CHAPTER 3
MAYHEM
I share a look with my VP, Rampage, and grimace.
He has a maniacal grin on his face, which doesn’t surprise me.
The fucked-up story we just heard involves a woman who needs help and a dirty cop who killed his wife.
The woman, Addyson, who is coming to the gates of my clubhouse for protection, is probably the only witness to the woman’s murder.
Talk about a perfect storm of fucked up things. If this woman’s life is like this all the time, I feel sorry for her.
Rampage probably hopes her desperation extends to the bedroom. Or the wall. Or wherever really. He’s not all that picky.
“I know it’s not exactly your problem,” Lucifer’s voice fills my office, my phone on speaker so my VP can hear, “but I appreciate you opening your doors for her.”
Lucifer is a damn good president and has ruled the NOLA chapter for a long time.
He’s close with my dad and the former Prez of this chapter, Battle.
I grew up knowing I was always going to follow in my dad’s footsteps.
While some might say it’s too much pressure to put on a kid, I welcomed it.
Having the president patch on my cut was always the dream.
Now I’m living it.
Still, I had some damn big shoes to fill. Hopefully, I’m doing a respectable job. Since there hasn’t been a mutiny, I’m going to count it as a win.
Not like Battle would allow something like that to go down. He’s still a fixture in the club along with my mom, Tonya, who still makes sure things run smoothly. Talk about a fucking godsend. If it weren’t for her, the club would have fallen apart a long fucking time ago.
Honestly, I think Mom gets a kick out of mothering so many rough and tumble bikers. I was their only kid for 18 years, but then she got pregnant with my little brother. Arch, who refuses to answer to Archie—and who can really blame him—is turning 18 soon and can’t wait to prospect for the club.
I’m looking forward to making his year as a prospect a living hell. It’s my right, and my duty as his big brother, to make it happen.
Fuck, Mom would smack me if she thought I even considered not helping this woman, Addyson. I can only hope she’s a good woman like Tallulah is. I only had to meet Tal once to know that much about her. She’s damn good for Scythe too.
I can’t see myself settling down. Any time soon, or ever really. But that doesn’t mean I’m not happy for Scythe and the rest of the brothers in New Orleans who have found Old Ladies. There have been quite a few found in Seattle last I heard too.
“She’s an innocent who was trying to do the right thing. I can imagine hearing what she did has shaken her up.” What I don’t say is that I hope she isn’t a wet blanket. I don’t do well with crying women.
“I don’t think she’s been sleeping,” Scythe informs me.
“Tal said Addy sounded really tired the last few days and then today she was panicking with everything that happened.” I can hear the concern in his voice, “The moment it’s safe for her to come here, I’ll come and get her or meet halfway or whatever needs to happen. I appreciate you looking out for her.”
The sincerity is fucking palpable, to the point that Rampage arches an eyebrow in question as he looks at me. All I can do is shrug, but it makes me want to snarl and tell the man to back the fuck off before reminding him that he has an Old Lady of his own.
I bite the words back. Fucking barely.
Lucifer’s voice has an edge of warning, “She’s family to Tallulah, which means she’s family to me.”
“Understood,” I clip.
“We have Hacker digging into things, but I’m sure you want Anchor to do the same on your end. If they need to do whatever the fuck they do with computers and shit, together, then make it happen,” he grunts the words and I can’t help but smile.
Lucifer is a scary motherfucker and not a man I would want to go up against, but he’s not exactly of the computer generation. He’s kind of like Battle in that way. Analog.
You gotta love that about the old timers around here.
Considering he’s a grandfather now and his son, Prodigal, is old enough to take over the club, I’m just waiting for the phone call about the transfer of power in New Orleans. Not that I would expect Lucifer to put up his bike.
Far from it.
Battle still rides with us and participates in club business.
He also spends a lot more time at home with Mom and Arch.
Without the stress of leading the rough and tumble men we call brothers, he’s almost a new man.
Still dangerous as fuck, but lighter. I won’t lie; there are days when I wish he would have held onto the power for a little while longer.
But those are the hard days.
When it’s good? There’s nothing quite like leading my brothers and enjoying the rewards that come with the hard work we put in. What’s the point of working hard if you can’t party hard?
And we do work fucking hard. The club owns quite a few businesses in town including Devil’s Brew, a coffee shop, Devil’s Note, a jazz club, and Saint’s Shield, our security company. There are a few other businesses the club owns and more we invest in, silently.
Not only have we helped our local economy, but our bank accounts aren’t hurting, that’s for damn sure. And then there is the less than legal business we do. The jobs we take off the books, the ones we do in the shadows, are even more lucrative.
Being who we are means the rewards are plentiful. I’m good with the free, easy pussy the club brings my way. I’ve had more than a few women think they’ll be able to sink their claws into me.
It’s not going to happen. I’m not interested in having an Old Lady. Why would I give up the way I live my life? I’m not seeing a benefit.
Scythe looked damn happy with Tallulah in his arms.
I shake off the thought because I can’t even imagine the woman who would be able to handle me and this life. The target on my back is bigger than the ones my brothers are sporting. Someone is always going to look at taking out the head of the snake.
Right now, it’s me.
“I’ll make sure Anchor is aware of the situation and is ready to dig.
I do want to find out if this,” my lip curls and I sneer, “officer followed her or is looking into who she is. I’m sure there are cameras.
If he’s the murderer, he’ll want to cover his tracks.
He must already be doing it if he hasn’t run yet. ”
“There’s no ‘if’ about it,” Scythe assures me. “Addyson says he did it and I believe her.”
“I’m not doubting her,” my voice is laced with exasperation as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You know, you’re very fucking concerned about your Old Lady’s best friend. Anything I should know?”
“Fuck you, Mayhem,” Scythe seethes and I almost bark out a laugh because I was starting to think he was going soft on me.
He did just have a baby girl, after all.
Rampage is grinning from ear to ear while making some very lewd and fucking hilarious finger motions. I smirk and shake my head at him in admonishment. It doesn’t stop him.
“She’s like a sister to me. The first time I met her, she threatened me in the name of my woman and didn’t give a single fuck about me being the club’s enforcer. She’s the kind of person you want at your back because her loyalty is hard wired.”
His words have my curiosity growing, but I’ll meet this woman soon enough. It’s not like she’s a fucking unicorn. She’s still just a chick.
One who has become my problem.
“We’ll keep her safe and figure out what comes next,” I promise the men. This is on me; they’re just a little too far away to do any good, considering the circumstances.
I guess it’s a damn good thing there are other chapters of the Devil’s Saints Motorcycle Club.
Happy to help and all that shit.
We exchange a few more words before hanging up. I look over at Rampage who looks excited about the possibility of shit going down. The fucking psychopath.
“It looks like things have been quiet around here for too long,” I muse and lean back in my chair.
The leather creaks as I rest my head back and close my eyes, just for a moment. Just a moment.
A cop who murdered his wife, allegedly, is probably dirty. Unless he just snapped.
I blow out a breath because it doesn’t matter. What matters is this woman getting to the gates of my clubhouse and being safe.
“Prospect,” Rampage barks and I almost laugh at how serious he sounds. It’s not the norm for him and I’m sure whoever is on gate duty right now is shitting themselves.
My eyes open slowly and he winks at me before scowling like it matters. It doesn’t, but who the fuck am I to say something about it?
“A woman named Addyson Klein will be arriving at the gate. Let her in, tell her where to park, and direct her into the clubhouse. Mayhem will be waiting inside for her.”
Since he has it under control at the moment, I close my eyes again. I wonder what kind of woman Addyson is. How Scythe feels about her is obvious and the man has earned my respect a few times over.
The danger she’s bringing to my door can’t be helped and it sure as fuck isn’t her fault. But if she causes a bunch of fucking drama while she’s here? It’s going to be a problem.
“I guess she does have one lucky thing going for her,” Rampage remarks.
“What’s that?” I ask as I open my eyes, the time for rest over, before standing up and stretching. I nod toward my closed office door to indicate us being on the move. We might as well get a drink while waiting for this Addyson chick to show up.
He grins at me while standing and moving toward the door, “She’s lucky her best friend has a biker for a husband. She’d be fucked and basically dead right now if not for that. No way would she stumble upon anyone with the skills to help her out of this mess.”
The thought of someone hurting this woman, even though I’ve never met her, makes me want to burn the entire fucking city to the ground. I almost chuckle at the thought because I didn’t get my road name by accident.
It was hard earned, but I’m sure as fuck not ashamed about it. Anyone who hurts my family will only know mayhem.
Apparently, that also includes Addyson Klein.
I vaguely remember Tallulah mentioning the small town where she’s from and I cringe as I step up to the bar where Keith, a prospect, is already pouring me a glass of Hammond Whiskey. Hopefully, she won’t be some pearl-clutching virgin.
“Thanks,” I grunt at Keith before grabbing my glass and turning so I can look out at the large common area.
One side is set up with a few pool tables and then the other side is half couches and half tables.
Since this building is a huge barn, there is still plenty of room in the middle.
The kitchen, with an attached dining area, is behind the bar along with two wings of rooms, a few offices and church.
One wing is for the club angels and prospects while the other is for guests and officers.
The rooms upstairs are all suites and have more than enough room for everyone else.
We have enough land for members to build on. Most of the old timers have houses on the land, while the single brothers don’t mind living in the barn. Personally, it suits me just fine.
“Mayhem,” Sin purrs my name as she saunters up to me with a predatory smile curling on her lips.
Even though I look down at her, I can’t help but glance back toward the far end of the barn where the doors are that Addyson will be walking through. I can’t understand it, but my gut is coiling tighter as the minutes tick by.
Shouldn’t she be here by now? What is taking her so long? Could the dirty piece of shit cop have found her?
“You seem tense, Prez,” Sin’s fingernails scrape across my skin just enough to get my attention. “I can help with that,” she offers. “Oh,” she adds, her voice turning coy even though it sounds fake as fuck, “and Happy Valentine’s Day.”
I jerk back from her slightly before looking down at her, my eyes sweeping over what she’s wearing. Well, what she’s not wearing. The leather skirt she has on barely covers her ass, and her top is netted which leaves holes her hard nipples poke through easily.
My cock twitches and I know I could probably get myself there if I really wanted to. The thing is, I don’t want to.
Rampage snorts out a laugh next to me and I smirk. Valentine’s Day? Is she for real?
He mutters, “I don’t see a man with a bow and arrow wearing a diaper anywhere.”
The corner of my mouth twitches, but I don’t look at him. It would only encourage his antics. I study Sin for a moment, but there aren’t stars in her eyes, only lust. Still, I know the only thing I can do is lie to her.
“Sin,” I nod, “we’ll have to take this up later. Club business.”
She licks her lips and her eyes flare. I don’t know if it’s because of the promise of later or because I’m rebuffing her right now. Either way I don’t really give a fuck.
And I won’t be taking this up later. The way she’s trying to cling to me is a big fucking turn off.
Sin is a club angel. She’s here for the brothers to enjoy while having a roof over her head. Yes, the angels are supposed to help keep the clubhouse running, but I’m no fucking fool. They work on their backs.
I’m okay with it.
They are too.
It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
But I don’t like the way Sin’s nails are digging into my skin just a little more than they should. Like she has some sort of ownership over me.
Before I can remind her of who she is and what her role is, the door bursts open and everyone’s heads snap in that direction. Brothers who were sitting stand, and ones who were already standing slide their hands into their cuts.
A woman with brown hair rushes through the door, the air sawing in and out of her lungs like she’s being chased by the hounds of hell.
She’s little, but the curves of her body make my cock go from ‘considering what is being offered’ to a steel pipe trying to break through my zipper.
She might be 5’4”, if that. Her hair falls around her and down her back in luscious waves which make me want to twist it around my fist.
Her head is angled down, but when she looks up and pushes her hair back from her face, our eyes lock. I’m fucking done. Everything disappears around me, all of my focus zeroing in while I can feel my life realigning. With her at the center of it all.
Her dark eyes flash with something, but then she looks around and her mouth forms a perfect ‘o’. I take a step forward without even realizing it and Sin’s nails dig into my arm just a little bit deeper. Honestly, I hardly feel it.
“I’m sorry,” the woman’s voice wobbles and then her eyes meet mine again. “I’m looking for Mayhem? Scythe sent me here.”
Hearing another man’s name on her tongue has me seeing red. Rampage shoves me a little, and everything comes rushing back in.
But I feel different.
All because of her.
Fuck me.
She’s mine.