Chapter 15

Peg

Riding back to the compound, enjoying the wind on my face and the freedom of the asphalt under my wheels, my expression alternates between a smile and a frown. Unable to believe that at last I’ve found a woman who’s exactly right for me, and then wondering how the fuck I’m going to be able to hold myself back when I’m face to face with the man I last saw trying to rape her.

She won’t let me kill him. No, my Flashfire’s far too sensitive for that. It gives me pause to wonder whether she’ll ever fit into my world where we don’t bat an eye delivering retribution that’s swift and final.

One thing’s for certain, even being with me she won’t know all that we do. As an old lady she’ll be kept far away from that type of shit. My mind runs over Sam, Drummer’s old lady, then Wraith’s Sophie, a gentle soul from England who ended up with the VP, and finally to Ella, Slick’s wife. They’ve been brought into our life and taken to it fine. Marcia, well, Heart’s woman knows the score better than most. Having once been a cop, she knows it from both sides.

How would a firefighter fit in? Well, tonight might provide some clues. I can’t wait to bring her here to meet my brothers.

It’s the smile that’s on my face as I ride through the gates, giving a nod to Fergus, our sole prospect now that Hyde’s been patched in. Slowing as I come to the clubhouse, I back my bike into my usual slot.

As I throw my leg over the seat, there’s a hefty slap on my back. “Christ, Peg. What the fuck’s happened?”

My eyes narrow in confusion as I look at the prez. “What?”

“You’re fuckin’ smilin’ is what. Don’t rightly recall when I last saw that.” His eyes roam over me. “You get fucked?” Then one corner of his mouth turns up. “You fuckin’ sly asshole. You did, didn’t you?”

I’m usually one who can school their features, but today it’s clearly not working. A bit annoyed he can read me so well, I purposefully scowl in response.

He barks a laugh. “Got anything to do with the woman you went after like a bat out of hell earlier? And the fucker Wraith’s got on ice up in the store room?”

There’s no keeping anything from the prez. Not that I’d want to. “She’s that firefighter I met a few weeks back. She had problems with a housemate.”

“Know that, Peg.”

I look off into the distance, idly noting yet another plume of smoke near the top of the mountain behind the compound, a little bit further over than what I saw a couple of days ago. “Well, the fucker came back. Yesterday. Thank fuck I’d got Mouse to set up security that could be monitored.”

“Know that too. What I want to know is why you were out nearly all day, and whether we’re now gonna have to bury a body?”

As I said, you can’t keep anything from the prez. I turn away from the view and look him straight in the eye. “Might have found my old lady.” I give it to him straight.

He sucks in a sharp breath and takes a second to respond. “And that I didn’t expect.”

While he’s digesting that news, I address his other question. “She doesn’t want him killed, just scared off.”

At that he laughs. “You gave her the choice? Did you hand over your balls?”

My smile reappears as I point out the obvious. “Satan’s Devils came to her rescue, and if he disappears, which direction d’you think fingers would be pointin’?”

“There is that.” He ponders for a moment, then slaps me on the back again. “Think I want to come see what kind of fucker takes advantage of a woman. Let’s get him sorted and dumped, then we’ll discuss your other revelation in church.”

As he walks beside me up to our storage room, I’m thinking how I can explain my sudden determination to make Darcy my, old lady to my brothers. After I’d perhaps been a bit premature in admitting it to Drum, he’s not going to let it drop.

Mercer’s been left hanging, his wrists fastened to the struts overhead, giving me the sense of satisfaction that his arms will be hurting just like Darcy’s. If he’s been hanging all day, as I suspect, his shoulders will be in agony. Wraith’s leaning back against a bench, flicking through a magazine, completely ignoring the pleas of the man who’s starting to beg.

As I approach, Mercer stops talking and his eyes go wide. “That’s it, you fucker. Be scared.” I arrange my features into my sergeant-at-arms scowl, the expression that shows I’ll have no mercy. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t remove the filth that you are from the face of the earth.”

“I wasn’t going to rape her. She was willing. She gives it up all the time. Had a fuck load of men visiting her, started whoring straight after she left my bed. You know bitches like her, never faithful…”

He gets my fist in his gut. “Shut your mouth. Somehow you got her to take pity on you and give you a place to stay, and you’re fuckin’ lyin’, you were never in her bed. And how did you repay her for giving you a room? By giving her a beatin’.” As I draw my fist back, his eyes go wild. But this time I move behind him and plant it in his kidney, satisfied the blood in his piss will serve as a reminder for at least a week. He’s sobbing as I continue. “You broke in this morning when she came off shift. You dared hit her, you had a knife, you were threatenin’ her, stripped her and would have taken an unwillin’ woman if I hadn’t got there to stop you.”

“I didn’t, I wouldn’t have. I, I don’t know what got into me.” The words tumble out one after the other. As I walk around him, eyeing him up for my next hit, he continues, “Don’t kill me, please. I’ll never go near her again.”

I choose that moment to at least badly bruise a couple of ribs, following it up with a harsh blow to his stomach that has him gulping for air. “Too fuckin’ right you’ll never go near her again. If we let you walk you’re to leave her completely alone. You see her from a fuckin’ mile away, you run in the other direction.”

Getting control of his breath, he gasps, “Too right. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll leave her alone. I promise you. Please don’t kill me.”

Tears start to fall, and soon he’s blubbering, snot dripping from his nose. The sight offends me. “Wraith, take him down.”

Putting down the magazine he appeared so engrossed in, Wraith turns a lever that controls the hoist, and soon Mercer’s on the ground, his legs buckling as they fail to support him.

“You mind?” Prez remarks in a disinterested voice.

I give him a be my guest gesture, then watch without emotion as Drum goes behind the man, touching him on the shoulder. Mercer flinches, already in pain from having been strung up so long, the Prez’s hand almost appearing sympathetic. Until he takes hold of his arm and twists it back, a pop showing he’s dislocated Mercer’s shoulder. A piercing scream rings out.

“The bitch scream?” Drum asks conversationally. Then, getting no answer, takes hold of the other arm. “Well?”

“Yes. Please, God no. Don’t.”

“Don’t? Please don’t? I’d take a bet that’s what she said.” But instead of dislocating his other shoulder, takes hold of his hair, forcing his head back. A knife appears in his hand as if by magic, and is now held against Mercer’s throat. “We let you go and you’re ever seen within sight of her, I’ll personally finish you off. Got it? And you’ll be prayin’ for death.”

I get a warm glow inside. This is my life, my prez, and brothers at my back.

Mercer’s shaking, a darkening patch on his pants showing he’s pissed himself. Fucking pansy.

Prez nods to Fergus, who’s been standing in the corner just observing. As he steps forward I send a shrewd look his way. The man’s fitting in. Won’t be too long before we need to go on a recruiting drive. Can’t run a club without recruits in the wings. Who the fuck would do all the shit then?

“Throw him in the back of the truck, Fergus. Drop him somewhere discreet in town. If he gives you any trouble, you’ve got your gun.”

Something that sounds suspiciously like, “won’t give no trouble,” comes from the man on the ground. My take is he just wants to get as far away from us as possible.

“Oh, and just one more thing,” Prez says. “Point one finger our way, and we’ll find you. You think you’re hurtin’ now? Give us one reason, and you’ll learn this was nothin’.”

As Fergus drags Mercer to his feet and leads him away, Prez slaps me on the shoulder and jerks his chin at Wraith. “C’mon. Let’s go hear all about Peg’s old lady.”

From Wraith’s smirk he expects me to deny it. I grin back, an expression that has his brows lifting, and then follow them both down the track, noting as I do the plume of smoke has thickened, but seems to have spread further up the mountain if I’m not mistaken.

Sorting out Mercer has delayed proceedings, so we waste no time hurrying into our meeting room and taking our places around the table.

“Okay. Club business first. Dollar?” Dollar reaches into his cut and takes out a spectacle case and extracts a pair of glasses.

“What the fuck?” Blade nudges him and points to his sight aids. “You going blind?”

“He’s getting’ old.” Viper chuckles.

“You should know, old man.” Rock laughs. It’s lucky he’s sitting across from Viper and not beside him, his positioning meaning he only has to avoid being killed by a look.

“Yeah, yeah. Have your fun. It’s down to all the numbers you have me lookin’ at day after day that’s ruined my eyes,” Dollar grumbles. “Knew you were going to be assholes about it.”

“You can enlarge the spreadsheets on your screen,” Mouse offers, helpfully.

“Ain’t no good, can’t see it all at once then.”

“Let’s leave Dollar’s new fashion item out of things,” Prez roars. “Leave the poor asshole alone and let’s get this started.”

“Takings are up at the Angels and Wheel Inn.” As Dollar commences his update, I nod, pleased the strip club and bar and restaurant are doing well. Best thing we did was to start buying up businesses. “As far as construction goes, I’ve spoken to Viper and Bullet, and they have more work on our hands than they can handle. Got the contract for the new mall in town.”

“That’s fuckin’ good news, brothers.” Wraith leans forward so he can nod at both men who’re sitting on his side of the table. “Knew you were going for it.”

Bullet shrugs. “We’ve got all the paperwork saying we’re up for it, good references too. Might need to take on a few more men.”

Shooter’s raising his hand. “Want to take on an apprentice?”

“You?” Bullet’s raising a quizzical brow.

“Why not? Wouldn’t mind learnin’ a trade.”

Now it’s Bullet’s turn to lean forward and look toward Viper, who gives a sharp nod. “Talk to us later, Brother.”

I glance at the man we used to call Spider, it’s a good idea, building work might put some muscle on his bones. He earned his new name Shooter, a couple of years back, when he saved Sophie.

Prez bangs the table. “What’s the contract value?”

Dollar runs through some figures, which makes all our eyes open wide. That’s some serious shit right there. Now everyone’s stamping or banging the table with their hands, or both. This going straight business might be hard work, but here right now is proof. Do it right, and you reap the rewards.

Viper holds up his hand. “Might want to use a bit more of the compound for storin’ equipment.”

That needs a quick vote, but it’s soon agreed, and Heart records it in the book.

“Getting this kick-started might mean a delay with gettin’ the new houses built. But we’ll try to minimise that. Brothers come first. Yours we’ll be handin’ over next week, Heart, as planned.”

Heart’s nodding. He and Marcia have decided to stay here, building a house at the top of the compound, alongside of Drummer’s, and by the sounds of it hope to move in before the twins are born. Wraith and Sophie both liked the idea, and piggy-backed on it—and hell, why not? We’ve got plenty of land. “We’ll be tied up soon when the twins are born, so any assistance getting it sorted out will be welcomed.”

There’s not one brother who doesn’t open his mouth, offering this or that to help.

Once the business details have shown we’re in a healthy position, Joker raises his hand. As prez gives him a nod, he points toward Hyde. “We’re down to one prospect now our new brother’s joined us at the table. That’s leaving us short. Any plans on what we’re going to do about it?”

Drum looks at me, so I update them. “There’s a man who’s been hanging around at the auto shop. Came in with his bike and has been visiting a lot. Talking about our life here, and indicating he’s interested.”

“Background?”

I shrug. “Not got that far, but Blade,” I nod at our enforcer, “called me down to meet him one day. What I saw, I liked.”

“Good guy, from what I can tell,” Blade returns.

“Ok. Get his full name and what you can to Mouse, and Mouse, you know what you gotta do.”

Yeah, he sure does. He’ll use his nefarious skills to make sure the man’s genuine, and not a plant. “His name’s Matt Gore.”

Mouse notes it down. “I’ll get Marcia’s help too. Well, if she’s able.” His head tilts to query Heart.

Marcia’s old man shrugs. “Better do it soon, or she’ll have her hands tied. But sittin’ at a computer screen won’t tax her none.”

Far from continuing to be suspicious, knowing Marcia’s one hundred percent on our side, Mouse uses her knowledge to find databases that will be useful, which he then gets into.

Prez bangs the gavel. “Okay. Let’s hope we get something sorted. And keep your eyes open for anyone else. We need someone to tend bar. And someone who won’t give my whisky away.”

Lady waggles his fingers. “Just a thought, Prez. While we usually have a prospect behind the bar, why don’t we get one, or all, of the club whores to be bartender? Means we’re not a man short all the time.”

“’Cause the sweet butts have better things to do with their hands.” Joker elbows him in the ribs. I’m not sure how he’d know. I’ve not seen Joker, or Lady for that matter, with any of the club girls before. It’s normally them and me left in the clubroom while single brothers go off with their choice for the night.

Prez is stroking his beard, taking a few seconds before slowly nodding. “Sounds a promisin’ idea to me. Who wants to find out whether any of them got skills in that direction?”

Beef nods his head. “I can have a word.”

Heart records it. To give Lady his due, it is a fucking good plan. Means we’ve freed up another useful pair of hands and with so many brothers getting old ladies, there’s not as much call on the sweet butts that there was. ‘Bout time they made themselves useful.

But Rock looks dismal. “How we gonna give the prospects shit if they’re not behind the bar?”

Hyde nudges Jekyll. “I’m sure you’ll find a way.” Nope, our two newest patched members won’t find that hard to believe.

Prez is staring intently at me. “Movin’ on, you got something to say, Peg?”

I look down at my interlinked fingers. “Yeah, I have.” Looking up, I glance at each of my brothers, my face fixed as stern as I can. “I’ve found a woman I’m considerin’ of makin’ my old lady.”

There’s uproar. Shouts of pleasure from some, support from others, and an incredulous look from Blade. “Thought you were a confirmed bachelor, Peg.” A few others echo Blade’s thoughts.

“If it’s the firefighter, you’ve only just met her,” Wraith’s quick to point out.

I point my index finger at him. “And just how long did it take to know Sophie was the one you wanted?”

He shrugs, and admits, “Less time than it took me to get my head out of my ass and claim her.”

“And you, Prez. How long was it with you and Sam?”

“Too damn quick,” grumbles Viper. But it’s all put on. He’s as proud as punch that Drummer’s his son-in-law.

“She’s a firefighter you say?” Dollar’s staring at me. “That gonna cause problems for the club?”

“It’s not like she’s a cop.” I defend her occupation.

“But she’s authority. Government.”

Prez’s eyebrow is raised. “Club business is club business, and we keep it out of sight and hearing of the ol’ ladies.”

“Not what you said when I brought Marc around.” Heart’s noticeably upset.

“Cops are different.” Drum shrugs. “If they wanted to put a plant in the club, I doubt they’d use a firefighter.”

“Can we meet her?”

“Hopefully not in an official capacity.” Which I think was quite quick of Paladin.

“Without setting a fire.” Blade, catching on, chuckles and points his knife toward our grinning and youngest member.

“I’m collectin’ her after this meetin’, bringing her to the party tonight.”

“Baptism by fire?” Then realising what he’s just said, Rock grins and shrugs.

“Yeah, so be on your best behaviour.” Another round of laughter echoes as they discuss what the fuck that might mean with each other.

Prez has leaned back in the chair, his foot against the table, his hand stroking his beard, and worryingly, his death stare is focussed on me. I return his gaze steadily, not even flinching. Neither of us blink for a moment. His sudden movement forward has the chair legs smashing to the floor, making some of them jump, but not me. His hand pointing in my direction, he bellows, “I, for one, would like to see who’s so special to Peg.” Then his stare encompasses everyone sitting around. “None of you fuckers fuck it up for him, you hear me?”

I’m worried enough I won’t need any help. With my track record, I’ll be the one fucking it up for myself.