Page 10

Chapter Five

Fists crunched cheekbones,brows swelled, blood sprayed, and the two fighters in the ring stood watching the crowd as men with and without leather cuts duked it out. Diablo jumped into the melee, trying to pull the non-bikers apart. His fellow bouncers rushed in, screaming, cursing, and dragging men out by the collars. Diablo saw one of the Satan’s Pistons take out a knife and come toward Muerto. Leaping over a couple of guys on the ground, he yelled out, “Muerto, to your right!”

Muerto turned and saw the biker inches from him. He swung around and knocked the knife out of his hand, then kicked him in the chest with the heel of his boot. The outlaw biker crumpled to the floor. Diablo kicked the knife out of anyone’s reach and it went sliding across the floor toward the back of the room. Wanting to make sure no one picked it up, he sprinted after it, pausing when he saw Fallon bend down and pick it up.

Bloody Knuckles was waving his arms all around as he ran around like a chicken with its head cut off. If there wasn’t such a ruckus, Diablo would’ve enjoyed the anxiety the asshole was feeling.

Diablo came up to Fallon and she handed him the knife.

“Thanks. You better go upstairs. It’s a fucking mess in here right now. You don’t want to get hurt.”

She stared at him. Standing in the doorway leading to the staircase, she looked so vulnerable. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and keep her safe. She was a delicate-looking woman, but she seemed even more fragile among all the violence behind him.

“Go on now. Do like I told you.” He reached out and slid his fingers over her skin. She flinched and backed away. He watched her go up the stairs, and then he turned back around. The crowd had thinned out and he didn’t see any of his brothers or the Satan’s Pistons members. He started to walk back to the center of the room when he heard a small voice call out his name. He whirled around and Fallon stood crouched on the steps, her eyes shining.

“Be careful,” she said, then scrambled up the stairs. Her words energized him and he marched back into the thick of things.

“Where are the bikers?” he asked Rocky.

“They’re beating the shit outta each other outside. Most of the other people took off. I told Bloody Knuckles we oughta call the police, but he doesn’t want them here for obvious reasons. I get it, but someone’s gonna get killed.”

“I’ll figure it out.” Diablo hurried outside and saw Crow, leaping like a panther, land on one of the Pistons’ backs. They crashed to the ground and his brother beat the fallen man about the head and neck with a savagery Diablo had never seen.

He went over and pulled Crow off the unconscious man.

“What the fuck?” Crow struggled to break free of Diablo’s grip. “I’m gonna kill that sonofabitch. He’s the one who cut me up in Arizona. I’ve been wanting to pay this fucker back. When this chickenshit sliced me, it was me against five of these fuckers. At least I’m giving him a fair chance.”

“Steel won’t want you killing one of these fuckers without reason. You beat his ass, but it’s time to move on.” Diablo nudged the biker who was lying face down on the ground. He groaned. “He’s alive. Let’s help the others.”

As soon as Diablo surveyed the fight, it was obvious that the Night Rebels outnumbered the Satan’s Pistons. The tall man, who Diablo had seen earlier inside, yelled out to his brothers to get their asses on their Harleys and leave. Several of the members were stained in blood, and several Night Rebels didn’t look any better. A couple of Pistons picked up the member Crow had beaten and dragged him to a SUV, threw him in the back, and jumped in. The rest of the club hopped on their bikes.

“We don’t wanna see your fuckin’ asses in our territory again! You sonsofbitches.” Spit sprayed out of Crow’s mouth.

“Next time you won’t be riding away,” Army said while the other Night Rebels yelled in agreement.

The tall man glared at them. “This shit isn’t finished.” He and the other Pistons rode away.

“Fuck them!” Muerto screamed as he stomped his feet on the dirt.

Rocky came outside, his gaze avoiding those of the bikers. He went up to Diablo. “Everything calm now?” he asked in a low voice.

Diablo nodded. “It’s all cool. Some fuckers from a rival club started shit with my brothers. We took care of it.” He spat on the ground, his saliva mixing with the blood that heavily stained the sand and dirt.

In an even lower voice, Rocky said, “Bloody Knuckles is beyond pissed. He wants to talk to you.”

“I’ll be there in a minute.” Diablo watched as Rocky walked back inside. “I fuckin’ let you guys down. I should’ve seen the fuckers in there.”I was too damn busy looking for Fallon.“What happened shouldn’t have.”

“What the fuck are you sayin’?” Goldie jerked his head back. “There were so many people in there and you were doing some shit outside for a while. I bet that’s when the assholes came in.”

“And they must have known bikers were in here because of our Harleys in the lot. They were looking for a fight,” Muerto said.

“And we fucking gave them one!” Crow kicked up the sand with his boot.

“They know better than to be in our territory. We should’ve killed them.” Army shook his head.

“Damn straight,” Skull replied, Brutus and Chains nodding in agreement.

“I’d say the fights are over inside, right?” Sangre asked.