An Outlaw Monster (Back Down Devil MC #10)(71)

I put my left hand out and Harlee reached with her right hand.

“Three.”

Our fingertips touched for a second and then Daxton backed up, taking her away from me.

“Four.”

That was all I could take. I forced myself to stand and walked right up to the gun. The move halted Daxton’s counting. His eyes went wide and he knew it was time to shit or get off the pot.

“You’re sure about this?” he asked me.

“Fuck. You.”

“Fiv…”

Did I have a plan?

No.

The truth was that I was going to grab his arm and pry him away from Harlee. I’d take another bullet, even if it killed me. I told myself in that split second that the MC would step up and keep Harlee as family. She’d forever be my memory.

But before anything like that could happen and before Daxton could finish his breath and say five, there was a thmph sound, followed by a quick spray of blood from the side of Daxton’s head. He stood frozen, shaking, and then he collapsed, taking Harlee with him.

I feared something happened to Harlee but then she started to scream.

Filled with fear, yes, but she was alive.

Goddammit, she was alive!

And Daxton was dead.

I dropped to my knees and grabbed Harlee, pulling her close.

I would never let her go ever again.





thirty-six



(harlee)



My arms were tight around Trent as I screamed.

That was my body’s only reaction to everything. I was in terror and shock at the same time.

Trent got me to my feet and I glanced at Daxton’s body on the ground.

“Darling, it’s okay. He’s gone now.”

I looked up at Trent and tried to catch my breath.

He kissed me.

Just like in some dumb fairy tale, it was like his kiss brought me back to life. A surge went through my body even as my hands still clung to him.

We started to walk and were quickly bombarded by the guys in the club.

“What the hell happened?”

Trev, Jasper, and Cash appeared, running toward us. Behind them were two men. One was a little short and very round. The other guy was tall, built, and had a rifle in his hand.

“Are you okay, brother?” Trev asked Trent.

“Fine.”

“Harlee?” Cash asked, looking at me. “You okay, sweetie?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m so…”

“She’s in shock,” Trent said.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” Cash said. “Do you need a hug from me? I can make everything go away.”

“Fuck off, Cash,” Trent growled.

“Meet Alexei,” the round man said in a Russian accent. “Sniper.”

“Fucking shit, Peter,” Trent said.

“I called him right after we split up,” Trev said. “I knew he was still in the area. Figured he could help us. I knew if Night Soul found out about what we did…” Trev looked at me and shook his head.

“What did you do?” I asked Trent.

“Business,” he said. “Nothing more.”

“That was a good shot,” Jasper said.

“I never miss,” Alexei said in a monotone voice. “Now we go. Right now.”

“Do you have payment?” Peter asked with a big smile.

“Austin,” Trev said. “Keys.”

Austin took the keys to the van out of his pocket. Trev ordered them to be handed over to Peter.

“What is this?” Trent asked.

“He’s taking the guns,” Trev said. “Payment.”

“Seriously?” Trent asked.

Trev grabbed Trent’s shoulder, making him yell out in pain. “You’re f*cking family, Trent. And your old lady is family. I don’t care what it f*cking costs to keep this MC and family together.” Trev then looked at me. He gently touched my jaw with his pointer finger. “You understand that too. Okay?”

“Yes,” I said. “Thank you. I don’t…”

“We leave now,” Alexei said. “We go to Nevada. Bloodshed is over here.”

“Can you clean this?” Peter asked Trev.

“It’s already taken care of,” Trev said.

I refused to take my hands off Trent’s body. I clutched tight to his leather cut and he held me.

“Brother, you’re bleeding,” Cash said. “That shoulder looks nasty.”

“I’ll call a doctor,” Jasper said.

“No,” Trent said. “There’s one more thing to do here.”

When he said it, there was no need for more explanation.

“Okay, brother,” Jasper said.

“We can still approach the O’Nuall family,” Trev said.

“No. My father betrayed me worse than ever in his life or mine. He used me and set this up.” Trent looked back at Daxton’s body on the ground. “Fucking scum. All of them.”

“How do we prove this to them?” Austin asked.

“I’ll call Garvan,” Trent said. “I’ll put the phone on speaker and do what needs to be done.”

“What if he runs?” Jasper asked.