Road Tripped (Satan's Devils MC Utah #1) - Manda Mellett Page 0,17

one of my brothers.” Two things strike me as I say those words; the first being, maybe this is the point where I’m going to have to prove I mean what I say. And while it’s true of my brothers I left behind me, I’m not sure I could say the same about those here. They certainly don’t seem overly friendly.

Why is the woman still sitting there? She seems to be hanging on my every word.

Pip gives me a measured glance. “Would you be willing to transfer?”

That pulls me up. “What?” I frown. “Here?” At his nod, I swallow down my initial, Don’t be stupid and try to think how I should play this out. I settle on the truth. “With all due respect, Pip, prospecting works two ways. The club gets to see the measure of the man, and the man gets to know the club.” I lean forward, resting my arms on the table. “I’ve had three brothers transfer out to different clubs. Dart went to San Diego, Paladin and Beef went to the Colorado club. They were given a chance to see how the members melded together and to decide whether they’d be a good fit. All three found things they liked and stayed on when they had the chance. Now you’re asking me if I’d consider a transfer, but I know fuck all about this club. I’ve met Snatcher and Thor before, but only briefly, and Piston in passing.” I pause. “As for the rest of you,” I let my eyes roam the table, resting on each one momentarily, though skipping over the woman of course, “I’ve not heard anything from you. I don’t know what makes you tick. I got disrespected on my arrival starting with the prospect, Gears. Have I seen anything I like here? Have I learned shit about you to be able to say I’d lay down my life for the club? Like fuck. Right now, I’m feeling the opposite.”

Pip looks at me considering, and then he barks a short laugh. “A simple yes or no might have sufficed, Road. But you’re right. We are a different club, different in ways you probably can’t imagine as yet. How about we shelve the idea of a transfer and put it on the back burner for now? What we,” he waves his hand as though encompassing all sitting around the table, “have decided, is to give you a chance to learn about what we are. Stay here for a few days or weeks, however long it takes, then if you’re a fit for us and us for you, I’ll raise the question again.”

I think for a moment. On the face of it, it sounds fair. While I still have suspicions about what happens if I have no inclination to patch over, at least I’ll be breathing for now. “I’ll have to check with Drummer. He’s expecting me back.” I’ll take the chance to put him on guard, let him know how uneasy I’m feeling. Then, if I disappear, he’ll know where to look.

“Ah,” says Pip. “The VP will sort Drummer out for you. I’m sure if we explain we need an extra pair of hands then he’ll have no objection to you staying on for a while.”

I suppose they could square it with Drummer, but I’ll be having a few words with him myself and tell him I’ve been given the opportunity to discover exactly what’s going on in the Utah chapter. Because of my injury, I’ve already been off for weeks, and Marvel’s been running the strip club, though I hadn’t heard him making many complaints. Well, in the mood I was in before I left Tucson, he’d probably not voice them in my presence, else he’d have gotten my fist in his face. I won’t deny I was a bear with a sore paw before I left.

“I’m teaming you up with Swift who will show you the ropes.”

It could be useful having someone I could gently pry information out of. As long as Swift isn’t the man who’s looking like he’d rather kill me than work with me. But, at least before my accident, I was an affable sort, happy to get along with anyone. I’ll just have to rely on not pissing whoever the man is off. Idly, I wonder what I’ll be doing, they haven’t asked about my work experience or skills. But then, if that woman could get into my medical records, finding out I run the strip club