Satan’s Devils MC -Colorado Box Set: Books 4-6

by Mellett, Manda

  “Demon wants us!” comes a shout from the clubroom.

  As I predicted, an emergency church is called.

  His birthday passed and over, Demon’s all seriousness now and wastes no time getting down to business. “Cad, you’ve gone back over the footage from yesterday?”

  “I have. There was only what I saw at the time. A couple of men talking, cash changing hands, behind Tits Up, where we installed those cameras. You know, the ones we’ve disguised.”

  “That all?” Lizard asks.

  Cad shoots him a look. “It’s enough, isn’t it? We’re looking for people dealing, that could have been what this was.”

  “But by the time we arrived, they’d disappeared,” I observe.

  “Left evidence,” says Mace, grimly. “While you were getting your dicks wet this morning, I went back and checked in daylight.”

  Shit and fucks are exclaimed as Mace throws some baggies down on the table.

  “They were shooting up around there?”

  “There, or close by,” the enforcer confirms.

  Last thing we want is people leaving used needles around our premises. We don’t deal in drugs and don’t want that reputation.

  “Worse than that,” Mace nods at the bags on the table, “one of those came from Devils’ Pins which I thought I should also check out.”

  Rusty draws in air through his teeth as our bowling alley is mentioned at the same time as Demon’s hand slams down on the table. “Thought we’d seen the last of this type of shit when Taser set the club up. Tits Up is one thing and we can keep an eye on it, but discarded needles where kids play? That’s just fucked up.”

  “You think we’re being targeted again?” the VP asks. Beef might not have been around at the time, but it didn’t take long for him to bring himself up to speed with all matters affecting the club. The reference to Taser does indeed show where the prez’s head might be at.

  “Could be,” says Thunder, “or it could just be we’ve got good locations which other people don’t use. The Wretched Soulz and Mafia are active in their own areas and know to stay out of ours.”

  He’s right. Someone new dealing would easily stick out where the dealers are well known, so they’d avoid taken territory.

  “We need to make sure we have a visible presence around our premises to chase anyone off and let them know their trade isn’t welcome.”

  “That was my thought, Mace. Hate to put more on us but can’t see anything else for it. We keep drugs out of these areas, it makes less work for the law.”

  Beef nods. One of the first things he did when he was voted in was to start a dialogue with the cops. A new police chief had arrived in Pueblo just before Beef. After checking his reputation out, Beef had gotten a meeting with him and had come to an understanding where our decisive position on drugs was made known. Might be an easy way of earning money, but there’s too much chance of a brother getting addicted or going inside. Devils have been clear of that shit for years now. Not only don’t we touch it, we don’t tolerate it in the part of town we control. Got some respect for that, can’t afford to lose that respect now.

  “I want to know who’s fuckin’ with us,” Demon says, meeting Hellfire’s eyes across the length of the table. “We find someone, we fuckin’ bring them back and question them.”

  “From what you said it’s not someone local,” Thunder observes.

  “The Soulz suspect it’s someone from out of town. Some small-time op seizing a chance right here in Pueblo,” Prez confirms.

  “You need bodies to stake out Devils’ Pins and Tits Up tonight?” I ask, hoping I can still make dinner with Beth. I’ve actually been looking forward to that, and bringing her back here afterwards, of course.

  “I’m in,” says Judge.

  “Me too,” Wills offers.

  “I want to see what’s going on under our noses,” mutters Rusty. “I’m up for it.”

  “Right, Judge, Wills and Rusty are on the bowling alley,” Demon decides. “Now who’s for Tits Up?”

  “I’ll go,” offers the sergeant-at-arms.

  Pyro waves his hand.

  “I want to check the position of the cameras, so I’ll go myself,” says Cad.

  I start lifting my arm, but Demon shakes his head. “Three at each location is plenty for now. And this probably isn’t a one-night thing. If there’s any action tonight, we’ll have to think about assigning regular teams to take on the patrols.”

  “With luck we’ll run them off tonight,” Ro states, his face set as if he’s already sensing blood. “They could move on and find somewhere less obvious and no Devils around.”

  Growls, stomps and fist bumps on the table show our agreement with his words.

  “Isn’t that still a worry, Prez? Even if they’re not at our premises?”

  Demon sighs loudly. “Yeah, Liz, you’re right. But don’t forget, the Wretched Soulz and Mafia are also looking out. While I’d like to string up the fuckers myself, I don’t mind who catches them just as long as the result is we end their fuckin’ trade. We’ll concentrate on our territory; RIP and the Mafia can watch theirs. With luck, we’ll run them back to the hole they crawled out of.”

  Relieved I’m free this evening, when church lets out I make sure to have a word with Beef about making sure my name’s added to the rotation if Pyro and the others aren’t successful tonight. I check the time, then text Beth to let her know if the invitation is still open, I’m on my way.

  Her reply comes fast.

  Beth: See you soon

  I grin, then have a moment wondering what the fuck I’m doing. Have I met anyone’s parents or parent before, or at least since I picked up my prom date? Not that I can remember.

  The weather’s kind for riding, so I take my bike, still uncertain why I’m acting so out of character. My Sunday would normally end with maybe a card game or a turn at pool before taking a whore to my room, or letting her suck me off in the clubroom. Until last weekend, I thought I had everything worth having in life.

  Beth unsettles me, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. Why should I give up all the good things to go for a polite dinner with a woman in her fucking mother’s house?

  I can’t explain why I’m eagerly anticipating doing normal boring citizen stuff. Must only be the thought that if I want to get into her cunt later, I’ll have to play it her way first. Yeah, that’s all it can be.

  I pull up on her road and taking out my phone, check the address to make sure I’m heading to the right house, then ride up and park on the driveway behind Beth’s car. There’s another beside it, which is why I’ve chosen to block in hers. She won’t be leaving before I do.

  When the thunderous sound of my engine dies, I’m not greeted by the expected silence. No, instead I hear the sound of shouting from inside. Very angry shouting.

  Chapter Ten

  Beth

  “You are not dragging me and Beth into whatever you’re up to.”

  The argument has been going on for some time. I step in between my mom and her wayward son, my brother. “Connor…” I growl in warning.

  Angrily he pushes me to one side. “Mom, see sense. I’m not dragging you into anything. You’re my fuckin’ mother. All I’m asking is if I can use my old room when I’m working in Pueblo.”

  “Working? Is that what you call it?”

  “Yeah, I work.”

  “Connor,” I tug at his arm, moving him away from Mom. “You could stay at a hotel…”

  “Why the fuckin’ hell should I?” He rounds on me now. “Mom’s got a perfectly good room sitting empty.” He brushes back some hair that’s flopped down over his face. “There’s even some of my old shit left in it. I’m asking for a night or so a week. I’ll even pay a bit of rent.”

  I look from one to the other. To be honest, I’m not certain why Mom’s so against Connor staying here. I thought she might be pleased to help out. When he first mentioned it, she did seem okay with the idea, it was only after our father’s name
came up, she changed her mind.

  “I don’t trust your father,” she shouts at Connor. “And by association, I don’t trust you. I’m not giving you a key so you can come and go at all hours and bring God knows who into my home.”

  “I won’t bring anyone else here.” Connor tries once more, but he’s inherited my mom’s Irish temper, and there’s no stopping either of them now. “Jeez. Isn’t there a fucking way of making you see sense, woman?” Connor yells. “Beth’s okay with it.”

  “Beth doesn’t own the house,” I mumble.

  “Why’s this so important to you, Connor? What’s your dad got you doing now?”

  He throws up his hands. “Shouldn’t have mentioned his name. You always were irrational about him. He’s got nothing to do with this. Look, it’s just me. Your son. I need a place to stay. You good with that now?” For some reason, he’s starting to look desperate.

  When Mom turns her back, he reaches out his hand, roughly turning her around to face him. “Don’t you walk away from me, woman!”

  I hate confrontations—particularly between those I love. I don’t know what to do to stop them, and for the first time in my life, worry this is going to turn physical. Connor’s as tall as I am, but compared to us, my mom is tiny, albeit she’s the average woman’s size. I’ve never seen Connor so angry and can’t understand why. On her part, any mention of my father, and my mom sees red. I’m not sure either of them is capable of calming down and being reasonable at this point.

  Now Connor’s put his hands on my mom, I worry she’ll slap his face, and don’t quite trust him not to retaliate. The boy I grew up with wouldn’t have, but who knows what he’ll do now living as he does under the influence of my dad?

  As I’m trying to summon up words to make peace between them, my brain registers a loud rumbling roar. Ink. Oh, not now. I don’t want him walking in on this. What a great introduction to my family that would make.

  I ease myself out of the room and walk swiftly to the door. I open it, then, when he walks up, step out. “Er…” I was going to make an excuse why he can’t come inside, but he physically moves me out of the way as, from behind me, I hear the loud slap that I feared.

  Then it’s Ink’s voice that reaches me, and I run quickly after him to see one of my brother’s arms twisted behind his back, and the other, still raised in the air, held in the other of Ink’s meaty paws.

  “I don’t give a fuck who you are, but you do not hit a defenceless woman.”

  “She hit me first,” my brother whines, trying ineffectually to free himself from Ink’s grasp. “And who the fuck do you think you are, coming into my house and attacking me?”

  “I’m not fuckin’ attackin’ you, asshole,” Ink observes. “You okay?” This thrown toward my mom.

  Mom’s eyes are wide open, flicking between her son and the man who’s got him restrained. “I’m fine. But this is my house, and my son’s not welcome here. I would appreciate you taking the trash to the door.”

  “Trash? Fucking trash now am I, Mother?”

  “You are in this mood.” Mom thinks for a moment, then offers, “You can stay, but you come in at a reasonable time. I am not giving you a key…”

  Connor growls and throws her olive branch back in her face. “I’m not a fuckin’ kid, Mother. I’m allowed to stay out late. This is past ridiculous, I give up.” He starts to walk out, then turns back. “There’s some shit I left upstairs I might as well now take. It’s clearly not my fucking room any longer.”

  Shit? Last time I looked there was a closet full of clothes more suited to a teenager, schoolbooks he’d have no use for, and old computer games.

  “Take what you want,” Mom says, tiredly.

  “You heard your mother. Get what you need and get out.” Ink lets Connor go, then stands with his arms folded across his chest.

  A strange look comes over Connor’s face. “I’ll just go get a box, I’ve got one in the car.”

  “I’ve got…” But Mom’s offer goes unheard as Connor has already stepped out.

  Ink raises an eyebrow at my mother. “You okay with him getting his stuff? Trust him not to rob you of the family silver?”

  Mom gives a small smile. “After raising two giants, there’s not much of that left. But yes, if there was anything to steal I trust him that far, and there’s not much in his room, anyway. Just some old computer games, and an out-of-date Xbox, not much more than that.”

  “Everything’s old,” I mumble, wondering what Connor wants with his defunct things.

  “He might be able to sell it,” Ink suggests.

  A stomping of feet tells us Connor’s reappeared. He comes back in a few moments later, this time carrying a full box. As I expected, he’s got the console and games, but it doesn’t appear he’s bothered to pack his clothes or anything else.

  With a rueful look down at the pitiful contents, he approaches my mom. His voice sounds a lot calmer. “Patsy, I’m sorry. Look, I know how you feel about Phil, but, I, well, I can’t say more, but I don’t want to leave with bad blood between us.”

  “Then don’t leave. Don’t go back to him. Stay here with us.”

  A flicker of something crosses my brother’s face, so quickly I could have imagined it, then his features become hard again. “Can’t do that, Patsy. I work for him, remember?”

  “Your room will always be here,” Mom says, but qualifies, “if you put space between you and that man. But not if he’s still in the picture. I’m not risking that.”

  “Fuck it, woman,” Connor starts, getting angry again.

  “I don’t think you’re welcome here.” Ink steps forward, not letting him finish.

  “Beth’s man is right,” Mom says.

  “Beth’s man?” Connor almost squeals as he looks at me in surprise.

  I’m taken aback by Mom’s description myself and think I’ll have to have an explanation for her incorrect assumption ready later. Ink’s probably wondering what the hell I’ve told her about us.

  But Ink surprises me. “Fuckin’ right I’m her man. Beth and your mom are under the protection of the Satan’s Devils and you better not fuckin’ forget that.”

  As he says that he turns and comes over to me, and my brother must get his first proper look at Ink’s colours on the back of his cut. His eyes open wide. “Fuck it, Beth. Thought you’d have more fucking sense than hooking up with a Satan’s Devil.” He turns back to my mom. “They’re criminals, Mom. You best put a stop to this right now.”

  Mom takes a step closer to him and leans back her head so she can stare into his face. “More than one thing wrong with that statement, Son. First off, pot, kettle, and black comes to my mind. Second, Beth’s a grown woman and can do what she wants. She says the Devils are okay? Then it’s her word I’ll be taking.”

  Ink’s clearly had enough. “Come on, asshole. Think it’s time we get to see the dust from your tyres.” He pushes Connor hard.

  My brother takes the hint. He swings to face the door, then he turns back. “Mom, Beth… Look, I don’t want to leave like this. Like I said, I’ll be doing some work here from time to time, I’ll pop in when I’m passing. Maybe next weekend?”

  “That okay with you, Patsy?” Ink checks. He doesn’t seem to have taken to my brother at all.

  Mom closes her eyes then reopens them. “He’s my son,” she tells Ink. “I don’t mind seeing him, I’m just not letting him bring trouble to my door.”

  Ink nods. When Connor leaves, he follows him out.

  Quickly I move forward and put my arms around my mom.

  “I’m sorry,” she starts. “What a way to welcome your man.”

  “I suspect Ink’s seen worse,” I reply, drily.

  I hear the sound of a car starting, then wheels squeal as it peels out of the driveway.

  Ink comes back through the door that’s still open, brushing his hands together as though removing dirt from them. He eyes me holding Mom. She barely reaches my chest so it looks like our positions are reversed,
with me taking the parent’s role. “You want me to leave you two alone?”

  “No,” Mom says, determinedly. “I’m sorry you were a witness to a family fight. I’m sorry you had to walk in on that. But please, stay. That’s if you still want to.”

  Ink considers for a moment, then his lips curve up in a smile. “A bit of friction isn’t going to chase me off.”

  “Jeez, I’m forgetting my manners.” Mom moves her head side to side. “I’m Patsy, Beth’s mom. And you must be Ink.”

  “I kinda guessed that, though I imagined someone a lot taller.” Ink grins. “And yeah, I’m Beth’s man.” He winks at me, letting me know he has no objection to the label.

  “Thank you.” Mom waves her hand toward the front of the house. “My son—”

  “You don’t have to explain anything. Got a lot of brothers who come from fucked up homes. We can’t choose our blood family.” He pauses. “Makes a fuckin’ difference when you can choose the one you want.”

  “Like you’ve chosen your club,” I interpret.

  “Too fuckin’ right I have.” Breaking off, he looks first toward me, then toward Mom. “Might need to know a few more details, but you’ll have the club behind you if he or his father cause you any problems. Here’s the thing, Beth is Mel’s friend, and Mel’s a claimed woman. I’m… with… Beth for now. Club will help if it’s necessary.”

  “Already knew you were going to be a good’un, Ink. My Beth doesn’t read people wrong, and you’ve proved it this afternoon. I’ll go rescue the roast, then I’ll satisfy your curiosity while we’re eating.”

  I send an apologetic look Ink’s way. “I’ll help, Mom.”

  Ink looks around, seeing the bare dining room table asks, “Tell me where you keep the silverware and I’ll set the table if you want?”

  Luckily Mom had turned down the oven during the argument, so dinner is soon saved and back on track. Shortly, she’s putting everything on serving plates and Ink’s carrying them to the table. After we sit down, we take a moment sorting our plates out, then a minute longer to appreciate the food Mom has lovingly prepared.