Road Tripped (Satan's Devils MC Utah #1) - Manda Mellett Page 0,155

a newcomer’s name and position, then Drummer isn’t going to repeat it. He just dives straight in.

“Never in my years leading the Satan’s Devils have I ever come across a situation such as what I’ve found at Utah.” His steely eyes glare at everybody, singling no one out in particular. “Well, a whole bunch of issues come to think of it. Today’s agenda will be heavy going, so we’ll get straight on with it. First item, there’s a woman sitting around this table who to my mind shouldn’t be here. We’ll start with that. If there is a general concurrence with that observation, she shouldn’t be present for the rest of the discussions.”

They’re beginning with me, not Pip? But I suppose there’s justification for it. Feeling like I’ve been summoned to a court martial, I sit, back ramrod straight and fix my eyes ahead of me. Don’t speak unless spoken to. That adage has always served me well. From Drummer’s wording and the fact they’re dealing with me right at the start strongly suggest they’ve already made the decision. Women aren’t welcome in the Satan’s Devils MC. There will be no right of appeal, no one is higher than the mother chapter prez.

Demon taps the table as an indication he wishes to speak. Drummer nods at him. Demon sits forward and starts to speak. “Our regulations don’t disqualify women, but the unwritten rule is that Devils are men only. We risk every old lady wanting to take up arms and ride with us if we allow a chapter to have a female member.”

“Exactly,” Blade confirms. I wince when he slams the tip of a knife into the hitherto unmarked tabletop and leaves it there quivering.

Drummer shakes his head at his enforcer’s action, before remarking, “It’s a can of worms certainly, and one we may be best to keep the lid firmly on.”

Stormy opens his mouth but shuts it when Thor puts his fist in his stomach, effectively silencing him. As he doubles over, I’m left wondering whether what he was going to say was in support of Drummer’s assertion. Stormy hates everyone, but me, it would seem, in particular.

The red-headed man with the appropriate name waggles his fingers. “Most women wouldn’t get through the prospecting stage. I haven’t got an old lady, so I’ve no iron in this fire. But those of you who have, can you really see them going through our probation and surviving?”

“Tash would help me bury a dead body.” Blade grins widely.

“Darcy would dig the fuckin’ hole,” Peg observes, winking at Blade.

Making a concerted effort, I stop my eyes from rolling. But would they create the corpse, killing without blinking? Only this week I took out two men and while I may have since lost sleep, it wasn’t as a result of killing them. No, my lack of sleep had been down to Road and I fucking. Even at that thought, I keep my face impassive.

Red raises his chin, acknowledging their contributions, but he holds the floor. “Swift, can you remind us of your qualifications?”

I start at the direct question, and answer succinctly, “British Army trained. Served eight years, made the rank of corporal. Accepted into the SAS but invalided out before I could take up any assignment.”

Red nods, then his gaze moves to Drummer. “Swift’s background is exceptional. If a man came to us with those credentials, we’d bite off his hand to recruit him. I understand Pip was instrumental in her joining, and that that was his reasoning.”

“Pip?” Drummer queries.

“Red’s right,” my prez confirms. “When I met her, she got me out of a tight spot, and I recognised her potential.”

“How do your members feel about having a woman around the table?” This question is from Beef.

Stormy’s not going to be silenced again. He leans back out of reach of Thor and jumps in without asking permission. “Swift is as good, if not better, than any fuckin’ man around this table. Me fuckin’ included. I have no problem riding beside her. Hell, half the time I forget she’s any different to anyone else.” His unexpected support takes me by surprise, as do the murmurs of agreement from the brothers standing.

Drummer narrows his eyes, wanting confirmation. “Utah members. Show of hands if you’re happy to have a woman member in your club. If you’ve got doubts about her, no one’s going to hold it against you.”

I don’t look, I can’t. It had taken me time to earn the trust of everyone normally seated around this