“Old?”
“The blade, yes. A few hundred years. Probably had a new handle or two in that time.”
“Okay. Now we’ve discussed scalpin’ implements, can we get down to business?” Yeah, that’s the prez. He will allow us a few minutes, but then remind us why we’re there. “You got any more you want to say, or can I call in Devil?”
“Yeah.” Slick raises his hand, “Paladin and I have had a discussion with Ella and Jayden.” He breaks off, his head shaking as if he hardly wants to get his next words out. “They reluctantly agreed it’s safer for Jayden to leave.”
I notice Paladin is nodding. I’m surprised he doesn’t look as ecstatic as I’d expected him to. While here, he had to wait until Jayden was eighteen, but the age of consent is a year earlier in Colorado. Got to admire the kid for biding his time and waiting. I expect there were a few bets placed that he’d break and move on to someone else. There’s no doubt in my mind that he hasn’t.
“I’ll speak to Hellfire,” Drummer starts with a nod. “Can’t argue with the decision you’ve come to.”
“Hey, does that mean Paladin can claim her in a few months?” Marvel looks like he’s going to fist bump the man beside him, but Paladin ignores him, his eyes shoot to Slick’s instead.
Drummer is the one who answers. “The fuckin’ age of consent isn’t why she’s going to Colorado. Hellfire and his wife have a family house. Think their kids have grown and left home now, but they’ll know what a teenager needs. Paladin will bunk down in their clubhouse.” His glare stops any further comment like Marvel’s being raised. “Red’s got a rep as a manwhore. Lost is still finding his way. Snatcher, well, is Snatcher. Hellfire’s the best to give her a new home. I, for one, am grateful to Paladin.” After the prez gives his quick assessment of the presidents of the other chapters, a summation no one would be able to object to, his focus is on the young member. “Will be sorry to lose you, Brother. There’ll always be a seat for you around the table.”
Again Slick raises his hand. “It’s not going to be easy for Jayden. Having Paladin with her, as her friend? Well, that might help her adjust. Paladin knows my feelin’s.”
He doesn’t have to say more. I reckon he’s put the fear of God in the lad if he oversteps.
“Okay, we sort out the official transfer details later. Don’t like losing a member, but we’ve been prepared for this. Now, let’s get Devil in here and back to Mouse’s problem. And remember. Devil doesn’t need details on how we’ve learned what we have.”
Because it could incriminate us. Devil will be well aware there’re two less people walking the earth right now, but he won’t want to know the details.
That’s confirmed when he walks in and takes the spare seat. Even before he sits, he looks pointedly around. “You’ve got info. I don’t want to hear anything about how you obtained it. Rumour, I’m putting it down to.”
Prez shoots his handwritten notes down the table. Not going far enough, Viper gives it a helping hand, the paper passes from brother to brother until it’s in Devil’s hands. The unscarred side of his face curves. “Christ! You’ve hit the bloody mother lode. Not bad for a bunch of amateur arseholes.”
Blade passes my knife back, grabs his own, spins it and stops it when it’s pointing at the Englishman. “I object to the use of the word ‘amateur’,” he says in all seriousness.
Devil shakes his head as chuckles go around. He holds up his hand. “Your show, Drummer. But I think we need to start planning. Mouse,” he waves toward me.
“Chief,” Shooter interrupts.
I leap out of my chair, the knife Blade passed back in my hand, and I’m around behind Shooter before he knows what’s happening. I tangle my hand in his hair, and pull his head back…
“Shooter! You’d fuckin’ deserve it. But I ain’t getting blood on this floor. Too damn hard to get off. Mouse. Sit the fuck down.”
“Has he pissed himself?” Rock inquires.
“’Course I haven’t fucking…”
“Shut up!”Prez yells. Then his voice goes back to normal volume. “Devil, excuse this bunch ofarseholes.” His use of the English word and the emphasis he puts on it has us in stitches again. Until we catch sight of his face. Suddenly I find I’m far more interested in what Devil, sitting at the other end of the table, has to say.
Devil continues as though such an interruption is normal in his life. “I’ve got a team ready to go, Drummer. Twelve men. And a plane. You know who’s coming with?”
“There’ll be six of us. Mouse, obviously. Myself. Blade, Viper, Marvel and Dollar.” Prez looks around at each of the men named. They’re all nodding their heads, fulfilling the promise they made to me in Los Angeles. I’m filled with emotion for my brothers.
Truth is, taking a life like I had, had caused me some regret. I’d stood in the shower watching another man’s blood run down the drain, wondering what I’d turned into. Coming into church, my doubts had been swept away by the jokes and now the commitment of the men around me.
Rock’s putting up his hand, Beef, after a silent exchange between them, raises his too. “Want us?” they both offer at once.
Prez goes to answer, but Devil gets in first. “Eighteen ought to be plenty.”
A plan had been formulating in my head. “Devil, Prez. Mind if I say something?”
Prez opens his hands wide, Devil just dips his head. “The way they were describing the compound. It sounds hard to get out of, but not necessarily to get into. The security seems to beon the inside to prevent escape. They’re relying on their location and secrecy to guard the compound. Sure, there’s an armed guard on the wall by the gate, but that sounds about all.”
“Mouse has got a point,” Devil agrees. “Don’t want to underestimateEl Procurador, but it could be his men are more warders than fighters. More used to controlling women they hold there, than heading off a direct attack.”
