She give you any info about this Major?” I throw in.
“No.” Vi’s lips press together. “She’s not very chatty. I did try and probe a little, asking if a relationship had gone sour. From her reaction, it certainly had, but she didn’t give me any details.”
“Is that usual?” I ask. “Do people normally shoot the shit while you’re working on them?”
Vi shrugs. “It depends. Some will hold a conversation to take their mind off what I’m doing, some get lost in the sensations. I’m sorry, but I really couldn’t read much into it.”
“What’s your view of her, Vi?”
Another rise and dip of her shoulders, and that worried little frown appears again. “She’s not from here, has recently moved to Pueblo, that much she did tell me. She found us online, came to us because of our reputation and good reviews.”
“She know the shop’s owned by the Satan’s Devils?”
&nbs
p; “I think so, yes.”
A lot of nothing. Apart from some very acceptable tacos, on the surface, a wasted day for me. But Vi does seem unusually agitated.
“What are you worried about?” I ask her directly.
She shrugs again. “I don’t know, Mace. Something feels… wrong.”
There’s a knock and the door simultaneously opens to reveal Jonah. He jerks his head at Vi.
“Your client’s back. She’s got a friend with her.”
“Why that face, Jo?” Liz queries, having picked up something’s not right just as I have.
“If that girl’s eighteen, I’ll eat my fuckin’ socks,” Jonah tells us.
Lizard leans forward and starts banging his head on the desk.
“If she’s got a parent’s consent, she can get a tattoo done. No lower age limit in Colorado with permission,” I remind Liz.
He points up to the list of the shop’s rules on the wall. No tattoos under the age of 18. Yeah, we set our own requirements. I know Liz’s reasoning, should someone point the finger at us, all those parental permissions are just one more set of paperwork he needs to have and keep straight.
“It’s not a tat,” says Vi. “It’s a coverup.”
It’s a reminder that someone, somewhere, has already given an underage girl a tattoo. One she now regrets from the sounds of it.
“Boss.” Jonah looks awkward. “What do you want me to do?”
Vi stands, using her hand to push herself up. “Let me handle this. I’ll take her back to my station, have a look at what she wants done. Ask her, her age, then report back.”
Unlike me, the prez’s woman couldn’t appear less threatening if she tried. Certainly, a good idea to let her handle this.
Devil's Spawn: Satan's Devils MC Colorado Chapter #6 Page 9