Crash and Burn (16 page)

I really fucking love this woman.

twenty-two.

Avery was moved by the scene of Erik leaving the hospital.
This was what a real MC was about. They weren
’
t
just bullies or drunks or pigs looking for a fuck. They were real men who
treated each other with love and respect. They were indeed a brotherhood. It
was the kind of place Avery wanted to be even if that meant doing something
that scared the hell out of her. She couldn
’
t
put her finger on what was happening with Landon, but she couldn
’
t leave. That much she knew.
Even when he pulled her close and then pushed her away, Avery knew it had to
have more meaning. It wasn
’
t
Landon just being a dick to her. It was so much more.

Maybe he was nervous for her. Maybe he felt guilty about
asking her to help the MC. Whatever it was, Avery wanted to make sure she could
do it. She would show Landon and the MC that she could help them. More so, she
wanted to show herself that what Bry had done to her wasn
’
t going to stay with her
forever.

Holding Landon
’
s
body turned Avery on. Even though they were just on a ride, it didn
’
t matter. She wondered what it
would be like to touch his cock while he rode. Could it work? Could she stroke
him hard and fast? How dangerous was it?

Her mind wouldn
’
t
stop. Her panties clung to her body as she began to think about all the sexual
favors she and Landon had done for each other. From that first time she sucked
him dry to their wild episodes in the shower where they fucked so hard and so
long that they used all the hot water in the entire clubhouse. And even then,
when the water ran cold, Landon just carried her to the bed and kept fucking
her.

One thing that struck Avery was how peaceful and soothing
the motorcycle was. The rumbling of the motor and the fresh air were a great
freedom. Avery understood what it meant and how it felt. She sat up as straight
as she could to look over Landon
’
s
shoulder and watch the world before her. There was a large curve ahead and from
the distance, it looked like the road came to an end. The illusion was pretty
cool until they made it around the curve.

There was a biker on each side of the road, standing there
with guns up, pointed, and eager to shoot.

Everyone began to hold up, turning their motorcycles, trying
to shield themselves from the bullets that started to fly. Avery watched Gaige
get in front of Miller to protect him. Shay cut the wheel on the car and
swerved off the side of the road. Bullets flew and hit the back windows of the
car. The rest of the crew did their best to avoid being shot as Avery screamed
one thing into Landon
’
s
ear.

“
Bry!
”

He stood there on the right side of the road, unloading his
gun. The one good thing about him being a drunk asshole was that he couldn
’
t really shoot.

“
Help
me,
”
Avery yelled.
“
Landon
…”

The motorcycle didn
’
t
come to stop. Instead, the engine roared even more. Landon sped up and went
straight at Bry. It was a goddamn suicide attempt, only Bry didn
’
t have the balls to stand there
and shoot at Landon. He jumped out of the way and fell to his ass. The guy
across the street was the same one from the alley. Avery couldn
’
t remember his name.
Dave?
Lenny?

Landon spun the motorcycle around and killed the engine. He
got off and pulled at Avery. She crashed to the ground, the dirt and rocks cutting
her hands.

“
Stay
the fuck down,
”
Landon
said.

Landon pulled a gun and Bry put his hands out. Avery was on
her knees, looking over the motorcycle. The rest of the MC was starting to
gather themselves and Avery feared the worst for Bry. Then again, she wanted to
see it. For all those times he attacked her. All those times he hit her. All
those times he forced himself upon her.

The
bleep
of a siren made Avery jump and she looked
back to see a police car pulling up to the scene. And there was Landon with a
gun in his hand. Bry on the ground. The MC scattered around the road.

“
Fuck,
”
Avery whispered.

The door to the cop car opened and a man jumped out, gun
drawn, ordering Bry
’
s man
across the street to drop his gun and kick it away. He listened and then dropped
to his knees. Avery watched Miller running toward Bry
’
s man on his knees. Miller stood with his hand on
his gun, nodding at the officer. When the officer turned, Avery saw the word
Chief
on his uniform.

Oh
…
shit
…

“
Landon!
”
the chief yelled.
“
Stand down.
”

Landon didn
’
t
move. The rest of the MC stood around, waiting for something to happen. Avery
slowly rose to her feet.

“
This
isn
’
t about you,
”
Bry said.
“
It
’
s
about the girl. Let me do what I have to do.
”

“
What
’
s that?
”
Landon asked.
“
Beat
her? Rape her?
”

Bry looked at Avery and Avery
’
s
blood ran cold. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

“
Fuck
you,
”
Bry said to Avery.

Landon took a step and everyone yelled his name.

“
Whoa,
whoa,
”
Blaine said stepping
from the crowd. He walked up to Landon with his hands out, trying to keep him calm.

“
Come
on,
”
the chief yelled.
“
Everyone needs to stand down so
I can do my job.
”

“
Give
him a minute,
”
Miller
yelled.

“
What
the fuck is this?
”
Bry
’
s guy yelled.

“
Shut
up,
”
the chief said as he
pointed his gun at him.

Bry stared at Avery. It was damn impossible to not feel
wobbly.  This was the man that had hurt her so much. The man who would continue
to do so unless something happened right now.

And arresting Bry would do nothing.

“
Listen,
bro,
”
Blaine said to
Landon.
“
Just calm down.
Talk to me.
”

“
She
stole my fucking motorcycle,
”
Bry yelled.
“
You hear that,
Officer?
”

“
It
’
s Chief, asshole,
”
the chief said.

“
Sorry,
”
Bry said.
“
That woman, Avery, she stole my
motorcycle. Arrest her.
”

“
Shut
the fuck up,
”
Landon said.
He tried to push forward, but Blaine stopped him.

“
Come
on, talk to me,
”
Blaine
said.

Landon looked back at Avery. His eyes were beyond fire. They
were full of rage.

“
He hurt
her,
”
Landon said.
“
Like I said. He hit her, raped
her, kept her afraid. She took off from him and crashed here. Literally
crashed. She had nothing to do with what happened to Erik, but I can
’
t send her away, bro. I just
…
I fucking love her, man.
”

Avery
’
s
mouth fell open.

Landon loved her.

“
Christ,
”
Blaine said.
“
That
’
s a shit ton of weight to carry.
”

“
Last
warning,
”
the chief called.
“
I want everyone to stand
down. I
’
ll call this in
…”

“
Hold
on,
”
Miller yelled.

“
Brother,
this ain
’
t the time or
place,
”
Blaine said.

“
He
raped her,
”
Landon said.
“
Imagine that. If he walks, he
’
ll come back. He
’
s a fucking idiot. Just look at
him. He took a shot at Erik, too. He has no idea what he
’
s up against
…”

Blaine pulled out his own gun. Avery
’
s body tensed. She didn
’
t want to imagine Bry having the chance to walk
away from this.

Blaine leaned into Landon and whispered something to him. He
then kissed Landon
’
s cheek
and put the gun in Landon
’
s
hand. Blaine backed up and put his arms out.

“
No!
”
the chief yelled.

“
Landon!
”
Miller cried out.

“
Fuck,
”
Bry said.

Landon hurried up to him and smashed the gun off his face.
Bry fell back with blood pouring from his face. Landon stood over him, smashing
him with the gun again and again. From the corner of her eye, Avery saw the
chief running toward them. Blaine turned and stopped him.

“
Remember
what we did for you,
”
Blaine said.
“
Okay, Chief?
”

“
Not
like this
…
,
”
the chief said.

Landon
’
s
hands were covered in blood. Bry was on the ground, almost lifeless. His
fingers twitched and even the sight of that made Avery shake.

Landon pointed the gun and everyone yelled for him to stop.
To stand down. Don
’
t
fucking do it. What the fuck are you doing? Landon! Landon!

Avery
’
s
lips moved. She could yell for him, but she didn
’
t.
And to her, that was just about the same as pulling the trigger.

The gun went off and Bry
’
s
body jumped. The gun went off again, and again,
and again
…

Landon tucked the weapon away and turned.

“
Fuck,
”
the chief yelled.
“
Get the fuck over here, Landon.
Now.
”

“
Jerry,
”
Landon said.

“
Fuck
you,
”
Chief said.
“
Look what you fucking did. Right
in front of me.
”

Avery was shocked that Landon hadn
’
t been arrested.

“
You
sort this shit out with your MC,
”
Chief Jerry said.
“
But I
have to take that other piece of shit in, okay? And I might have to call the
dead one in. How
’
s that
going to play out? Asshole.
”

Chief Jerry walked from Landon. Landon looked at Avery. His
eyes were the same. Dark and beautiful. His lip was still curled. Avery knew
Landon was the only one who really understood her pain. The only one she could
ever trust and relate to. Yet he had just murdered a man, and in front of the
chief of police.

Chief Jerry said something to Miller and then arrested Bry
’
s man.

“
What
the fuck is this?
”
he
screamed.

“
You
’
re under arrest, asshole,
”
Chief Jerry said.
“
For firing a weapon.
”

“
That
guy killed Bry
…”

“
He
’
ll be dealt with next,
”
Chief Jerry said.

Avery
’
s
head spun as she watched Bry
’
s
man get loaded into the back of the police cruiser, and then it sped away.
Miller then approached Landon and before Avery could process a thought, Miller
swung and punched Landon in the face. Landon stumbled back but didn
’
t fall.

The tension was instant.

“
What
the hell is wrong with you?
”
Miller bellowed.
“
Execution
style? Right in front of Chief Jerry?
”

“
I
’
m sorry,
”
Landon said.
“
I
had to. For Avery
…”

Avery hurried to Landon
’
s
side and stepped in before Miller could hit Landon again.

“
Please,
”
Avery whispered.
“
I asked him to
…”

“
Just
fucking great,
”
Miller
said.
“
This shit is a real
mess. Jerry calls in the body on the ground and we
’
re all going in for questions. And you, Landon, are
hauled off for murder.
”

“
He hurt
Avery,
”
Landon said.
“
He needed to die.
”

Miller bumped his chest into Landon and took off his
sunglasses.
“
Look in my
eyes, Landon. There were two fucking men here. One is dead. One is a witness
and is off to jail. Fix this shit.
”
Miller put his sunglasses back on and turned. He walked to Bry
’
s body and kicked it.
“
Fuck!
”
he yelled. Then he said,
“
Load back up. We have to get to the table and sort
this out.
”