STEEL TEMPTATION (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel) (2 page)

two.

“
Holy
shit,
”
Griffin said and
lowered the gun.

Nate stood with his hands at his
sides. There was a second he believed that Griffin would actually shoot him,
but he figured if Griffin wanted the damn truth so badly, then he
’
d give it to him.

Slowly, Griffin tucked his gun away
and then stroked his chin. He looked around the empty beach.
“
You know, people should be down
here. Not those punks we chased away.
”

“
Yeah?
”

“
Seriously,
Nate. There used to be people. Hell, I came down to this beach one night, right
under a pier, and fingered my first girl. The sounds of the waves crashing,
salt water mist all around. And I dug into her.
”

“
How
’
d that go?
”

“
She
screamed,
”
Griffin said.
“
Then slapped me. She didn
’
t like the way it felt.
”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“
Got a handjob from her though as
a thanks for touching her.
”

Nate shook his head.
“
Memories.
”

“
My
point is, Nate, there should be people here. And there
’
s not. Do you know why?
”

Nate looked around too. He thought
about it.

Why the hell wouldn
’
t people be down here? It
’
s a beautiful night. Cool
and comfortable. A soft breeze. Perfect for a romantic walk. Holding hands.
Hell, maybe getting a little frisky and finding a secluded spot in the sand
…

Griffin clicked his mouth a few
times and threw his thumb back. When Nate turned, he got his answer.

There were signs posted along the
edge of the beach.

Simply put - no access to the beach
after dark. Signed by the great folks at the Frelen Police Department.

“
Motherfucker,
”
Nate whispered.
“
He closed the beach.
”

“
Do
you realize what you
’
re
trying to tell me?
”
Griffin
asked.

“
I
’
m not trying to tell you a damn
thing, Griffin. I
told you
. There
’
s
no more telling. It was the judge, Chief Jerry, and Coast Road MC. All in a
white van. Remember when Jace put his ass on the line and begged Miller to
check out the seafood van?
”

Griffin nodded. His eyes looked as
though they knew the rest of this story.

“
Who
checked the van out?
”

“
Chief,
”
Griffin said.

“
Yeah.
The Chief. And he said there was nothing in it. That he looked stupid.
”

“
So
you think he made it up?
”

“
He
probably pulled the van over,
”
Nate said.
“
Searched it for
good measure, appearances. Just in case we were watching. But he chose to find
nothing.
”

“
Fucking
hell.
”

“
He
’
s been on the inside of us for
years, Griffin. He knows things. He knows how we operate. So much dirt
…”

Griffin pointed a finger.
“
That goes both ways. We know
things about him that could put him away.
”

Nate laughed.
“
You fool. He
’
s got the badge. We have a
patch. He protects from crime. We commit the crimes. It
’
d be nothing but a goddamn setup.
”

Griffin turned and faced the water.
The breeze grabbed some of his loose hair and made it dance behind him.

Nate stood tall and like a statue.
He
’
d dealt with this shit
before. Nobody could be trusted. Family, friends, blood, patch, badge, honor,
or words. The world was a playground for betrayal. That
’
s just how it went.

“
We
can
’
t say anything,
”
Griffin said.
“
Not tonight. Not with so much
lingering from what happened.
”

“
I
know,
”
Nate said.
“
That
’
s why I
’
ve
been quiet. On the outside. Trying to piece it together. All I know is that
Chief Jerry wants out. This is his ticket. Cash in and then slip away. Probably
move to an administrative role or just retire.
”

“
New
blood in the PD is bad for us,
”
Griffin said.

“
Bad
blood in the PD is bad for us,
”
Nate said.

Both men looked at each other. They
both nodded. A silent agreement to one thing for sure - someone was going to
have to take out the chief of police for Frelen.

Jesus. Christ.

Nate put a fist out for Griffin to
hit. When Griffin did, Nate grabbed his fist and held tight.
“
I came down here to relive it, okay?
To see if there was possibly anything I had missed. You know? Like it couldn
’
t be true that our greatest ally
was fucking turning on us.
”

“
That
’
s why you attacked that guy?
”
Griffin asked with a grin.

“
I
thought I could catch them. Right in the fucking act.
”

“
Then
what? I mean, if you did? You realize how fucked up this is?
”

Nate nodded.
“
I
’
ve
been living in this nightmare all alone since the attack happened.
”

“
Christ,
Nate. Miller is on the hunt for some more Eight Under blood. Thinking they
attacked you. You could have admitted to him it was Coast Road.
”

“
Yeah,
I know,
”
Nate said.
“
But I just
…
fuck. This is bad. How do we
tell Miller?
”

“
We?
”
Griffin asked with an eyebrow
raised.

“
Yeah,
we. Sorry, bro, but trying to remember wasn
’
t
the only reason I came out here tonight.
”

“
No?
”

“
No.
I was hoping you
’
d come
with me. So I could drag you into this fucking mess. Now you know the truth.
And you believe it. So we need to convince Miller it
’
s true.
”

“
The
club can
’
t take this right
now.
”

“
If
we don
’
t, then what?
Christ, Griffin, what if Chief Jerry has been waiting for this opportunity for
a long time? I
’
m talking
…
fucking years
…
think about it.
”

“
I
don
’
t want to.
”

Griffin turned and started to walk.
He threw his hands up, and the only thing Nate could do was nod. He knew the
feeling. That hopeless dead feeling inside. From the second he came down to the
beach and saw what he saw, that feeling had been going through him. Hell, it
was a relief almost to tell someone. Better yet, to have someone believe him.

When Nate started to move again, he
scanned the beach. He looked at one of posted signs about the beach being
closed. Gritting his teeth, he took out his gun and shot the sign. The gunshot
might attract attention, but fuck it. Let the PD come down to the beach. Where
the hell were the citizens of Frelen? Why didn
’
t
they stand up and fight back against this? What about the business owners? Not
that Frelen had been exactly safe lately
…

“
What
a mess,
”
Nate whispered.

He found Griffin sitting on his
motorcycle, ready to ride.

“
Clubhouse,
”
Griffin said.

“
Talking
tonight?
”

“
No.
I need a drink.
”

“
I
need a woman,
”
Nate said.
“
Bad.
”

“
Good
for you, Nate.
”

They rode back to the clubhouse,
Griffin in the lead. Speeding through town as a way to burn off rage and fear.
Because they were a mixed up, fucked up combo to live with.

When they got back to the
clubhouse, Griffin went in and went for the bar. Nate followed and watched as
Griffin demanded a bottle. Not a shot, but a bottle.

I know the feeling, brother.

The prospect behind the bar took
the chance of questioning Griffin. While Griffin may have been a little thicker
than the rest of the guys, he was tough as nails. One right fist sent the damn
prospect flying back, hitting the wall. Griffin then took out his gun and pointed
it at the young guy.

“
Get
me the fucking bottle.
”

The prospect muttered a
yes, sir
with a swollen, bloody nose and wide eyes.

“
Hey,
what
’
s up with him?
”

Nate turned and saw Blaine
standing, leaning into a pool stick.

“
Bad
night,
”
Nate said.
“
Truth hurts.
”

“
Truth?
Pfff
…
you want the truth?
”
Blaine leaned closer, wobbling
from being drunk.
“
My cock
is stiff as fuck. I
’
ve came
three times so far and it
’
s
still hard. What the fuck
…”

“
What
the fuck is right,
”
Nate
said.
“
I don
’
t need to know a thing about
your dick. Can you maybe point to someone you haven
’
t come on or inside tonight?
”

Blaine laughed.
“
About time you get that pencil
of yours wet.
”

“
Pencil?
”
Nate asked.
“
Are you kidding me?
”

“
Whip
it out,
”
Blaine said,
looking too eager to see another guy
’
s
dick.
“
Right now.
”
Blaine dropped the pool stick.
He leaned against a pool table and unzipped his jeans.

As he stuck his hand into his own
jeans, Nate walked away, shaking his head.

“
Scared?
”
Blaine called out.

Nate lifted the middle finger and
kept walking. He took notice of a woman sitting on the edge of one of the pool
tables, legs crossed, Back Down Devil shirt on her, extra tight. She looked at
him and that sealed the deal as far as Nate was concerned.

There was only one question to ask.

“
Blaine
come near you tonight?
”
he
asked.

“
Hello
to you too.
”

“
You
know why you
’
re here. So
answer my question.
”

She inched from the pool table and
put her legs around Nate and pulled.
“
No.
He
’
s been sniffing me all
night. I
’
ve been fucking
with him though.
”

“
Oh
yeah, why?
”

“
Because
I
’
ve been waiting for you,
Nate,
”
she said with a sly
grin. She touched his cheek and then ran her pointer finger across his bottom
lip.

“
You
know me?
”

“
I
know everything I need to know for tonight.
”

“
What
the fuck does that mean?
”

She got closer and nibbled on his
ear.
“
I
’
m your gift
…
from Miller. You have until
sunrise to do whatever the hell you want. Nothing
…
Nate, listen to this carefully
…
nothing is off limits.
”

The woman then leaned back and
looked at her blood red fingernails.

She was cocky. She was beautiful.

She was paid to be there.

Nate smiled. He looked to the bar
and caught eyes with Miller. Miller gave a quick nod and lifted a shot glass.

Cheers.

Nate slipped an arm around the
woman
’
s back and kissed her
neck. He trailed up to her mouth and kept less than an inch from her.
“
Sweetheart, I don
’
t know who you are. I don
’
t really give a shit either. But
tomorrow, I can promise you one thing. You won
’
t
be able to walk out of here.
”

“
Good,
”
she purred back.
“
I hate doing the walk of shame.
Even with money in my pocket.
”