Road Tripped (Satan's Devils MC Utah #1) - Manda Mellett Page 0,10
but happy, instead bemused and totally out of his depth.
When I found out his recent history, I couldn’t help but have sympathy for him.
No one knows better than I how just one misstep, just one split second can make the difference to the rest of your life and radically change all your expectations. With him, it had been the misjudgement of another rider, with me, pure chance. But the explosion that fucked up my life had taken more than my hobby away from me. It had taken all my hopes and dreams for my life.
Had he come to Utah to clear his head, as he suggested? Taken at face value, it doesn’t sound unreasonable. In my case, it was why I’d made the flight across the Atlantic. To put distance between everything that reminded me what was now missing. Looking at Road, it makes more sense than him being here, as I know Prez suspects, as a spy. I didn’t pick up the vibe to suggest any particular mental acuity.
But whatever the reason, he’s here now, unannounced and catching the club unawares. It won’t go kindly on him.
I watch as Gears leads him away, knowing Road will be in safe hands, well, safe for us anyway. There’s no chance of the still-healing man getting away from Gears. Of our three prospects, he’s the closest to getting his patch, having almost completed his two years’ probation.
Our chapter is the hardest chapter to get into. The first year is the usual grunt work that Road will have been subjected to in Tucson, the second, well, that’s when you’re expected to develop that particular skillset Utah requires, but still without having access to everything. I know only too well how hard those twenty-four months are. Prospecting is only just in my rearview, having gained my patch only a year ago.
“Well,” Pip’s voice gets my eyes moving to the head of the table. “It appears we have a problem on our hands.”
“We knew this was possible,” Snatcher observes, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. “If Drummer had warned me—”
“Or if that asshole had waited until we were out of church, we could have switched cuts.” Thor sounds angry, as well he might.
And I could have made myself scarce. Fuck knows what Road thought when he saw me.
“We could kill him,” Rascal offers in an even tone.
“Kill a brother?” Honor sounds incredulous. “He wears the same fuckin’ patch as the one I have on my back. Not sure I’m comfortable with that.”
“Could have the opposite effect to the one we’re wanting.” Duty backs up the man he patched in alongside. “Drummer knew where he was headed. He’d come heavy-handed to give us a much closer look.”
“That Drummer sent him here makes me wonder whether the cat’s already out of the bag.” Snatcher now scratches his nose. “I don’t know how I could have fucked up, but maybe I did, Prez.”
Pip shakes his head. “Sometimes I think Drummer’s got a sixth sense.” He sounds more resigned than angry. “Somehow we’ve slipped up. And now we’ve got to deal with the fallout.”
The man whose gaze Pip’s have landed on holds up his hands. “Nothing the fuck to do with me, Brother.”
“Did you slip up, Stormy?” I ask. “Could your location have been traced?”
“Knew you shouldn’t have played with fire. Two hits. Two Satan’s Devils MC chapters. Drummer’s nose started to twitch. Something must have made him think the stink came from here.” Thor bangs the table.
Stormy stands and kicks over the chair he’d been sitting on. He slams both hands down and leans over. “I did what I was tasked. Removed the scum of the earth. And no, my location was cloaked as you fuckin’ well know, Swift. You set it up yourself.”
“You fucked with the other chapters, that can’t be denied.” Pip’s face is glowing red. “Now pick up your chair and sit the fuck down.”
Stormy does what he’s told while murmuring loud enough those closest to him, including me, can hear him. “I fuckin’ warned you I didn’t play nice.”
Pip’s hearing is excellent. “Well you better fuckin’ learn. You go off half-cocked and now we’re at the risk of exposure. We still need to go over what exactly happened in San Diego,” he reminds him. “Don’t think you’re off the hook just because of a stranger turning up and interrupting.” He glares at Stormy for a moment, then his eyes roam the table again. “Same question. What do we do now Road’s here?”