Wizard unlinks his hands and slams them on the desk. “We’ve also checked into their bank accounts. Branston made quite a bit, selling this story around.” He brushes his fingers through his hair. “Our view is that if they hadn’t poured fuel on the fire, all of this would have died down. Roberts was arrested and locked up, and people like Jaxon would have bided their time until he walked free. This shit puts the focus on Virginia.”

  No wonder the press kept on hounding her, her brother-in-law wouldn’t let the story die down. My anger threatens to boil over. Jaxon was one who fell for his lies.

  I draw down my brows. “And what the fuck is he doing here anyway?” My pointed glare in Jaxon’s direction leaves them in no doubt who I’m talking about.

  Wizard raises and lower his shoulders as if it’s of no consequence. “He’s a SEAL. Didn’t trust the prospects to be able to hold him, so I wanted to keep an eye on him.”

  One side of Mouse’s mouth turns up in a smirk. “Doesn’t much matter what he hears if he’s headed for a grave anyway.”

  “Hey,” I protest. “I told Virginia—”

  “Don’t get your panties knotted.” Wizard grins. “We’ll let Jaxon go free. Whether or not he stays breathing is up to him.”

  Something in Prez’s tone makes my eyes snap to Jaxon. There’s something about his stance that suggests his outlook on the length of his preferred life might have changed. The look of utter despair in his eyes has receded, and that flicker of interest I thought I’d noticed on entering is definitely there. As if to confirm it, he folds his arms over his chest and smirks.

  “I think your prez has an ulterior motive. A plan which will benefit us both.” Jaxon tilts his head in Wizard’s direction as though in challenge.

  Again, Wizard’s shoulders rise and pause before dropping. “Jaxon has some useful insights on the effect this article, and others like them, had.”

  At this, Jaxon raises his chin. “I was sent it,” he confirms. “That and others like it. Maybe it was something that in my right mind I’d look at twice. But I was fuckin’ hurting. Since the cops had told me exactly what had happened to my baby girl, the articles brought all my grief to the surface again. I wanted to hit out at something, but I didn’t have a target.”

  “Roberts was out of his reach,” Mouse helpfully explains. “So, he was easy to prime to use against Virginia. An evil bitch of a woman, or so she was painted, who the cops had let walk free without a stain on her soul.”

  I glare Jaxon’s way. “You never stopped to think this information might not have come from a credible source?” How the fuck could he believe Virginia capable of what she’d been accused of?

  He splays his hands sheepishly. “I didn’t know Virginia then. How the hell was I to know what kind of woman she is? I only found out when I’d taken her. Jeez. A few minutes speaking to her, and I knew she could never have condoned what her husband had done, let alone be part of it.”

  “Ex,” I correct, offhandedly.

  “You’ve not seen the worst,” Mouse interjects. “Some of the other articles suggest at times she also took part, or at least was present and watching Roberts.” In case I have any doubt, he adds, “Brown, aka Branston was behind all the articles.”

  “For fuck’s sake!” If I wasn’t seeing red before, I am now. I get to my feet. “What’s his fuckin’ address?”

  “Sit the fuck down, Marvel.” Wizard passes a hand over his forehead as though wiping away imaginary sweat. Scowling, I disobey for a moment, then seeing the set look on his face, do what he’s said. When I’m again seated, he resumes, “We’ve considered motive, and think money was at the bottom of this. We,” he indicates Mouse and himself, “think Branston wanted his side of the story to go mainstream.”

  “He emailed a few of the major news outlets. But apart from the hardcore conspiracy sites, seems nobody took him up.” Mouse sighs heavily. “Didn’t stop them continuing to be interested in Virginia, and kept the story alive, but they obviously didn’t come up with the big bucks he was after.”

  “But if he hadn’t said anything, they’d have dropped interest in her?” I’m still trying to get my head around that her fucking brother-in-law set her up.

  Wizard grimaces. “I’d say that assumption was fair. When his initial plan to get paid big bucks fell through, I’m pretty certain he upped his game. If his sister-in-law got herself killed, he and her sister would be in the spotlight again, and this time might have a bigger payday.”

  This was for money? “The sister in on this?” I’m grasping the arms of my chair, needing something to hold to keep me anchored.

  Mouse is the one shrugging now. “No fuckin’ idea. It was always Branston’s byline, going by the name Brown, and not hers, so it’s possible she was in ignorance.”

  “He’s fuckin’ dead.” He just doesn’t yet know it.

  “You want to tell your old lady you killed her brother-in-law?” Wizard raises an eyebrow.

  “Club business.” She never needs know.

  “You want that on your conscience?” Prez challenges again.

  I frown. It’s not the best start to a relationship. Though there’s no doubt in my mind he’s got to die, Prez has a good point. If my hands are covered in his blood, what’s the difference between me and Ralph? My digits will be just as dirty as his. I stare down at my fists in my lap, torn between wanting biker justice and doing right by my old lady.

  Jaxon coughs. When it has the desired effect and my eyes rise to him, one side of his mouth turns up. “I think that’s why I’m here.” He stares at Wizard. “Well, isn’t it?”

  It must be the blow I’d taken that makes me slow to understand.

  As I shake my head, Jaxon links his hands between his knees and sits forward. “I don’t like that I was used. I don’t like that my grief was turned against me, and my feelings for Bree twisted. Branston fuckin’ knew I couldn’t see straight and wanted revenge. He worked on that, primed me to buy into his plans. He fuckin’ persuaded me she deserved all she was going to get.” His face reddens and his cheeks billow as he sucks in air. “All I could see was Bree and what that bastard had done to her at the time she should have been treated with utter respect.” He breathes deeply again. “Branston can’t be allowed to keep spreading his lies, or risk him finding some other sucker to go through with his plans. I’ll take him out for you. Goes some way to recompense you and your woman for what I’ve done, and you won’t have his blood on your hands.”

  A sly smile crosses Wizard’s face, making me realise Jaxon was right. This was Prez’s plan all along.

  Virginia had talked about adopting him. Hell, at this moment, I’d be proud to call this man son. But something bothers me. “What’s the difference? Branston used you, and now it sounds like we’re doing the same.”

  Jaxon’s eyes sharpen as if he hadn’t considered that. That he was a weapon for hire, no matter who called the tune.

  Wizard raps on the table, getting our attention. “Branston was using Jaxon for his own purposes. Sure, we’d be using him for ours, but I think we can give him something in return.”

  My brow furrows and I glance up, wearing a quizzical expression.

  Wizard continues, “Man,” he jerks his head toward Jaxon, “needs something to live for. He needs family to help him heal from his loss. He proves his loyalty to the club, and we take him on as a prospect.”

  This is the fucker who hit me and left me for dead, and kidnapped my old lady, an event I’m sure has taken years off my life. But I need to balance that against the fact that keeping him close would please my old lady. And, of course, if he does this for us, then he’ll have earned my trust.

  The suggestion seems to have come out of left field for Jaxon. His eyes are flicking between Prez, Mouse and myself, and finally land on the Satan’s Devils insignia hanging behind the desk. Lines appear on his brow, and for a moment he just stares.

  Then he shakes his head and shrugs. “Got nothing else to live for.”

  “Not going to take it easy on you.” Wizard looks stern as he throws down the gauntlet. “You’ve got a lot to prove.”

  Now Jaxon’s challenged, his jaw looks set. “Bring it on.” He raises his chin.

  The two men’s eyes meet. Then Wizard grins, stands, and reaches his hand over the desk. Jaxon takes it and shakes it firmly.

  When Wizard retakes his seat, he turns to Mouse and seems to completely change the subject. “Rat and Captain still inside?”

  Now those are names I haven’t heard for years. They’re two Wretched Soulz who were in the penitentiary back when Truck was held at the government’s pleasure.

  Mouse grins. “Somehow they always seem to get themselves into trouble and never qualify for parole.”

  “Ten years is a fuckin’ short sentence.”

  “It is that,” Mouse agrees with his prez.

  “I’ll speak to Raptor.”

  Jaxon’s looking confused, but I grin. As long as the prez of the Wretched Soulz agrees, I’ve a feeling Jaxon is going to be able to sleep easier in his bed.

  Wizard turns to the man who I suspect will soon be wearing a prospect cut. “You deal with Branston and in a way that leaves us clean, Roberts will never walk free. You got me?”

  The confusion starts to recede from Jaxon’s face and is replaced by a glimmer of pleasure instead. Seems Ralph’s early demise would certainly make him feel better. His lips purse, then he straightens. “Branston will meet with an unfortunate accident. Won’t ever be traced back to the club. It will be up to Virginia how much comfort she’ll want to offer her widowed sister.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Marvel…

  Sometimes guilt eats away at you when you know you should do something but haven’t got around to it yet.

  I’d made a promise to my old lady, but as yet, hadn’t fulfilled my part. Part of me said as time had moved on, in many ways, it had become unnecessary.

  She’s my woman. I’ve claimed her in front of my club. She sleeps in my bed each night, and hell if I don’t wake up every morning, pinching myself in case it’s a dream. Far from being bored with one pussy, sex just seems to keep getting better.

  Sex with the sweet butts was a one-and-done thing, but making love with my old lady? Each time we come together, we learn more of each other’s likes and dislikes, which seems to transcend it from a bodily function to a celebration of our love.

  I was so lucky to find her.

  I’d spent a huge part of my life being held prisoner by my past, but Virginia had saved me. I trust her completely. And she trusts me.

  And that’s the crux of my unease now.

  A week has passed since Jaxon had driven her to the compound. We still haven’t returned to her house, apart to collect her clothes and some of the other things she can’t do without—like her PC and two fucking big monitors I only just manage to fit on my desk. While I’m not pushing her, I think she’ll decide to sell so we can start afresh. I know Sam has her eyeing a spot at the top of the compound where we could build a house.

  She might have been a professor, but I’ve got the street smarts, and we seem to balance each other out. I’m already in the habit of knowing when to pull her from her work. If I didn’t, I don’t think I’d ever get her away from her laptop.

  Life’s good and can only get better.

  Except for that niggling doubt I’m not being honest.

  “You with us, Marvel?”

  I snap to attention as I come back to myself. “Sure.” I shrug nonchalantly while knowing I’ve been lost in my thoughts and try to get my mind back onto church.

  “How’s Virginia coping?”

  Jaxon hadn’t delayed. Immediately after our meeting, he’d left the compound and headed to Wisconsin, returning only forty-eight hours later to say the deed was done. Two further days passed before Virginia had learned of the death of her brother-in-law, confirming the sisters weren’t close. Her sister had called her to say Branston had lost control of his car. It rolled down a steep embankment, burst into flames, and he’d died.

  Unable to believe her sister knew of what Branston had been doing, and us being unable to ascertain whether she had or had not, I wasn’t too happy with Virginia wanting to know whether there was anything she could do to help, either for Ronny herself, or with the kids, and whether she should visit Wisconsin. But her sister had assured her she’d got it all covered, and that Branston had a decent insurance policy which should see them right. Her notifying Virginia was nothing more than a courtesy.

  “Virginia’s feeling guilty that she’s glad that he’s gone,” I tell them, having gathered my thoughts.

  “She doesn’t think it’s more than a coincidence?” Rock queries.

  Shaking my head, I grin. “I think she might have done, but everyone was here on the compound and accounted for.”

  Prez chuckles as he meets Mouse’s eye. Yeah, Jaxon completed the job for us without any Devil having to lift a finger. We owe him big time.

  “New prospect’s damn good with explosives,” Peg remarks. His words remind us how he’d set a small device that blew out the tyre at precisely the right time. Any evidence was destroyed in the resultant fire of course. The man knows how to cover his tracks.

  “He’ll come in useful. We haven’t had an expert like that since Slick.”

  At Drummer’s words, fists are placed over hearts, a mark of respect for a man who’s with us no more.

  Wizard gives us a second, then gets back on track. “Met with Raptor…”

  “Hold up, Prez,” Mouse interrupts, pointing at his laptop. “Just got an alert come through. Roberts was the victim of a shanking last night.”

  Snorts of laughter go around, as Blade chuckles and states, “Apparently Raptor said yes.”

  When the high fives and hollers die down, I ask, hopefully, “Dead?”

  Mouse shakes his head. “He’s in the infirmary.”

  Wizard laughs loudly. “Raptor did say Cap and Rat were getting bored. He also added that they like to play with their toys. Ralph’s end will come, but they won’t make it easy.”

  And that’s a process I can get on board with. Except for one thing. “We owe a marker?” If so, it will be down to me to deliver as I involved the club in Virginia’s problems.

  “Yeah,” Prez confirms. When I grimace, knowing I’ll hold up my hand if there’s a favour needed, he continues, “He may have some dirty money he wants put through Angels to clean it up.”

  There are nods around the table as I heave a sigh of relief. It could have been worse. Then I groan. “Please don’t make me go to the bank.”

  Wizard snorts.

  “I’ll go.” Cast raises his hand. “Seems it’s the new place to pick up an ol’ lady.”

  “Glad we could oblige them.” Throttle grins.

  As Wizard kicks back his chair and rests one of his feet against the edge of the table, I glance around, noticing how relaxed people are looking after the last couple of weeks. For a moment, I lose myself again as I muse how much has changed. I never expected to find an old lady for a start, and it all began with a fucking bank robbery. Pressing my lips together, I realise how things can turn on the roll of a die.

  Of course, that’s a lesson I should have already learned.

  “You and Virginia doing okay?” Hawk, leaning forward, asks, as Wizard has a private discussion with Hound.

  “Going good, VP,” I reply. It’s hard to stop the curl to my lips.

  “Fuckin’ ass is pussy whipped.” Rock snorts. “Never seen him fuckin’ smile so much.”

  Taking no umbrage, I wink across the table at him. “When you find the right woman, you know.”

  “Asshole,” Throttle lazily points out. “It’s only taken you what, five and a half decades to discover that?”

  Letting out a breath I admit, “It could only have been Virginia. She saved me.”

  Hawk leans forward again, staring down the table at me. “Deep, Brother. Deep.”

  That sense of guilt comes to the fore again, and I realise that it’s time I come clean. I notice Wizard’s broken off his conversation and is looking at me.

  I clear my throat. “Something about me you don’t know,” I start, already regretting my impulse as soon as those words leave my mouth.

  “He likes to dress up in women’s clothes,” Joker stage-whispers to Lady.

  Rock snorts. “It’s the underwear that gets him.”

  “What colour panties you got on today, Brother?” Hound roars with laughter.

  I lower my head into my hands, but I can’t complain. I’m usually the one throwing the shit around, and now I’m experiencing what it’s like to be on the receiving end. In fact, Cast’s suggestion I’ve a yearning to paint my bike sparkling pink has my shoulders shaking as it’s so ridiculous.

  Wizard bangs the gavel. “Give Marvel a chance to spit it out.”

  “He sucks cock?” Shooter rears back, then hastily adds with a glance toward Joker, “Not that there’s anything against that, Brother, but I just didn’t expect that.”

  “I do not suck cock!” I roar, wondering why the fuck I ever started this. “Just give it up. I’ll keep quiet.”

  “Think you’ve got something you want to get off your chest, Brother.” Hawk gives a specific glare to each of the men who’ve just spoken, and, to those who’ve so far kept quiet, offers a warning glance.

  Drummer folds his arms. “Thought we knew all there was to know about you, Marvel.” He casts a worrying look toward Mouse, who narrows his eyes.

  Wraith also sits forward, his brow furrowed.

  Oh, for fuck’s sake. After all these years, do they still harbour suspicions because I came from San Diego? I inwardly grimace. I can’t deny there are secrets I’ve been keeping to myself all this time.

  “It ain’t nothing that will affect the club.” I focus my eyes on Drummer. Sure, Wizard has earned my respect, and I was one of the first to shoot up my hand when he was voted in at the head of the table, but Drummer had been my prez for over two decades, and I’ve an innate urge not to disappoint him.

 

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