Devil's Due: Satan's Devils MC Colorado Chapter #3

by Manda Mellett

  Why Mace? Why wasn’t my first thought Blade? I’ve known him far longer.

  “You okay, Brother?”

  I give Thunder a look that pointedly asks, what do you think? I’ll only be alright once Stevie’s back in my arms and I know she’s unharmed.

  As we walk, he places his hand on my back which feels naked without my cut. A silent gesture of support. No need for more words.

  Drummer and Wraith are walking ahead with the Wretched Soulz prezes and VPs. All following a man who looks like he knows death isn’t far away, being dragged along by the enforcer. Fucker will co-operate to try to prevent it, but I’m doubtful his life will be measured by anything more than hours.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The house Fucker takes us to looks run down and uncared for, but basically sound. The neighbourhood around matches. As we drive by slowly, I take in a man bent over a beat-up car, attracted by the engine noise. He stands and yawns widely, the state of his teeth showing me he’s clearly a meth addict.

  The SUV Stinger and Brake are in along with Fucker draws to a halt around the corner. We park behind.

  “Fucker says there’s a rear entrance. That’s how they get the girls in and out. I’ve sent Shift around the back to see what the set ups like.” He nods to one of his members who’s disappearing amongst bushes, already crouched down. At my look of concern, he reassures me. “Shift knows what he’s doing. They won’t spot him.”

  “We need to attack from both sides,” Chaz suggests. The two Wretched Soulz prezes didn’t need to come along, but both, together with their VPs, had decided they weren’t missing out on any of the action today.

  “How do you want us to split up?” Drummer defers to the LA Soulz prez.

  “You, Wraith, Beef, Thunder, Chaz and Bull take the back. The rest of us will come in from the front. Use what force you have to. You take your woman, Beef. I’ll deal with any other girls.”

  “Deal?” Devil’s frowning.

  Stinger gives him a measured look. “I can find work for them if that’s what they want. Don’t like unwilling women, so we’ll leave them alone.”

  “I’ll arrange to get them home,” Devil challenges.

  A moment of consideration, then, “Yeah. Okay.”

  I’m not sure that’s what he’d have normally done if a consultant with connections to the feds wasn’t here, but it eases my conscience that I’m only intent on saving one woman.

  “You’re with me,” Drummer tells Devil.

  For an answer, Devil slides out a gun and checks it. He meets my appraisal with a lop-sided grin. “When in America…”

  My weapon’s already primed and ready, and I’m pleased to see everyone is in a serious mood making their own preparations. Chaz, who’ll be leading our team, bends his head close to Stinger’s as they make the final arrangements. I’m bouncing on my feet in a hurry to get moving, but if this isn’t done right, people inside might die, including Stevie.

  Stinger calls Drummer, RIP and myself to join him.

  “Problem we’ve got is that Fucker can’t tell us how many Jokers are inside. They come and go, particularly to sample new merchandise.”

  “Fuckin’—”

  “Can it, Beef,” Drummer stops me. “Deal with what you find, not what’s in your fuckin’ imagination. Got it?”

  I’ve got it. But it’s hard to stop myself thinking the worst.

  Stinger’s looking impatient. I nod, showing I’ve got myself under control. Outwardly, at least.

  “Warped Jokers are likely to kill the woman, so she can’t testify. Fucker’s coming to the door with us, he’ll get them to open up. Once he’s inside, we’ll be right behind him. I’ll give you the signal, Chaz, and you can bust in the back door. I’m hoping we can do this quietly.” He pauses. When Brake holds up his knife, he nods. “Our priority is to get to the women before bullets start flying.”

  “Where are the women being held?” Wraith asks, his eyes going to the man who’s agreed to betray his brothers.

  “In the back, according to Fucker.”

  At that moment, Shift returns. “Windows are blacked out, can’t see anything. But the frames look fairly weak, and I’ve just picked the lock on the back door. Couldn’t hear anything going on inside.”

  Stinger nods. “Okay. While we get their attention out front, your team, Chaz, enters at the rear. Find the women and protect them. Beef, you can help here. If your woman’s there, she’ll know you, and can help keep the others calm. Otherwise…” Otherwise they’ll just think there’re new men come to rape them. “Keep them covered and their heads down.”

  Sounds simple as a plan, though I know there’s a thousand things that can go wrong. One thing in our favour is that we’ve got the manpower. Doesn’t mean much if bullets start flying. But once I find Stevie I’ll use my body as a human shield. Don’t mind taking a bullet for her, there must be something I was brought back from the dead for, and maybe this is it.

  A few last final words, then it’s time. Shift accompanies us as he’s already found out the best way to get to the rear without being seen.

  The bushes that serve to hide the residence from prying eyes also afford us cover. Keeping low and quiet, we make our way around the one-story building. Shift points to the door he’s already opened. Chaz holds up his hand. When his phone vibrates, he points to the door.

  Chaz takes the lead, I slip in right behind him. The kitchen is empty. I’m just breathing out a sigh of relief when a toilet flushes in a half-bath off to one side. Chaz takes the left, I take the right. The door opens, a blade flashes, and as if we had choreographed it, I have the dead body in my arms and lowered to the floor without any sound.

  Drummer and Devil have come in behind us. Chaz points to two doors, one either side of a small hallway. Drummer opens one, Chaz the other. One is empty, soiled bedding strewn all over. Have they been warned and moved the girls? Fuck, no. Impossible. How could they have known?

  The other Chaz pushes against but it doesn’t budge. Looking there’s a bolt, top and bottom. As we slide them back carefully, there’s a shot from the front, followed by another.

  “We’ve got your back,” Thunder says quickly. “Get in there, Beef.”

  Chaz holds the door open for me. Still with my gun in my hand, I step inside.

  It’s dark, dingy, the windows have been painted black. There’s a light switch I flick but it doesn’t work. Thunder passes me a flashlight and I switch it on to reveal a world of horror. About a dozen women are cowering together, half dressed, clearly beaten and cowed.

  “Stevie!” I call out, but there’s no answer.

  Fuck no. Wrong place.

  I turn in horror as Devil steps inside, pushing past me and rasping out, “Go find her, Beef. I’ll take care of these.”

  More bullets are flying. Screams of pain as they meet their targets.

  “Stevie!” I shout louder now.

  “Beef!” Comes an answer. It’s her voice. She sounds terrified. But fuck, where is she?

  Chaz kicks a door open behind which is chaos and action. Men are hiding behind overturned furniture firing toward the door. Our entrance has startled them, and I get off shots before they realise they’re fighting on two fronts now.

  Stevie. Stevie. Where the fuck are you?

  “Stop firing or she dies.”

  I turn, slowly. My eyes widening in horror as I see one of the Jokers has Stevie held in front of him, a gun pressed hard against her forehead.

  Quickly I analyse the scene. There are four other Jokers. Two dead or incapacitated, two alive. One of whom I recognise. My eyes narrow. It’s Cray. Fucking knew we shouldn’t have let him go free.

  “Stay where you are,” Stinger snaps as they try to move closer to the man holding Stevie.

  Guns are pointed at Stevie and us. Guns are pointed at them. We outnumber them, but as far as I’m concerned, the only important person is the woman I love.

  I might be standing in the room with four presidents, b
ut that’s my girl there. Without consultation I take a step forward, my action causing the gun to be pressed harder into her forehead.

  “You’re not going to get out of this,” I tell the man who’s obviously the leader of this group of men. “Give yourself a chance. All we want is the woman.”

  “Allow her to testify? We’ll all end up in the pen. Nah. My prez gave me orders. See that she never gets to court.”

  “You haven’t got a prez any longer. You haven’t got an MC. It’s over for the Warped Jokers and for you if you shoot her. Yeah, you might take a couple of us down with you, but you’re outnumbered and outgunned. You kill her? We kill you.”

  “Shorty…” His comrade I don’t know is looking around nervously. Cray’s eyes are wild, and I’m worried about the way he’s holding his gun. He’s recognised me and Thunder.

  “Shut it. You know what Mad Bull wants,” Shorty replies.

  “You let her go, we let you walk out of here.” I’m making a promise I’m certain Stinger won’t keep, but I’ll try any ploy to get Stevie back into my arms, alive and unhurt.

  Stinger’s leaning lazily against the wall. He doesn’t seem bothered about what’s going on. Casually he takes out a cigarette and lights it. After he’s drawn smoke into his lungs and let it out to pollute the air, he says, lazily, “Shorty, is it? Well, you know who I am?”

  A nod confirms he’s been recognised.

  “We’re stepping into your trade. All we want is the girls, and that includes her.”

  “Satan’s Devils want to protect her. Want to get her to court.”

  For once, I’m grateful I’m not wearing my cut when Stinger responds, “You see any Devils here? All the cuts I see are Soulz.”

  Shorty looks left and right, and finally at me. I stare back stoically.

  Cray opens his mouth. Then, for some reason he doesn’t say anything. Has he calculated he’s got better odds to get out of here if he stays quiet? Thinks he’s doing us a favour?

  “So who are you then?” he finally asks.

  “Who they are doesn’t matter. Who the Soulz consort with is no concern of yours. What matters is we’ve both got something we want. I want the women, all of them. You want your lives. Seems like a good bargain to me.”

  “Take it, Shorty,” the man who’d spoken before insists, shifting nervously from foot to foot. “I don’t want to die.”

  Shorty looks shifty. “How about I kill this one, you can have the others?”

  “A blind bitch? I can think of a special market for her. Nah. I want her.”

  Stinger sounds so convincing, he’s almost got me believing he’d betray us. He wouldn’t take Stevie, would he? Nah, course he wouldn’t, he’s bluffing.

  But Stevie doesn’t know that. The whimper from her lips makes me wish she could see me, when she gasps out, “Beef…”

  “Yeah, what’s with that? She knows him. I don’t believe you.” Shorty looks like he’s solved a puzzle and is patting himself on the head. “You won’t be using her…”

  “Beef…” she implores again, her blind eyes searching the room as if to find me.

  “Sweetheart,” I drawl. “Stinger wants you? He can have you. I don’t do relationships, you know that. This is just business. You hear me? Had you once, that was enough.”

  I’m hoping she of all people will understand the undercurrent beneath my words.

  Half-turning I’m in time to see Stinger wink. Then he stalks toward me. I’m not in time to dodge the fist that comes toward my jaw.

  “I told you not to touch the fuckin’ merchandise,” he snarls as all hell lets loose.

  The Jokers’ attention had been on our altercation. They’ve completely missed Thunder creeping up behind Shorty. Three gunshots ring out. Three bodies fall.

  Stevie, wrenching from the grasp of the man dying staggers forward and into my arms. I hold her tightly. “You’re safe. I didn’t mean any of it. You’re mine, Stevie. No one else will touch you. You’re fuckin’ mine and I’m never letting you go again. You hear me? No fuckin’ marshals, no one else protects you. Only me. You hear me? I didn’t mean what I said. I was just—”

  “I know Beef, I know.” She sobs against my chest. “I know. Please, the smell. I need to get out of here. Take me out Beef, please, take me outside.”

  I sweep her up into my arms and carry her. Soulz and Devils part ways to let me through. I know the smells of cordite and blood will be horrendous to her over-developed senses. Outside the house I put her down but keep hold of her. She’s crying, weeping and uncontrollably shaking. Then, not surprisingly, she gags, and when I turn her away from me, she throws up.

  Taking off my bandana, I pass it to her so she can wipe her mouth. When she turns to me, her face is white.

  My teeth clench. What the fuck have they done to her? I want to know it all, everything, but I’ve seen enough sufferers of PTSD in my time to know if she went through even a fraction of the things running through my head, she needs time and space to talk it through in her own time, not be subjected to a barrage of questions fired at her right now. I have to tamp down my impatience.

  “Stinger suggests we get her out of here.” Thunder is by my side, pointing to where we left the SUVs. Then, more quietly into my ear, he adds, “Soulz are dealing with the clean-up. Devils are all returning to partake of their hospitality until we can get transport arranged.”

  “Beef. There’re more women…”

  “Sweetheart, we know. They’ll be taken care of.” Whatever she’s been through, Stevie’s thinking of others rather than herself. Showing that backbone again I so much admire.

  “Stinger’s got a doctor on call if she needs one.”

  Stevie hears that too and shakes her head. “I’m fine.”

  She might think she is, but her complexion, her trembling, suggests to me she’s not. No woman would be. Right now, I don’t know whether she needs to receive treatment or not, or, if she does, what for.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Stevie doesn’t say a word on the drive back through LA. I take comfort that she’s holding onto me as though I’m a lifeline. I could have found her abused, not wanting to accept the touch from any man, but whatever happened to her since she was stolen from the marshal, doesn’t seem to have affected how she’ll accept support from me.

  When we arrive at the clubhouse Thunder steps up, telling me to wait outside while he sees if there’s somewhere I can take her. It’s a good idea. From the noises coming out it’s crammed inside. There’ll be drinking, smoking, fucking, and God knows what else which might set her back.

  Within moments he’s back. “There’s a room you can use. Stinger called ahead and prospects have just cleared it.”

  I thank him. He leads the way and soon Stevie and I are alone. The room is a typical one. A bed, dresser, and not much else. I’ve carried her in, now I put her down next to the bed, taking her hand and placing it on the covers so she knows what it is and can sit if she wants. The thought runs through my head that being alone with a man and a bed might not be what she needs just now.

  I don’t know what the hell to do or say for the best. I wish we were back in Colorado where Jay or Vi could help. Even if there are old ladies here, I wouldn’t know who the best would be.

  Knowing she can’t see the anguish or indecision on my face, I use the words she needs. “Stevie, babe. I’ll do whatever you need. If you want me to stay, I will. If you need to be alone, I’ll go. Just tell me, are you hurt? Do you need medical attention? Of any sort?”

  She rubs at her arms. “They were rough, Beef. They left bruises, but no, I’m not injured. There’s nothing that won’t heal on its own.”

  Did they fuck you? That’s what I want to ask. But can’t. Not just yet. For both her sake and mine. If there’s any way I can be, I want to be prepared for the answer.

  My eyes tell me I may have got there in time, her clothes are awry from the struggle, but she’s still wearing shorts and a tee. I don’t want to make assumptio
ns and be wrong.

  Her hands reach for me. “I want you to stay Beef. Please don’t leave me alone.”

  That’s an easy one. “I’ve no problem with that, sweetheart. I’ll never leave you alone. Not again.”

  “Where am I?”

  “You’re in LA, you know that?” When her head moves side to side, I narrow it down further. “You’re in the clubhouse of the Wretched Soulz. Just til we can work out how we’re going to get home.”

  Her eyes widen a little when I name the Wretched Soulz. “Am I in danger from this club?”

  “Nah. Wretched Soulz have cut the Jokers loose. That was their prez there, in the house doing the talking. In fact, most of the men there were Soulz. They helped rescue you.”

  Her mouth opens and shuts. I realise there’s so much she doesn’t know, and when it’s time, I’ll fill her in on the info she’s missing. For now, I want her thinking about just one thing. “Focus on getting home, Stevie.”

  She repeats the word I’ve used. “Home.” Her teeth bite her lip, and a tear rolls down her face. “I’ve no idea where that is now.”

  That’s not hard for me to respond to, either. “Home is Pueblo. With me and Max,” I respond without hesitation, but then feel driven to add, “If that’s what you want?”

  She had left me. There remains a niggling doubt in my head as to why. A doubt she immediately puts to rest with her next words. “I want nothing more. Beef, I didn’t want to leave you. But Lennox, he said there was a war brewing between MCs, and all because of me. He said you would be in danger unless I went. He told me your dominant club gives you permission to have an MC, and that they were coming for you if you gave me protection. Now we’re here, in their clubhouse. I don’t know what to think.”

  “Come here.” I pull her into my arms. She’d left because she thought I was in danger? Her short statement has thrown all my doubts to the wind. “In a way, he was right. But we’ve sorted it out. Wretched Soulz have come out on our side. It’s the Warped Jokers who have lost their charter…”