Wanted by the Devil (9 page)

             
"Don't worry about a thing Mr. McRae. I'll see the little darlin’ home."

             
He felt rage boiling up inside him as he was pushed into the back of the squad car. If he hadn't of been cuffed he would have killed the man. He still might.

             
He watched as Kaylie followed the officer to the second car. She made eye contact with him through the window, trying to reassure him. She looked scared.

             
"I'll go to the club house! Don't worry!"

             
He gritted his teeth as Grant opened the passenger side door for Kaylie. At least he wasn't making her ride in the back. But if he touched her… he leaned his forehead against the padded wall separating him from the front and silently screamed.

              They held him for three days. Three awful days during which Kaylie imagined horrible things happening to him. Her mind went wild, picturing every scenario in the book. All except Dev being guilty. That never even crossed her mind.

             
She'd been true to her word, getting her mother to drive her to the clubhouse as soon as that disgusting Officer Grant had pulled away. The way he'd looked at her… and spoken to her… it was revolting. He'd acted as if she was easy, a woman of ill repute. He'd even implied that he'd make sure Dev got out if she'd ‘make nice’ with him. She'd had to fight back the bile rising in her throat at his lurid insinuations. But he hadn't touched her.

             
She'd kept herself focused by thinking about Dev and what she would say when she got to the clubhouse. She'd never been there before but she knew where it was. Everyone in town did, mostly just so they could steer clear of the place.

             
The building had been cleaner than she'd expected. That is until she got to the bar room. There were people everywhere, bikers mostly but also a lot of women in various states of undress. There were two stripper poles in the room and each had a girl hanging off of them, dancing lazily. Everyone in the room was drunk except her.

             
Donnie had seen her immediately and been across the room in two seconds flat.

             
"You shouldn't be here. Dev wouldn't like it."

             
"He's been arrested- they said-"

             
He'd held up a finger, silencing her.

             
"Come on, let's find Jack. You can tell us both."

             
They'd pulled her into a hallway and waited until there was a break in the traffic to and from the bathrooms. Then she heard Jack say the first words she'd ever heard him say.

             
"What happened?"

             
She'd told them everything. Halfway through the story Donnie looked at Jack and said one word.

             
"Dani."

             
Jack had nodded and just like that, Donnie was gone. Kaylie had started crying then. The tension and worry had finally gotten to her. She leaned against Jack's shoulder and cried all over his leather while he held perfectly still.

11

             
They had nothing on him. He knew that. Dev sat in the dim light on the uncomfortable bench making plans. No one had come to see him, but he knew they'd tried. They'd taunted him with that information.

             
‘Your little honey was here today. She looked so sad when we told her you couldn’t come out and play.’

             
He clenched his fists and got into position to do another set of push ups. He didn't even know who had accused him and of what exactly. He had a strong suspicion it was Dani. If they tried to prove that he'd laid a hand on her… they'd have a hard time doing that. Any member of the SOS would come forward and take the fall for him. That's if Dani actually had any physical evidence. The Spawns had an attorney on retainer. He was coming by later today. He was almost as pissed off as Devlin was.

             
It was pretty clear the cops were using the trumped up charges against him to try and aggravate him into attacking a police officer. That was an old school technique. Now they were using every trick in the book to drag out his stay. He'd come close to taking the bait more than once. Officer Grant had an annoying habit of stopping by the dank cell they were keeping him in and dropping hints about what he'd done, and what he'd like to do, to Kaylie.

             
‘I can’t wait to take a big bite of that honey pie. Does she squeal when you stick her? I bet I can make her squeal. Almost did the other night too.’

             
Then Grant had started making squealing noises every time he walked by, the bastard. It almost worked. Instead Dev had used his famous self control to do deep inside himself, to imagine the kinds of things he would do to Officer Grant if even one word he'd said was true. And a few things he would do to him just for thinking them. Officer Grant's life was going to get very difficult from here on out. If he'd laid one finger on his woman though… he was in for the beating of a life time.

             
Violence was part of the MC life, but there was a time and a place for it. In this case he couldn't very well beat up an officer of the law, unless Grant didn't know for sure who was doing the beating. A bag over the head after a night out drinking was the easiest way. Hiring out was another. But Devlin wanted to be there. He wanted to hear the crunch when his fist connected with Grants big, fat mouth.

             
Simmering rage didn't come close to what he was feeling. The pot had long since boiled over and now he was just hot metal bouncing around on the stove.

             
Ready to burn someone.

**********

              Kaylie waited outside her house for her ride. Donnie had called her and said he was coming to pick her up, that Devlin was getting out. She felt elated momentarily before the worries started to set back in. She'd had a lot of time to think the past few days. She was starting to wonder if she'd let her heart get her into a situation she'd regret for the rest of her life.

             
She wasn't sure she was cut out to belong to a biker, let alone the President of the most notorious gang in Northern California. The thought of not being with him cut her deep inside. But the thought of being dragged through the mud over and over again was scaring the heck out of her. Even her mother was concerned, and she'd been firmly on Devlin's side since the beginning.

             
Donnie drove up in an SUV. She hadn't been expecting that. She climbed in and sat there nervously as Donnie turned off the radio and waited for her to put on her seatbelt. She'd dressed conservatively for the occasion in a simple navy dress with a pink cardigan and kitten heeled pumps. Her hair was down and she wore sunglasses. She didn't want Devlin to see the doubt in her eyes.

             
She knew the charges against him were false. He would never hurt a woman and he certainly wouldn't force himself on one. Why would he when every woman he came into contact with melted like butter? Including her.

             
Especially her.

             
The drive to the courthouse in the center of town seemed to last forever. And yet she was so nervous that she wished it took longer. Hours, not minutes. Days.

             
What would she say when she saw him?

**********

              Devlin stepped out into the sunlight. He'd finally been released on bail after hours of back and forth legal bullshit. His lawyer was still inside threatening to sue the department for harassment if they didn't drop the charges. He shielded his eyes. The bright light hurt his eyes after three days stuck in the dark cell. He was pretty sure they'd chosen the worst cell in the place. It sure didn't smell like it’d been cleaned in the last decade or so.

             
He inhaled deeply as he saw Kaylie climbing out of the SUV across the street. She turned toward the courthouse steps and saw him. They both froze. He took one step, and then another. Suddenly they were running toward each other and he swept her up into his arms.

             
She felt incredible. She smelled incredible. She was there for him after all. He hadn't been sure after everything that happened. He lifted his head to kiss her and tasted salt on her lips.

             
She was crying.

             
"Oh sweetheart don't cry. Please?"

             
She didn't say anything. She just nodded her beautiful head and continued the water works. Devlin put his arm around her shoulders and walked across the street to the SUV. He clapped Donnie on the back and climbed into the drivers seat.

             
"Where are we going?"

             
"They wouldn't drop the charges even though they're complete bullshit. You know that, right?"

             
"Yes. I went back in and told them you were with me again. They didn’t listen."

             
"You didn't have to do that. But for now, I'm out on bail and I have to wear a monitor. They're coming to the clubhouse later to fit me with one."

             
She didn't say anything but Donnie leaned forward.

             
"It will be good to have you around all the time Dev. We missed you."

             
"Fill me in on what I missed when we get back. First thing I need is a shower."

             
"What's the second thing?"

             
Dev just grinned and glanced at Kaylie, leaving no doubt of what he meant. He wanted her.

             
"Okay man, what about the third?"

             
"Food. And a plan. We need to nip this shit in the bud."

             
"I hear that."

             
They pulled into the clubhouse parking lot and a stream of people poured out to greet him.

**********

              "You don't mind do you babe?"

             
Kaylie was enveloped in Dev's arms. They were finally alone in the small apartment above the club he used sometimes. It was just a bedroom with a small bathroom attached, but it was clean and had a place to sleep when he was at the club too late to go home. There were other bedrooms for rest of the Spawn throughout the clubhouse but this one was the most private and reserved for the President alone.

             
He was kissing her passionately for a while before he turned his head and rested his nose in her hair.

             
"Damn, you smell so good and I'm so filthy. I shouldn't be touching you."

             
"I don't mind."

             
She hadn't answered his first question about staying in the clubhouse. He didn't press her, thank goodness. She would have much rather visited with him at his house, or hers. It was true though that she didn't mind that he was dirty. It just felt so good to be in his arms again.

             
"Hmmmfff… oh god. Let me get washed up. I want to hold you."

             
She nodded and watched him strip down. He didn’t just want to ‘hold’ her. That much was obvious. A thrill went through her as he exposed his body to her. He was pushing his jeans down over his washboard abs when he looked up and caught her staring. He grinned and stood proudly in front of her, his arousal already evident.

             
"Unless you want to join me?"

             
Kaylie shook her head breathlessly. She was already feeling overwhelmed and needed the time to get herself together. He sniffed himself and cringed.

             
"Yeah, I don't blame you. I'll be out in a flash."

             
Kaylie smiled as he disappeared into the bathroom. She looked around the room. He didn't keep much there. A few magazines and books. Clothes. A mini fridge. And of course, the bed… which she would be laying down on shortly. She felt butterflies fill her stomach as she looked at the bed. Would it be different this time? Now that she knew what to expect?

             
There was a mirror over a dresser and she walked over to it. She pulled off her sunglasses and put them aside, shaking out her hair. She stared into her eyes and tried to figure out what she was going to do… she knew what she wanted but she didn't know what she could handle… not yet.

             
There was only one way to find out.

             
Pictures were taped to the edges of the mirror. Johnny with a young Devlin and a pretty woman who must have been their mom. She traced the picture with her finger. He looked so young. But he already stood with bravado, clearly aware of his position as the man of the house. He couldn't have been older than sixteen and yet he looked utterly confident in every way. So young, but already a man. Already a protector.