An Outlaw Monster (Back Down Devil MC #10)(63)

“You saved this entire MC,” I said. “If Eden went… and Trev’s unborn baby… and Harlee… this entire thing would have imploded in seconds.”

Duke and I then stared at each other.

After a few seconds, he asked, “Was that an apology?”

“Jesus,” I said. “What the f*ck do you want…”

“An apology.”

“I’m sorry, brother,” I said. I offered my hand. “I’m sorry I just assumed. I’m sorry I didn’t have the trust in you as I should have. And thank you for doing what you did.”

Duke’s hand collided with mine.

No love lost between us at all, but we were brothers and we needed to act that way. We both stood up and hugged. I sure as hell knew we’d get into plenty more fist fights in our time together, but that’s what brothers did.

“You two done hugging?” Cade asked as he appeared in the hallway.

“We’re solid,” I said.

“Good,” Cade said. “Trev got a storage closet for us to meet.”

“Seriously?” I asked.

“No choice. He won’t leave with Eden.”

I looked at Duke. “I told Harlee it would be either you or me outside her door.”

“Little white lie won’t kill her,” Duke said.

“Daxton will. We have to get that prick.”

“Meeting,” Cade said. “Now.”

So we followed him to a storage closet that wasn’t too far from Harlee’s room.

We were all crammed into the small space, a collective smell of smoke, booze, *, leather, sweat, and the building rage from a bunch of outlaws hell bent on revenge. The tension was so thick it felt like a bomb was going to go off.

Trev stood at the back of the wall, arms crossed.

I shut the door behind me and the meeting was on.

“We’re at war,” Trev said. “Not that I’m stating the obvious. Daxton tried to kill Eden. Tried to kill my unborn baby. Tried to kill Trent’s old lady. All lives in this family are equal and if anyone in this room isn’t pissed enough to spend life behind bars for revenge, then walk out right now. Drop your f*cking cut on the floor and get out.”

Nobody moved. But everyone looked at me.

It meant a lot to get that kind of respect from the men I considered brothers.

“Which brings us to this meeting,” Jasper said. “We’re not going to offer a plan to fix this.”

Everyone started to murmur.

Trev stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled. “You all shut the f*ck up right now.”

The room got quiet.

“We’re not handling this,” Jasper said. Then he pointed right at me. “Trent is. Trent has a plan and you’re all going to f*cking listen. We’re voting right here, in this closet, and when we leave, everything is going to change.”

All eyes were on me. I was better with my fists than my words.

But I had a plan that would work.

So I stood there in front of the MC and said what I had to say…

**

“Yes,” Cash said, casting the final vote.

These men trusted me and what I wanted to do.

Trev looked at me and nodded in approval. “Votes are in. This is how we settle this shit up. No outside contact from anyone but me and Jasper. We will handle the O’Nuall family and get in contact with Rocco when the guns are ready. Until then, we stay close and we stay focused.”

The meeting was called.

We opened the door and as we piled out, three nurses were standing there, their eyes going wider by the second. A bunch of dirty and wild outlaws pouring out of their storage closet had to be a crazy sight to see.

When Trev shut the door, the three nurses still hadn’t moved. He smiled and said, “We were just looking for some coffee.”

The nurse in the middle pointed to the left. “It’s down there. There’s a cafe room.”

“Got it,” Trev said. He slapped Jasper in the chest. “Let’s go.”

I trailed behind a little, my mind stuck on Harlee. Shit, she was still stuck on me. My fingers were smothered with her sweetness. I couldn’t see it, but I could smell her.

The votes, the orders, it was all happening.

The only thing left was to protect Harlee.

Trev dispersed the guys throughout the hospital and back to the clubhouse.

“I’m going to be with Eden,” Trev said.

“I’ll be right with you,” Jasper said.

“Duke is hanging back for you,” Trev said. “Glad you two patched things up.”

“Prez, can we talk?” I asked.

“I don’t have time.”

“It’s about Harlee. She needs protection.”

“She’s got us,” Jasper said.

“But she doesn’t,” I said. “The clubhouse isn’t safe. Daxton wants her. Not Eden. Not you, Prez. Or you, VP. He wants Harlee. He bit off more than he could chew but that doesn’t mean he won’t be back.”

“What do you suggest?” Trev asked me.

There was only one thing that I could think of. And it would do two things at once. It would protect Harlee and it would give the MC the upper hand in the power struggle between us and the O’Nuall family.