STEEL TEMPTATION (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel) (13 page)

“
He
’
s having another game,
”
Mia blurted out.
“
He told me. An underground game.
Like he does. That
’
s why I
usually come here.
”

Miller stepped toward her.
“
He has no idea you were kept
here last night?
”

“
No,
”
Mia said.
“
I told him I followed you out of
town and you met with other guys.
”

“
He
thinks we met with another charter,
”
Nate said.
“
So he thinks we
’
re gearing up.
”

“
Meaning
he
’
s lead to believe maybe
you remember everything about the attack?
”
Miller asked, staring at Nate.

“
I
guess.
”

“
That
could work,
”
Miller said.
“
He thinks that. Talks to Jerry.
The Coast Road bust today
…”
Miller looked at Mia again.
“
You
’
re sure about this game?
”

“
He
said so.
”

“
When?
”

“
I
don
’
t know.
”

“
Why
the fuck were you running?
”

“
I
wasn
’
t
…”
Mia sucked in a breath.

“
Miller,
you have to cut her a break
…”

“
No,
”
Mia said.
“
He tried to touch me. And I
’
m pretty sure he killed Jacob.
”

Miller raised an eyebrow.
“
The kid that Jace helped?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
And
your uncle tried
…”

“
He
’
s my step uncle, technically.
”

“
Even
still,
”
Miller said.
“
Fuck.
”

“
Yeah,
”
Mia said.
“
Fuck.
”

“
She
stopped and we brought her here,
”
Nate said.
“
I know tensions
are high as hell, Miller, but we have to think straight.
”

“
Okay,
”
Miller said.
“
I
’
ll
give her a pass again. But she
’
s
back in the hole.
”

The hole.

Mia shook her head.

“
Come
on,
”
Nate said.
“
Right now.
”

Mia thought about running.
Spinning, charging, and just running. Yeah, she
’
d
get
lit up
,
but at least this would all go away.

As she tried to make a move, she
hesitated. Nate gripped her shirt and kept her from making the move.

“
Don
’
t,
”
he whispered with a growl.
“
Don
’
t do anything stupid.
”

Nate kept his hand tight around the
back of her shirt, guiding her through the lot.

“
This
is bullshit!
”
Griffin
bellowed.
“
This is not
going to end well!
”

“
Why
don
’
t they just kill me
then?
”
Mia asked.
“
Everyone wants it
…”

“
Not
me,
”
Nate said.
“
Just come with me. And stop
this.
”

Mia kept her mouth shut and walked
down the ramp. The sight, smell, the darkness and dampness, the fear, it was
all familiar. Like she never had a chance to leave the room. The chains and
clamps were still on the floor.

When they were in the room, Nate
quickly spun Mia around. His hands cupped her face. He pulled her close, just
inches from kissing her.

“
Listen
to me,
”
he said.
“
I
’
m
going to leave you like this. But I have to shut and lock the door. I
’
m going to a meeting. This trust
thing
…
it has to work,
babe. I
’
m at the end of my
rope.
”

“
Okay.
Nate, I don
’
t know what to
do. When he touched me
…
held my throat
…
I freaked
out, okay? I wanted to just run from everything. I wished you were there to
beat him up.
”

“
I
’
m not going to beat him up. I
’
m going to fucking slit his
throat. I don
’
t care who he
is. This is our town. I
’
m
telling you this goes deep. I
’
ll
explain more later.
”

“
What
if Griffin comes down here and kills me?
”
Mia asked.

“
Nobody
is going to kill you. Not without Miller
’
s
orders. I
’
ll be here to
protect you. Do you have your cell?
”

“
Yeah.
”

“
I
need it.
”

“
Christ,
Nate
…”

“
Don
’
t fucking argue with me.
”
Nate inched forward. One hand
moved from Mia
’
s cheek to
her lower back. He pulled her body tight to his.
“
Just
don
’
t.
”

Mia felt her heart pounding. The
air in the room was now not the only thing damp.

“
I
would never try and hurt you,
”
Mia said.

“
Babe,
you don
’
t know me. I
’
m a bad guy. I kill people
…”

“
Other
bad guys.
”

“
Sometimes
they
’
re not bad guys. I
’
m the bad guy. Just remember that.
”

Nate pulled back and Mia hurried to
grab his leather as she tried to keep him close.

“
You
have no idea,
”
Nate
whispered.
“
I
’
m not
…”

“
I
don
’
t care. Right now, you
’
re all I have.
”

“
Fuck.
”

Nate leaned down and pressed his
lips to Mia
’
s. The kiss was
wicked slow, even hotter than the last time they kissed. Mia slid her hand
along Nate
’
s stomach, over
his shirt, feeling the hardness of muscle. She inched her hand down, ready for
another round right here in the shitty underground room.

Nate growled and pushed away. He
went to the door and looked back. His nostrils flared with his anger, but his
eyes spoke something very different.

Whatever his past was, Mia knew it
was dark and sad.

But that was perfect
…
so was hers.

The door slammed shut and locked.

Mia licked her lips.

Getting to kiss Nate made it so
worth trying to run.

Now she just needed to make sure
she could survive all this.

Yet Nate
’
s words stuck in her mind.

I
’
m the bad guy. Just remember that.

thirteen.

Nate punched the stone wall and
felt his hand ricochet back. The pain momentarily took Mia out of his damn head
so it was well worth it. He walked up the ramp and found Gaige, Griffin, and
Miller standing near a table, talking. They each had a drink in their hands.
The rest of the lot was empty. Almost too empty. Too quiet.

They all stopped talking when they
saw Nate.

“
You
fuck her again?
”
Griffin
asked.

“
Fuck
off.
”

“
You
fucked her?
”
Miller asked.

“
No.
I did not fuck her. Today, yesterday, ever. Got it?
”

“
Bro,
what
’
s the connection?
”
Gaige asked.
“
You
’
re on this bitch
…”

“
Seriously?
”
Nate asked the Back Down Devil
VP.
“
You
’
re going to question me? Didn
’
t you bring a woman here? Demand
she stays? You brought enough heat on this club
…”

“
I
get it,
”
Gaige said,
closing in on Nate.

Soon they were nose to nose.

Nate felt like he was getting damn
attacked from everywhere.

“
Gaige,
stand down,
”
Miller
ordered.
“
You and Griffin
go inside. Right now. Leave me to deal with Mia.
”

Gaige backed up, his chest puffed
out. Nate made fists, released his hold, and made fists again. He could go for
a fight right now. A good fight. Fuck, put him with two, three guys.

“
I
’
m sorry,
”
Gaige said.
“
We
’
re all heated.
”

“
It
’
s good, brother,
”
Nate said.
“
Just keep your eyes on the
enemy.
”

“
You
do the fucking same,
”
Griffin warned, pointing at Nate.
“
I
’
m telling you
…”

“
Griffin,
”
Miller snapped.
“
Inside.
”

They walked away and Miller jumped
up on the table. He nodded for Nate to sit. So Nate sat next to the President
of Back Down Devil. They were in silence for a little bit before Miller started
talking. For Nate, he had nothing to say, unless approached.

“
This
is going to get bad,
”
Miller said.
“
I keep
playing this out and it
’
s
not good.
”

“
I
know that. Without Chief Jerry
…”

“
Eh,
we
’
ll survive. We always
do. People fall into line when they need to. Yeah, someone new will come in
with a big dick and a purpose. Then there will be some kind of turf war
bullshit that can
’
t be
controlled, you know? Before you know it, the new guy will be sneaking into the
compound with a phony warrant just to talk to us.
”

Nate grinned.
“
That simple, huh?
”

“
Like
clockwork, Nate. Like fucking clockwork.
”
Miller took a swig of beer.
“
You
’
ve got a real hard on for this
woman. Just admit it.
”

“
Maybe
I do. Whatever.
”

“
You
just met her.
”

“
Yeah?
Need I go through some of the women the club has picked up lately?
”

“
Fuck,
”
Miller groaned.
“
You want to do that right now?
”

“
What?
”

“
You
’
re putting her face on everyone
else you lost,
”
Miller
said.
“
Hey, I
’
m not judging. I swear, I
’
m not. What you had to go
through and endure
…
you
’
ve got bigger balls than I do.
Not a bigger dick though.
”

“
Yeah,
right. Now you sound like Blaine.
”

“
Blaine
’
s an asshole,
”
Miller said and laughed.

Nate laughed. It almost felt good
to do so.

“
Nate,
you
’
ve got to keep yourself
in check.
”

“
I
am,
”
Nate said.
“
Mia has nothing to do with this.
It
’
s dumb luck. Christ, I
’
m just trying to do her a favor.
That son of a bitch judge
…
she
’
s convinced he killed
his own kid. You believe that?
”

“
I
could. Sure.
”

“
How
would you feel if Chief Jerry did that? Made his wife and kid disappear?
”

Nate watched anger creep over
Miller
’
s face. It was a
dark anger. A real deep anger. Miller lunged from the table. He then swung his
beer bottle down to the ground, letting it shatter.

“
This
is all fucked,
”
Miller
yelled.
“
We took care of
everything. There
’
s no
reason for this.
”
He looked
back.
“
No reason at all.
”

“
Chief
is done,
”
Nate said.
“
The war with Strokner. Eight
Under coming through strong for so long. So many bodies, fights, wars, deaths.
It has to take a toll on him. Shit, Miller, he
’
s
got to get in front of the public eye and try to save face. You know? We don
’
t have that. We just get judged
and accepted.
”

“
Fuck
him,
”
Miller said.
“
He
’
s
gotten
…
enough.
”

That anger flared again.

Miller walked forward a little. Nate
then followed.

“
Look,
Miller, I
’
m just doing what
’
s right. I got attacked, man. I
got bashed in the head. I had to stand there today and watch Chief Jerry deal
with us and Coast Road like we
’
re
fucking stupid. He didn
’
t
detain those guys. They
’
re
out again. I guarantee you that delivery was made, too. That van wasn
’
t impounded. That
’
s what makes this fucked up. How
long can we go? I mean, without making it known.
”

“
Then
what?
”
Miller asked. He put
his hands to his sides.
“
Then
what? This whole place
…”

Nate stood next to Miller.
“
Don
’
t forget. He
’
s
been there for a lot of it. The backdoor deals and shit. It
’
ll haunt him if he comes to us
too strong. Maybe we should find out what his end game is. Help him get it and
move on.
”

“
Christ,
that
’
s diplomatic. You
sound like a President now.
”

Nate touched his left breast. No
patch was there.
“
No,
Miller, I
’
m not a
President. Never have been, never will be. I
’
m
just talking out of my ass. I don
’
t
want to see that woman die. She knows who I am. This isn
’
t some fucking romance thing. She was called in
…
she, uh, maybe we can attack
during the poker game.
”

“
Sounds
like we
’
ve got options,
Nate.
”

“
We
need a meeting,
”
Nate said.
“
A good meeting. Griffin
needs to cool himself. He doesn
’
t
know my
…”

Car brakes squealed.

Through the gates, two cars
appeared. Beat up pieces of shit cars. Two men jumped out, wearing black masks
on their faces. Nate grabbed his gun and put his hand out to push Miller away.

Nobody fired though.

Instead, one of the guys threw
something over the gate.

They were then in the car and took
off.

“
Help!
”
Nate bellowed, hoping his voice
would carry enough to the clubhouse.

Miller crept forward.
“
What the fu
…”

Nate grabbed Miller and swung him
back. He then charged after the object. It looked like a coffee can with the
label peeled off. It made a metallic sound and Nate knew it was going to
explode.

“
Fuck,
”
he said.

He hurried and kicked the thing,
sending it rolling - and exploding. Nate turned and dropped to the ground. The
explosion was quick, enough to penetrate Nate
’
s
ears and make them hurt a little. But he felt hot, stinging pain everywhere on
his back and ass.

The can had been filled with
something to spread around.

Nate screamed and slumped forward,
belly to the pavement. He looked to his right and saw a group of the guys
charging after him. Of all people, Griffin somehow had the lead. Gaige was
right behind him, screaming Nate
’
s
name.

As Nate rolled to his side, Gaige
was there, dropping to the ground, grabbing his leather.

“
Bro,
fuck
…”

“
I
’
m fine,
”
Nate said.
“
Just
help me up.
”

Getting to his feet, Nate looked
behind him.

Back Down Devil MC was under
fucking attack now, for real.

After brushing himself off, Nate
twisted in pain. It felt like his back was literally on fire. Fearing just that
(mixed with a little shock) Nate tore his leather cut off his body. Next came
his shirt. Both articles of clothing were then on the ground. They were on
fire. The leather cut had taken the brunt of whatever the hell was in the
makeshift bomb. There were gouges and cuts, some small holes.

Nate flexed his back and turned.
“
Bro
…”

“
Jesus,
”
Gaige said.
“
Your back is cut up.
”

“
Bad?
”

“
No,
”
Griffin said, stepping into the
conversation.
“
We better
move. If they
…
fuck
…”

Nate looked at the gates and saw a
group of motorcycles approaching.

“
They
’
re back for more,
”
Gaige said.

Nate counted five motorcycles. He
glanced over his shoulder and saw the guys getting together. Ready to fight.
Even Miller charged forward, showing his teeth like a rabid animal.

“
You
have to keep Miller back and safe,
”
Nate said to Griffin.
“
If
he gets hurt
…”

“
Good
luck with that,
”
Griffin
said.

“
Shoot!
”
Miller bellowed.
“
We are
not
going to be
under attack. This is our home. This is our clubhouse. Fucking shoot!
”

That was good enough for Nate. He took
out his gun and took a couple shots, just to do it. The guys on the motorcycles
weren
’
t expecting the
shots. Miller ordered two prospects to open the gates. The prospects literally
went right in the middle of the fire. That
’
s
what they did though. If you wanted to be patched in you had to prove yourself.

As the prospects opened the gates,
one of them was shot. The prospect spun and collapsed. Nate hurried to aim for
anything he could. Men, motorcycles, whatever would get these assholes out of
here. A gunfight from the street to the compound was not good news at all. But
Back Down Devil was not going to accept being under attack.

Miller pushed forward, standing
between Nate and Gaige.

“
You
shouldn
’
t be here!
”
Nate shouted.

He pulled his trigger and hit one
of the guys in the leg. The guy screamed and fell of his ride. Miller followed
up Nate
’
s shot with three
of his own, hitting two of the guys.

Suddenly, the tides had turned and
Back Down Devil was winning.

Jace and Erik worked forward and
got to the injured prospect on the ground.

Then one of the Coast Road guys
threw a small canister
…
it
hit and rolled just beyond the gates to the compound.

Nate turned, shirtless, grabbing
Miller and pushing. Strong as an ox, Nate was able to lift and push Miller into
Gaige and push both of them to the side of the railing where they could take
shelter.

“
Cover!
Cover!
”
Nate warned.
“
Cover!
”