Dealing with the Devil

by Black, Marina

  Lucy eagerly helped herself to the first good meal she’d had in weeks. Cece kept watch while Danny and Gabe talked quietly. It was obvious Danny was being bullheaded but Gabe wasn’t backing down. Lucy knew Gabe and Danny would eventually come to an understanding…but tensions were still running high after they’d all been through. What they all needed now was a good night’s sleep. “That was delicious,” Lucy announced. “But now I need to get some rest, and so do all of you.”

  “I’m not leaving you,” Archie argued. “Not when I just got you back.”

  “I’m not going anywhere either!” Danny huffed, his arms crossed defiantly over his chest.

  Lucy let out an exasperated sigh. Both of the men in her life were acting like jerks. She glanced at Cece who was leaning against the wall. “A little help?”

  “I’ll take this one.” Cecelia put herself between Lucy and Danny, her eyes narrowed dangerously at him. “You heard your sister.” He opened his mouth to argue but she pressed a hand to his chest to quiet him. “Standing here watching her sleep is a waste of both your time. Bea will call if you’re needed and you can be here in a minute flat.” Cece shook her head. “There’s a motel across the street. Come on, we’ll get a room.”

  Danny wrestled against his instinct to never let Lucy out of his sight again. But the thought of getting a room with Cece was enough to pique his interest. As badly as he wanted to deny it, he was exhausted and it would be better for both of them if he let her rest. “I don’t like this, but it looks like I have no choice.” Walking around the other side of the bed, he pressed a kiss to the crown of Lucy’s head. “When you’re feeling better, we’re going to have a talk about you two ganging up on me.”

  It would be a very short talk indeed. Danny had always needed Lucy’s guiding hand to keep him on the straight and narrow. Maybe now that Cecelia was in his life, she wouldn’t have to work as hard. Lucy could only hope. Hugging him once more around the waist, Lucy smiled. “I love you, Danny.”

  “Love you too, Lucy,” Danny echoed. He turned and slung his arm around Cecelia as they slid from the room. Although Cece pushed his hand away the first time, when he reached for her again, she just rolled her eyes and let it happen.

  As soon as Danny and Cecelia were gone, Archie settled in a chair beside the bed. “I’m never going to let you out of my sight again.”

  “That’s going to make trips to the bathroom uncomfortable for both of us,” Lucy teased. Slipping her hand into his, she smiled gently. “I just want to make sure you take care of yourself too. The Devils need their President at his very best and so do I. Promise me you’ll get some sleep?”

  Archie scrubbed a hand over his stubbled jaw. A good night’s sleep, a hot shower, and a shave sounded fantastic. Once Lucy was home, he planned on sleeping for a week with her tucked at his side. For now, though, he’d settle for a nap in a hospital chair. “I will,” Archie brushed his lips gently over hers. “I’ll be here when you wake up. I love you.”

  Although the starchy hospital sheets and thin blanket were not the most comfortable, Lucy was far too tired to care. “I love you too,” She murmured, moments before sleep claimed her again. Archie was not far behind, resting his weary head against his palm. Despite the hustle and bustle of the emergency department, they only managed to catch a couple hours of sleep. It was definitely time to go home.

  * * *

  The following morning, Lucy was discharged from the hospital on the promise that she would follow-up with her doctor once she got back to Errol. She said a tearful goodbye to Bea and Julia, both of whom elected to stay in the city. Bea was overjoyed to be back working in the emergency room and Julia felt it was her duty to help Steve solidify his case against Sofía—whether he wanted her assistance or not. Gabe made preparations for one of the prospects to take his bike back to Errol; it wouldn’t do to have his pregnant wife on the back of his Harley for several hours. Lucy needed rest and that meant trusting a prospect with his most prized possession. Well, second most prized now that he had his wife back.

  While Gabe was preoccupied with giving Hunter instructions about his motorcycle, Lucy snuck to the stairwell. Bea let it slip that Sofía was being housed in a wing reserved for violent criminals, located on the fifth floor. When Lucy reached the ward, she found it was practically deserted except for a singular nurse, an aide, four security guards, and a janitor. While the guards chatted quietly about football, Lucy slipped into Sofía’s room and closed the door behind her.

  Sofía’s shoulder was bandaged tightly and she wore a sling to keep it immobilized. An IV hooked on the opposite side along with a pump gave Sofía pain medication on demand. Formidable as she usually was, Sofía looked small and weak, her skin pale with anemia. She lay limply in the bed, staring out the window into the hazy midmorning sunshine.

  “You can come closer, mija.” Sofía’s voice was soft and raspy. She gently rattled the metal handcuff at her wrist. “It’s not as if I can come after you like this.” Coughing slightly at the dryness of her throat, Sofía licked her parched lips. “Could I have a sip of water?”

  Despite Lucy’s reticence to get any closer than she had to, she grabbed a pitcher of water from the bedside table and poured a glass. Offering it to Sofía with a straw, Lucy watched as Sofía drank thirstily. Once she finished, Lucy set the cup down. Folding her arms over her chest, Lucy cleared her throat. “I wanted to tell you, I forgive you.”

  There was only silence as Sofía’s grey eyes locked with Lucy’s onyx ones. “Why?”

  “I honestly pity you, Sofía.” Lucy’s voice remained level as she walked around to the other side of the bed. “You wanted equality and respect…but the way you went about it was utterly wrong,” Lucy inhaled sharply. “You can’t keep people prisoner and expect them to love you because of it.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you think Magdalena left? Why do you think she never talks to you? Why do you think my mother cut you out of her life? It was never about the club, Sofía. It was always about you!”

  Sofía’s eyes shimmered with tears. “I just wanted you to have a better life than I did…”

  “And I will, Sofía. I have a husband who loves me. I have a brother who would follow me to the ends of the earth.” Lucy’s hand covered her belly gently. “Girl or boy, this baby will be loved for exactly what he or she is.” A soft smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “So, I wish you no harm. I can only hope your time in prison gives you a chance to think about what you’ve done.” With that, Lucy turned her back.

  “Lucy!” Sofía let out a gasping breath as she tried in vain to sit forward. “I will get out eventually. And when I do—”

  Turning on her heel, Lucy’s posture was tight with anger. “If you do, you better stay away from me. I may forgive you for what you’ve done but don’t think for a second I want you to be part of our lives. If I never see you again, it’ll be too soon.” She exhaled shakily. “Family isn’t about blood, Sofía. Family is about those who choose to stand by you and build you up. It’s about letting people live their lives, about not forcing your choices on them.” Lucy narrowed her eyes. “Consider this goodbye. And if you ever come near my family again, the next bullet I put in you will not be in your shoulder!

  Sofía chortled menacingly, “There is nothing thicker than blood, querida. Remember that!”

  Lucy shrugged Sofía off. She really wanted to slam the door in Sofía’s smug face…but that would defeat the purpose of sneaking in here. Instead, Lucy hurried to the stairwell, making it back downstairs before anyone was the wiser. Gabe was just turning the corner when she grabbed the bag of her belongings from the bedside. She’d made it in the nick of time.

  “You ready to go?” Archie grinned. Lucy looked much better now that she’d gotten some rest and a good meal. There was a soft flush to her cheeks and he rested a hand at the small of her back. She seemed almost nervous. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

  “Never better,” Lucy stood on tiptoe and kissed Gabe sweetly. “I’m
just eager to get home.” Gabe took the bag from her hand and carefully helped her into the wheelchair Bea had arranged to take her out of the hospital. Together, Lucy and Gabe headed out into the sunshine. It was a beautifully crisp autumn morning, a soft breeze tickled over her skin. Gabe’s hands wrapped around her waist as he helped her into the van, eager to get them out of the hustle and bustle of city traffic and onto the open road.

  Once Lucy was buckled in, Archie weaved his way through the city. He kept his eyes straight ahead as they passed by the hotel they’d celebrated their honeymoon in, the Aces High casino—which had been formally shut down, and the little cafe they’d come to love. Archie almost expected to feel a pang of sadness at leaving it all behind but he didn’t. He was grateful they were going back to their lives in Errol. He glanced over at Lucy; she seemed preoccupied. “You’re awfully quiet.”

  Lucy smiled gently as she focused her attention on Gabe. Her mind kept swirling with everything that had happened over the last few weeks. It felt like she was finally waking up from a terrible dream. “I’m just thinking things are going to be very different from now on.”

  “That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Archie replied. Lucy didn’t elaborate and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Is this about us? Are you second guessing your choice?”

  “Loving you isn’t a choice, Gabriel.” Lucy’s hand slid over Gabe’s arm. “It’s something I feel with ever fiber of my being. I’m just worried about what’s going to happen when we get back to Errol.” She sighed. “You know I need a unanimous vote to get my patch.” Lucy rested her head against her open palm. “Hunter, Mort, and Kyle are most certainly going to get patched. They were on the front lines the whole time. Everyone saw how hard they worked. Me? I was locked up in the Black Jack compound. How can they see me as anything but some damsel in distress?”

  “Lucy, you shot Sofía Salma.” Archie remained focused on the road but he stole glances at her whenever he could. “You organized the breakout of the most influential members of every MC around. You were indirectly responsible for a treaty between the Redhawks, Los Santos, the Nightriders, and multiple Devil’s Own charters. That’s basically world peace!” Archie chuckled, “If that wasn’t enough, you somehow convinced the FBI to work with us to bring the Black Jacks down. We put the militant group of lunatics that killed your parents, who have terrorized this club, and endangered our town for decades down for good!” He chortled, “Yeah, I have no idea why they’d patch you!”

  Lucy beamed. “Well when you put it that way, I guess I have a shot!”

  Archie nodded. “I knew you’d be eager for a decision so I had Hunter call the club. They’ll be ready to vote when we get back.” Lucy glowed with joy and Archie felt as if his heart would burst with joy. All he ever wanted was for Lucy to be happy…and she truly was. “We’ve got at least another hour and a half before we’re home, why don’t you take a little nap? You want to be fresh for the vote…” And he wanted to make sure they followed all the doctor’s orders.

  On another day, Lucy would have called Gabe out on his overprotectiveness but he was right, she was tired The sun steamed through the windows, warming her skin as she snuggled into her seat and let sleep overtake her. The next thing she knew, Gabe was gently nudging her. Wiping the grittiness from her eyes, Lucy drank in the familiarity of Errol surrounding her. Before all this happened, she’d seen this tiny town as a curse that held her in place. Now, she was overjoyed to finally be home.

  After a quick pit stop to shower and change, Lucy and Gabe headed off to meet their fate. The clubhouse buzzed with excitement as Lucy slid out of the van and stood at Gabriel’s side. Kyle, Hunter, and Mort were pouring champagne. Danny was sitting in the corner, nursing a scotch; he rushed to greet them as soon as he laid eyes on his sister. Hugging her tightly, Danny ushered her into the War Room and prodded Beaver out of his seat.

  Archie moved toward the head of the table and without a moment’s hesitation, the rest of the club followed. As soon as he sat, the meeting began. “In the last few weeks, we’ve accomplished more than in the entire legacy of this charter.” He rested his hand on the table. “We got rid of the Black Jacks. We made peace with our brothers—” He paused and smiled gently at Lucy, “And sisters in arms. But most importantly, we’ve learned to work together. That’s why I think it’s time we make some changes around here.” A soft murmur moved through the crowd. “First of all, there has already been a motion made to vote on prospects at today’s meeting. Given the circumstances, I think it’s important we waive the requirements that state a prospect must have been among our ranks for a year. I propose we have a vote right here and now.” His cobalt eyes swept over the group, “Any objections?”

  There was only the sound of shuffling feet and hushed voices. Archie nodded curtly, “So it’s settled then. We will vote on Hunter Evans, Kyle Ferris, Mortimer Lally, and Lucy Archer.” The whispers grew louder and he cleared his throat. “We’ll start with Hunter. All those in favor?” Unsurprisingly, everyone in the room raised their hand. Clapping ensued as Hunter was handed a brand new patch for his cut, denoting his membership as one of the Devil’s Own.

  Kyle was next, followed by Mortimer—there was never any question about their loyalty. The room grew silent as Lucy was left standing alone beside Gabe. “Before you all vote, I’d like to say a few words…” It wasn’t traditional for speeches to be made; then again, Lucy was far from the typical prospect. “I know that some of you might feel pressured to vote my patch through because I’m the President’s wife. Or because Danny is my brother…or even because my father was an important part of this club back in the day.” Lucy took a fortifying breath. “I don’t want you to do that.” The confusion in the room only made her smile wider. “I want you to vote for me because I’m an asset to this club and because I deserve to wear this patch. I know that some of you think women are weak or that we aren’t smart enough to be a part of this club. Some of you think I’m only good for one thing…” There was more random shuffling amongst the group. Lucy narrowed her eyes. “That’s not the case. I’m not going to stand up here and preach to you about what you already know. You have to decide what’s right.” Lucy took a step back, “So, go ahead, then. Vote.”

  Archie wrapped an arm around Lucy’s waist, pulling her close to him as he glanced around the room. “All those in favor of patching Lucy Archer as one of the Devil’s Own…raise your hands.” Silence hung over the room for a long moment and no one moved. Archie raised his hand and Monster was half a second behind…he’d learned not to vote against Archie the hard way.

  One by one, each member of the Devil’s Own put up their palm until only Danny remained. He muttered under his breath, wringing his hands. Finally, he let out an exasperated sigh, “You know what? Fuck it! Fine…you can have your patch!” Danny threw his hand in the air.

  “It’s settled then.” Archie banged the gavel. “Congratulations to our four new members!” The group broke into cheers and applause, clapping the newbies on the back…except for Lucy, who got several firm handshakes and polite conversation instead. Archie cleared his throat. “Now that we’ve settled that, there’s one more piece of business to discuss here today.” His hand slid into Lucy’s. “Sofía Salma and the Black Jacks tortured and killed and held hostages…but the reason they did it is almost worse than their actions. Sofía Salma pledged to help those in need, women on the run, and children who cannot fight for themselves.” He licked his lips. “For a long time, this club has been about little more than drinking excessively, getting laid, and maybe doing a little work on your bike on the side.” Danny guffawed loudly but smoothly covered it with a cough. Archie smirked at him. “I think it’s time the Devils have a new legacy.”

  Lucy snuggled closer to Archie as she addressed the group. “We would redo the bar and make it into a place of refuge. We’d expand the dormitories, maybe add a second story—”

  “Yeah, but how we gonna make money?” PJ interrupted.

/>   “The write offs alone would pay for the renovations,” Big Mike piped up. He already had his notebook out. “We could apply for government funding and there are tax shelters for nonprofit organizations. Give me a few days to work up the specs but I could make this work.” He beamed.

  Archie glanced around the room. “We can do something good. That doesn’t mean we won’t ride. It also doesn’t mean we’re not going to party our asses off after this meeting…it just means we’re going to start doing better than our fathers did.” He raised his hand one more time. “All those in favor?”

  A resounding echoed through the room. Lucy laughed and wrapped herself tightly in Gabe’s arms. He bent to her height, eagerly capturing her lips. All around them, the club members laughed, drank heavily, and carried on as if it were a normal day. But to Lucy, it was not a normal day at all. The Devil’s Own, Gabriel, and her family were finally safe and happy. It was everything she’d ever hoped for and more.

  Epilogue

  Lucy swiped at the dark circles under her eyes as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. Never in a million years did she think she’d ever be so tired or fulfilled. A lazy smile slid over Lucy’s face as Gabe wrapped his arms around her and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. “Morning,” She murmured and snuggled closer to absorb some of his warmth.

  “I wish it wasn’t,” Archie groused. His hands glossed over her curves, reveling in the soft sigh of pleasure that emanated from her throat. He began to kiss down the contour of her neck, his fingers grazing the sensitive orb of her breast…and the piercing cry of a hungry infant met his ears. Although Archie was slightly disappointed at the missed opportunity, he chuckled. “Well, she has your timing,” He teased. Stealing one last kiss, he rubbed Lucy’s shoulders. “You finish getting ready, I’ve got her.” He reluctantly slipped away, heading down the hall toward the nursery.