I nodded. If one meetup…and, OK, a whole bunch of texting and thinking about the other person counted as “so far,” then yeah, things were going well so far.
“It doesn’t take a fucking genius to realize I can help you out here, you know. And all you have to do is give me an extra day of work at the repair shop next week, which you fucking love to do anyway.”
“What do you want?”
Satan smirked.
“I’m dating your girl’s sister. We make it a double date. I’ll set you up. Play some wingman. Make sure you get the pussy. And make sure Hailey doesn’t interfere. You can slowplay this, or you can use me to ensure that you get exactly what you want. I think I know what I’d rather have.”
Damn if he wasn’t right. Therewassomething appealing about the idea of just getting Melissa back. Fuck, the very thought of her naked…
“This weekend?”
“We can fucking do that,” Satan said. “But you better seal the deal. I’m not playing wingman so you two can kiss like high schoolers without going all the way. Understood?”
“Oh fuck off, I know how to get in a woman’s pants.”
Sonny and Satan laughed and shared a high five. I was left to roll my eyes and turn away with a smirk.
“You know, fuckers, it’s not all bad,” I growled. “You can hate all you want, but I’m setting myself—”
BAM!
BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!
“Fuck!”
We all hit the fucking deck, covering our heads as the sound of gunfire erupted far too close to the clubhouse. Two members hurried to the front door, taking positions to fire upon anyone that entered. I grabbed my pistol on my hip, and though I couldn’t quite see Sonny and Spawn from here, I knew damn well that they’d done the same.
And yet…
Nothing happened.
We all held our breath for several seconds as we waited for the next attack, for someone to reload and lay down more fire.
But there was nothing.
There wasn’t even the sound of a motorcycle driving away. It was as if the gunfire had come out of thin air. I would have almost believed it was some weird PTSD flashback if not for the fact that literally everyone else in the room had also acted in response to the sound.
“Check the front door,” Satan said. “Carefully. Don’t get your ass killed.”
The first member headed to the front door and pried it open carefully. He swept a gun across, but he never pulled the trigger. It was unnervingly quiet outside.
“No signs of King’s Men,” he said.
“Doesn’t mean they aren’t fucking there,” Satan said, though he did sit up from the ground a bit. “We need to sweep the area. Make sure no fuckers are hiding and waiting to attack. Move in twos. Spawn, you’re with me. Let’s go.”
We did as commanded. The two members went first, followed by Sonny and a prospect, and finally by Satan and me. The members moved to the left, Sonny and the prospect to the right, and Satan and me up from where we entered.
I took the six as Satan moved ahead, looking at the building.
It was the damndest thing.
There were no bullet holes. I looked back down at the ground, and sure enough, the bullets were lodged down, almost like someone had fired into the air to get our attention…but do no damage. Why the fuck not?
“So they’re reduced to just doing shit for show,” Satan said. “Fucking cowards.”
They would have done this for a reason,I thought,and we all know damn well they know we can’t be intimidated.I kept my head on a swivel, alert for anything unusual, anything that seemed out of place, even a brick that had been there that wasn’t bef—
