STEEL TEMPTATION (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel) (4 page)

“
How
’
s the coffee?
”
he asked.

Mia took another sip.
“
Very good. Thank you.
”

Uncle Jake reached for the
newspaper and opened it. He turned it around and pointed to the date.

“
It
’
s old,
”
Mia whispered.
“
Like
…
very old.
”

“
Sure.
It was news then. To me, it still is.
”
His thick finger ran down to an article.
“
See
this?
”

Mr. Strokner was found dead of
an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Preliminary findings show that he had
what
’
s being
called a
‘
secret
hideout
’
where he would conduct
‘
business.
’
The nature of the
‘
business
’
has not been
released
but it
’
s safe
to speculate that, perhaps,
the wealthy businessman had dark ties within
the Frelen community.

“
What
does that all mean?
”
Mia
asked.

“
That
’
s why you
’
re here,
”
Uncle Jake said.
“
See, we
’
re trying to take care of the
town. You can read all you want about economic recession and recovery and all
the political bullshit in between
…”

“
Excuse
me, sir?
”

Jake stood in the doorway to the
kitchen, a backpack strapped to his skinny shoulders.

“
Jake,
”
Uncle Jake said.
“
You may speak.
”

“
I
’
m asking for permission to go to
Andy
’
s house. His mother is
making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.
”

“
I
love PB n
’
J
’
s,
”
Mia said.
“
Bring me one
back.
”

“
Excuse
me,
”
Uncle Jake said.
“
Let me address my son.
”

Mia stiffened. She kept her eyes on
Jake, smiling, hoping he would feel relaxed at some point. Probably not until
he left the house though. She felt bad for Jake, but then again, she felt bad
for herself. The world could be a cruel and crazy mess.

All you could do was find a way to
survive.

“
Jake,
you may go,
”
Uncle Jake
said.
“
Don
’
t make me come find out.
Punishment, son, understand?
”

“
Yes,
sir. Thank you.
”

Jake turned and left the house.

Mia looked at Uncle Jake.
“
He doesn
’
t call you Dad?
”

“
He
’
s not my friend,
”
Uncle Jake said.
“
Neither are you.
”

Mia nodded. She reminded herself to
keep calm. Focus on what Uncle Jake needed and make sure it was done right.

“
Back
to business,
”
Uncle Jake
said.

“
Of
course. That
’
s why I
’
m here.
”

“
You
’
re broke.
”

“
I
’
m always broke.
”

“
You
still work at the strip club?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
You
strip?
”

“
Never.
”

“
You
’
d probably make a good paycheck
doing it,
”
Uncle Jake said.

His eyes creepily moved down and up
Mia
’
s body.

She stirred in her seat, feeling
very uncomfortable.

“
What
do you need from me?
”
Mia
asked.

Uncle Jake leaned back and took out
a wad of cash. He unfolded it and spread it across the table.

“
This
should fill your gas tank. A few times, right?
”

There had to be a thousand dollars
there, if not more. Mia nodded.
“
Yeah.
”

“
Good,
”
Uncle Jake said.
“
Go fill your tank. You
’
re on the hunt, starting now.
”

“
The
hunt? For what?
”

Uncle Jake folded his hands.
“
I
’
m
going to take down Back Down Devil. I have resources you wouldn
’
t believe. And your job is to
follow them. Find out what they know about me and my friends. So I can make my
next move.
”

Mia looked at the cash, then looked
at Uncle Jake.

Follow Back Down Devil MC?

This wasn
’
t a job
…
it was a death wish.

four.

Outside in the sun, they stood
there trying to chase away the hangovers. Blaine laid on a table, one leg up,
sunglasses on his face, rubbing his forehead. His other hand was off the table,
limp.

Miller stood with his back to Nate.

Griffin leaned against a post.
Gaige had his arms crossed. Jace had a bottle of beer in his hand, a little
remedy to take care of a hangover.

“
It
goes deep,
”
Nate said.
“
It goes really deep, Miller.
”

Miller turned his head, his lip
curling.
“
And you didn
’
t find it fucking convenient to
bring it to the table sooner?
”

“
Look,
I know how it goes around here,
”
Nate said.
“
We just got
done taking care of bullshit. I didn
’
t
want to just jump. Or have someone not believe me.
”

“
Trust,
”
Gaige said.
“
You think it
’
s a trust thing?
”

“
Everyone
pushed back at Jace,
”
Nate
said.
“
Not that I
’
m calling anyone out here.
”

“
Fuck,
”
Gaige growled.

“
Fuck
is right,
”
Miller said.

He walked forward, going to a
railing. He gripped it tight and stared out at the junkyard that gave the MC a
front to cover up their real purpose and activity.

“
He
’
s pissed,
”
Jace said.

“
Of
course he is,
”
Griffin
said.
“
We
’
ve been working with Chief Jerry
for a long time. We built Frelen
…”

“
We
protected Frelen,
”
Gaige
said.
“
Chief Jerry is an
image. We
’
re the muscle.
”

“
Muscle,
”
Blaine called out. He lifted
his ass off the table and grabbed it.
“
I
feel sore and tight. Like something
…”
He sat up and tore off his sunglasses.
“
Hey.
Did I stick something up my ass last night?
”

“
What
the fuck are you talking about?
”
Gaige asked.

“
My
ass, man. My fucking ass hurts.
”

Griffin started to laugh.

Nate looked back at Blaine.
“
Sorry, brother, we
’
re not in charge of looking
after your ass. Holy shit, man.
”

Blaine nodded.
“
You
’
re right. It
’
ll
go away.
”
He put his
sunglasses back on.
“
My
advice, Nate? Go talk to Miller right now. If this shit is happening, which you
say it is and I believe you, then we need to act on it. I mean, this is huge.
Chief Jerry, the shithead judge, and Coast Road? Not good.
”

Nate started to move and Blaine
whistled.

“
What?
”
Nate asked.

“
We
have to move softly,
”
Blaine said.
“
Think about
what could happen.
”

“
Shit,
”
Gaige said.

“
Yeah,
”
Griffin said.
“
Blaine
’
s actually right. If we spook Chief Jerry he
’
ll come down on us hard. He can
’
t defeat us, but he can cripple
us. Put us in jail for something, I
’
m
sure. He doesn
’
t want that
though.
”

“
He
wants his money,
”
Blaine
said.
“
To get some pussy
and disappear.
”

“
He
’
s fucking married,
”
Nate said.
“
With a kid.
”

Blaine snorted.
“
Please. Trust me, I
’
m right.
”
Blaine stood up and then bent his legs.
“
Fuck, man, there was something
in my ass last night. I hope it
’
s
not still there
…”

“
I
’
m moving,
”
Nate said.

He took Blaine
’
s advice and walked toward
Miller.

Christ, it was still a strange
feeling to approach the President of Back Down Devil MC. Miller was big,
powerful, and wise. Nate was the same exact size as Miller. Thick arms,
shoulders, a wide chest. Tall, messy hair, scruff on his face.

Nate remembered the old days when
Miller offered him a leather cut. What it took to backstab the only family Nate
knew. Then again, the scar on Nate
’
s
chest was a reminder.

Nate stood for a few seconds.

Miller looked at him.
“
You think he
’
s going to bail on his family?
”

“
Who?
”

“
Jerry.
”

“
I
don
’
t know. I
’
m not really thinking about
that.
”

“
He
has a wife. He has a kid. He
’
s
cashing out, huh? And he doesn
’
t
talk to us.
”

“
Why
would he? We have nothing to offer him. We don
’
t
have cash. We care about this town. About surviving. About keeping tabs on the
other chapters. That
’
s what
we
’
re about. The patch. The
cut. The freedom. He doesn
’
t
have any of that. Even with the badge and the gun, he
’
s got shit.
”

“
I
should have seen this coming,
”
Miller said.
“
This is on
me. Not you, Nate.
”

“
Fuck,
Miller, I
’
m glad I was
there to get attacked.
”

Miller looked at Nate and gave a
nod.
“
It
’
s dark and dirty shit.
”

“
It
’
s real dark and dirty shit,
”
Miller said.

“
I
’
m angry.
”

“
You
’
re always angry. Even when we
get you the best pussy in town you
’
re
still angry.
”

Nate grinned.
“
Last night wasn
’
t all that bad.
”

Miller laughed.
“
Good to know, brother.
”
Miller then sighed.
“
Shit. We
’
re going to need
…”

“
Pres!
”
a voice boomed.

It was Blaine
’
s voice calling.

Nate turned with Miller and Nate
felt his heart almost stop.

Chief fucking Jerry was pulling
into the compound lot.

Nate felt his blood instantly boil.
He stepped forward, fists balled up tight. He wanted to go after the chief
right now. Take him down and just start beating the shit out of him. Take him
to the underground garage and chain him up. Use him as a punching bag for a
little while until he started fucking talking.

With two steps made, Miller threw
an arm out and stopped Nate.
“
Hey.
You don
’
t know shit. Your
head still hurts a little. You have a headache everyday. You
’
re not even supposed to be
riding your motorcycle but
fuck you, I
’
ll
do what I want
, okay?
”

Nate gritted his teeth.
“
Miller
…”

“
If
we let him know, then what?
”

Nate saw the police cruiser stop.
Chief Jerry got out of the vehicle and looked right at Nate.

He
’
s looking for me. He wants to know what I
know.

“
Shit,
”
Nate growled.

“
Come
on,
”
Miller said.
“
Let
’
s get this piece out of our way. So we can focus.
”

Miller threw a smile on his face
and gave a wave to the chief.

When they got close enough, they
shook hands. Miller pulled Chief Jerry in for a hug.

“
How
’
s the family?
”
Miller asked.

“
Good,
”
Chief Jerry said.
“
Kid is learning tons of goddamn
words. Driving me insane. Gets up too early for me. You know?
”

“
Kids,
”
Miller said.
“
Can
’
t even imagine it.
”

“
When
’
s the next one coming?
”
Gaige asked.

“
When
my wife opens her fucking legs and lets me fuck her,
”
the chief growled.

Nate saw the dark circles around
his eyes. Life wasn
’
t so
hot for him right now. That was good. Keep him under pressure and worried.

“
Nate,
”
Chief Jerry said.
“
How are you feeling?
”

“
Getting
there,
”
Nate said.
“
Still get headaches. Same shit.
”

“
You
go back to the hospital or anything?
”

“
Fuck
that,
”
Nate said.
“
I
’
m
alive. I
’
m not supposed to be
riding either, but I don
’
t
give a shit.
”

“
Doesn
’
t surprise me,
”
Chief Jerry said. He leaned
against the hood of his cruiser and folded his arms.
“
Well, I
’
ve
got nothing good to report. I wish I did. I can
’
t
believe something
…
well,
who am I kidding? You
’
re
fucking Back Down Devil. Of course I can believe it. But just to be safe, I
’
ve closed the beaches.
”

“
Are
you patrolling them?
”
Nate
asked.

“
I
’
m doing my job,
”
Chief Jerry said.

“
Then
we
’
ll do ours,
”
Nate responded.

Miller put a hand out.
“
Forgive Nate. He
’
s in pain and pissed off.
Rightfully fucking so. It
’
s
bullshit you have nothing, Jerry. We
’
ve
been through a lot. You know we
’
re
going to be out there looking.
”

“
I
wish you wouldn
’
t on this,
”
Chief Jerry said.
“
Bothers me that something would
happen in broad daylight. If I hadn
’
t
…”

Nate felt his chest tighten. Chief
Jerry stared at him, judging him. Trying to break Nate down. Christ, any kind
of slip up would now put the entire MC in danger.

This was just what the fucking club
needed.

As Chief Jerry approached, he moved
Miller
’
s hand out of the
way. He reached up and put a hand to Nate
’
s
shoulder.

“
Nothing?
”
he asked.

“
I
gave you a fucking answer. I was standing there one second and then I wasn
’
t.
”

“
If
I hadn
’
t responded so
quick, it could have been worse. You could have bled out.
”

Nate gritted his teeth.
“
Yeah. Could have been worse.
”

“
Just
making sure that if those memories come back you don
’
t mix things up. I was there to help you, Nate.
Help the MC. Shit, losing a member
…”
Chief Jerry looked at Miller.
“
It
’
s been a while. Hard to imagine
it, right?
”

“
We
’
re all good,
”
Miller said.
“
Tough as nails.
”

“
Not
stronger than bullets,
”
Chief Jerry said.

“
Are
you threatening my President?
”
Blaine asked, standing next to Nate, arms crossed.

“
No
need to threaten,
”
Chief Jerry
said.
“
Just need you all to
stay put. You all have eyes on you as it is. I
’
m
sure the attack on Nate was retaliation for some shit. But I
’
m doing the town a service by
closing the beaches for now. I have to send my own messages. Can
’
t have this overrun. No wars in
Frelen.
”