RIDING DARKNESS (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novella) Read online

  “Did you tell them what happened? Didn’t they listen?”

  “That’s not how this life works, darling,” Ares said. He touched her cheek. “It’s a different kind of justice in a clubhouse. There’s no such thing as a judge and jury. There’s action, reaction, and more action. Revenge is not always right, but it never feels wrong.”

  “So killing makes other killing okay… or something…”

  “Yeah, something,” Ares said. “I deserved my punishment. I should have been killed. They spared me because I didn’t actually kill Buzz. I just took off. I admitted it, but they wouldn’t kill me.”

  “You wanted them to kill you?”

  “Maybe I did… maybe I still wait for it… maybe that’s why I won’t patch in here…”

  “That’s why you want to kill Armen?” Brooke asked.

  “It’s not about want, darling,” Ares said. “It’s about what needs to be done. I’m only sorry because of the way you’re looking at me right now. But I’m not sorry for what needs to be done. Each man - and woman - takes their own path. All paths lead to a grave, it’s the time in between that which matter. Your brother’s is coming to an end.”

  Brooke found herself moving closer to Ares again. So close that they ended up hugging each other. Brooke’s hands touched Ares’s hard, muscular back. He put a hand to her back and the other to her hair.

  “There’s one more thing I need,” Ares said.

  “What?”

  “I need to know where he is. I need you to find him. I need to do this soon.”

  Brooke didn’t respond to that. Instead, she said, “Take me to bed, Ares.”

  fifteen.

  They were at the pool table again. Miller, Gaige, Nate, and Blaine. Ares stood next to Gaige and looked around the table. It could work to be patched in. Hell, maybe even at a table. Saying his peace. Throwing around his votes. Making an impact.

  Ares closed his eyes for a second and shook that bullshit away.

  He was better off on the street, working through Frelen, protecting the club.

  “What do we have?” Gaige asked.

  “He’s local,” Miller said. “Chief Jerry has his eyes open and is trying to pull his guys away from what happened. The problem is that Armen’s other enemies are working their way into Frelen. A lot of people want him.”

  “Has he run?” Blaine asked. “That would be the most logical thing to do.”

  “He doesn’t have everything he wants,” Nate said. “We have his sister.”

  “Ares has his sister,” Miller said. Miller looked at Ares. “What did you get out of her?”

  “Got a cellphone,” Ares said. “She’s been trying to get a hold of him. He’s not replying just yet.”

  “The second he does, get that phone to Griffin,” Miller said. “Maybe he can track the messages or something.”

  “Okay, so let’s stay in Frelen,” Gaige said. “What’s the plan? Where could he be? Where would he hide?”

  “He’s not from around here,” Blaine said. “Could be in any of the warehouses out there, right?”

  “Christ, that would take days,” Nate said. “And if we got close and he knew it, he’d move. He’s not going to hang out long. He’s going to get hungry. He’s going to get nervous.”

  “Think he’d leave Brooke?” Blaine asked, looking right at Ares.

  “He used her to start that shootout,” Ares said. “He forces her in these situations over and over. He uses her. I think he’d bail on her. If he wants her, he has to come through here.”

  “Ares, why don’t you hit the streets with Brooke?” Miller asked. “Just ride around. Let Brooke search her mind. Let her really think about what she wants to do in all this. There has to be more she can do.”

  “If someone else picks up Armen before we do…,” Gaige said and shook his head.

  “I don’t want to think about that,” Miller said. “Let’s split up now and start searching. Make some phone calls. Call in some owed favors. This asshole is in town. He’s lingering. He’s hiding. He knows we have power, but I want to show him how much.”

  “Think one of the other clubs is hiding him?” Nate asked.

  “I don’t know,” Ares said. “Coast Road and Eight Under were shot at too. If Armen went to one of them and tried to push the night on us… maybe.”

  “That’s where Gaige and I will travel,” Miller said. “We have enough of a war brewing in all this already. Don’t need to push everything over just yet.”

  “Fair enough,” Gaige said.

  Everyone started to move from the pool table. Miller shot an arm out and grabbed Ares. He nodded. “Stay put for a second.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I have more for you. Wanted to tell you this one on one.”

  “Okay.”

  “I want you to want this one,” Miller said. “I want you to do what you do best and find that fire again.”

  “It’s there. Just because I don’t wear a patch doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

  “I know that, brother,” Miller said. “But you have to wear the patch. Or it’s all going to hell.”

  “What do you have for me, Miller?”

  “Armen is a very bad person,” Miller said.

  “I figured that out.”

  “No. I’m talking bad. His parents were murdered.”

  “I know. Brooke told me. She said they run because the people who killed their parents are coming to get them. That’s why he does the gambling thing. To save up cash and get ready for a fight.”

  “Poor woman,” Miller said. “That’s not the case at all. Armen was in debt with a few people. He needed cash. He went to his parents and they wouldn’t give it up. Armen killed them. He shot his own damn parents and robbed their safe. How do I know this?”

  “How?” Ares asked through gritted teeth.

  “Chief Jerry dug into the reports and made some phone calls. Forensics painted the picture pretty easily. He freaked the fuck out and killed his own parents. Then he took Brooke and hit the road. Lying to her. Dragging her along. Putting her in these situations.”

  “Is it safe for me to take her out there then?” Ares asked. “Are we better off leaving her here? Let us deal with Armen and then come back… and deal with her…”

  Miller put a hand to Ares’s shoulder. “What do you want to do with her?”

  “It’s been pretty clear she’s going to be sent away and set up, right?”

  “Nothing is ever etched in stone, Ares.”

  “I’m not thinking about that right now,” Ares said. “We have to kill Armen first.”

  “Then get the information,” Miller said. “Do whatever you want with what I just told you.”

  Miller walked away and Ares stood at the pool table. He grabbed the edge of the table and looked around the clubhouse. It was alive for another day. The guys at the table had their own shit to settle. The prospects were hard at work, doing everything the patched in guys wanted done. And then there was Ares. Somewhere stuck in the middle of it all.

  He pushed from the table and walked to the bedroom. He opened the door and Brooke spun around, her cellphone in her hand. She looked at Ares and her face was white, full of fear. Her hands shaking.

  “What is it?” Ares asked.

  “Armen finally texted me. He’s in town. He’s hiding.”

  Ares shut the door and ran to Brooke. She quickly put the cellphone behind her back and shook her head. “You can’t hurt him, Ares. You can’t kill him. Just let him run.”

  Ares stopped and made fists. “What did you just say?”

  “Just let him run. Let him go. He’s scared. He’s confused.”

  “He’s fucking lying to you,” Ares growled. “He’s trying to use you, again. Can’t you see that?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Where is he?”

  “He didn’t say.”

  “Give me the phone.”

  “Ares…”

  “I’m not pl
aying fucking games,” Ares said. “Give me the fucking phone, Brooke. Right now.”

  “If I don’t? Are you going to kill me?”

  Ares stepped closer to Brooke. He looked down at Brooke. “Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to tempt this? Do you really want to…”

  Don’t tell her. Give the truth later…

  Ares stepped back and turned around. He wanted to tell Brooke the truth but he feared what would happen then. He wanted to make this right with the club and somehow he wanted to make it all right with Brooke. That was impossible though. She would need the truth.

  It took Ares back to when he made an emotional decision in his life. When Buzz was left to be killed. That was the biggest changing point of his life, it seemed until now. Ares looked over his shoulder and saw tears in Brooke’s eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Just give me the fucking phone,” Ares said. “I don’t want you hurt.”

  “I already am. I’m lost here, with you. I’m trying to understand everything.”

  Ares closed his eyes and turned back around. “I have something to tell you. You have to hear me. You have to believe me. And if you need proof after what I say… I can get it.”

  Ares approached Brooke again and he touched her arms. He would get the cellphone in a few minutes. First, the truth. Even if it sent her over the edge. Even if she didn’t believe him. Even if she ran to her brother and ended up getting herself killed.

  “I know the truth about your parents,” Ares said. “It’s not what you think.”

  “They were shot and killed,” Brooke said.

  “But I know who did it.”

  Brooke’s eyes went wide. “Who?”

  Ares actually felt a little nervous. Stop being a pussy. Man up.

  Ares took a deep breath. “Your brother… Armen… he killed your parents.”

  sixteen.

  “I don’t believe that,” Brooke said.

  “I have no reason to lie.”

  “You want to kill my brother. You’ll say anything.”

  Brooke bit her lip the second the words flew from her mouth. She sucked in a breath and stepped back. Her legs hit the bed and she fell to her ass. Ares closed in, towering over her. His eyes were so dark, so powerful.

  “I wouldn’t say anything if it didn’t matter to me,” Ares said. “I didn’t even want to fucking tell you because of how you’d react. I didn’t want you to freak the hell out… and I didn’t want you to think I was lying.” He touched her face. “I have no reason to lie to you. I’m going to kill your brother whether you’re here or not. I want you to understand who he is. He’s a piece of shit gambler. He was in debt and wanted cash from your parents. They said no and he shot them. You walked in the room…”

  Brooke closed her eyes. She stuck her pointer fingers to her ears and shook her head. She felt like child doing so, but she didn’t want to hear it. She didn’t want to hear the truth. If it was the truth.

  It is the truth. He was there. He was jittery. He was jumpy. He looked at the bodies and didn’t even seem to care. He ran at me, grabbed my arms, guided me away from the bloody scene. I told him to call the police. He said no. He said we had to run. He said we were in grave danger. He told me we were going to be killed next…

  Brooke looked up at Ares and saw the look on his face. He was so angry. He was let down.

  “I thought this was something,” Ares said. “I thought for a split second I could let my guard down. I thought you were special, darling. But you’re just stupid, aren’t you?”

  “No,” Brooke said. “That’s…”

  Brooke had the words. She had the truth. She never understood why Armen acted the way he did, but she could never question it. She never had an escape.

  Until now.

  Ares staring at her. Ares bringing her to the clubhouse. Ares offering to protect her. That was the escape. The chance.

  “I’m trying to be honest with you,” Ares said. “I need that fucking phone. I need to find out where he is. He has to be stopped, Brooke. There are a lot of people coming to get him. And they’re not going to just want him. I bet the other night wasn’t the first time you wiggled your sweet ass into a tight dress. He used you to make money. He used you for a distraction. He needed someone to keep him company and that was you.” Ares traced a line under Brooke’s chin and lifted her head even more. “Look at me good, darling. He fucking used your emotions against you. And that’s something I would never do.”

  Brooke suddenly felt cold. The truth was not the easiest to hear and accept. She looked forward and saw the black belt buckle on Ares’s jeans. There was a chrome skull in the middle of the it. She reached out and touched the belt buckle, and before Brooke knew what she was doing, she pulled and opened it. Her hands then moved feverishly as she tore open his jeans and pushed them down. She saw how his strong lower muscles gave way to the root of his cock.

  Her body quivered with need. She wanted to taste all Ares had to offer. She wanted to suck him, love his body, and she wanted to trust him. Somewhere in her mind this all connected and somehow made sense.

  Or maybe it was a last chance thing. An offering Brooke could give Ares as a thank you for protecting her like he had done. For all she knew, she’d never see Ares again after all this.

  Brooke’s hand gripped Ares tight. She slid her hand up his long shaft and back down. She looked up and caught Ares looking down at her. His eyes had no intention of stopping her, and why would they? He was an outlaw biker. He spent his days flirting with death and his nights flirting with whatever woman he chose. Sex and death were all that mattered.

  Fine. I’ll show him then…

  Brooke flicked her tongue at the tip of Ares’s cock. She opened her mouth enough to take him in a little. Her tongue tried to swirl around his impressive girth. Her hand stroked up and back, from his root to her lips.

  Slowly, Brooke offered more of her mouth, inching down his thickness. When she got halfway, her mouth was already too full. She quickly pulled back, her teeth touching the sensitive skin on his tip.

  Ares groaned and then had a handful of Brooke’s hair. He pulled and Brooke’s mouth came off him with a pop sound.

  “Don’t stop until I’m fucking done,” he said.

  Brooke nodded and went back to work. Her lips wrapped his shaft once more and this time she moved fast. Down and back, her hand moving in the opposite direction of her mouth, giving constant pleasure to Ares. Her heart was pounding as she sucked him. Her panties were soaking wet. Her legs were trembling and weak as though she were about to come. Her breasts, even in a bra, were still gently bouncing, jumping to the speed of Brooke’s mouth on Ares.

  She sped up as fast as she could and then hurried to slow. When she did, Ares thrust forward and hissed. His hand landed to the back of her head, forcing all of his cock into her mouth. Brooke closed her eyes and kept as calm as she could. Ares pulled back and Brooke went after him again. That was the move that started the end for Ares. He let out a groan and grabbed at her hair again. His hand twisted, pulling, making it hurt. But Brooke kept going. Her lips loved the fleshy tip of his erection. Her hand worked the base of his shaft.

  Brooke looked up and Ares. She didn’t move her eyes again.

  Everything was in perfect motion and when she saw Ares’s mouth open, he growled, and she waited for the rest. A second later, he started to come. Brooke slid her lips down his shaft and started to work with his warm pulsing. She pulled back each time he came, accepting him, loving him.

  Even after Ares was done, Brooke gently sucked on him, easing him down. She didn’t pull away from him until he pulled her hair again and guided her away. Ares then backed up and tucked himself into his jeans. He zipped up his jeans and then moved to the bed and sat next to Brooke. He put his big hand on top of hers and squeezed.

  “Brooke…”

  “Stop,” she said. She reached back and then handed him the cellphone. “H
ere it is.”

  Ares took the phone and held it tight. “I appreciate this. The club…”

  “I don’t give a fuck about your club,” Brooke said. “Sorry. Armen is the last family I have. Maybe that’s been clouding my mind. I don’t know. I wanted to believe him, Ares. I wanted to believe some other people killed my parents. That they were coming for us. But I get it. He did it. He really did it.”

  “Yeah, he did,” Ares said. “I’m damn sorry for it, darling. But I’m thankful right now that you didn’t end up dead in all this bullshit. I’ll keep you safe. I’ll keep you protected.”

  “I want to be there,” Brooke said. “I want to see it.”

  “No,” Ares said. “Fuck no.”

  “Yes. I’m demanding it. It’s my fucking brother. He killed my parents. I want to see him die. I need closure.”

  “Christ,” Ares said. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you.”

  Brooke looked at Ares. “But you did. You told me. Because you care…”

  “About you?” Ares asked. “Yeah, I do care.”

  “Then let me be there. Let me see it. Let me understand it.”

  “I don’t agree with it,” Ares said. “But I’m not patched in. I guess I don’t have the power to demand what you can and can’t do.”

  “In my eyes, you’re patched in,” Brooke said. “You can tell me to do whatever you want. But I have to be there. I can lure him… he wants me to come with him…”

  Brooke turned her hand around and interlocked her fingers to Ares’s. She smiled at him. He didn’t smile back.

  Ares looked at the phone.

  seventeen.

  Armen had been sending messages all morning. He was hiding out in an empty warehouse not far from where all hell broke lose. Two guys from Eight Under had helped him into the building and gave him food. The promise in exchange for the protection was that Armen would bring Ares to the Eight Under club and let them kill him. Everything hinged on revenge.

  And it was all right there in Ares’s hands.

  When he finished reading the messages, he put the phone on the bed and looked at Brooke. “I need you to be honest with me.”

  “Okay.”

  “What were you thinking of doing?”

  “I don’t know. My mind was torn bad. I thought about telling him to sneak out and run. With me. Or maybe without me. If you are wondering about me luring you to him, no, that never came to my mind. I would never do that to you, Ares. Reading his messages started to replay memories in my mind. How he always ended up close to dying and always made some kind of deal to get out of it. How others were killed, but not by his actions.”