Devil's Girl(45)

The trip was over too soon. Everything was happening too fast. Back home, just a few days of quiet was enough to drive me crazy. Now, I just wanted to get in my truck and watch time pass me by.

But we had a job to do.

Theo deposited me in a motel room before meeting with Bill. “Stay inside,” he said, “We’ll just be out in the parking lot.”

“Don’t leave me in the dark. I want to know what’s going on. I think I deserve to know.”

He only nodded.

I watched them through the musty curtains of the seedy motel. The room smelled like stale cigarettes and the air conditioner rattled. Their faces were grim - Gunner, Bill, Theo, Anchor - all four standing in a circle near their parked bikes, figuring out how to take on a monster.

When Theo returned to me, he looked exhausted. "What's the deal?" I asked, letting him inside.

"It's a goddamn mess. Bars checked in - he caught a whole bunch of Eagles hitting the highway together. It's safe to assume they're coming here, but what for?"

"Flock."

"Huh?"

"Not a bunch of Eagles. A flock."

"Glad you find this funny," he muttered, but he drew me into his arms. "Everyone's converging in one place. There's bound to be an explosion and I don't want you anywhere near it."

"Wouldn't matter. I'm not safe anywhere until he's put down."

"Brand wants to meet with you alone."

"What? Why?"

"He and Bill don't have the best history. Issues separate from all this. He wants to judge your story for himself." He sighed. "He just doesn't want to believe he allowed such a maniac inside his club."

I snarled, "I'll give him a fucking earful."



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The Eagles were coming to our motel. “It’s fine,” Bill assured us, “It’s just the president and two of his guys, and they just want to talk.” I tried to look respectable for the upcoming meeting, in clean jeans and a button-down shirt. We needed Brand to take me seriously. “You stay in the room, Ivy. I’ll bring him to you. You do not come out. Understand?”

But when the three arrived on their bikes, they were were followed by two black towncars.

The Devils stepped out of their rooms - Bill, Anchor, and Gunner. Theo followed right behind after commanding me to stay put. I opened the door and leaned out a little ways to listen in anyway.

They spoke with a distance between them. “Where’s the girl?” one of the Eagles asked. If I squinted I could make out his VP patch. The president, Brand, stood to his left. He was the tallest of the three Eagles, but it was his shock of orange hair and his bushy orange beard that made him stand out more than anything.

“She’s here,” Bill said, “Who’s your guests?”

The president stepped forward. “Let’s see her.”

I leaned further out the door and shouted, “I’m close enough to hear you, don’t pretend like you can’t see me!” Theo’s shoulders shook - definitely a chuckle. Well, the guy’s being obtuse on purpose.

“Come on out, then. We just want to talk, that was the deal.” The bad feeling was getting worse.

“Who’s in the cars?” Bill and the rest seemed content to let me talk. That or they were as nervous as I was and were looking for an escape. I don’t think they planned on the Eagles being so… inhospitable. He made a bad call. He trusted this guy too much.

One of the car doors flew open, and a nightmare stepped out. Viper. He bounced with glee as he walked towards the circle of men. Those fucking Eagles led him right to us!

Theo pulled and aimed his gun. Everybody else followed. “I’m sorry, Bill,” the president said, “He’s got my daughter. Hand over Theo and the girl, and the rest of you can walk out of here.” More movement by the cars - men aiming guns over the open doors. I counted three. Seven on four. Seven ruthless, soulless bastards, and four Devils. They’d be crazy to try to fight.

But where can any of us go?

Theo lowered his gun. “Just me. That was the deal we offered, and that’s the only deal that stands.”

A mock pout spread across Viper’s face. “Why bring her all the way out here and not let me have her?”

“Treachery,” Bill growled, his eyes locked on Brand. The bearded man flinched.

Viper patted his jacket pocket. That pocket. He said, “I’ve got a lure. She’ll come to me, anyway. Won’t you, darling?” I knew what he was hiding, and I hungered for it. The need came roaring to life with it so close, just barely out of reach. I gripped the door.

“You were here for me to begin with, Viper,” Theo said, “Me in exchange for you to stop snatching up the Devil’s girls. Ivy included.”