STEEL TEMPTATION (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel) Read online

  He jumped up on a table and sat there, hands folded, just thinking.

  Thinking of what it was like being chained up, getting beat up and cut. Waiting to bleed to death. The sound of the garage door peeling open and seeing Miller standing there. How it changed his entire life. Working for the family was hell. Living on the edge, being an outlaw, that was heaven.

  Now there was a different kind of heaven… the feelings Mia provided.

  Nate started to slide from the table, needing to find Miller and a drink. They needed a plan, right now. The second Mia checked on things, it was time to take out the judge.

  With one foot on the ground, Nate heard a sound. He watched as a police cruiser - lights flashing - made a sharp turn into the lot. Even from the distance he could see Chief Jerry behind the wheel.

  “Fuck,” Nate growled.

  Chief was here. Mia was gone. All hell was breaking loose.

  And death… it sat right on the horizon.

  twenty-two.

  This time, Mia didn’t give a shit. She had a gun next to her on the passenger seat. The little thing terrified her though. She had no experience with guns. She wanted nothing to do with holding a gun or firing a gun. Bad enough the image of Nate shooting that Coast Road guy was fresh in Mia’s memory. The guy’s stomach being ripped open. The guy sticking his own fingers in the open wound. The blood, dark red, thick, like syrup…

  Mia pulled into Uncle Jake’s driveway and hurried to park. She shut her eyes and licked her lips. Her stomach pulled, twisted, wanting to unload. She took a few breaths, refusing to throw up right now. She chased away the sights her memory would never forget and stayed focused. She needed to make sure Uncle Jake was happy and she needed to find Jacob. To make sure he was okay.

  To help him… but how?

  That was the hard part. Mia had nothing to offer. Unless she could get Jacob to go with her and throw him into the arms of Back Down Devil MC. Maybe Jacob could grow up…

  “Jesus,” Mia whispered.

  That’s what she wanted for her young cousin? To be thrust into that kind of life? To grow up drinking, smoking, fucking anything with a pussy, and murdering like it was a common thing?

  Sadly, that life would be better than anything Uncle Jake could offer.

  Mia got out of her car. She knew Uncle Jake didn’t like her parking in the driveway. Her beater car didn’t match the luxury vehicles that lined the street like the perfectly placed trees. A postcard of the upper class life. Mia wondered if anyone else on the street was as twisted and sickening as her uncle.

  She walked to the door and knocked. She put her hands to her sides and went into instant panic.

  The gun.

  She forgot the fucking gun in the car. On the seat. Mia turned, and took a step.

  The door opened. “Leaving so soon?”

  She stopped and stiffened. Taking a breath, she calmed herself.

  When she turned, Uncle Jake shook his head. “You look like shit. You look scared to death. Are you high?”

  “High? No. I’m not…”

  “Why are you nervous?”

  Mia swallowed hard. She had no protection right now. From anything.

  “Can I come in?”

  “Why did you come to the front door?”

  “I don’t know,” Mia said. “I’m in a hurry…”

  “Where you going next?”

  “I… they, uh, the guys… Back Down Devil… what happened… they didn’t know about the other bikers. Right? They’re worried about… it… all…”

  Holy shit, I’m ruining this. I’m ruining everything.

  “Oh?” Uncle Jake asked.

  “Hey, where’s Jacob?” Mia asked. “Is he home? Can I see him real quick?”

  “Why are you so worried about Jacob?”

  “I’m always worried about him,” Mia said. “You know that. I care about him. He’s like the little brother I never had.”

  Mia forced a smile.

  Uncle Jake wasn’t buying it.

  “Brother you never had? Please. If you were my daughter, you’d…” Uncle Jake looked around. “Come inside, quickly.”

  Mia entered the house through the front door. It was weird doing so.

  Again, as she walked through the downstairs of the house there was no sign of a kid. Yeah, Uncle Jake kept a tight ship on things, but the aura of the house was just off. Mia felt her heart pounding in her chest.

  Something’s wrong. Something’s very wrong here.

  Uncle Jake stopped at the entrance to the kitchen. He stood with his back to Mia. “I don’t have any coffee or anything made. Hope that’s not a problem.”

  “Oh, not at all,” Mia said. “I’m fine. Just… everything last night…”

  Uncle Jake walked again.

  Once they were in the kitchen, Uncle Jake took a seat and moved the newspaper out of the way. He looked at Mia as she stood at the black marble covered island in the middle of the kitchen. She wanted to keep her distance, just in case.

  Her heart still pounded, angry at herself for forgetting the damn gun.

  “Nothing happened to you, right?” Uncle Jake asked. “You weren’t hurt?”

  “No,” Mia said. “No. I got out. I left with them. They were persistent, confused. They were worried all night about it. That those other guys…”

  “Coast Road MC,” Uncle Jake said. “Very dumb men. I’m not going to lie. I tried to appease everyone though. I tried to be fair. I figured if you just… you know, bent over and took one for me, it would help. But you hit him. You attacked him. You fought.”

  “I had to,” Mia said. “I don’t…”

  “I understand. There’s something greater at stake.”

  “I never asked to be part of that. I just wanted to help with the game, like I always do. And then make a little money and slip away.”

  “And check on Jacob.”

  Mia swallowed hard. “Yes. Check on Jacob.”

  Uncle Jake laughed. “You fear for his life, don’t you?”

  “Why would I?”

  “You know where Jacob is?”

  “No,” Mia said. “I’m asking you…”

  “He ran away. Okay? He left a note and ran away.”

  “And you’re calm right now?”

  Uncle Jake brought a fist to the table. “This is who I am, Mia. I care. I’ve spoken personally with the Chief in Frelen. He’s taking this to heart for me. There’s a plan in motion to find Jacob. He’s a troubled young man. Situations in school could have been dealt with a different way. But it was them… those people in that motorcycle club that fucked his mind up for good. They almost turned him into a killer. He wanted to harm. He wanted to keep harming. What am I to do with that?”

  “What did you do?” Mia asked.

  “I handled him,” Uncle Jake said. “I tried to straighten him. But he felt freedom was better off. So that’s what he has now. Freedom. He’s gone. I didn’t want to tell you because I knew it would upset you. Okay? But I assure you, it’s going to be okay.”

  “No, it’s not,” Mia said. “This whole thing…”

  Uncle Jake lifted the newspaper and tossed it across the table. That’s when Mia saw the gun. Uncle Jake put his hand to the weapon and just stared at her with cold, dark eyes.

  “This whole thing,” Uncle Jake said. “Go on, tell me about this whole thing. What’s your version of it? The one where you fuck all the bikers? Where you get on your knees and suck their dicks? Where you act like a fucking bitch whore and leave me?”

  Mia sidestepped. “You have it wrong. You told me…”

  “The war is already over,” Uncle Jake said. “Just because they’re still walking doesn’t mean a thing. I hope you remember that, Mia. Power always wins. Not muscle. Not grit. Not a fucking motorcycle. Yet that’s what you want.”

  “I never said that. I just want to see Jacob.”

  “Then go find him. Save him.” Uncle Jake lifted the gun. It was pointed right at Mia. “Save yourself while yo
u’re at it.”

  Mia glanced from the corner of her eye. There was a silver canister filled with steel utensils. They were probably expensive, all unused, there to match the decor of the kitchen. But that provided a small chance for Mia. She hurried, grabbing the canister, and then threw it toward Uncle Jake. It came nowhere near reaching him, but it was enough to let Mia turn and run.

  She waited for the gunshot, but it never came.

  That didn’t mean Mia could stop though.

  She kept running.

  To the front door.

  She opened and fled the house. Her car felt like it was a mile away.

  Mia got to her car, climbed inside, and started it. She saw the gun next to her on the passenger seat. She wondered what would have happened inside if she actually brought the gun with her?

  Would she have shot Uncle Jake?

  She looked out the window and saw him… Uncle Jake standing at the front door. It was open and he had one foot on the porch.

  His hands were empty now.

  He lifted one hand and gave a quick wave.

  “Shit,” Mia whispered.

  She backed down the driveway and sped away. She reached for her cell and hurried to call Nate. At the first stop sign, she waited an extra few seconds to catch her breath.

  Nate picked up the call with a “What’s wrong?” as a blip sound echoed around her.

  Mia checked the mirror and saw a cop behind her. Lights flashing.

  “Holy shit,” she said. “I’m getting pulled over.”

  Mia crept forward slowly, the cop right on her ass.

  “What?” Nate asked.

  “I have a gun in the car. I’ll go to jail, Nate.”

  “What happened?”

  “He pulled a gun on me. He knows everything.” The siren went off behind her. She looked in the mirror again and the officer was waving his hands. Mia shook her head. “What do I do? Nate… if I stop and he sees the gun. Or searches the car. I should have stayed with Uncle Jake.”

  “No!” Nate bellowed. “You keep going, babe. I swear to you, just keep going. Do not stop. No matter what.”

  Mia checked the mirror a third time.

  The officer now had a gun in his hand.

  twenty-three.

  The chief walked back and forth, thumbs hooked through his belt. He had a lot of questions that had no real answers. The more he talked, the more questions he asked, the worse it got between him and the MC.

  Miller finally made the call for everyone but Gaige and Nate to go inside.

  The move surprised Nate because he never dealt with Chief Jerry before. He never dealt with the personal club shit. It was always Miller and Gaige. Then they’d come inside, call a meeting, and the club would decide on a plan.

  But Nate stood there, next to Gaige.

  Chief Jerry faced them. He didn’t even bother to take his sunglasses off.

  “How’s the family?” Miller asked.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Chief Jerry asked with a cocky grin.

  Nate watched the anger crawl across Miller’s face like a storm climbing over the horizon of a mountain, ready to attack.

  “Why are you here?” Gaige asked. “I mean, there’s obviously something going on here.”

  “You’re right. What’s going on here is that bodies were found. In an abandoned warehouse. Not all that far from here. The room looked trashed. Coast Road members. You’re friends, right?”

  “Friends,” Miller said. “Yeah.”

  “What else was in the room?” Gaige asked.

  “I bet you know that answer already,” Chief Jerry said. Then he turned his sights to Nate. “And I bet that memory of yours is serving you quite well.”

  “What if it is?” Nate asked.

  “What do you remember, Nate?”

  “What are you trying to prove with all this? I thought the relationship…”

  Chief Jerry waved a hand. “No. That’s not what we’re talking about, is it?”

  “He’s got a point,” Miller said. “We’ve always been good. Why the sudden change? Lost trust? Interest? How do you plan on taking care of your wife and son…”

  “You leave them out of this,” Chief Jerry said. “They’re my problem.”

  “Problem?” Miller asked.

  Gaige then shot a hand out and kept Miller from stepping forward.

  “Let me talk to Nate,” Chief Jerry said. “Or else I’ll make one phone call and this place will be swarming…”

  “What did you do with that van?” Nate asked. “The one we called you about.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “Yes you do. You treated those Coast Road guys like you treated us. You played the scene to get us out of there. Then what? There were drugs in there.”

  “Drugs,” Chief Jerry said. “You’ve seen them before?”

  “Yeah, I have. Right before I was attacked. Threatened. Left to bleed out and die.”

  Chief Jerry curled his lip. “I was there to help you, Nate.”

  “You were there in on the fucking deal,” Nate growled. “I saw the entire damn thing, Chief. Sorry. You should have had someone actually kill me.”

  “Boy, those are some intense accusations,” Chief Jerry said.

  He reached into his pocket and everyone jumped. Nate knew this was it. The chief was going to start killing them. And he’d get away with it too. He had the judge in his corner, the badges of the town, and power that went far beyond Frelen.

  Gaige lunged forward and grabbed Chief Jerry’s arm. Miller was right there, too. Nate stepped forward, unafraid to die. Of course, if his stomach was going to swallow a bullet, his last thought would be about Mia.

  “Ease up,” Chief Jerry yelled. “I’m not pulling out a gun. If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead by now.”

  “What the fuck is this?” Miller asked. “I mean… years of this… together… what happened? I kept my end of the deal, Jerry. Just like you wanted me to do.”

  My end of the deal?

  Nate watched as the chief took a piece of paper out of his pocket. “This is what I wanted to show you three. So back away before I arrest you.”

  They backed away. Chief Jerry looked at Nate. “I can’t speak to what you think you saw. The MC had reported drugs before and I was just investigating.”

  “They were moving drugs then,” Nate spat.

  “And maybe we’re building a case,” Chief Jerry said. He looked to all three of them. “You ever think that? That we have our own thing going on?”

  “Then you should tell us,” Miller said. “So we can act accordingly. Right now Coast Road MC is driving through Frelen like they own the town. Moving drugs. Lots of drugs. The kind of drugs that can make very easy money, very fast.”

  “A ton of it,” Nate said. “Looking to leave, Chief?”

  “Fuck every one of you,” Chief Jerry said. “You don’t understand what it’s like on my end. I’m pulling double duty. Keeping deals alive and keeping honor for the badge. I watch you pieces of shit ride all over Frelen without a care. Each time there’s a fight, I have to clean it up. Each time there’s a murder, I have to take care of it. You all should be rotting in a cell…”

  “And you shouldn’t be the chief,” Miller growled. “You know that. We’re all in this together.”

  “Not anymore,” Chief Jerry said.

  Two little words that shook the ground.

  “So that’s it,” Nate said. “You get in bed with that judge that fucked with Jace. You get in bed with Coast Road MC. The dumbest group of people I’ve ever met.”

  “So dumb that they’re raking in cash,” Chief Jerry said. “Doing what you refuse to do.”

  “There will never be drugs in Frelen,” Gaige said.

  Chief Jerry smirked. “Watch yourself. You never know when that clubhouse will end up in different hands.”

  “You threatening us?” Miller asked.

  “Maybe I am. What are you going to do? Kill me? Like you killed those Coast
Road guys? Rocked that poker game, huh? Didn’t get what you wanted, huh, Miller?”

  Nate gritted his teeth. Chief Jerry was really trying to get to him. He really wanted Miller to attack. Either that or he just wanted to fuck with his head bad. Make it so that Miller would be off his game a little.

  All part of a greater setup.

  Nate began to think of Mia. His phone hadn’t gone off just yet. The prospects were following her. If they let anything happen to her, Nate was going to chain them from the ceiling and gut them.

  “And you support illegal poker games in town?” Gaige asked. “After all we’ve done to keep things clean around here.”

  “They don’t hurt anyone,” Chief Jerry said. “What you did really hurt.”

  “Fuck you,” Miller said. He then turned and started to walk away.

  Chief Jerry stiffened. He slowly unfolded the piece of paper. It was a picture of a person. “I came by to check on things. I’m warning you right now - any unusual MC activity and I’m busting this place up. My advice is to hang back and wait. Okay?”

  “So you don’t give a damn about my memory, huh?” Nate asked. “My injuries. The attack.”

  “I looked into it.”

  “You were part of it.”

  Chief Jerry turned the piece of paper around. “See this boy? He’s missing.”

  Nate looked at the picture. Young looking kid. Round face. Dirty blonde hair. Blue eyes. Looking like any other kid in the world.

  “What the hell do we care about that?” Gaige asked. “We have nothing to do with kids. Christ, Chief…”

  “It’s the judge’s son,” Chief Jerry said.

  It instantly made Nate’s blood run cold.

  “That’s Jacob?” Nate asked.

  “You know his name.”

  “I remember what Jace told me…”

  “That’s right,” Chief Jerry said. “Jace taught the kid how to try and murder other people.”

  “Bullies.”

  “People,” Chief Jerry said. “And now with his father trying to help him clean that up, the kid goes missing. Leaves a note. Saying he’s running away. The boy’s had a tough go. His mother left and Jake is trying his best to be a good father to Jacob.”

  “I’m sure,” Nate said.