Road Tripped (Satan's Devils MC Utah #1) - Manda Mellett Page 0,40
aren’t my brothers, and I don’t have a clue how an MC could help, I raise my hand, getting Pip’s attention, remembering I’m supposed to be partnering with Swift. I know my limitations though. If boots on the ground can be interpreted as the members named are heading out to California, there’s no way in hell I’ll currently be able to ride along. Nevertheless, with roles being handed out, I’m not comfortable being locked in my room and forgotten while shit’s going down.
Which drives me to ask, “What do you want me to do?”
Pip looks around the table, seemingly ignoring my question. “Duty, Bolt, Stormy and Cowboy. I’ve sent you everything we’ve got so far. Go start digging.” The men in question get up from the table and leave with chin lifts towards their prez. When they’re gone, Pip looks down the table at me. “Can you handle yourself, Road?”
“I was a bouncer, seen my share of roughhousing. I can handle a gun.” I might also have taken a few knife-throwing lessons from Mouse, but I don’t bother to mention that.
“You a man who runs from danger?” he continues to probe.
“Nah,” I tell him. “Can’t say I’d run toward it, but if one of my brothers is in danger, I’d have their back.” I have had to more than once.
It’s Snatcher who asks the next question. “That patch you wear is the same as ours. You going to be able to count us as your brothers?”
I stare at him for a second, incredulous he has to ask. “I can’t pretend I know what you’re doing, or how or why you’re involved. But from what I’ve heard, there’s a thirteen-year-old kid in danger and fuckin’ terrified by now. I take it you’re mounting some sort of rescue. Well, if you’re offering me a part of that, I’ll be right there alongside you.”
“What about your leg?” Swift asks, from beside me. “That going to hold you back?”
I turn to her and reply honestly, “If we’re riding all the way to California, then yeah, I might have a problem.” Darn thing will seize long before we get there. “If I can stay local, strapping it up keeps it in place.”
“You get that knee bound, you hear me?” Pip instructs in a tone that Drummer would have used, meaning it’s useless to argue. “And you won’t be riding more than a couple of miles.” His eyes find mine. “Know you’ve got lots of questions, Road, but now’s not the time. Not sure about throwing you into the thick of things, but it gives you a chance to see how we do what we have to get done.” He wipes his hand over his clean-shaven face. “Need your word, Road. Need you to stay away from contacting Drummer. When you return from California, I’ll fill in any gaps in your knowledge.” Now he moves his attention away from me. “Now you lot get gone. Go and do what you’re paid for.”
The men who haven’t already left the room, get to their feet. Swift eyes me carefully. “You stick with me, okay, Road?”
I’ll stick with her like fucking glue. What choice have I got? I don’t know a thing about where we’re going, or what I’m supposed to do.
After a visit to my room to collect my stick I tried to do without today, I decide to take it. I don’t need it right now, I just don’t know what’s ahead of me and want to be prepared. I also pause to wrap my knee tightly as Pip had instructed, hating the effect of being unable to bend it properly, but realising that’s better than it popping out. Then once again, I trail in Swift’s wake down to the first floor. When we exit into the fresh air, I breathe it in deep, my hand resting gently on the saddle of my bike, greeting it like an old friend I feared I’d never be seeing again.
“Wait here,” Swift instructs. “Our bikes are out back.”
As she walks off, I realise she’s not leaving me unguarded, as the sound of engines already meet my ears, and Snatcher and Preacher appear from around the corner. They pull their bikes up next to mine, and nod as I stow my stick on the bike, then swing my leg carefully over the saddle. The strapping on my knee providing sufficient support that I’m not as awkward as I am without it. I do grimace though, finding the bandage restrictive, but trying