Crash and Burn (18 page)

Shay sped up and then cut the wheel. The car skidded to a
stop. Shay reached across Avery and opened the door.

“
Get the
fuck out!
”
he yelled.
“
Shake them tits and make some
money, bitch.
”

Avery didn
’
t
move and then Shay pushed her from the car. She fell to the ground, hitting her
hurt leg, and let out a cry. Shay then sped away.

Avery looked around and took quick notice that Charles had
ended his phone call and that he and his two security men were on their way to
help her. She put a hand up to stop them.

“
I
’
m fine,
”
she said.
“
Please,
I
’
m fine.
”

“
Damn,
beautiful,
”
Charles said.
“
What was that?
”

“
It
…”
Avery realized this was her
chance. Her moment to shine.
“
It
was my boyfriend. He
…”
Avery squeezed her eyes shut and brought on tears.

“
Oh,
hell,
”
Charles said.
“
Come here, beautiful. Don
’
t cry.
”

Avery let the two security men help her to her feet. Charles
reached for her hand and stroked it. Avery did all she could to hide her disgust.

“
Come on
now, look at me,
”
Charles
said.
“
Let me see your
pretty face.
”

Avery remembered what Miller had warned. She looked at
Charles and wiped her tears.

“
I
’
m so sorry,
”
she said.
“
Look at me. A mess before my
shift.
”

Charles smiled
“
You
dance?
”

“
All the
time. It
’
s the only way I
can make a living. Unless someone is going to sweep me away. Someone rich.
”

“
I
’
m rich,
”
Charles said.

“
I
’
m
…
Ashley,
”
Avery said.

Charles laughed.
“
Well,
Ashley. My name isn
’
t
Rich
.
I am
rich
. Tons of money. Call me Charles.
”

“
Well
then, Charles, will I see you inside?
”

“
I
’
d like to be inside you,
”
Charles said.

It made Avery sick, but she battled the feelings of anxiety.
She told herself this man wouldn
’
t
hurt her. He wouldn
’
t touch
her like Bry used to. She would get through this. She would see Landon soon.

“
You
’
re sweet,
”
Avery said.
“
And
sexy. Want to escort me inside?
”

Charles pulled at Avery.
“
No.
Come with me right now.
”

Avery stumbled and then stiffened.
“
What
…
?
”

Charles looked at his men.
“
You
two go inside for me. Find the owner and tell him I
’
m stealing a girl for the night. Give him ten grand
for his troubles.
”

“
Sir,
are you traveling alone?
”
one of the men asked.

“
Tonight,
yes. Ashley deserves all my attention.
”

“
I like
that,
”
Avery said.
“
Just you and me
…”

“
All
night,
”
Charles said.
“
I
’
ll
pay you accordingly in the morning.
”

Avery nodded. She tried not to look at the black car, but
she hoped that this was going to work. If Shay and Griffin hadn
’
t had the time to do their job
then Avery would really be alone with Charles.

The men went into the stripclub and Charles took Avery
’
s hand. He was sweaty and it
grossed her out. He was disgusting.

“
Our
ride is waiting,
”
Charles
said.

“
Are you
sure you don
’
t want to go
inside?
”
Avery asked.
“
Let me dance for you a couple
times before we leave?
”

“
Oh, you
beautiful thing,
”
Charles
said.
“
You
’
re going to dance for me all
night. Dance for me. Dance on me. After I
’
m
with you, you won
’
t be able
to walk.
”

Avery smiled.

She knew that wasn
’
t
true. This guy was nothing compared to Landon and never would be. And this guy
would never fuck Avery. Even if it cost Avery her life, she wouldn
’
t just open her legs for someone
ever again.

Charles took Avery to the car and he knocked on the driver
’
s window. It slowly came down a
few inches.

“
Open
the door for myself and my date,
”
Charles said.

Avery looked at the eyes looking at her.

No way
…

The door opened and Shay stepped out. Avery
’
s jaw dropped. He was in a full
suit, with a driver
’
s hat
and everything. He walked with his head down and opened the door. Charles let Avery
into the car first. As Avery climbed in, Shay gave her a stern look.

Avery slid across the seat and Charles got in next. He slid
right to her and pulled her on top of him.

“
Sit on
my lap,
”
Charles said.
“
So you can feel me getting hard.
”

The door shut and the driver got into the car. He didn
’
t speak, but Shay looked in the
mirror, waiting for Charles
’
s
destination. Avery saw Shay
’
s
eyes and let out a shuddering breath.

“
Are you
nervous?
”
Charles asked.

“
A
little,
”
Avery said.
“
I
’
ve
never done this before
…”

“
Oh, a
virgin.
”

“
Well, I
’
m not a virgin,
”
Avery said.

Charles stroked her hair and touched her shoulders.
“
Tonight, you are. You
’
re my virgin. And I
’
m going to fuck you dry.
”

The car started to move and the night began.

Avery took a deep breath and allowed Charles to continue to
touch her. It took all her effort not to throw an elbow and smash his face in.
But she needed to be strong. For herself. For Landon. For the MC.

This was her life now, but as long as her night ended in Landon
’
s arms, it was all worth it.

twenty-five.

Landon sat in a small jail cell on the edge of the shitty
mattress, waiting for someone to come get him. He hadn
’
t been expecting to be thrown into a cell like
this. Something was definitely going on. Inside, Landon was pissed off. He
wanted to tear the fucking door off the cell so he could find the asshole witness
and end this shit.

The eerie silence of the jail drove Landon mad. He thought
about the MC and what they were preparing to do. Had Gaige fucked up with
Strokner? Maybe. Maybe not. The MC wasn
’
t
in the business of killing people for fun or favors, but sometimes that
’
s what needed to be done.

He thought about Jonesy scouring houses looking for the
people who tried to take out Shay. He thought about Erik
’
s face and how dark things were going to be for him
for a long time.

Of course all thoughts led right back to Avery. She hadn
’
t just become a part of his
life, she had become his life. It was about Back Down Devil and Avery. His
heart, his mind, his cock
…
everything pulsed.

Whistling echoed and a few seconds later, Chief Jerry stood
at the cell door.

“
I like
this sight,
”
Chief said.

“
Fuck
off, Jerry. Let me out of here.
”

“
Brought
you in for questioning. Heard there was a problem out there today.
”

“
Yeah,
funny. What the fuck is this?
”

Jerry put a key into the lock.
“
I
’
m
transferring you to another cell. I have a couple guys coming in on drug
related charges.
”

Landon stood and walked to the door. Jerry opened the cell
and put a hand to Landon
’
s
chest.
“
Listen to me carefully.
”

“
Sure
thing, Chief.
”

“
Make it
quick. I
’
m giving you a
minute. Literally a minute. If it isn
’
t
done, then it won
’
t be. Got
it?
”

“
You
’
ll sink with us,
”
Landon said.

“
No, I
won
’
t. I questioned him
already. Took a full statement. I
’
m
the good guy here. You
’
re
the murderer.
”

Landon smiled.
“
We
’
re all murderers, Jerry. Hey,
how
’
s your son doing?
”

“
Good. Trying
to sit up on his own.
”

“
Good
for you, Chief. Now, take me away.
”

Landon put his hands behind his back. Jerry cuffed him and
led him to another cell. The action looked legit, although the intentions were
anything but. Jerry grabbed the chains of the cuffs and pulled. The pain made
Landon growl. Jerry pushed Landon against the jail cell. The metal pressed
against his face, and it actually hurt thanks to the cuts and bruises from the
fights.

“
Fuck
you,
”
Landon growled to
Jerry.

“
Fuck
me? Yeah. Good luck, asshole.
”

Jerry took the cuffs off Landon
’
s wrists and then placed something into his hand.
Landon made a fist and let Jerry throw him into the cell.

Landon stumbled and stared at the guy sitting on the bed.

The asshole who was with Bry.

“
One
minute,
”
Jerry yelled and
then began to whistle.

Landon
’
s
blood boiled.

“
What
the fuck are you looking at?
”
the guy asked.
“
Why the
fuck did they put us together? You
’
re
going down, man. You
’
re
…”

“
Did you
know what Bry did to her?
”
Landon asked.

“
What?
”

“
You
heard the fucking question, asshole. Did you know
…
?
”

“
Look,
man, we all knew whatever we wanted,
”
the guy said.
“
Okay? She
’
s a fucking bar slut. That
’
s all
…”

Landon threw a fist at him. His head bounced back and hit
the wall. The man crumbled to the ground. He looked up, ready to scream, and
Landon kicked him in the stomach. That knocked the wind out of him so he couldn
’
t scream.

Landon put his hand to the guy
’
s
throat and pushed.
“
You
knew and did nothing. This is your fate, motherfucker. This is for Avery.
”

The man
’
s
eyes went wide and Landon opened his right hand and saw the shank Jerry had
given him. Landon took his hand off the man
’
s
throat and then took care of the problem with one cut. Landon rolled the man to
his left side and let him bleed out.

By the time Jerry arrived back to let Landon free, the man
was dead.

“
Holy
fuck,
”
Jerry said when he
saw the blood.

“
What
did you think I would do?
”
Landon asked.
“
Poison him?
”

“
Look at
this fucking mess,
”
Jerry
said.
“
What am I
…”

Landon walked to the door and waited. Jerry opened it and
Landon grabbed the chief
’
s
hand and put the bloody shank into his hand.

“
Thanks,
”
Landon said.
“
But I have to get going.
”

“
Christ,
”
Jerry said.
“
Let me sneak you out of here.
”

“
Hurry.
”

Jerry took Landon to the back hall of the station and
pointed to an emergency exit door.

“
That
will sound
…
,
”
Landon started to say.

“
It
’
s disabled,
”
Jerry said.
“
Get the fuck out of here.
”

Landon stepped out into the darkness and made it down the
side steps when he saw a light shining at him.

It was Miller on his motorcycle.

“
You did
it,
”
Miller said.

“
He
’
s dead,
”
Landon said.
“
No
big deal.
”

Miller pointed to another motorcycle. It was Landon
’
s.

“
How the
fuck
…
?
”

“
Don
’
t worry about it,
”
Miller said.
“
Look at me. You
’
ve done a lot for the MC. What
happened today was a little out of line, but you paid your dues for it. I
appreciate that, Landon. I get it, you love that woman. That
’
s good. But don
’
t let your heart or cock fuck
with your mind, okay?
”

“
It
’
s done,
”
Landon said.
“
Okay?
Let
’
s move on. We need to
take care of the Strokner problem and then get a hold of Jonesy and find some
revenge for Erik.
”

“
Half of
that is already in motion.
”

“
Fuck,
”
Landon said.
“
You sent Avery out there without
me?
”

“
It
’
s okay,
”
Miller said.
“
I
talked to her
…”

Landon heard enough. He ran to his motorcycle, put on his
helmet, and was riding before he could take a full breath of air. He couldn
’
t picture Avery out there alone
with some horny business guy. Landon needed to be there. He needed to be close
to make sure she didn
’
t get
hurt.

As Landon sped along the dark roads of Frelen, he heard
someone next to him. The faster Landon rode, the faster Miller kept with him.
There was no way for Landon to get really close to Avery, not without blowing
the cover. Miller cut toward Landon and motioned to pull to the side of the
road. Landon told himself he needed to trust Miller and the MC, so he followed
Miller to the side of the road.

They pulled off into the woods and hid their motorcycles.

“
What is
this?
”
Landon asked.

“
About a
hundred feet up the road is where Shay is going to stop the car.
”

The rumble of a motorcycle echoed and Landon watched the
silhouette of the motorcycle appear and pull to the side of the road.

It was Griffin.

He hurried off his motorcycle and dropped a bag to the
ground.

“
Griffin,
”
Landon said,
“
what
’
s happening?
”

“
It
’
s all set,
”
Griffin said.
“
I barely had time to do it.
Charles took one look at Avery and demanded she not even work. It was
beautiful.
”

Landon made fists.

What if this asshole was touching her?

“
Where
are they now?
”
Landon
asked.

“
Don
’
t worry, bro. Shay is driving
and it
’
s all good.
”

“
I need
her here, now,
”
Landon
said.

Griffin handed Landon a small black box with a button in the
middle.
“
Here. You press
the button then. Obviously make sure that Shay and Avery are out of the car and
far enough away. Got it?
”

“
Yeah.
Thanks.
”

The three stood in silence and waited. For Landon, each
second felt like an hour. There was no way they could blow the cover on this so
there was a chance that Charles was doing more to Avery than necessary.

A set of headlights appeared in the distance and Landon
’
s body stiffened.

“
This is
it,
”
Miller said.

“
Just wait
and watch,
”
Griffin said.

The car suddenly pulled to the side of the road, slightly
turned. Shay jumped out of the car with a gun in his hand. Then came the sounds
of screaming. Avery screaming. Charles screaming. Landon took a step and
Griffin put a hand out.

“
She
’
s fine, man,
”
he whispered.
“
She
’
s playing along.
”

Shay pulled Avery from the car as she screamed.

“
I
’
m taking her!
”
Shay yelled.
“
The whore is mine, got that?
”

“
Fine,
”
Charles voice said.
“
Take her. I
’
ll call someone to get me.
Christ, man, just put the gun away.
”

“
Fuck
you, fat man,
”
Shay said.

Shay backed away with his arm around Avery. He then turned
and pushed at Avery, still holding the gun out. Avery ran toward Landon. Shay
was right behind her, and when he caught up, he grabbed her hand, and pulled
her faster.

“
Do it,
”
Griffin said.

“
Wait,
”
Landon said.
“
They
’
re not
…”

“
I said
fucking do it,
”
Griffin
bellowed.

Landon pressed the button.

On his end, nothing happened. There was no click or pop
sound.

The car, however, instantly blew up. Landon watched a
billowing fireball lift into the sky. Then it turned into a black cloud,
matching the night sky.

Landon dropped the black box and ran to Avery. They hugged and
he scooped her up.

“
All
good, brother,
”
Shay said, punching
Landon as he kept running by.

Landon squeezed Avery tight, inhaling the scent of her hair
and feeling her grip on him.

“
What
did he do to you?
”
Landon
asked.

“
Nothing,
”
Avery said.
“
I kept him on a string.
”

“
Fuck,
Avery, I love you.
”

“
I love
you,
”
Avery said.

Landon put her feet on the ground and stared at her. The car
on fire casted dancing shadows on Avery
’
s
beautiful face.

“
You
killed that other man, didn
’
t
you?
”
Avery asked.

“
Yes,
”
Landon said.
“
It
’
s
done. He and Bry will disappear forever and nobody will care. You
’
re safe now, Avery.
”