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

  Miller stood with his back to Nate.

  Griffin leaned against a post. Gaige had his arms crossed. Jace had a bottle of beer in his hand, a little remedy to take care of a hangover.

  “It goes deep,” Nate said. “It goes really deep, Miller.”

  Miller turned his head, his lip curling. “And you didn’t find it fucking convenient to bring it to the table sooner?”

  “Look, I know how it goes around here,” Nate said. “We just got done taking care of bullshit. I didn’t want to just jump. Or have someone not believe me.”

  “Trust,” Gaige said. “You think it’s a trust thing?”

  “Everyone pushed back at Jace,” Nate said. “Not that I’m calling anyone out here.”

  “Fuck,” Gaige growled.

  “Fuck is right,” Miller said.

  He walked forward, going to a railing. He gripped it tight and stared out at the junkyard that gave the MC a front to cover up their real purpose and activity.

  “He’s pissed,” Jace said.

  “Of course he is,” Griffin said. “We’ve been working with Chief Jerry for a long time. We built Frelen…”

  “We protected Frelen,” Gaige said. “Chief Jerry is an image. We’re the muscle.”

  “Muscle,” Blaine called out. He lifted his ass off the table and grabbed it. “I feel sore and tight. Like something…” He sat up and tore off his sunglasses. “Hey. Did I stick something up my ass last night?”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Gaige asked.

  “My ass, man. My fucking ass hurts.”

  Griffin started to laugh.

  Nate looked back at Blaine. “Sorry, brother, we’re not in charge of looking after your ass. Holy shit, man.”

  Blaine nodded. “You’re right. It’ll go away.” He put his sunglasses back on. “My advice, Nate? Go talk to Miller right now. If this shit is happening, which you say it is and I believe you, then we need to act on it. I mean, this is huge. Chief Jerry, the shithead judge, and Coast Road? Not good.”

  Nate started to move and Blaine whistled.

  “What?” Nate asked.

  “We have to move softly,” Blaine said. “Think about what could happen.”

  “Shit,” Gaige said.

  “Yeah,” Griffin said. “Blaine’s actually right. If we spook Chief Jerry he’ll come down on us hard. He can’t defeat us, but he can cripple us. Put us in jail for something, I’m sure. He doesn’t want that though.”

  “He wants his money,” Blaine said. “To get some pussy and disappear.”

  “He’s fucking married,” Nate said. “With a kid.”

  Blaine snorted. “Please. Trust me, I’m right.” Blaine stood up and then bent his legs. “Fuck, man, there was something in my ass last night. I hope it’s not still there…”

  “I’m moving,” Nate said.

  He took Blaine’s advice and walked toward Miller.

  Christ, it was still a strange feeling to approach the President of Back Down Devil MC. Miller was big, powerful, and wise. Nate was the same exact size as Miller. Thick arms, shoulders, a wide chest. Tall, messy hair, scruff on his face.

  Nate remembered the old days when Miller offered him a leather cut. What it took to backstab the only family Nate knew. Then again, the scar on Nate’s chest was a reminder.

  Nate stood for a few seconds.

  Miller looked at him. “You think he’s going to bail on his family?”

  “Who?”

  “Jerry.”

  “I don’t know. I’m not really thinking about that.”

  “He has a wife. He has a kid. He’s cashing out, huh? And he doesn’t talk to us.”

  “Why would he? We have nothing to offer him. We don’t have cash. We care about this town. About surviving. About keeping tabs on the other chapters. That’s what we’re about. The patch. The cut. The freedom. He doesn’t have any of that. Even with the badge and the gun, he’s got shit.”

  “I should have seen this coming,” Miller said. “This is on me. Not you, Nate.”

  “Fuck, Miller, I’m glad I was there to get attacked.”

  Miller looked at Nate and gave a nod. “It’s dark and dirty shit.”

  “It’s real dark and dirty shit,” Miller said.

  “I’m angry.”

  “You’re always angry. Even when we get you the best pussy in town you’re still angry.”

  Nate grinned. “Last night wasn’t all that bad.”

  Miller laughed. “Good to know, brother.” Miller then sighed. “Shit. We’re going to need…”

  “Pres!” a voice boomed.

  It was Blaine’s voice calling.

  Nate turned with Miller and Nate felt his heart almost stop.

  Chief fucking Jerry was pulling into the compound lot.

  Nate felt his blood instantly boil. He stepped forward, fists balled up tight. He wanted to go after the chief right now. Take him down and just start beating the shit out of him. Take him to the underground garage and chain him up. Use him as a punching bag for a little while until he started fucking talking.

  With two steps made, Miller threw an arm out and stopped Nate. “Hey. You don’t know shit. Your head still hurts a little. You have a headache everyday. You’re not even supposed to be riding your motorcycle but fuck you, I’ll do what I want, okay?”

  Nate gritted his teeth. “Miller…”

  “If we let him know, then what?”

  Nate saw the police cruiser stop. Chief Jerry got out of the vehicle and looked right at Nate.

  He’s looking for me. He wants to know what I know.

  “Shit,” Nate growled.

  “Come on,” Miller said. “Let’s get this piece out of our way. So we can focus.”

  Miller threw a smile on his face and gave a wave to the chief.

  When they got close enough, they shook hands. Miller pulled Chief Jerry in for a hug.

  “How’s the family?” Miller asked.

  “Good,” Chief Jerry said. “Kid is learning tons of goddamn words. Driving me insane. Gets up too early for me. You know?”

  “Kids,” Miller said. “Can’t even imagine it.”

  “When’s the next one coming?” Gaige asked.

  “When my wife opens her fucking legs and lets me fuck her,” the chief growled.

  Nate saw the dark circles around his eyes. Life wasn’t so hot for him right now. That was good. Keep him under pressure and worried.

  “Nate,” Chief Jerry said. “How are you feeling?”

  “Getting there,” Nate said. “Still get headaches. Same shit.”

  “You go back to the hospital or anything?”

  “Fuck that,” Nate said. “I’m alive. I’m not supposed to be riding either, but I don’t give a shit.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me,” Chief Jerry said. He leaned against the hood of his cruiser and folded his arms. “Well, I’ve got nothing good to report. I wish I did. I can’t believe something… well, who am I kidding? You’re fucking Back Down Devil. Of course I can believe it. But just to be safe, I’ve closed the beaches.”

  “Are you patrolling them?” Nate asked.

  “I’m doing my job,” Chief Jerry said.

  “Then we’ll do ours,” Nate responded.

  Miller put a hand out. “Forgive Nate. He’s in pain and pissed off. Rightfully fucking so. It’s bullshit you have nothing, Jerry. We’ve been through a lot. You know we’re going to be out there looking.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t on this,” Chief Jerry said. “Bothers me that something would happen in broad daylight. If I hadn’t…”

  Nate felt his chest tighten. Chief Jerry stared at him, judging him. Trying to break Nate down. Christ, any kind of slip up would now put the entire MC in danger.

  This was just what the fucking club needed.

  As Chief Jerry approached, he moved Miller’s hand out of the way. He reached up and put a hand to Nate’s shoulder.

  “Nothing?” he asked.

  “I gave you a f
ucking answer. I was standing there one second and then I wasn’t.”

  “If I hadn’t responded so quick, it could have been worse. You could have bled out.”

  Nate gritted his teeth. “Yeah. Could have been worse.”

  “Just making sure that if those memories come back you don’t mix things up. I was there to help you, Nate. Help the MC. Shit, losing a member…” Chief Jerry looked at Miller. “It’s been a while. Hard to imagine it, right?”

  “We’re all good,” Miller said. “Tough as nails.”

  “Not stronger than bullets,” Chief Jerry said.

  “Are you threatening my President?” Blaine asked, standing next to Nate, arms crossed.

  “No need to threaten,” Chief Jerry said. “Just need you all to stay put. You all have eyes on you as it is. I’m sure the attack on Nate was retaliation for some shit. But I’m doing the town a service by closing the beaches for now. I have to send my own messages. Can’t have this overrun. No wars in Frelen.”

  “Yeah, we’ve got that,” Nate said. “Thanks for your concern.”

  “Hey, I’m just checking. You were pretty banged up on the beach, Nate. Pointing to the water and mumbling some strange shit.”

  “I don’t remember,” Nate said. “I have a headache.”

  “Hungover?”

  “You checked on things,” Miller said. “Go home to your family. Enjoy them.”

  Chief Jerry backed up to his cruiser. He looked around. “Wish there was more I could do.”

  The chief got into his car and backed out of the compound.

  Nate stood, nostrils flaring, eyes wide.

  “Tell the truth,” Nate growled.

  “What?” Gaige asked.

  “Chief said he wished there was more he could do. He could tell the fucking truth. Be a fucking man.”

  “Nate, take a ride,” Miller said.

  “What?”

  “I said, take a ride. Get the fuck out of here for a minute. You need to step away. Blaine, go with him.”

  “Are you kicking me out of here?” Nate asked.

  Miller turned and put his hands to Nate’s shoulders. “Brother, I’m not kicking you out. I’m telling you to take a ride. I know how hard this is for you. I know how hard it is for all of you.” Miller’s eyes looked to everyone else for a second. “We have to be right on this all around. There’s no room for fucking up. That doesn’t mean I don’t believe you, Nate. That means we need to get this in order. Because… how do we fight it?”

  Such a simple question posed by the Back Down Devil President, but it was hard to swallow down and take. The truth hurt sometimes, Nate knew that firsthand.

  How do we fight it?

  That was it.

  How do you fight the authoritative ally that’s been with the MC for years? How do you take down a powerful judge who had already fucked with the club once before? How do you go after Coast Road MC without kicking the hornet’s nest?

  “Shit,” Nate growled.

  “You need the open road for a minute. Clear your mind. Then come back, grab a drink, and we’ll start working on this.”

  “How do you plan on working on this?” Nate asked.

  “Bro, don’t,” Gaige said.

  “Nate,” Miller said. “Look at my patch. I’m being patient. I’d like to put your fucking head through the wall right now for not telling me this sooner. Okay? That’s a form of treason to me. You put the entire MC in danger. We’re trying to catch our breath, enjoy a little entertainment…”

  “Me getting something shoved up my ass,” Blaine said.

  Miller lifted a fist and smacked Blaine in the nose.

  “We could have been attacked and hurt,” Miller said. “So you need the road for freedom for a minute and I need freedom from you. Because I should take your cut, Nate. Do you understand that?”

  Nate hated this shit. He hated being called out in front of everyone. In a different life he wouldn’t have taken it. That different life left him physically scarred and everything and everyone non-existent in his life.

  In other words, Nate had to back down from Miller.

  He nodded and turned to look at Blaine. Blaine held the bridge of his nose and gave it twist. There was a pop sound and Blaine groaned, putting his nose back in place. He used his t-shirt to wipe up some blood and then let out a breath.

  “Let’s ride, motherfucker,” he said to Nate.

  “Is your ass going to be able to handle it?” Nate asked.

  “My ass can handle anything,” Blaine announced.

  “Jesus Christ,” Miller said. “I need a drink.”

  When Nate got on his ride and fired up the roaring engine, it made him instantly start to feel better.

  Goddamn Miller was always right.

  He took off, Blaine trailing a little behind.

  Leaving the compound left a shitty feeling running through Nate. There were charters north, east, south, everywhere. But going too far east was where Nate came from. The suits and backdoor business life he grew up in. Being a chunk of muscle for guys with rich blood, rich money, and the need to kill and control. It seemed inevitable that a MC would push against the mob, and it would happen again. There was only so much space in the world. And so much power.

  Nate throttled his ride and sped up. Blaine then hurried up and met him, riding side by side. Going through the town up into the windy roads of Frelen. The rolling hills and land held a lot of secrets. A big chunk of land was owned by Back Down Devil MC. That dirt had a ton of history to it. Dirt that could easily put everyone in the MC away for a long time. Even in prison though, the MC had a way to survive. The only way to stop it was to kill.

  Death was the ultimate end of it all.

  The open road did wonders for the soul, even for one that was tortured and twisted. Nate settled in, even if he didn’t have a destination. They’d have to get back to the clubhouse. They’d have to attack soon.

  Very soon.

  Nate took to a large turn and eased his ride all the way around. Time to go back. There was nowhere else to go. Circling around ghosts and demons wasn’t going to do anything to fix the problem right now.

  When Nate made the turn, Blaine right there with him, he noticed something in the mirror. He saw the car a few minutes ago and didn’t think much of it. His training with the mob had taught him how to look for everything. Never take anything for face value.

  Nate reached out and got close enough to touch Blaine’s shoulder. He then put a thumbs up and pointed back. When Blaine looked, his hand went for his gun. Nate shook his head.

  No shooting. Let’s get them…

  So they kept going.

  The car kept following. It kept a distance but not far enough. Either the person driving the car didn’t give a shit about being seen, or they were just plain stupid.

  Whatever it was, Nate was done dealing with this shit.

  For a split second, he almost felt bad for the person in the car.

  Then again, it was going to be a blast killing whoever it was.

  five.

  Mia only had experience one other time following someone. It was her boyfriend a few years ago when she knew he was fucking someone else. He insisted he wasn’t cheating, just working the late shift at an auto garage that closed at seven. He’d go out at ten with an emergency and then come back at two in the morning, showered and changed. And horny. Which was sick in itself. Then, Mia just followed the asshole to other woman’s house and raised a little hell.

  This was far different though.

  Mia was following two motorcycles. Just like Uncle Jake wanted her to do. She had waited for over an hour for them to ride by. Now she was behind them. Her hands clutching the wheel, not sure what to do next. All Uncle Jake wanted was for her to see what they were doing. He insisted they were a threat to Frelen and everyone in town. Not that Mia could argue that. They were big, rough, and violent men.

  They went around a small bend, the two motorcycles turning at the same time. Mia took
the turn, gently pressing the brakes. She told herself it was just driving. Play it cool. Nothing stupid. Nothing wild.

  The motorcycle on the left started to get ahead of the other one.

  Mia hit the brakes again.

  Her heart started to pound with a sick sense of premonition.

  Before she could react - which would honestly be what? - the other motorcycle cut to the left, turned sideways, and the rider pulled out a gun.

  The following was officially over.

  Mia felt her foot hit the gas pedal.

  Don’t run him over… don’t kill him… he’s Back Down Devil… holyshitholyshitholyshit…

  Mia turned to the right, then tried cutting the wheel to the left. Her car went off road, into the dirt, kicking up dust. She felt her ass end cut out and the car spun. She put both feet to the brakes and shut her eyes, fearing the worst.

  As fast as it all went bad, it all stopped.

  There was silence for a few seconds, the dust clearing.

  Then it got worse.

  Much fucking worse.

  Mia saw the biker approaching the car. His gun pointed. His lip snarled. The darkness of his eyes bothered the hell out of her. Not just because they were terrifying but because they were beautiful. He had beautiful, dark eyes.

  Seriously? He’s going to kill you and you think he’s hot.

  Of course he was hot.

  His shoulders were bigger than the boulders all around her. Muscles flexed as he held the weapon tight in his hands. The second biker started to approach, his gun also drawn.

  Mia was so screwed.

  She grabbed at the car door and opened it. She jumped from the car and put her hands up.

  “I’m a woman!” she yelled.

  “I don’t give a shit who you are,” the first biker said.

  “I can tell you’re a woman,” the other biker said. “Nice tits.”

  That made Mia feel even worse. Two of these big, tough men coming at her, with weapons pointed at her.

  What are they going to do to me?

  Mia backed up and hit her own car. The bikers kept moving at her.

  “Check her, Blaine,” the first biker said. “Make sure she’s not carrying.”

  “Oh, fuck yeah,” the second biker, Blaine, said. “I’ll search her. I’ll check every inch of her body. Full cavity search.” He was inches from Mia. He stunk of booze and body odor. And muscle and grease. “Let’s see how far my fingers can dig deep into you…”